EDD requesting proof of social security ownership - confused about this requirement

i got the same thing last week!! so annoying they keep asking for more stuff. i think they just want your ss card or maybe birth certificate again? idk why they need it AGAIN tho

This is actually a legitimate request that EDD sometimes makes when they need to verify that you're the actual owner of the Social Security Number used in your claim. The most common documents they accept as proof include: 1. Your actual Social Security card (front and back) 2. A W-2 or 1099 from the previous year showing your SSN 3. A pay stub showing your complete SSN (not just last 4 digits) 4. An official letter from the Social Security Administration addressed to you Don't ignore this request - it has a strict deadline and they will disqualify your claim if you don't respond. Upload the documents through your UI Online portal under the Document Upload section.

I went through this exact same thing in February. It's super confusing because they use this weird phrasing "proof of social security ownership" instead of just saying "we need to see your social security card." I sent in my SS card and a W-2 just to be safe, and they processed it within about 4 days. The most stressful part was there's no confirmation that they received your documents properly, so I was anxious the whole time.

This is actually a really common verification step when EDD detects potential identity issues or when your SSN has been used on multiple claims (which happens a lot with identity theft). The frustrating thing is that even after you submit these documents, you'll likely face delayed payments until they fully verify everything. If you need to actually speak to someone at EDD about this, good luck getting through their phone system. I got so fed up with the endless busy signals that I finally used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to an EDD rep within about 20 minutes. They have a demo video of how it works here: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km. It saved me weeks of stress because the rep was able to verify that my documents were received and being processed.

THEY'RE DOING THIS TO EVERYONE RIGHT NOW!!!! It's part of their new fraud detection system. I work at a job center and we've had dozens of people coming in confused about this exact same request in the past two weeks. Just upload your SS card and be done with it. If they don't accept it (which sometimes happens if the image isn't clear), they'll send another notice. The whole system is RIDICULOUS and they keep changing requirements without properly explaining anything to claimants.

so did everyone get approved after sending in there ss card??? im still waiting and its been 6 days

wait so is this different from the identity verification we already did? my cousin told me this might be a scam email because EDD already verified me through ID.me so why would they need more proof?

This just reminds me of when my sister got her benefits denied last year because she sent in a photocopy of her SS card instead of taking a photograph of the actual card. EDD said the photocopy wasn't acceptable as "proof of ownership" even though it was literally the same document just scanned differently. She spent 3 MONTHS trying to get this sorted out. Be very careful about exactly how you submit your documents.

Just to add some clarity here: "Proof of social security ownership" is EDD's awkward way of asking you to prove that you are the legitimate owner of the SSN used on your claim. This is distinct from identity verification (ID.me), which confirms you are who you say you are. The most important thing is to respond within the deadline. Upload a clear, readable image of your social security card through UI Online, and if possible, also include a recent W-2 or pay stub showing your SSN. Make sure to check your UI Online inbox daily after submitting, as they sometimes request additional documentation if what you sent wasn't sufficient.

I just went through this exact same process two weeks ago and wanted to share what worked for me. I was initially confused too because the wording "proof of social security ownership" is so vague. Here's what I did: I took a high-quality photo of both the front AND back of my social security card using my phone (make sure all text is clearly readable), and also uploaded my most recent W-2 that shows my full SSN. I submitted both documents through the UI Online portal under "Document Upload." The key things I learned: - Don't use photocopies or scans - take actual photos of the physical documents - Make sure the lighting is good and there's no glare - Submit it as soon as possible, don't wait until the deadline My documents were approved in exactly 5 business days, and my payments resumed the following week. The whole process was stressful but straightforward once I understood what they actually wanted. Good luck!

I'm going through this same situation right now and this thread has been incredibly helpful! Just wanted to add that when I called EDD (after waiting on hold for 2 hours), the representative told me this "social security ownership" verification is now standard for all new claims filed after December 2024. She said it's part of their enhanced fraud prevention measures. One thing that hasn't been mentioned - if you've recently moved or your address doesn't match what's on file with Social Security Administration, you might need additional documentation. The rep suggested also including a recent bank statement or utility bill to confirm current address if there's any discrepancy. Also, pro tip: take the photos in natural daylight near a window rather than using flash or indoor lighting. The contrast comes out much better and they're less likely to reject it for poor image quality.

I just dealt with this exact same request last month and wanted to share my experience to hopefully help others avoid the mistakes I made. Initially I was really confused by the "proof of social security ownership" language too - it's such an odd way to phrase it. I ended up calling the EDD customer service line (took forever to get through) and the rep explained that this is completely separate from the ID.me verification we all did when applying. Here's what I learned the hard way: - They want to see your PHYSICAL social security card, not just any document with your SSN on it - Take photos, don't scan - apparently their system processes photos better - Include both front and back of the card even though the back looks mostly blank - Make sure your photos are crystal clear - they rejected my first submission because one corner was slightly blurry After I resubmitted with better quality photos, it took exactly 7 business days for them to approve it and another 2 days for my payments to resume. The whole process was nerve-wracking but once you know what they actually want, it's pretty straightforward. One last tip: save copies of what you submit and take screenshots showing the upload was successful. There's no confirmation email so having your own record is important if any issues come up later.