EDD portal locked after identity verification - any way to reactive claim?
So frustrated right now! Applied for EDD benefits in mid-August and immediately ran into identity verification issues. They completely locked me out of my UI Online portal with a message saying "unable to verify identity" - no explanation, no instructions on what to do next. I tried calling the 800 number about 30 times (no exaggeration) and either got the dreaded "we're experiencing high call volume" message or was disconnected. Reached out to my district's state assembly office for help, and they initially seemed responsive but then ghosted me completely - they're literally blocking my emails now which seems incredibly unprofessional. I ended up taking a temporary job doing political canvassing for 7 weeks just to have some income, but that ended last week. Now I need to figure out how to reactivate/continue my original claim since I'm eligible again, but I'm still locked out of the portal. Has anyone successfully navigated a situation like this? Any suggestions on getting actual help from a human at EDD? This is beyond frustrating.
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Axel Bourke
same happened 2 me last month!! try clearing ur browser cookies, that fixed the portal for my roomate. EDD is total garbage rn, i swear they lock accounts on purpose just 2 avoid paying ppl
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Nalani Liu
•Thanks for responding! I tried clearing cookies/cache and even using a different browser altogether but it still says my account is locked due to identity verification issues. It's not just a technical glitch - they actually put a hold on my account.
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Aidan Percy
The identity verification issues are THE WORST. I spent literally 2 months trying to resolve mine. Have you tried the ID.me process? Sometimes you have to redo it even if you already completed it once. Also, did you check if you received any notices in the mail that might have instructions?
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Nalani Liu
•I completed ID.me when I first applied and it said successful, but maybe I need to redo it? The only mail I got was the initial paperwork confirming I'd applied, nothing about the identity verification failure specifically. The whole system is so cryptic.
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Fernanda Marquez
I'm sorry you're dealing with this frustrating situation. When your UI Online account is locked due to identity verification issues, calling is unfortunately the most direct way to resolve it. However, there's a specific approach that might help. Call the identity verification department directly at 1-866-401-2849 rather than the main EDD line. They open at 8 AM and I suggest calling exactly at opening time. Also, you might need to restart your claim process since you had employment after initially filing. You'll need to report those earnings from your canvassing job during the certification process once you regain access. As for your assemblymember's office blocking you - that's unusual and concerning. You might want to try your state senator's office instead, as they can also assist with EDD issues.
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Nalani Liu
•Thank you SO much for this specific advice! I didn't know about the separate identity verification department number. I'll definitely try calling right at 8 AM tomorrow. And yes, I planned to report the canvassing earnings once I can actually get back into the system. I'll also try my state senator's office - great suggestion!
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Norman Fraser
ugh id verification is such a headache! i had to take a video selfie THREE TIMES before mine went through. make sure your lighting is good if you redo id.me. also did u check ur spam folder for emails from EDD about verification?
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Nalani Liu
•I didn't think to check spam! Just looked and nothing there unfortunately. But good point about the lighting for ID.me - I was in a pretty dark room when I did mine, so maybe that contributed to the problem.
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Kendrick Webb
After months of getting that "high call volume" message and never reaching anyone at EDD, I finally tried Claimyr and it was a total game-changer. Their system calls EDD for you and connects you with an agent - I got through in about 45 minutes after trying for weeks on my own. They have a demo video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km. Their website is claimyr.com if you want to check it out. Honestly, it saved my sanity during my identity verification nightmare.
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Aidan Percy
•Is this legit? I'm always skeptical of third-party services for government stuff. Has anyone else used this?
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Hattie Carson
•I've used Claimyr twice and it worked both times. It's just a calling service that navigates the phone tree and waits on hold for you. But there are also free alternatives - if you call at exactly 8:01am, you sometimes can get through without much wait.
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Destiny Bryant
Listen, I've been through the EXACT same nightmare. The ID verification is a DISASTER and EDD knows it!!! What finally worked for me was filing a complaint with the State Labor Commissioner's Office. I know it sounds extreme, but within 3 days of filing my complaint, I magically got a call from an EDD supervisor who fixed everything. Don't waste more time with the regular channels - they're designed to make you give up!!!
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Nalani Liu
•Wow, I hadn't considered filing a formal complaint. That's definitely a more aggressive approach, but at this point I'm willing to try anything. Did you file the complaint online or was there a specific form you had to complete?
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Destiny Bryant
•I did it online through their website. Just google "California Labor Commissioner complaint" and it'll come up. Be VERY specific about how long you've been trying and document EVERYTHING - dates you called, emails sent, etc. The more detail the better. They can't ignore an official complaint as easily as they ignore phone calls!
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Hattie Carson
Based on your situation, here's what I recommend doing in this exact order: 1. Call the identity verification line (866-401-2849) right at 8:00 AM 2. If that doesn't work after 2-3 days of trying, redo the ID.me verification process from scratch 3. While working on steps 1-2, also contact your state senator's office (not assembly since they weren't helpful) 4. If all else fails, file the formal complaint with the Labor Commissioner as suggested above One additional point: Since you worked during your claim period, make sure you're prepared to provide exact dates and earnings from your canvassing job. They'll need to recalculate your benefits and having this information ready will expedite the process once you get through.
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Nalani Liu
•Thank you for laying out such a clear plan of action! This is exactly what I needed. I've got all my canvassing pay stubs organized, so I'm ready with that information. I'll start with the identity verification line tomorrow morning and work through your suggested steps if needed. Really appreciate the structured approach!
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Axel Bourke
btw dont 4get to ask for retroactive payments once u get thru!! u should get paid for the weeks before u started the canvassing job since u were eligible then. EDD tries to make ppl forget about those initial weeks
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Fernanda Marquez
•This is an excellent point. OP should definitely request retroactive certification for the eligible weeks between their initial application and starting the canvassing job. EDD can provide retroactive certification forms for those weeks, but you typically need to specifically ask for them, especially when there's been an account lockout situation.
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Nalani Liu
UPDATE: I finally got through! Called the identity verification line at exactly 8:00 AM as suggested and got connected after a 45-minute wait. The rep confirmed there was an ID.me verification flag on my account, even though I had completed it successfully. Turns out the issue was that my driver's license was renewed shortly after I applied, and the system flagged the discrepancy between my old license (which I used for verification) and my new one (which showed up in their DMV cross-check). The agent was able to manually verify my identity and unlock my UI Online account! Now I can see I have several weeks of back-certification to complete. Thank you all SO MUCH for your help and suggestions - I would have never known to call that specific number without your advice!
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