EDD still showing maiden name after ID.me verification - delay with doctor certification

Don't wait on the name change to have your doctor submit the certification. EDD actually has a system to match up documents even when names don't perfectly match - they use your SSN as the primary identifier. What's most important is that your doctor includes your Social Security Number correctly on any forms they submit. My wife had a similar situation last year and everything processed fine even though her name wasn't updated in the system yet.

omg the SAME thing happened to me!! its super frustrating cause now my account has my married name but payments were issued in maiden name and i couldnt cash them for like 2 weeks!! make sure u tell ur dr to write BOTH names on forms if possible

Wait are you applying for regular unemployment or disability? Those are different systems even though both are through EDD. If disability (SDI), then your doctor submits through SDI Online, not the regular unemployment system. Just want to make sure you're on the right track because it sounds like you might be confusing the two.

The EDD system is RIDICULOUS with name changes! I waited 12 days (not their promised 7-10) for my name update after my divorce, and then when I certified the next week it STILL showed my married name on the confirmation page but my maiden name on the payment info. THEN they flagged my account for "identity verification" because of the discrepancy THEY created!!! Their left hand doesn't know what the right is doing. Keep calling until you get someone who can help prioritize your name change - especially if you need to start certification soon.

I had the same issue reaching EDD about my name change (got married in 2024, applied for benefits in 2025). After wasting 3 days trying to call, I used a service called Claimyr that got me through to an EDD rep in about 20 minutes. They have a system that keeps dialing until it gets through the busy signals. Saved me so much frustration! Here's their site if you want to check it out: claimyr.com - they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km. The rep I spoke with was actually able to expedite my name change when I explained my situation.

Here's what you need to do: 1. Have your doctor submit the certification using your married name AND include a note mentioning your maiden name 2. Include your SSN on all documentation 3. Attach a copy of your marriage certificate to expedite the name change process 4. When you certify for benefits, use the name currently in the EDD system (maiden name) until it's updated 5. Print and save all confirmation pages as evidence I work with EDD claims regularly and the name change process is unfortunately slow, but these steps will help prevent payment delays. The key is making sure your SSN is consistent across all documents.

btw has anyone received their money network card with the wrong name? wondering what happens in that case

Just to give you some peace of mind - while name changes are frustrating with EDD, they won't hold up your benefits if everything else is in order. The 7-10 day timeframe is usually accurate in my experience. One thing to remember is that any correspondence from EDD (including your Money Network card if you choose that payment method) will come in whatever name is currently in their system. So don't be surprised if you get mail with your maiden name for a while.

I went through this exact situation last year when I got married and then lost my job a few months later. The most important thing is to stay consistent with your SSN on all documents - that's how they track everything. I actually kept a folder with copies of my marriage certificate, old and new driver's licenses, and all EDD correspondence because the name mismatch caused some confusion later when I had to verify my identity again. One tip that helped me: when you talk to EDD (if you can get through), ask them to add a note to your file explaining the name change is in process. This saved me from having to re-explain the situation every time I called. Also, don't stress too much about the timing - I had my doctor submit forms while my name change was still pending and everything worked out fine. The system is clunky but it does eventually sort itself out!

I'm dealing with something similar right now! Got married 6 months ago and just filed for unemployment after being laid off from my teaching position. My EDD account still shows my maiden name even though I updated everything else. Reading through all these responses is so reassuring - I was panicking that my benefits would get delayed or denied because of the name mismatch. It sounds like as long as I keep my SSN consistent on all forms, things should work out. I'm definitely going to try that Claimyr service to get through to someone at EDD since I've been getting the busy signal for days. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this community is a lifesaver when you're trying to navigate the EDD maze!

I went through this exact same situation 8 months ago! My advice is to have your doctor submit the medical certification forms using BOTH names - write something like "Sarah Johnson (formerly Sarah Smith)" on all the paperwork. Also make sure your SSN is on every single document. I actually had my doctor's office call EDD directly to confirm they received the forms, which helped catch a processing delay early. One more tip - if you end up needing to switch from UI to SDI later, you'll need to submit a new name change request for the disability system even though it's still EDD. The systems don't automatically sync the name updates. Keep copies of everything and don't let them tell you to "just wait" if your benefits get held up due to the name issue. You have rights as a claimant and they need to process your case regardless of their system glitches!

I'm going through the exact same situation right now! Just got married 2 months ago and lost my job last week. My EDD account is still showing my maiden name despite updating everything with ID.me. Reading through all these comments has been so helpful - I was really worried my benefits would get delayed or rejected because of the name mismatch. It's reassuring to hear that the SSN is the main identifier they use. I'm definitely going to follow the advice about having my doctor use both names on any forms and keeping copies of everything. Has anyone had success getting the name change expedited by explaining it's urgent due to needing medical certification? I'm hoping to avoid the full 7-10 day wait if possible since my doctor wants to submit paperwork this week.

I'm dealing with this exact same issue right now! Got married 4 months ago and just filed for unemployment after my company did layoffs. My EDD account is still showing my maiden name even though I updated my ID.me profile with my new married name on my driver's license. I submitted the name change request through EDD yesterday and got the same 7-10 business days message. Reading through everyone's experiences here is so reassuring - I was really stressed that everything would get delayed or rejected because of the name mismatch. The advice about keeping the SSN consistent across all documents seems to be the key takeaway. I'm also going to try that Claimyr service since I've been getting busy signals all day trying to reach EDD. It's frustrating that we have to deal with these system issues on top of already being unemployed, but at least this community helps us navigate the chaos! Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and tips.

I'm in the exact same boat! Got married 6 weeks ago and just got laid off from my nursing job yesterday. Filed for unemployment this morning and sure enough, EDD still has my maiden name even though I did the ID.me verification with my updated license months ago. This thread is a goldmine of information - I was honestly panicking that my claim would get rejected or delayed because of the name mismatch. The consistent advice about keeping your SSN the same on all documents is really reassuring. I'm definitely going to follow the tips about having any medical forms include both names and keeping copies of everything. Also planning to try that Claimyr service since I spent 3 hours today trying to get through to EDD with no luck. It's so frustrating dealing with bureaucratic issues when you're already stressed about losing your job, but this community makes it feel less overwhelming. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences!

I'm also dealing with this exact situation! Got married 2 months ago and just filed for unemployment after being laid off from my retail management position. My EDD account is still showing my maiden name despite completing ID.me verification with my updated driver's license. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful - I was really worried my benefits would get held up because of the name mismatch. The advice about keeping your SSN consistent across all documents and having doctors use both names on forms is so reassuring. I've been trying to reach EDD for days with no luck, so I'm definitely going to check out that Claimyr service. It's frustrating enough being unemployed without having to navigate these system glitches, but this community makes it feel so much less overwhelming. Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences and practical tips!

I'm going through this exact same situation right now! Got married 4 months ago and just lost my job at a tech startup last week. Filed for unemployment yesterday and of course EDD is still showing my maiden name even though I updated everything with ID.me using my new driver's license. This thread has been such a lifesaver - I was honestly panicking that my claim would get rejected or stuck in limbo because of the name mismatch. The consistent advice about keeping your SSN the same on all documents is really reassuring, and I love the tip about having medical forms include both names if needed. I've been trying to call EDD for two days straight with no luck - just busy signals and disconnections. Definitely going to try that Claimyr service everyone's recommending. It's so frustrating dealing with these bureaucratic issues when you're already stressed about being unemployed, but knowing so many others have successfully navigated this same situation gives me hope. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and practical advice!