EDD claim stuck in 'Review Required' status for 3 weeks - no updates or notifications

Unfortunately, 'Review Required' status can linger for quite a while. In my experience, this typically means there's an eligibility issue they need to resolve before releasing payments. Have you checked your UI Online inbox for an interview appointment notice? They don't always send text/email notifications when they add documents there. Also, look in your claim history for any weeks marked as 'pending' or 'disqualified' - this gives you clues about what might be holding things up.

omg same thing happened to meee!! mine was stuck in review for like a month! so annoying. i had to call them like 50 times before i got thru. turns out they needed to verify my identity again or something even tho i already did the id.me thing. didnt even tell me!!! such bs

The 'Review Required' status usually means one of three things: 1. Identity verification issue (even if you've completed ID.me) 2. Income verification needed from your previous employer 3. Eligibility interview needs to be scheduled The problem is that EDD won't tell you which one it is until they get to your claim. You absolutely need to speak with a tier 2 specialist to resolve this - they're the only ones who can see what's causing the review flag and can often clear it on the spot. I was in the same boat last year and wasted 5 weeks waiting for them to contact me. Don't make my mistake! Be proactive and get someone on the phone who can help.

I went through this exact situation in January. The 'Review Required' status sat there for nearly 4 weeks before I finally got it resolved. Here's what worked for me: 1. Call right when they open at 8:00am (not 8:01, exactly at 8:00) 2. If that fails, try calling at 10:30am and 2:30pm when staff typically return from breaks 3. When prompted by the automated system, press 1, then 2, then 1 again (this route got me to a rep faster) 4. Specifically ask for a 'tier 2 specialist' who can see the notes on your claim Once I finally got through, the rep saw that my employer had responded to their inquiry but it hadn't been processed yet. The rep manually removed the review flag, and my payments started processing the next day. They backdated everything so I didn't lose any money, just had to deal with the stress and delay.

Have you tried using Claimyr? After struggling for weeks to get through to EDD about my 'review required' status, a friend recommended it. It's this service that calls EDD for you and connects you when they get through to a rep. Saved me hours of redial frustration. You can see how it works in their video demo: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km Their website is claimyr.com. I was hesitant at first but honestly it was worth it just to finally talk to someone at EDD who could tell me why my claim was stuck (turned out they needed wage verification from my employer). Got it resolved that same day after weeks of frustration.

EDD isn't as overwhelmed as they were during the pandemic, so "Review Required" statuses shouldn't be taking 3+ weeks anymore. This indicates something specific is flagged on your claim. Whatever you do, DON'T just keep waiting. I work in HR and deal with EDD verification requests regularly. In my experience, these reviews are often due to: - Discrepancy between your reported wages and what your employer reported - Questions about your job separation (especially if your employer contests it) - Potential identity verification issues You need to speak with someone, preferably a tier 2 specialist. Request they check the "determination notes" on your claim - this will show exactly what's holding things up. And yes, they WILL backpay you for the weeks you've certified once the issue is resolved.

just went thru this last month my claim was stuck for 5 WEEKS!!! finally i got thru and turns out they needed me to verify my identity AGAIN even tho i already did id.me! so annoying. they fixed it right away once i got thru but getting someone on the phone was impossible. took me like 30+ calls spred over 3 days

Just wanted to follow up - were you able to get through to EDD? Did they explain why your claim was stuck in review?

Congratulations on getting it resolved! This is such a great success story and really shows how important it is to be persistent with EDD. The wage discrepancy issue you mentioned is actually pretty common - a lot of people don't realize that final paychecks with commissions, bonuses, or unused PTO can sometimes create mismatches between what you report and what your employer reports to EDD. It's frustrating that their system flags these cases for manual review instead of just asking for clarification upfront, but at least once you get the right person on the phone they can usually sort it out quickly. Thanks for updating us - gives hope to others dealing with the same "Review Required" nightmare!

This is such a common frustration with EDD! I'm glad you got it resolved, Lia. For anyone else reading this thread who might be dealing with a similar situation, here are a few additional tips that helped me when I was stuck in review: 1. Keep detailed records of every call attempt (date, time, how long you waited) 2. Screenshot your UI Online account daily - sometimes small changes happen that you might miss 3. If you're really struggling to get through by phone, try contacting your local assembly member's office - they often have direct lines to EDD and can help expedite reviews 4. Don't stop certifying even while in review status - you need those certifications on file to get backpay The wage discrepancy issue Lia mentioned is SO common, especially for people in restaurant/hospitality work where tips, commissions, and irregular schedules can make final paychecks confusing. EDD's system really needs to be better at explaining what's causing these review flags instead of leaving people in the dark for weeks. Hang in there everyone - persistence really does pay off with EDD!

