EDD marked my work search as 'disqualified' even though I did search - can I fix this?

Unfortunately, once your certification is submitted with 'disqualified' for work search, you can't edit it directly through UI Online. You'll need to contact EDD to explain the situation. The disqualification means they may withhold payment until this is resolved. If you have documentation of your job searches during that period, gather it now - you'll need it when you speak with them.

Don't panic just yet! I had this EXACT same problem back in January. The EDD website glitched when I was certifying - I clicked YES that I looked for work but somehow it registered as NO. When I finally got through to an EDD rep, they were able to fix it on their end and released my payment within 48 hours. The key is actually getting through to someone. I wasted 3 days trying to call before I discovered Claimyr (claimyr.com). They got me connected to an EDD agent in about 20 minutes when I'd been getting busy signals for days. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km. Seriously worth it when your rent is on the line.

WAIT A SECOND! Are you sure you answered all the work search questions correctly during certification? On the screen where it asks "Did you look for work?" you have to select YES, but that's not enough! There's another screen where you have to select which work search activities you performed. If you skipped that or clicked through too fast, the system will mark you as disqualified even if you said yes to searching for work. THIS HAPPENED TO ME and I almost lost my mind!!! The EDD system is DELIBERATELY CONFUSING!

This is a common issue with the certification process. Here's what likely happened: You selected "Yes" to looking for work, but either missed completing the work search record section or there was a system error during submission. Here's what you need to do: 1. Call EDD immediately at 1-800-300-5616 2. Explain that you conducted work searches but your certification shows "disqualified" 3. Have your work search records ready (dates, company names, positions, application methods) 4. Request they manually update your certification In most cases, they can fix this over the phone and release your payment. If they require documentation, they'll tell you how to submit it. Don't wait - this won't resolve itself automatically.

did u save all ur work search stuff? they might ask for proof when u call. i usally just take screenshots of all my applications just in case this happens lol

this happened to my brother and they ended up giving him a penalty week where he had to do the work search but didnt get paid for it. something about it being his second offense. have you had problems with work search requirements before?

Just following up - were you able to get through to EDD about this? For anyone else reading this with similar issues, I cannot stress enough how much time I saved using Claimyr to connect with EDD. When you're dealing with potential payment delays and rent due dates, spending hours/days on redial isn't an option.

Yes! They connected me to a tier 2 specialist who had the authority to change my certification status. Just make sure you have all your work search details ready when you call. The rep will ask for specifics about where you applied and when.

Quick update on work search disqualifications: As of March 2025, EDD has updated their system to allow for some limited corrections to work search issues through your UI Online account. Look for the "Contact EDD" option, then select "Certification Questions" as the category, and "Work Search Issue" as the topic. You can submit details there, though calling is still faster for urgent payment needs.

So glad you got it resolved! This is exactly why I always tell people to double-check every single screen during certification - the EDD system is designed like a maze and it's so easy to miss a required field. For anyone else reading this thread, here's a pro tip: after you submit your certification, immediately check your payment history. If anything looks off (like "disqualified" status), don't wait - call that same day. The longer you wait, the more complicated it becomes to fix. Also, definitely keep those work search records organized - I use a simple Google Sheet with columns for date, company, position, and method of contact. Has saved me multiple times when EDD asked for verification!

Wow, reading through all these responses really highlights how broken the EDD system can be! I'm so glad you were able to get it resolved @Alicia Stern - that must have been incredibly stressful with rent coming up. For anyone else who might face this issue, I want to add that if you're ever unsure about whether you completed the work search section correctly during certification, there's actually a way to double-check. After you submit, go to your "History" tab in UI Online and look at the details for your most recent certification. It should show specific work search activities listed if you completed that section properly. If it just says "disqualified" with no activities listed, that's a red flag that something went wrong during the certification process. Also, I've learned the hard way to screenshot every single page during certification before clicking "next" - just in case there's a system glitch and you need to prove what you actually selected. The EDD system can be finicky and it's better to have too much documentation than not enough!

This whole thread is a perfect example of why the EDD system desperately needs to be redesigned with actual user experience in mind! I'm a UX designer and the number of "gotcha" moments and confusing workflows people describe here is just insane. @Alicia Stern I'm so relieved you got this sorted out! Your experience sounds absolutely terrifying, especially with rent due. One thing I'd add for future reference - after calling EDD and getting something fixed, always ask the rep for a confirmation number or case number for the correction. Sometimes fixes don't stick in their system and having that reference number can save you from having to re-explain everything if issues pop up again. Also, huge thanks to everyone sharing their workarounds and tips. The fact that we need services like Claimyr just to contact a government agency we're entitled to reach is ridiculous, but I'm glad solutions exist. The screenshot advice is brilliant too - I'm going to start doing that for all my online government interactions, not just EDD!

Reading through all these responses as someone who just started collecting unemployment benefits - this is both terrifying and incredibly helpful! The fact that so many people have dealt with this exact same work search disqualification issue really shows there's a systemic problem with how the EDD certification process works. @Alicia Stern - I'm so glad you got it resolved! Your situation with rent coming up would have had me in full panic mode. The tips everyone shared here are invaluable, especially the screenshots during certification and keeping detailed work search records. I'm definitely going to implement that Google Sheets tracking system before my next certification. One thing I'm curious about - for those who've had to call EDD multiple times, do you find that different representatives give different information? I've heard horror stories about getting conflicting answers depending on who you talk to, which adds another layer of stress to an already difficult situation. It seems like having everything documented (work searches, confirmation numbers, etc.) is the only way to protect yourself in this system. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences - this thread is going to save so many people from going through the same nightmare!

This entire thread is like a masterclass in navigating EDD's broken system! As someone who works in tech support, I can tell you that what @Alicia Stern experienced is a classic case of poor form validation - the system probably accepted her "Yes" response but then failed to properly save or validate the subsequent work search details due to session timeouts, browser issues, or just plain bad code. The advice everyone's given here is spot-on, especially the documentation strategies. I'd add one more tip: if you're using Chrome or Firefox, you can actually save the entire webpage (Ctrl+S) during each step of certification, not just screenshots. This saves all the form data and can serve as proof of what you actually entered if there's ever a dispute. Also, for anyone dealing with this in the future - if you get the dreaded "disqualified" status, try submitting a message through the UI Online portal BEFORE calling. Sometimes this creates a paper trail that speeds up the phone resolution process. Include your work search details in that message so it's already in their system when you do get through to a rep. The fact that we need these workarounds for a basic government service is ridiculous, but at least this community exists to help each other navigate the maze!