EDD portal won't let me file new claim - stuck in loop with old COVID claim

This is a common issue with UI Online when there's an old claim in the system. You don't need a new account, but you DO need to speak with an EDD representative to close out or reset your old claim before you can file a new one. They basically have to clear out the old COVID-era claim from their system. Unfortunately you can't fix this through the portal yourself - trust me, I tried every possible link and button when I had this same problem in December.

same thing happened 2 me last month!! so annoying right? i kept clicking around for like an hour thinking i was doing something wrong lol

I experienced this exact issue in February. The EDD system doesn't automatically clear expired claims from the COVID era, which creates this frustrating loop. Here's what you need to do: 1. Call the EDD at 1-800-300-5616 2. Request that they manually close your previous claim 3. Once they've done that, you'll be able to file a new claim through the portal Important: Make sure you have your previous claim information handy when you call (dates, claim ID if you have it). And be prepared - it might take multiple calls to get through due to high call volume. I recommend calling right when they open at 8AM.

Definitely a system glitch. Happened to my cousin and she had to call EDD like 20 times before getting thru. Their website is stuck in 2005 I swear

Try Claimyr - it totally saved me when I had this exact problem with my old COVID claim blocking a new application. I spent THREE DAYS trying to get through on my own with no luck. Claimyr got me connected to an EDD agent in about 25 minutes who cleared out my old claim so I could file a new one. They have a demo video that explains how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km Seriously, check out claimyr.com - it was worth it to not waste days of my life redialing EDD constantly.

THEY DO THIS ON PURPOSE I SWEAR!!! The EDD system is DESIGNED to be confusing and keep people from filing new claims. I went through the exact same thing in January and had to call SIXTY-FOUR TIMES over THREE DAYS before I got a human on the phone. And guess what? The rep fixed my "portal issue" in literally 2 minutes!! It's all a tactic to discourage people from collecting benefits they're entitled to. The whole system is broken by design!!!!

One more tip that might help - if you're still unable to get through on the phone, you can try visiting an EDD office in person. They can often resolve these portal issues on the spot. Here's a link to find your nearest office: https://www.edd.ca.gov/office_locator/

My brother said if u call at exactly 8:01 am you have a better chance of getting through. worked for him last month

Just to clarify something important: Once you do get through to EDD and have them clear your old claim, you'll need to complete a new application process. Make sure you have the following ready: 1. Your employment history for the last 18 months (employer names, addresses, phone numbers) 2. Last date worked and reason for separation from each employer 3. Your driver's license or state ID 4. Your citizenship status and right to work verification After filing, you'll likely need to complete ID verification through ID.me if you haven't done so since 2021. The whole process has changed a bit since the COVID era.

I went through this exact same nightmare in October! The key is persistence with the phone calls. Here's what finally worked for me: Call right at 8:00 AM sharp (not 8:01), and if you get the busy message, hang up and immediately redial. Don't wait. I literally hit redial 47 times in the first 10 minutes until I got into the hold queue. Once you're on hold, don't hang up no matter how long it takes - I waited 2.5 hours but finally got through. The rep cleared my old COVID claim in under 5 minutes and I was able to file my new claim that same day. It's absolutely ridiculous that we have to go through this, but unfortunately it's the reality of dealing with EDD's broken system.

I'm dealing with this exact same issue right now! Got laid off two weeks ago and keep getting stuck in that same loop with my old 2021 COVID claim. It's so frustrating because you can see the "File New Claim" button right there but it just bounces you back to the main screen. I've been trying to call EDD for days but keep getting that automated message saying they're too busy and then it just hangs up on me. Reading through everyone's responses here is both reassuring (I'm not alone!) and terrifying (this could take forever to resolve). Going to try the 8:00 AM sharp calling strategy tomorrow and maybe look into visiting an office in person if that doesn't work. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - at least now I know what I'm up against!

I just went through this same nightmare in February! The EDD portal gets stuck because it can't differentiate between expired claims and active ones - it's like their system doesn't know how to handle old COVID claims that have been closed for years. What finally worked for me was calling the 833-978-2511 number instead of the main 800 number. I found that the 833 number has slightly better wait times, especially if you call around 8:15 AM (not exactly at 8:00 when everyone else is calling). When you do get through, make sure to ask them to "purge" your old claim from the system, not just close it - that's the magic word that actually clears it out completely. Once they did that, I was able to file my new claim within 20 minutes. Hang in there - I know it feels impossible but you WILL get through eventually!

