EDD forcing me to file by mail when others file online - how to fix?
I'm so frustrated with EDD right now! I've been trying to file my continuing claim through UI Online like I thought everyone does, but for some reason my account is only giving me the paper form option. The system keeps telling me I need to 'submit by mail' which makes no sense when we're in 2025! I have to wait 7-10 days for forms to arrive, another week to return them, then who knows how long for processing. Meanwhile, my friend files everything through the EDD website in minutes! Is this happening to anyone else? Did I get flagged in the system somehow? I've already certified for 6 weeks with no issues until now. My claim balance still shows $4,200 remaining, but suddenly I'm forced into this paper mail nonsense. I'm worried about payment delays since my rent is due soon. Any advice on how to get switched back to online certification? I've tried calling but can't get through (of course).
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Aria Khan
This happen to me 2. sum claims need paper filing if u got any errors or issues on ur account. check your mail, u probly got a letter saying why ur on paper certifications. might b identity thing or work search issue.
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Reginald Blackwell
•Thanks for responding! I haven't gotten any letters explaining the change. Should I just wait for something in the mail or is there a way to check my account status for flags?
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Everett Tutum
This typically happens when your claim has been flagged for additional verification or if there's been an issue with your certification answers. There are a few specific situations where EDD switches people to paper forms: 1. If you reported earnings that need verification 2. If you answered 'no' to being available for work 3. If there's an identity verification issue with ID.me 4. If you have a phone interview scheduled Log into UI Online and check your inbox for any messages about eligibility interviews or verification requests. Also check if there's a message saying "paper certification required" on your homepage. You should be able to switch back to online certification after resolving whatever triggered the paper requirement.
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Reginald Blackwell
•I did report some part-time work on my last certification, maybe that's it? I'll check my UI Online inbox again. Really appreciate the detailed explanation!
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Sunny Wang
I WENT THROUGH THIS EXACT NIGHTMARE LAST MONTH!!! EDD's system is completely broken and they do this to people randomly. I had to mail in forms for THREE WEEKS before they finally fixed it. Called them 97 times (not exaggerating) and never got through. My payments were delayed by almost a month and I nearly got evicted!!! There's apparently some glitch in their system that randomly flags accounts for "review" and forces paper forms. The EDD rep finally told me they're working on fixing the bug but don't hold your breath. The whole system is designed to frustrate people into giving up on their benefits!
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Reginald Blackwell
•Omg that sounds terrible! Three weeks of paper forms would put me in serious financial trouble. Did you do anything specific that finally fixed it, or did they just randomly switch you back?
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Sunny Wang
•It magically fixed itself after I submitted the second paper form. No explanation, no notification - just suddenly I could certify online again. EDD never explained what caused it or why it was fixed. The system is DESIGNED to be frustrating!!
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Hugh Intensity
same thing happened to my brother he said just keep certifying with the paper forms until they fix it took him like 4 weeks
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Effie Alexander
I went through this last year. The reason you're being directed to paper certification is most likely due to a qualification flag in the system. When you reported part-time work, it triggered an earnings verification review. What worked for me was using Claimyr to actually reach a live EDD representative who fixed it on the spot. Before that I spent weeks trying to get through on my own. You can check out how it works at claimyr.com - there's also a video demo showing the process: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km Once I got through to a rep, they were able to see that my account had been flagged for "earnings verification" and they removed the restriction. I was back to certifying online immediately after the call. The rep explained that this happens automatically when the system detects potential issues that need human review.
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Reginald Blackwell
•Thank you so much for this specific advice! I'll check out that service - at this point I'd try anything to avoid weeks of paper forms and payment delays. Did they ask for any specific documentation when you called?
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Effie Alexander
•They just asked for my basic verification info (SSN, address, DOB) and then could see the flag on my account. If it's earnings-related, having your pay stubs ready might help, but the rep I spoke with was able to remove the online restriction without any additional documentation. They said it was a common system flag that happens when part-time earnings are reported.
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Melissa Lin
i had this happen! dont waste time with paper forms, u need to talk to someone. i got thru by calling right when they opened at 8am and pressing the options for "employer services" instead of claimant services - they'll transfer u to the right dept but u skip the main queue. took me 4 days of trying but finally worked. btw paper forms r the worst, they lost mine twice!!
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Lydia Santiago
•The employer services trick didn't work for me when I tried it last month. They caught onto that loophole and now they just tell you to call the regular number. 😞
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Melissa Lin
•oh no! maybe they fixed that workaround then. i did it back in march so maybe its changed. thats so annoying!
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Aria Khan
forgot to say check ur settings in UI online theres a option for paper or online somewhere in the preferences i think
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Everett Tutum
•This is partially correct - there is a communication preference setting, but it only affects general notices, not the certification method. When EDD requires paper certification, there's no setting you can change yourself to override it. Only an EDD representative can remove that requirement from your account.
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Reginald Blackwell
UPDATE: I finally got through to EDD this morning! Called over 30 times using the trick of calling right at 8:00am. The rep confirmed what many of you said - my account was flagged for earnings verification because of my part-time work reported on the last certification. They removed the paper requirement flag and I can certify online again! For anyone else facing this issue, definitely try to speak with a rep directly - the paper forms would have taken weeks to process. Thanks everyone for your help!
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Everett Tutum
•Great news! For future reference, whenever you report earnings, try to have documentation ready (pay stubs, etc.) as this can help prevent the automatic flag. Glad you got it resolved quickly!
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Effie Alexander
•Excellent! So happy you got it fixed. It's crazy how something that takes a rep 2 minutes to fix can cause weeks of delays if you can't reach someone.
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Alejandro Castro
Congrats on getting it resolved! This is such a common issue and it's frustrating that EDD's system automatically flags accounts for earnings verification without any clear notification to claimants. Your experience really highlights how important it is to speak directly with a rep rather than getting stuck in the paper form loop. For anyone else dealing with this, I'd recommend keeping detailed records of any part-time work before reporting it - having pay stubs and employer info ready can sometimes help prevent these automatic flags from triggering in the first place. Thanks for updating us with the resolution - these success stories really help others who might be going through the same thing!
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