EDD identity verification issues - need help reaching appeals after phone interview went nowhere

Your husband is getting caught in the EDD runaround. This happened to me last year with the identity verification mess. The regular eligibility interviewers are correct - they can't override identity verification issues, only the appeals unit can. Unfortunately, appeals is notoriously difficult to reach by phone. You have three options: 1) Submit the formal appeal in writing (DE 1000M form) and wait - this can take 4-6 weeks to process 2) Contact your state assembly member's office - they have special EDD liaisons who can escalate cases 3) Try Claimyr.com to get connected to a live EDD agent who might be able to transfer you to appeals. Saved me hours of redial hell - they have a video demo of how it works here: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km The state assembly route worked best for me, but it still took about 2 weeks. Hang in there!

dude same thing with my roomate!!! they questioned if he was a citizen even tho he was born in san diego lol. he sent in his passport AND birth certificate and they STILL made him do an appeal. the system is trash

I work with an advocacy group that helps people navigate EDD problems. Here's what your husband needs to know about the ID verification appeals: 1) The appeals process is separate from regular EDD. When they questioned his identity/citizenship, it triggered an automatic disqualification that ONLY the appeals board can reverse. 2) While you wait for the appeal hearing (which will likely be scheduled 4-6 weeks after submitting the DE 1000M), make sure all documents are easily accessible. They need to see: - Primary ID (passport or driver's license) - Secondary ID (birth certificate, IRS transcript, Social Security card) - Proof of address matching the claim address 3) The appeal hearing is usually by phone and only takes about 15 minutes if all your documentation is in order. 4) Important: if your husband starts working before the appeal is resolved, he should still pursue the appeal. He's entitled to benefits for the weeks he was eligible and unemployed, even if he's working by the time the appeal is decided. Unfortunately, there's no direct phone number for the appeals office. Your best option to expedite is contacting your state representative as the previous commenter suggested.

The EDD system is COMPLETELY BROKEN! This same exact thing happened to me in January - questioned my identity even though I'd been filing for years with them! Then they make YOU jump through all these hoops to prove something they already should know! I ended up sending a certified letter to the Appeals Board and waited 7 WEEKS for a hearing. And guess what? The judge took one look at my documents and approved everything in 5 minutes! Total waste of everyone's time and meanwhile they're holding YOUR MONEY that YOU'RE ENTITLED TO!!! The whole system is designed to make people give up so they don't have to pay benefits. It's disgusting.

OK so here's what my brother did when he had the same identity verification nightmare with EDD last month. He called his state assembly member (look yours up at findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov) and their office has a dedicated EDD case worker. He had to fill out a release form for them to advocate on his behalf, but they got his appeal expedited and scheduled within a week! The regular channels were telling him 6-8 weeks wait. Definitely worth trying!

u should try calling this number: 855-327-7057 its the number for ID.me verification issues... thats what its sounds like ur husband has. they might be able to help u without going through the whole appeals process

i had a simlar situation back in november. what worked for me was i got through to a tier 2 specialist at edd who could actually see all the notes on my account. the regular agents cant do anything but the specialists sometimes can help. i used claimyr.com to get through after trying for days to call myself. cost some money but saved me weeks of waiting.

Following up on my earlier comment - your husband should also check his UI Online account daily. Sometimes when the identity verification is resolved, they'll update his account status but NOT notify him by mail or email. The system is frustrating that way. Also, if he already submitted the appeal form (DE 1000M), he should receive an acknowledgment letter with an appeal case number within about 10-15 days. If it's been longer than that, I would recommend calling the Appeals Office directly at 800-300-5616, then press 1 for English, then 3 for Appeals information. If that doesn't work, the state assembly representative route is definitely your best bet. They have direct channels to EDD management that regular claimants don't have access to.

this is why the whole system is bs - they make u upload ur id then still say they cant verify it lol make it make sense!!! hope ur husband gets the new job and doesnt have to deal with edd anymore

I'm dealing with almost the exact same situation right now! EDD flagged my identity verification even though I've been a California resident for 15 years and filed claims with them before. What's really frustrating is that they make you jump through all these hoops but don't give you any clear timeline or updates on progress. One thing that helped me get some traction was documenting everything - I started keeping a log of every call, every document I submitted, and every person I spoke with (including their names and reference numbers). This helped when I finally got connected to someone who could actually help because I could reference specific interactions and show the timeline of my attempts to resolve this. Also, if your husband does get the new job, definitely still pursue the appeal like others mentioned. I learned that you can claim benefits for any weeks you were unemployed and eligible, even if the appeal gets resolved after you're working again. Don't let EDD keep money that's rightfully yours! Hope the assembly member route works out for you - seems like that's been the most successful path for people lately. This whole system really needs an overhaul.

I went through this exact same identity verification hell with EDD about 8 months ago and it was absolutely maddening. They flagged my account for "suspicious activity" even though I'd been filing claims with them for years without any issues. Like your husband, I had to do the whole song and dance - uploaded my driver's license, birth certificate, Social Security card, bank statements, you name it. Still got stuck in the appeals black hole. What finally worked for me was a combination of two things: I contacted my state assembly member (which I see you're already doing - smart move!) AND I also reached out to my local One-Stop Career Center. A lot of people don't know this, but the career centers have EDD liaisons who can sometimes help escalate cases or at least provide guidance on navigating the system. The assembly member's office took about 3 weeks to get results, but they were able to get my appeal hearing scheduled much faster than the normal process. The hearing itself was quick - maybe 10 minutes on the phone with a judge who basically said "yeah, all your documents are obviously legitimate, case closed." One tip: when you do get your appeal hearing scheduled, make sure your husband has ALL the documents ready in digital format on his computer. They'll ask him to email copies during the call sometimes. Good luck with the job interview today - hopefully this EDD nightmare will be behind you soon!

I'm so sorry you're going through this - the EDD identity verification process is absolutely broken and you're definitely not alone. I went through something similar last year where they questioned my identity despite having filed with them multiple times before. A few things that might help while you're waiting on the assembly member response: 1) Keep calling that appeals number (800-300-5616) that Brady mentioned - sometimes you can catch them during less busy hours (try early morning around 8 AM) 2) Document every single interaction like Miguel suggested - dates, names, reference numbers, what was said. This becomes crucial evidence if you need to escalate further 3) If your husband does land that job today (fingers crossed!), definitely don't abandon the appeal. You're entitled to those back benefits for the weeks he was unemployed and eligible The fact that they're questioning citizenship for someone born in Michigan is just mind-boggling. The whole system seems designed to exhaust people into giving up. Stay strong and keep fighting - from what I've seen in this community, persistence eventually pays off, especially with the assembly member's help. Rooting for you both!