EDD login issues when trying to file new claim after 2 years - account restoration problems

Yep, this EXACT thing happened to me in January. Their system is so messed up! After 18 months of not using my account, it basically locked me out permanently. I spent 3 days trying to get through on the phone line before giving up. Finally called right at 8:00am and got through after only 45 minutes on hold. The rep had to manually reset something on their end - apparently there's some kind of automatic security lockout after long periods of inactivity that you CAN'T fix yourself no matter what you try online.

I went through this last month! The EDD system automatically deactivates accounts after 18 months of inactivity for security reasons. No matter what you do online, you HAVE to call to get it fixed. Try calling exactly at 8:01am when they open - that's when I finally got through. Also, make sure you have your old EDD Customer Account Number ready when you call. They'll ask for it along with your SSN and ID verification. If you don't have it, they might transfer you to another department which just adds more waiting time.

I'm going through this right now too! Super annoying. According to the EDD rep I finally reached, this is normal security protocol. After approximately 18-24 months of inactivity, accounts get flagged in their system and require manual verification to reactivate. You absolutely need to speak with a representative - there's no online fix for this. I was struggling to get through for days until I found a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com). They have a system that holds your place in line and calls you when an EDD agent is available. Saved me hours of redial hell. Check out their demo video to see how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km Once I got through, the rep fixed my account in about 5 minutes. Then I was able to file my new claim immediately.

This is a standard account security measure implemented in late 2022. When accounts are dormant for 18+ months, they're automatically secured and require representative intervention to reactivate. Here's what you'll need to have ready when you call: 1) Social Security Number 2) Previous EDD Customer Account Number (if you have it) 3) Driver's License or State ID 4) Address history for the past 3 years 5) Employment information from your previous claim After verification, they'll reset your access and you can create a new password. It usually takes about 24 hours for the reset to fully process in their system. Also important: you MUST file a new claim - your old claim information won't automatically transfer even after reactivation.

omg the SAME THING happened to me and it was a NIGHTMARE!!!!!! i had to call like 67 times before i got thru. the stupid system kept saying my SSN already existed (DUH OF COURSE IT DOES) but wouldn't let me log in with my old info either. when i finally got someone on the phone they said its some stupid security thing and they had to verify my identity AGAIN even tho i already did all that before with my first claim. waste of time!!! the worst part is after they fixed my account i STILL had problems with the website not working right for like 3 days after. keep calling until you get someone helpful, some of them don't know what they're doing!!!

i think they do this on purpose to make it harder for ppl to get benefits tbh... my brother had the same issue and ended up having to go to the actual edd office in person to get it fixed bc he could never get through on the phone. if u have an office nearby that might be faster

Just to follow up on the in-person option - most EDD offices require appointments now. You can't just walk in anymore like in the old days. You need to call the main EDD number and request an in-person appointment, which kind of defeats the purpose if you can't get through on the phone. When I had this issue, I finally got through by calling at 8:01am on a Wednesday. For some reason mid-week seemed to have slightly lower call volume than Mondays or Fridays. The representative I spoke with confirmed this is a very common issue. Once they manually verify your identity and reset your account access, you'll receive an email with instructions for setting up a new password.

I remember when i had this problem the rep told me that even after they reset your account, you gotta wait like 24-48 hours before you can actually log in again. So don't panic if it doesn't work right away after they help you. Also make sure when you DO get back in that you update all your contact info right away. Sometimes they still have old phone numbers and emails from years ago which can cause MORE problems later.

I'm dealing with the exact same issue right now! Got laid off from my tech job last week and trying to file a new claim after my last one was in 2022. The endless loop of "account exists but can't log in" is driving me crazy. Based on what everyone's saying here, it sounds like calling is the only solution. I'm going to try the 8:01am Wednesday strategy and have all my documents ready. Really frustrating that they don't have a self-service option for this - seems like such a common problem that they should have figured out by now. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences! At least now I know I'm not alone in this nightmare and there IS a way to fix it.

This exact same thing happened to me in October! I was stuck in that same frustrating loop for almost a week. The system definitely auto-locks accounts after about 18 months of inactivity - it's their "security feature" but feels more like a punishment for people who managed to find work and didn't need benefits for a while. I ended up getting through by calling at exactly 8:00am on a Tuesday (not 8:01 - literally right when they open). Had my SSN, old EDD customer account number, and ID ready. The rep was actually pretty helpful once I got through and had my account unlocked in about 10 minutes. She explained that this happens to thousands of people and there's absolutely no way to fix it online - you HAVE to call. One tip: if you can't find your old customer account number, check any old emails from EDD in your spam folder. Mine was buried there from 2022 and having it made the verification process much faster. Hang in there - once you get through to someone, it's a quick fix!

I went through this nightmare last year and it took me almost 2 weeks to resolve! The automated security lockout after 18+ months is real and super frustrating. Here's what finally worked for me: I used an auto-dialer app (there are several free ones) to keep calling the main EDD line starting at 7:58am on weekdays. Tuesday and Wednesday mornings seemed to have the best success rates. When I finally got through, the rep told me this happens to about 200-300 people per day - it's incredibly common but they have no plans to create an online fix. Make sure you have: your SSN, any old EDD paperwork with your customer account number, current address, and your ID ready. The verification process took about 15 minutes, then I had to wait 24 hours before I could actually log in with the new password they set up. Pro tip: Once your account is reactivated, immediately download/screenshot EVERYTHING including your customer account number and save it somewhere safe. That way if this happens again in the future, you'll have all the info ready to speed up the verification process. The whole system is ridiculous but at least there IS a solution once you get through to a human. Don't give up - you'll get there!

I'm going through this exact same situation right now! Lost my job at a hotel last Friday and trying to file after not needing benefits since early 2022. The "account exists but login fails" loop is maddening. Reading through all these responses is both frustrating (that EDD hasn't fixed this obvious system flaw) and reassuring (that I'm not alone and there IS a solution). The 18-month auto-lockout "security feature" seems designed to discourage people from reapplying rather than actually provide security. I'm going to try the early morning calling strategy - probably Tuesday at 8:00am sharp with all my documents ready. Found my old customer account number in an email from 2022 thankfully. It's ridiculous that we have to jump through all these hoops just to access benefits we're entitled to, but at least now I know what to expect when I finally get through. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences! This thread should be pinned somewhere because clearly this affects hundreds of people every day.

I'm dealing with this nightmare too! Just got laid off from my retail job on Monday and haven't touched my EDD account since 2022. Spent the last 3 days trying every combination of passwords and getting nowhere - thought I was losing my mind until I found this thread. The fact that this happens to 200-300 people DAILY according to what someone mentioned here and EDD still hasn't created an online fix is absolutely insane. It's like they're deliberately making it harder for people who actually found work and stayed off benefits for a while. I'm going to try the 8:00am Tuesday calling strategy with my old customer account number ready (luckily found it in my email archive). Has anyone had success with the auto-dialer apps mentioned? I'm willing to try anything at this point because manually redialing for hours isn't sustainable when you're already stressed about being unemployed. Really grateful for everyone sharing their experiences here - at least now I know I'm not alone in this broken system and there IS light at the end of the tunnel once you get through to a human!