EDD login verification codes not coming through - can't access account to file new claim

same thing happened to me last month! the system is completely broken. i waited 3 days and still no codes. ended up having to go to the edd office in person to file my claim. total waste of time.

Check if ur using the right email. I thought I wasn't getting codes but turns out I had 2 accounts with different emails from when I filed back in 2020.

This is actually a known issue that's been happening since EDD upgraded their verification system last month. There are a few things you can try: 1. Make sure your email provider isn't blocking emails from edd.ca.gov - check your email settings and add them to your safe senders list 2. Try requesting the code during non-peak hours (early morning 5-7AM or late evening 9-11PM) 3. If you have a phone number on file with EDD, call the main support line and ask them to switch your verification method to SMS temporarily 4. As a last resort, you can file your claim by phone, but be prepared for long wait times I work in IT and helped several people with this issue. It's usually either email filtering or server congestion during peak hours.

I had this exact problem and nothing worked for days!!! So frustrating trying to get through to anyone at EDD who could actually HELP. I finally used Claimyr to get through to a real EDD agent (claimyr.com). They have this system that calls EDD for you and transfers you once they get through. Saved me hours of redial hell. There's a video demo of how it works here: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km The agent I spoke with was able to bypass the verification system and help me file my claim over the phone. Worth checking out if you're still stuck.

The EDD verification system has been an absolute NIGHTMARE since they "upgraded" it. Classic government efficiency - break something that was working fine and then offer no solutions! I've been dealing with EDD for 3 years now (seasonal work) and it gets WORSE every year not better. One thing nobody mentioned yet - check if your EDD account is LOCKED. Sometimes when you try to log in too many times without getting the verification code, they lock your account as a "security measure" 🙄 and you have to call to get it unlocked. Good luck getting anyone on the phone though!!

I work with unemployment claims professionally, and I can provide some additional context on what's happening: The EDD recently implemented enhanced security measures following last year's fraud concerns. One side effect is their email verification system sometimes gets overloaded. Here's what I recommend for your situation: 1. If you need to file a new claim urgently and can't access your account, you can file by phone at 1-800-300-5616. However, be aware that wait times are currently averaging 2-3 hours. 2. For the verification code issue, contact EDD's technical support specifically about "Multi-Factor Authentication Problems" - this routes you to a different department than general tech support. 3. While waiting for account access, gather all your employment documents (last paystub, separation letter if you have one, etc.) to speed up the claim filing process once you get through. Also, important to note: new claims can be backdated to your actual unemployment date if there's a valid reason for delay (like technical issues with their system). Make sure to mention this technical problem when you file.

did u try clicking "forgot password" instead? sometimes that bypasses the verification code thing and lets u set a new password to get in. worth a shot

Quick update on this issue - EDD just posted on their website that they're experiencing "technical difficulties" with their email verification system and are working to resolve it. They recommend trying to log in during off-peak hours or calling their technical support line at 1-855-327-7057 for assistance. Hopefully they'll have it fixed soon, but at least they're acknowledging the problem now.

UPDATE: I finally got in! For anyone having the same problem, here's what worked for me: 1. I called the tech support line at 6:30 AM exactly when they opened (way less wait time) 2. Specifically mentioned "multi-factor authentication failure" like someone here suggested 3. The tech support person had me verify my identity, then temporarily disabled the email verification on my account and switched it to security questions instead 4. I was able to log in, file my claim, and then they switched my account back to normal verification Thanks everyone for your help! The claim is now processing, and they did backdate it to my actual last day of work.

This is such a helpful thread! I've been dealing with the exact same verification code issue for the past week and was getting really stressed about it. Reading through everyone's experiences and solutions gives me hope that I can get this resolved. @AstroAce - congratulations on getting through! I'm definitely going to try calling tech support early in the morning and specifically mention "multi-factor authentication failure" like you did. The fact that they could temporarily switch to security questions is exactly what I need. @Mei Zhang - thank you for all the detailed IT advice throughout this thread. I'm going to check my email settings tonight and try during off-peak hours first before calling. It's frustrating that EDD's "upgrade" caused all these problems, but at least now I know I'm not the only one dealing with this and there are actual solutions that work. Really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences here!

