EDD application wrongly lists me as non-US citizen & won't let me correct it - help!

Ugh, their system is NOTORIOUS for these kinds of errors! The same thing happened to my cousin last month. You need to speak with a tier 2 specialist because this isn't something you can fix online - it requires them to manually update your account information in their backend system. This is actually a common glitch that happens when their system does an automatic data pull from other government databases. Try calling right when they open at 8:00am, that's your best chance.

omg so annoying!! my bday was wrong on mine and it took 3 weeks to get fixed lol. good luck

This is fixable but requires direct contact with an EDD representative. You're dealing with two separate issues: citizenship status and income verification. The citizenship error is more urgent as it affects your entire eligibility framework and is likely causing the income correction issue. You'll need to: 1. Contact EDD to correct your citizenship status first 2. Once that's resolved, you can address the income discrepancy 3. Be prepared to submit your birth certificate or passport and your correct W2/income documentation These types of database errors typically happen during quarterly system updates or when your information was incorrectly entered during a previous application process. When speaking with a representative, ask them to check if there's a "citizenship verification hold" on your account, as this specific code requires supervisor-level clearance to remove.

I had a similar problem with incorrect information in the system last year. I spent THREE DAYS trying to get through to EDD's main line before I finally gave up and used Claimyr (claimyr.com). It got me connected to an EDD rep in about 20 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km The rep I spoke with explained that these database errors have to be fixed on their end and told me it was pretty common with the new system. They fixed my citizenship status issue while I was on the phone with them, but the income correction took about a week to process after I submitted the proper documentation.

You CANNOT fix this online. Period. This is a major glitch that's been ongoing since they updated their systems in January 2025. I'm a former EDD employee, and this requires what's called a "core identity correction" that can ONLY be done by a Claims Processing Specialist (Tier 2 rep). You have two options: 1. Keep calling the main number (800-300-5616) until you get through, then request immediate transfer to a Tier 2 specialist explaining you have a citizenship data error 2. Visit an EDD office in person with your birth certificate AND passport if you have one (bring both even though you only need one - trust me) The income issue is secondary and will be much easier to fix once the citizenship status is corrected. Don't waste time trying to fix both at once.

this is why i always keep paper copies of EVERYTHING i send to edd... they mess up constantly! last time they had my ssn wrong by ONE digit and it took forever to fix. system is totally broken imo

UPDATE: I finally got through to EDD! For anyone with similar issues, here's what worked: I used Claimyr this morning (thanks for that suggestion) and got connected to an EDD rep in about 15 minutes. The rep confirmed there was a data error in their system that incorrectly flagged me as non-citizen. They had to transfer me to a Tier 2 specialist who made the correction while I was on the phone. I had to verify my identity with several questions, and they asked me to upload my passport through UI Online while on the call with them. The income discrepancy will take 5-7 business days to review after I uploaded my W2s and final paystub. The rep said I should be able to properly complete my application by next week once both issues are fully resolved. Thank you all for your help!

Wow, this is such a relief to read! I'm dealing with a similar citizenship error right now - the system has me flagged as needing work authorization when I'm a natural born citizen. Your step-by-step update is incredibly helpful. I'm definitely going to try the Claimyr service since traditional calling hasn't worked for me either. Quick question - when you uploaded your documents through UI Online, did you have to wait for any confirmation that they received them, or did the rep confirm receipt while you were still on the call? I want to make sure I don't miss any steps when I go through this process. Thanks for sharing your success story - gives me hope that this nightmare can actually be resolved!

This whole thread is incredibly helpful! I'm dealing with a similar issue right now where EDD has my marital status wrong and it's affecting my benefit calculation. Reading through everyone's experiences, it sounds like these database errors are way more common than they should be. @Jackson Carter - thanks for the detailed update! Really encouraging to know this can actually get resolved. I'm curious - when you were on the call with the Tier 2 specialist, did they explain what might have caused the citizenship error in the first place? I'm wondering if there's something we can do to prevent these kinds of mix-ups in future applications. Also for anyone else dealing with similar issues - I found that keeping a detailed log of every call attempt (date, time, any reference numbers) has been helpful when I finally do get through. The reps seem to appreciate having that information readily available.

I'm so glad I found this thread! I'm currently dealing with what sounds like the exact same citizenship error - the system suddenly has me marked as needing work authorization even though I've been a US citizen my whole life and have successfully filed UI claims before. It's beyond frustrating that their system can just randomly decide you're not a citizen anymore! Reading through everyone's experiences, it's clear this is a widespread issue with their January 2025 system update. I'm definitely going to try the Claimyr service since calling directly has been completely useless - I've tried over 20 times this week and either get disconnected or stuck in endless hold loops. One thing I'm wondering - for those who got this resolved, did the citizenship error affect your ability to certify for benefits while waiting for the fix? I'm worried I'm going to miss certification deadlines while dealing with this mess. The whole situation is making me incredibly anxious about losing weeks of benefits over their technical screw-up.