This thread is incredibly helpful! I just wanted to add that if you're dealing with a "Review Required" status, it's also worth checking if your employer has responded to any EDD inquiries. Sometimes the delay isn't on EDD's end - it's because they're waiting for your former employer to verify employment details, wages, or reason for separation. In my case, my claim was stuck for 6 weeks because my old company's HR department was backlogged and hadn't responded to EDD's verification request. Once I realized this (after finally getting through to a tier 2 rep), I was able to contact my former employer directly and ask them to prioritize the EDD response. My claim was cleared within 3 days after that. The system really is broken when people have to become detective and advocate all rolled into one just to get unemployment benefits they're entitled to. But knowing all these strategies definitely helps navigate the mess!

What a rollercoaster this thread has been! So glad to see you got it resolved, Lia! Your story really highlights how broken the EDD communication system is - they had all the information they needed to fix your claim but just left you hanging for weeks without any explanation. For anyone else dealing with this, I want to emphasize something that came up in this thread: the "Review Required" status is almost always fixable once you get the right person on the phone. The hard part is actually getting through. I've been helping people navigate EDD issues for years and I've seen so many cases where people waited months thinking EDD would eventually contact them, when a single phone call could have resolved everything. A few additional resources that might help: - Try calling the technical support line (1-833-978-2511) instead of the main number sometimes - they can transfer you and the wait times are often shorter - Document everything in case you need to escalate to a state representative later - Join local Facebook groups for your area - people often share real-time tips about when EDD phone lines are less busy The system shouldn't be this difficult, but at least we can help each other navigate it. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and strategies!

Reading through this entire thread has been both inspiring and infuriating! Lia, I'm so happy you finally got your claim resolved - what a perfect example of how persistence pays off with EDD. The wage discrepancy issue you experienced is something I see constantly in my work as a benefits counselor. EDD's automated systems flag these mismatches but then provide zero guidance to claimants about what's happening or how to fix it. For anyone still struggling with "Review Required" status, I want to add one more strategy that's worked for some of my clients: if you're absolutely unable to get through by phone after multiple attempts, try visiting a local America's Job Center of California (AJCC) in person. Many locations have EDD liaisons who can help escalate urgent cases or at least provide clarity on what's causing the delay. It's not ideal, but sometimes face-to-face advocacy works when phone calls don't. The fact that we need threads like this to crowdsource solutions to a government system that should just work properly is honestly shameful. But I'm grateful for communities that share knowledge and support each other through these bureaucratic nightmares!

This thread has been absolutely incredible to read through! As someone who's been dealing with EDD issues on and off for the past year, I'm amazed at how much collective wisdom has been shared here. Lia, congratulations on getting your claim resolved - your persistence really paid off and your updates gave everyone hope! I wanted to add one more tip that helped me when I was stuck in "Review Required" status: if you have access to your employer's HR system or can contact someone from payroll, try to get a copy of your wage statement or final pay stub details BEFORE calling EDD. Having those exact figures ready when you speak to a tier 2 rep can help them resolve wage discrepancy issues immediately instead of having to call back later. Also, for anyone feeling overwhelmed by all the calling strategies mentioned here, don't feel like you have to try everything at once. Pick one method (I'd suggest the 8am sharp approach that worked for Lia), stick with it for a few days, then try a different approach if needed. The key is persistence without burning yourself out. The fact that this community has to exist to help people navigate basic government services is frustrating, but I'm so grateful for everyone who takes time to share their experiences and help others. Keep fighting everyone - you deserve these benefits!

What an incredible thread to read through! I just joined this community after getting stuck in my own EDD nightmare, and seeing Lia's journey from panic to resolution has given me so much hope. I'm currently on week 4 of "Review Required" status with zero communication from EDD, and honestly I was starting to think I'd never get it resolved. Reading all the strategies everyone shared here - the 8am calling trick, asking for tier 2 specialists, the technical support line, even contacting assembly members - has completely changed my approach. I was just passively waiting and checking my account every day, but now I realize I need to be much more proactive. The wage discrepancy issue Lia mentioned really resonates with me too. I had a complex final paycheck with unused PTO and a small bonus, so I'm wondering if that's what flagged my claim for review. Having that specific example of what to ask about when I finally get through will be so helpful. Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their experiences and strategies. This community is proof that we're stronger when we help each other navigate these broken systems. Wish me luck - I'm setting my alarm for 7:55am tomorrow to try the early morning calling strategy!

