EDD says I didn't earn enough wages but employer never reported my income - how to fix?

sounds like ur employer is sketchy af. same thing happened 2 my cousin. u need 2 call EDD RIGHT AWAY and tell them ur employer didn't report ur wages. they'll probably tell u to submit proof of income like paystubs or w2

Thanks for the quick response! I have all my direct deposit receipts and pay stubs saved. Do you know if there's a specific form I need to fill out to prove my wages? The EDD website is so confusing...

You're dealing with two separate issues here:\n\n1. For the wages not being reported to EDD - you need to file a \

This is super helpful, thank you! Do you know if there's a timeline for how long the wage investigation usually takes? I'm worried about paying rent next month.

Unfortunately, wage investigations can take 4-8 weeks or sometimes longer. While waiting, make sure you continue certifying for benefits each week (even if showing $0) so you can receive back pay once the investigation is complete. For immediate financial needs, you might qualify for other assistance programs like CalFresh while waiting for your UI claim to process.

Got it. I'll start certifying right away. Thank you for the CalFresh suggestion too - I hadn't even thought about that!

I WENT THROUGH THIS EXACT NIGHTMARE THREE MONTHS AGO!!!! My former employer (small construction company) never reported ANY of my wages to EDD and I had to fight for weeks to get benefits. The biggest problem is actually REACHING someone at EDD who can help!!! I tried calling for TWO WEEKS straight and couldn't get through - kept getting the \

is this service legit? seems sketchy to pay someone just to call edd for you. no offense but sounds like a scam

Not a scam - it literally just gets you through to an actual EDD representative instead of getting hung up on. After trying to call 50+ times myself and never getting through, it was worth it to me. But do whatever works for you.

I might have to try this because I've already called EDD 8 times today and can't get through! Did they help you specifically with the wage investigation form or did you have to figure that part out yourself?

my cousin had this same problem when he worked for a restaurant that paid him under the table sometimes lol. EDD eventually approved his claim but it took like 2 months and he had to show his bank statements and tax return and everything

Paying under the table is totally different from what OP is describing though. OP had regular employment with pay stubs. Under the table means no taxes were withheld which makes it harder to verify with EDD.

ok well i was just trying to help, geez

I had to submit a Request for Wage Investigation when I filed my claim last year. Here's exactly what you need to do:\n\n1. Compile ALL evidence of your employment - pay stubs, direct deposit records, employment contract, emails from your employer, anything that proves you worked there and how much you made.\n\n2. Fill out DE 23 form (\

Thank you for the detailed breakdown! I'm going to download that DE 23 form right now. Do you know if I can submit the same evidence for both the EDD wage investigation and the Labor Commissioner claim, or do I need different documentation for each?

Yes, you can use the same documentation for both. The wage claim with the Labor Commissioner might require a few additional details about your final pay situation. Make sure to keep copies of everything you submit to both agencies. And document all phone calls (date, time, who you spoke with) because sometimes these cases get passed around between different departments.

Great advice, I'll start keeping a log of all my communications. I appreciate all the help!

Ugh, this is so typical of EDD. Their system is totally broken. I had to file THREE wage investigations last year because my employer reported my wages under the wrong SSN. It took almost 3 months to get my first payment. The worst part is that EDD and your employer will blame each other, and you're stuck in the middle with no money. \n\nMake sure you apply for CalFresh (food stamps) while you wait - you can usually get approved for those much faster than UI benefits. Also, call your utility companies and explain the situation - many have hardship programs that can give you an extension on payments.

3 months is insane! I don't understand how they expect people to survive without income for that long. I'll definitely look into CalFresh - thanks for the suggestion about utility companies too, I hadn't thought of that.

I work in HR (not for your company lol) and not giving you a final check on your last day when they terminated you is 100% illegal in California. You should definitely file a wage claim with the DLSE. You're entitled to a waiting time penalty of one day of wages for each day they're late, up to 30 days. So if your daily rate was like $270 (based on your monthly salary), you could potentially get up to $8,100 in penalties if they still haven't paid you.

woah that's a lot of money!! get that $$$

To be clear, it's not automatic - you have to file a claim and go through the process. And the employer might fight it. But the law is definitely on your side in this situation.

