EDD suddenly sending paper certification forms - can't certify online anymore

omg same thing happened to me last month!! super annoying. i called EDD like 37 times and when i FINALLY got through they said my account got flagged for 'identity verification issues' (even tho i already did the stupid id.me thing months ago) and thats why they switched me to paper forms. u probably have to call them to fix it

This is actually a common issue with a few different possible causes. Most likely scenarios: 1. Your account may have been flagged for an eligibility review, which temporarily switches you to paper certification 2. There could be an identity verification issue that needs resolving 3. Sometimes it happens if you report excessive wages during certification 4. The system occasionally glitches after maintenance updates You should definitely call EDD to resolve this. While paper forms work, they take much longer to process (7-10 days vs. 1-2 days online). Make sure to continue certifying on time using the paper forms while you get this sorted out to avoid payment interruptions.

I had to deal with paper forms for almost 2 months last year. It was a NIGHTMARE. The payments took forever to process and one form got lost in the mail so I had to request a replacement and ended up missing a payment cycle. Call them ASAP!!!

The exact same thing happened to me three weeks ago! I spent FOUR DAYS trying to get through to EDD. All I got was 'we're experiencing high call volume' messages and immediate disconnects. Super frustrating!!! I finally got through using Claimyr (claimyr.com) - they have this system that calls EDD for you and connects you when they get an agent. Saved me so much time and frustration. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km Once I got through, the EDD agent told me there was a 'certification method flag' on my account that needed to be removed. They fixed it right on the call and I was able to certify online again for my next period. Worth trying!

I've seen this happen several times to claimants I've helped. There are specific scenarios that trigger EDD to send paper forms: 1. Quarterly income review flags (when employer-reported wages don't match your certifications) 2. After reporting excessive earnings that would disqualify you for that certification period 3. After missing a certification deadline 4. When there's a pending eligibility interview scheduled 5. Random selection for identity verification (separate from ID.me) While you're waiting to resolve this, make sure you fill out the paper form EXACTLY as instructed. Use black ink only, stay within the boxes, and mail it back promptly. Paper forms take longer to process, but your benefits will still come through. If you can't reach EDD by phone, you can also try sending a secure message through your UI Online account asking them to switch you back to online certification.

@person8 Yes, Claimyr definitely works! It's the only way I've been able to actually speak with EDD in the past year. Their regular phone system is completely overwhelmed. The video demo shows exactly how it works.

@person3 they switched me back to online after I called but it took like a week for the system to update. super annoying but at least I didnt have to keep using the paper forms. just keep trying to call them!!!

BTW make sure you make a copy of the paper form before you mail it!!! I learned this the hard way when mine got lost and I had no record of what I'd submitted.

Update: I checked the EDD website and found they did a system update on the 15th of this month. Several people have reported certification issues following the update. If this is related to the system maintenance, it might resolve itself by your next certification period, but I'd still recommend contacting them to be safe.