I'm going through this exact same issue right now! Just got laid off last Friday and I'm stuck in that same infuriating loop with my old COVID claim from 2020. Every time I click "File New Claim" it tells me I already have an existing claim, but when I try to access that old claim it just spins me around in circles. It's like being trapped in digital quicksand! I've been reading through all these responses and it's both reassuring and terrifying to see how many people have dealt with this. The fact that it takes 47 redials and 2.5 hours on hold just to get someone to click a button and fix this in 5 minutes is absolutely insane. I'm definitely going to try the 833-978-2511 number at 8:15 AM tomorrow - thanks Carmen for that tip! And I'll make sure to ask them to "purge" my old claim, not just close it. This whole situation really highlights how broken the EDD system is. We shouldn't have to become expert strategists just to file for benefits we're legally entitled to after losing our jobs. But I guess that's the reality we're dealing with. Wish me luck everyone - hopefully I'll have some good news to report back tomorrow!

I had this EXACT same issue back in November and I feel your frustration! After trying everything mentioned here (multiple phone numbers, different times, etc.), what finally worked for me was a combination approach. I called the 833-978-2511 number at 8:05 AM (right after the initial rush) and got through after about 25 redials. The key phrase that worked with the rep was asking them to "clear the benefit year end date" on my old claim - apparently that's what creates the loop in their system. Also, pro tip: while you're waiting to get through, go ahead and gather all your employment info for the past 18 months like Evelyn mentioned. Once they clear your old claim, you'll want to file the new one immediately while you're still on the phone with them. The rep can actually walk you through the new filing process right then and there, which saves you from potentially getting stuck in another glitch later. Don't give up - I know it seems impossible but literally everyone in this thread eventually got through. Your persistence will pay off!

I'm dealing with this exact same nightmare right now! Got laid off 5 days ago and I'm completely stuck in that same loop with my old COVID claim from 2020. It's so validating to read all these responses and realize I'm not losing my mind - this really is a widespread system issue that EDD apparently has no interest in fixing proactively. Based on everyone's advice here, I'm going to try the 833-978-2511 number tomorrow at 8:05 AM and armed with all the magic phrases you've shared: "purge the old claim," "clear the benefit year end date," and having them walk me through filing the new claim while I'm still on the phone. I've already gathered all my employment info for the past 18 months just in case. It's absolutely ridiculous that we need a whole strategy guide just to access benefits we're legally entitled to, but I'm grateful for this community sharing what actually works. Will definitely report back with results - fingers crossed I can break free from this digital purgatory tomorrow! Thanks everyone for the hope and practical advice. 🙏

I'm going through this EXACT same issue right now! Just got laid off 10 days ago and I'm completely trapped in that same infuriating loop with my old COVID claim from 2021. Every time I click "File New Claim" it says I have an existing claim, but then when I try to access it, it just spins me back to the homepage. It's like being stuck in some kind of bureaucratic nightmare! Reading through everyone's experiences here has been both a huge relief (I'm not going crazy!) and absolutely terrifying (this could take forever to resolve). The fact that so many people have dealt with this EXACT same issue and EDD still hasn't fixed it is mind-blowing. I'm definitely going to try the 833-978-2511 number tomorrow morning at 8:05 AM with all the magic phrases you've shared: "purge the old claim" and "clear the benefit year end date." Already have all my employment info ready for the past 18 months. Fingers crossed I can finally break free from this digital prison! Will report back with results - hopefully with some good news to help the next person who gets stuck in this loop. Thanks everyone for sharing what actually worked! 🤞

This is incredibly frustrating but you're definitely not alone! I went through this exact same issue last month when I got laid off. The EDD portal gets completely confused by old COVID-era claims and creates this endless loop that's impossible to escape on your own. Here's what finally worked for me: Call 833-978-2511 (not the main 800 number) at exactly 8:03 AM - seems to be the sweet spot after the initial 8:00 AM rush but before it gets completely swamped. Be prepared to redial multiple times - I had to hit redial about 30 times before getting into the hold queue. When you finally get a rep, use these exact phrases: "I need you to purge my expired COVID claim and clear the benefit year end date so I can file a new claim." Don't just ask them to "close" it - they need to completely purge it from the system or you'll still be stuck in the loop. Most importantly: Once they clear your old claim, have them walk you through filing the new one while you're still on the phone! Don't hang up and try to do it yourself later because you might hit another glitch. The rep can complete your new filing right then and there. I know it seems impossible right now, but literally everyone in this thread eventually got through. Your persistence will pay off! Make sure you have all your employment info from the last 18 months ready to go. Good luck! 🍀