EDD application glitch won't let me proceed after declining to add second employer - stuck in a loop!
I'm pulling my hair out trying to file my UI claim on the EDD website! I entered my main employer where I worked for the past 1.5 years and marked that section complete. Then it asks if I have another employer from the last 18 months. I selected 'No' since I only had one regular job, but the system won't let me proceed without filling out information for a non-existent second employer! I've tried refreshing, logging out and back in, even trying different browsers but nothing works. I'm stuck in this weird loop. I did have one small 1099 gig last year (made like $600 total) but that ended in 2024 and I wasn't technically an employee. Do I need to list that as a second employer even though it was just a tiny side gig? Has anyone else dealt with this glitch? I'm worried my application is going to be delayed if I can't get past this screen!
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Max Knight
You actually DO need to report that 1099 work! The system is working correctly. EDD requires ALL income sources during the base period, including independent contractor work (1099s). Even if it was just $600, you must report it as self-employment income. Click 'Yes' to the second employer question, then select 'Self-employed' from the dropdown. Fill in the dates and income info for that side gig. Once you do that, you should be able to proceed with your application. This is a common point of confusion!
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Madeline Blaze
•Ohhhh, that makes sense! I didn't realize I had to include that tiny 1099 job. I thought since it wasn't a regular employer and such a small amount it wouldn't matter. Thank you so much, I'll try adding it as self-employment right now.
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Emma Swift
The EDD website has ben soooo glitchy latly!! I had the same issue when I tried to apply last month. For me the issue was my internet connection was bad and didn't register my "No" click properly. Have you tried using a different device? Maybe try on your phone instead?? Sometimes closing all browser tabs and clearing cache helps too.
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Madeline Blaze
•Thanks for the suggestion! I tried my phone but ran into the same problem. I think the other commenter might be right about needing to report the 1099 work. I'm going to try that approach and see if it works!
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Isabella Tucker
I just went through this exact nightmare last week! The EDD system is absolutely terrible with 1099 work. Even if your 1099 income was minimal, you MUST include it. The system won't let you proceed otherwise. Just put it in as self-employment with the exact dates and approximate income. Once you do that, you'll be able to move forward. BTW - make sure you have your income documents ready for that 1099 work because they might ask for verification during the eligibility interview. They're super strict about this stuff now.
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Madeline Blaze
•Thank you! I'll definitely add the 1099 work. I think I still have the form somewhere - will dig it up just in case they ask for verification. Did you have to do an eligibility interview when you applied?
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Jayden Hill
YES the entire EDD website is GARBAGE!!! I had the EXACT same problem two weeks ago and wasted THREE DAYS trying to get past that stupid screen!!! Their tech support is useless too - I waited on hold for 4 hours only to be disconnected. The whole system needs to be scrapped and rebuilt from scratch!!!
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LordCommander
•Have you tried using Claimyr to get through to an EDD rep faster? I was banging my head against the wall trying to reach someone about my application issues. Found this service at claimyr.com that got me connected to an actual EDD agent in about 20 minutes instead of spending days calling. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km. Seriously saved my sanity when I had technical issues with my application.
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Lucy Lam
Mmm the system can be frustrating for sure. I think it has to do with your base period. EDD looks at earnings over specific quarters to determine eligibility. Even small amounts of 1099 income need to be reported. My son had a similar issue and had to enter his DoorDash gig even though he only did it for a month.
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Madeline Blaze
•That makes sense about the base period thing. I'll definitely add the 1099 work now. Thanks for sharing your son's experience - helps to know I'm not the only one who's been confused by this!
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Aidan Hudson
Is it asking for work history or just wage information? Sometimes the EDD system gets stuck on the wage screens but not the employer screens. Also check if there's a "continue" button hidden at the bottom of the page - sometimes it's there but you have to scroll all the way down to see it. The UI interface is really bad on some browsers.
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Madeline Blaze
•It's asking for the full employer info - name, address, dates, etc. I did scroll all the way down looking for hidden buttons but no luck. Based on everyone's advice, I'm going to try adding the 1099 work as self-employment and see if that fixes it.
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Max Knight
Just checking back - were you able to get past that screen by adding your 1099 work? If you're still having issues, you might need to call EDD directly. This is one of those technical issues that sometimes requires agent assistance to override.
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Madeline Blaze
•Yes! Adding the 1099 as self-employment worked perfectly! I'm now moving forward with my application. Thank you everyone for your help! This community is amazing.
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Zoe Wang
my cousin works at edd and says they updated there system in march and lots of people having this issue. the self employment thing needs to be added even if it was small money. good luck with ur claim!
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Isabella Tucker
•That explains a lot about the recent glitchiness! I wish EDD would put clearer instructions on their website about including ALL income sources no matter how small. Would save everyone so much time and frustration.
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Andre Lefebvre
Glad you got it sorted out! This is such a common issue that trips people up. For anyone else reading this thread - the key takeaway is that EDD requires you to report ALL income sources during your base period, even tiny 1099 gigs or side hustles. The system won't let you proceed without accounting for everything. It's frustrating that the website doesn't explain this clearly upfront, but now you know! Hope the rest of your application goes smoothly.
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Freya Andersen
•This thread has been so helpful! I'm actually going through the same application process right now and was wondering about whether to include my small Etsy shop income from last year. Based on everyone's advice here, I'll definitely add it as self-employment. It's crazy how the EDD website doesn't make this requirement clear from the start - would save so many people hours of frustration!
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Austin Leonard
This is such a helpful thread! I'm currently dealing with a similar issue on my EDD application. I had a small freelance writing gig last year that only paid about $800 total, and I wasn't sure if I needed to include it. Based on everyone's experiences here, it sounds like I definitely need to add it as self-employment income. It's really frustrating that the EDD website doesn't explain this clearly - they should have a tooltip or help text explaining that ALL income sources must be reported, no matter how small. Thanks everyone for sharing your solutions!
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Noah Irving
•Absolutely include that freelance writing income! I'm new to this community but went through the exact same thing a few months ago. Had a small graphic design side gig that made maybe $900 and thought I could skip it since it was so little. Big mistake - the system completely blocked me from proceeding until I added it as self-employment. The EDD really needs better user interface design to explain this upfront. It would literally take one sentence on that screen saying "Include ALL income sources, even small 1099 work or side gigs." Would save thousands of people the headache we've all experienced!
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Tristan Carpenter
As a newcomer to this community, I just wanted to say thank you all for this incredibly helpful thread! I'm currently stuck on the exact same screen in my EDD application and was getting so frustrated. I had a small Uber driving gig last year that only brought in about $400, and I honestly didn't think it was worth mentioning since it was such a tiny amount. But reading everyone's experiences here, it's clear I need to add it as self-employment income. It's amazing how many people run into this same issue - EDD really should make this requirement more obvious on their website. Going to add my Uber income right now and hopefully get past this roadblock. This community is a lifesaver!
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