This thread has been such an incredible resource to follow! As someone who works in social services and regularly helps clients navigate EDD issues, I'm so impressed by the collective problem-solving that happened here. Lia, your persistence and willingness to update everyone on your progress turned what could have been just another frustration post into a genuine learning experience for the whole community. The wage discrepancy issue you encountered is unfortunately one of the most common reasons for "Review Required" status, especially for restaurant and service industry workers who often have complex final paychecks. What's particularly maddening is that EDD's system could easily be designed to flag these discrepancies with a clear explanation ("We need you to verify the following wage amounts...") instead of just throwing people into review limbo with zero context. For anyone else reading this who might be dealing with similar delays, I want to emphasize that everything shared in this thread - the calling strategies, asking for tier 2 specialists, having documentation ready - really does work. The 8am sharp technique has about a 70% success rate in my experience helping clients. Just remember to be patient and polite with the reps when you do get through - they're dealing with frustrated people all day and a little kindness can go a long way. Thank you everyone for sharing your knowledge and supporting each other through these bureaucratic nightmares. This is exactly the kind of community mutual aid that makes a real difference in people's lives!

This entire thread has been such a masterclass in community support and problem-solving! Lia, I'm so thrilled you got your claim resolved - your journey from frustration to success really shows how much persistence can pay off with EDD. The wage discrepancy issue with your final commission check is exactly the kind of thing that trips up their automated systems. What struck me most reading through all these responses is how many different strategies people have discovered through trial and error: the 8am calling trick, asking specifically for tier 2 specialists, the technical support line alternative, even reaching out to assembly members and visiting AJCC locations. It's honestly ridiculous that we need this many workarounds just to access basic unemployment benefits, but I'm grateful for communities like this where people share their hard-won knowledge. For anyone else stuck in "Review Required" limbo, please don't give up! As this thread proves, these issues are almost always resolvable once you get the right person on the phone. The system is broken but not hopeless. Keep advocating for yourselves and supporting each other - that's how we get through these bureaucratic nightmares together.

This thread has become such an incredible resource for anyone dealing with EDD issues! I've been following along as a newcomer to this community, and watching Lia's journey from weeks of frustration to finally getting resolution has been both inspiring and educational. What really stands out to me is how the solution was actually quite simple once she got the right person on the phone - just a wage discrepancy that needed manual verification - but the system provided absolutely zero communication about what was causing the delay. It's infuriating that people have to become detective, advocate, and expert all rolled into one just to access benefits they've earned. The collective knowledge shared here is amazing: the precise 8am calling strategy, asking specifically for tier 2 specialists, having wage documentation ready, even the backup options like contacting assembly members or visiting AJCC locations. I'm bookmarking all of this just in case I ever need it. For anyone currently stuck in "Review Required" limbo reading this thread, don't lose hope! As Lia's experience proves, persistence really does pay off with EDD. The system is frustrating but not impossible to navigate when you have the right strategies and community support. Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences and helping each other through these bureaucratic challenges!

This thread has been absolutely incredible to follow from start to finish! As someone who just joined this community after getting my own EDD claim stuck in "Review Required" status (currently on day 10), reading through Lia's entire journey has been both reassuring and motivating. The fact that her issue turned out to be something as simple as a wage discrepancy with her final commission check really highlights how EDD's system creates unnecessary panic by providing zero transparency about what's actually causing delays. I'm particularly grateful for all the specific strategies everyone shared - the 8am calling technique, asking for tier 2 specialists, having wage documentation ready, and even the backup options like contacting assembly members. It's honestly sad that we need to become experts at gaming a broken system just to access benefits we've paid into, but this community support makes it feel less overwhelming. For anyone else currently dealing with "Review Required" limbo, this thread is proof that persistence really does work with EDD. Don't give up! I'm planning to try the 8am calling strategy tomorrow armed with all the tips from this discussion. Thank you everyone for turning what could have been just another frustration post into such a valuable learning resource!

This thread has been absolutely incredible to read through! As someone who's been dealing with my own EDD frustrations for the past few weeks, seeing Lia's journey from panic to resolution gives me so much hope. I'm currently stuck with a different issue (my claim shows "pending" but no payments have been issued for 3 weeks), and all the strategies shared here are giving me a much clearer roadmap for how to actually get help. The wage discrepancy issue with final commission checks seems to be such a common problem - it's ridiculous that EDD's system can't handle these routine employment situations without flagging everything for manual review. What's even worse is how they leave people completely in the dark about what's causing the delays. I'm definitely going to try the 8am calling strategy tomorrow, and I love the tip about asking specifically for tier 2 specialists who can actually see the case notes. It's sad that we have to become experts at navigating a broken bureaucratic system just to access benefits we've paid into, but this community support makes it feel so much less overwhelming. Thank you to everyone for sharing your hard-won knowledge - it's making a real difference for people like me who are struggling to figure out this maze!