I'm dealing with this same verification code nightmare right now! Been trying to log in for 3 days straight with no luck. It's so reassuring to see that others have gotten through this and that there are actual solutions that work. @AstroAce - thanks for sharing your success story and the step-by-step process! I'm definitely going to try calling tech support first thing tomorrow morning and use the exact phrase "multi-factor authentication failure." The fact that they could temporarily switch you to security questions gives me hope. @Mei Zhang - your IT expertise has been invaluable throughout this thread. I'm going to check my email provider settings tonight and add edd.ca.gov to my safe senders list. I hadn't even considered that my email might be blocking their messages. It's incredibly frustrating that EDD's "security upgrade" has caused so many people to be locked out of their accounts, especially when we're already dealing with the stress of unemployment. But seeing how this community has come together to share solutions and support each other is really encouraging. Thanks everyone for taking the time to help!

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm currently stuck with the same verification code issue and have been panicking about missing the deadline to file my claim. Reading through everyone's experiences and solutions has given me a clear action plan. I'm planning to try the early morning call strategy tomorrow at 6:30 AM and specifically mention "multi-factor authentication failure" like @AstroAce did. It's such a relief to know that they can temporarily switch accounts to security questions - I had no idea that was even an option! For anyone else dealing with this, I also wanted to mention that I found EDD's official statement about the technical difficulties on their website (like @Mei Zhang posted about). They've updated it to say they're "actively working on a permanent fix" and recommend calling the tech support line for urgent account access issues. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and solutions. This community support makes dealing with EDD's broken system a little less stressful!

I just wanted to jump in and say how grateful I am for this entire thread! I've been lurking here for a few days dealing with the exact same verification code nightmare, and seeing all the real solutions and success stories has been such a lifesaver. What really stands out to me is how this community has basically done EDD's job for them - providing clear troubleshooting steps, workarounds, and even the exact phone numbers and phrases to use. The fact that @AstroAce got through by calling at 6:30 AM and specifically saying "multi-factor authentication failure" is the kind of insider knowledge that EDD should be providing upfront instead of just telling people to "wait 24 hours." I'm planning to follow the same strategy tomorrow morning, and I've already added edd.ca.gov to my email safe senders list based on @Mei Zhang's advice. It's ridiculous that we have to jump through all these hoops because of their "upgrade," but at least now I have a concrete plan instead of just repeatedly trying to log in and getting nowhere. Thanks to everyone who took the time to share their experiences and solutions - this is exactly the kind of community support that makes dealing with government bureaucracy a little more bearable!

Just wanted to add another success story to this thread! I followed the advice here and finally got through this morning. Called the tech support line at 6:25 AM (wanted to be ready right when they opened) and used the exact phrase "multi-factor authentication failure" when the agent picked up. The wait was only about 15 minutes, which was amazing compared to the horror stories I'd heard about EDD phone lines. The agent immediately knew what I was talking about and said they've been getting tons of calls about this issue. She had me verify my identity with my SSN, address, and last employer, then temporarily switched my account to security question verification. I was able to log in within 5 minutes of hanging up, file my claim, and they even backdated it to my actual unemployment date like @Giovanni Rossi mentioned. The whole process took less than an hour from start to finish. For anyone still dealing with this - the early morning call strategy is 100% worth it. Have your personal info ready, use the "multi-factor authentication failure" phrase, and don't give up if you get put on hold for a bit. This community's advice really works! Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and making this way less stressful than it could have been. 🙏

I'm going through this exact same issue right now and this thread has been an absolute lifesaver! I've been locked out for almost a week and was starting to panic about filing my claim on time. Reading through all the success stories here has given me so much hope. @AstroAce and @Amelia Cartwright - thank you both for sharing your detailed step-by-step experiences with the early morning call strategy. The fact that you both got through with relatively short wait times by calling right when tech support opens at 6:30 AM is exactly the kind of actionable advice I needed. I'm definitely going to try calling tomorrow morning with the "multi-factor authentication failure" phrase and have all my verification info ready. It's incredible that this community has basically created the troubleshooting guide that EDD should have provided from the start! @Mei Zhang - also planning to try your email settings suggestions tonight just in case that's part of the issue. Really appreciate everyone taking the time to share solutions and keep each other's spirits up while dealing with this broken system. Will definitely report back with how it goes!