They finally paid me about 2 weeks after I was let go, but I had no idea I could file for penalties! I'm going to look into this right away. Would this be through the same Labor Commissioner's Office that others mentioned?

Hey Andre! I'm new here but went through something similar last year. One thing that really helped me was getting organized before contacting EDD. I created a simple spreadsheet with all my employment dates, pay periods, and amounts - it made explaining my situation to the rep much easier. Also, since you mentioned your employer was a tech startup, make sure to check if they're even still in business. Some smaller companies shut down without properly handling final payroll obligations. If that's the case, you might need to go through additional steps with the Labor Commissioner. Keep pushing on this - the system is frustrating but you have rights and the documentation to back up your claim. Don't let them wear you down!

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now! My previous employer (a small marketing agency) also failed to report wages to EDD and it's been a nightmare. One thing that helped speed up my case was contacting the employer directly FIRST before filing the wage investigation - sometimes they just made an administrative error and can fix it quickly by submitting a corrected wage report. If you still have any contacts at the company (former coworkers, managers), try reaching out to see if someone can connect you with whoever handles payroll/HR. Even if the person who let you go is gone, there might be someone else who can help resolve the wage reporting issue. Also, when you do call EDD, ask specifically for the "Benefit Accuracy Measurement" (BAM) unit - they handle wage disputes and seem to be more knowledgeable than the general customer service reps. I waited 3 hours on hold but actually got someone who knew what they were talking about. Good luck with this - don't give up! The system is broken but your case sounds pretty straightforward with all the documentation you have.

Welcome to the community! I've been dealing with EDD issues for years and your situation is unfortunately very common. One thing I'd strongly recommend is filing your wage investigation claim online through EDD's portal if possible - it's often faster than calling and you get automatic confirmation that it was received. Also, since your startup employer seems unresponsive, make sure you're documenting EVERYTHING - screenshots of their website, LinkedIn profiles of key employees, any news articles about the company, etc. If they're going out of business or have already shut down, this documentation becomes crucial for your case. The waiting time penalties that Mei mentioned are real money - I helped a friend recover over $4,000 in penalties from a similar situation. Don't let them off the hook just because they eventually paid you. California's labor laws are there to protect workers exactly like you. Keep us posted on your progress - this community has helped me navigate EDD multiple times and we're all rooting for you!

This is such a frustrating situation but you're definitely not alone! I went through something similar with a small tech company last year. A few things that really helped me: 1. When you call EDD, try calling right at 8am when they open - I had much better luck getting through early in the morning rather than later in the day. 2. Keep a detailed timeline of everything - when you were hired, pay dates, termination date, when you filed your claim, etc. EDD reps love having all the dates laid out clearly. 3. If your employer is still operating, you might also want to send them a certified letter requesting they submit the missing wage reports to EDD. Sometimes having something in writing gets their attention when phone calls don't work. 4. While waiting for the wage investigation, apply for any local emergency assistance programs in your area. Many counties have rent relief or utility assistance that can help bridge the gap. The whole process took about 6 weeks for me, but I did eventually get all my back benefits plus the waiting week penalty. Stay persistent and don't let EDD's confusing system discourage you - you clearly have all the documentation you need to prove your case!

Hey Andre! I'm new to this community but just went through a very similar situation with my former employer not reporting wages to EDD. A couple things that really helped me get through the process: First, when you gather your documentation, make sure to include your final pay stub AND your bank statements showing the direct deposits. EDD seems to really like seeing both the employer-issued pay stub and the actual bank record of payment - it makes your case much stronger. Second, I found it helpful to write up a simple one-page timeline of your employment with key dates and dollar amounts. Include your hire date, each pay period, your termination date, and when you should have received your final check. Having this ready when you talk to EDD reps saves a lot of time and makes you sound more organized. One thing I learned the hard way - even though your employer eventually paid you your final check, you should still mention the delay to the Labor Commissioner when you file your wage claim. California law is really strict about final pay timing and you may be entitled to additional compensation. The whole process is definitely frustrating but with all the documentation you have, your case should be pretty straightforward. Keep copies of everything you submit and don't give up! This community has been super helpful for navigating all the EDD bureaucracy.