EDD claim stuck in 'Review Required' status for 3 weeks - no updates or notifications
I'm super frustrated and starting to panic a little. My unemployment claim has been sitting in 'Review Required' status for 3 whole weeks now without any change. I check my UI Online account obsessively every morning and there are zero new notifications or messages explaining what's happening. I was laid off from my restaurant manager job when they downsized, and I've been certifying on time but haven't received a single payment yet. Is this normal? Do I just keep waiting? I've got rent due next week and my savings are almost gone. Has anyone else dealt with this 'Review Required' limbo recently and know what I should do next?
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Haley Stokes
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.
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Lia Quinn
•Thanks for replying! I checked my inbox again and there's absolutely nothing there. All my certified weeks just say 'pending' and my claim summary shows 'Review Required' at the top. So frustrating. Should I just keep waiting or try to contact them somehow?
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Asher Levin
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
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Lia Quinn
•Ugh, that's exactly what I'm afraid of! Did they at least backpay you for all those weeks once they fixed whatever the issue was? Also... how did you actually get through on the phone? I've tried calling a few times and can't even get in the queue.
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Serene Snow
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.
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Issac Nightingale
•This is GREAT advice. The EDD system is literally designed to frustrate people into giving up. They WANT you to wait while they "review" for weeks. Don't fall for it! Call and demand answers!!!
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Romeo Barrett
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.
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Lia Quinn
•Thank you! This is super helpful. I'm definitely going to try your calling strategy tomorrow morning at exactly 8:00am. Did you have to provide any specific documentation when you finally got through? I want to be prepared with whatever they might ask for.
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Marina Hendrix
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.
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Asher Levin
•i used this too!! totally works but kinda weird they charge $ when edd should just answer their damn phones in the first place 🙄
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Justin Trejo
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.
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Lia Quinn
•Thank you for the insider perspective! This makes me even more determined to get through to someone tomorrow. I'm going to ask specifically about the determination notes like you suggested. My employer definitely wouldn't contest anything - the whole management team got laid off when they restructured, so it should be pretty straightforward.
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Alana Willis
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
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Haley Stokes
•This is actually quite common. The ID.me verification and EDD's internal identity verification are two separate systems, and sometimes there's a disconnect between them. Always worth checking if this is the issue when stuck in review status.
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Romeo Barrett
Just wanted to follow up - were you able to get through to EDD? Did they explain why your claim was stuck in review?
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Lia Quinn
•YES! Finally got through this morning after trying the 8am trick. Turns out there was a discrepancy between my reported wages and what my employer reported (I included my final commission check but they didn't). The tier 2 specialist was able to verify everything and remove the review flag while I was on the phone! She said my payments should process within 48 hours and they'll backdate everything. Such a relief! Thanks to everyone for your help and advice - couldn't have done it without you all!
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