I'm dealing with this exact verification code issue too and have been stuck for 4 days now! This thread is incredibly helpful - thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and solutions. I had no idea that calling early in the morning would make such a difference with wait times, or that using the specific phrase "multi-factor authentication failure" would route you to the right department. The fact that multiple people have succeeded with this approach gives me real hope. @AstroAce @Amelia Cartwright - congratulations on getting through and thanks for the detailed breakdowns of what worked! I'm definitely going to try the 6:30 AM call strategy tomorrow with all my verification info ready. It's honestly frustrating that EDD's "security upgrade" has caused so many of us to be locked out, but seeing how this community has come together to share actual working solutions makes it feel less overwhelming. I'll update everyone on how my call goes tomorrow morning!

I'm going through this exact same nightmare right now! Been locked out for 5 days and feeling so frustrated. This thread has been incredibly helpful though - thank you to everyone sharing real solutions instead of just complaining. @AstroAce and @Amelia Cartwright - your detailed success stories with the 6:30 AM call strategy are giving me hope! I had no idea that calling right when tech support opens would make such a difference with wait times. I've been avoiding calling because I thought I'd be on hold for hours. I'm definitely going to try tomorrow morning with the "multi-factor authentication failure" phrase and have all my verification documents ready. It's amazing how this community has basically created the troubleshooting guide that EDD should have provided from day one. @Mei Zhang - also going to check my email settings tonight based on your IT advice. Really appreciate everyone taking the time to help each other navigate this broken system. Will definitely update with how it goes!

I'm dealing with this exact same verification code issue and have been stuck for almost a week now! This thread has been such a lifesaver - reading through everyone's experiences and solutions has given me actual hope instead of just feeling helpless. @AstroAce and @Amelia Cartwright - huge thanks for sharing your detailed success stories with the 6:30 AM call strategy! I had no idea that calling right when tech support opens would make such a difference. I've been dreading the phone call because I thought it meant spending my entire day on hold, but hearing about your 15-20 minute wait times makes it feel actually manageable. I'm definitely going to try the early morning call tomorrow with the "multi-factor authentication failure" phrase and have all my verification info organized and ready. It's incredible that this community has essentially become EDD's unofficial tech support and created the step-by-step guide they should have provided from the start. @Mei Zhang - also planning to check my email provider settings tonight based on your IT expertise. The idea that my email might be blocking EDD messages hadn't even occurred to me. It's so frustrating that their "security upgrade" has locked so many of us out, but seeing how everyone here has shared real working solutions instead of just venting makes dealing with this bureaucratic nightmare feel less overwhelming. Will definitely report back with how my call goes!

I've been following this thread closely as I'm dealing with the exact same verification code nightmare! Been locked out for 3 days now and was getting really stressed about filing my claim on time. @AstroAce and @Amelia Cartwright - thank you so much for sharing your detailed success stories! The 6:30 AM call strategy with the "multi-factor authentication failure" phrase seems to be the golden ticket based on all these consistent results. I had no idea that calling right when tech support opens would make such a huge difference with wait times. @Mei Zhang - really appreciate all your IT expertise throughout this thread. I'm going to check my email settings tonight and add edd.ca.gov to my safe senders list before trying the call tomorrow. It's honestly ridiculous that EDD's "upgrade" has caused all these problems and we've had to crowdsource the actual working solutions, but I'm so grateful for this community support. Having a concrete action plan instead of just repeatedly trying to log in and getting nowhere makes this whole situation feel way more manageable. I'm planning to try the early morning call tomorrow with all my verification info ready. Will definitely update everyone on how it goes - fingers crossed I can add another success story to this thread! 🤞