ID.me account suspended but need to file EDD claim - stuck in limbo!

Unfortunately, you can't bypass ID.me verification to start your claim. It's a required security step for EDD applications now. Three things you should try immediately: 1. Call ID.me directly at (866) 775-4363 instead of just emailing. Their phone support can often resolve suspension issues faster than email. 2. Try their video chat verification option through their website. Sometimes account suspensions can be overridden through direct verification with a representative. 3. If you're still stuck, you might need to contact EDD directly to explain your situation. They might have alternative verification procedures.

OMG ID.me is THE WORST!!! My account got locked for 3 weeks last year and I almost lost my apartment waiting for them to fix it!!! email is useless

I work at an unemployment advocacy group, and this is a common issue we're seeing. There's a specific process to follow when your ID.me account is suspended during an EDD application: 1. First, check if you can still log into ID.me at all - if you can, immediately request a "Verification Review" under your account settings. 2. If completely locked out, request a manual verification through ID.me's trusted referee video call option. Look for "Verify with an ID.me Trusted Referee" on their website. 3. Document everything - screenshot error messages, save email communications. 4. If it's not resolved in 5 business days, you can file an interim claim with EDD by calling them directly and explaining that you're experiencing ID.me technical difficulties. The key is persistence and documentation. EDD can sometimes use alternative verification methods if ID.me is causing extended delays.

my sister had similar issue, she said ID me locked her out cuz she tried too many times with wrong password maybe?? idk but she had to wait like 10 days i think??? then she had to upload her docs all over again

Have you tried making a completely new ID.me account with a different email address? I know someone who did that when their account got stuck in verification limbo. Not saying it's officially allowed, but sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do when rent is due...

I went through this exact nightmare in February! After a week of frustration, I discovered Claimyr (claimyr.com) which helped me reach an actual EDD agent who was able to guide me through an alternative verification process while my ID.me issues were being resolved. It wasn't free, but it saved me weeks of delays. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km The EDD agent I spoke with confirmed they have procedures for people with ID.me technical issues, but you HAVE to speak with a tier 2 specialist to get it handled. Regular customer service reps will just tell you to wait for ID.me to resolve it.

Has anyone noticed that EDD's requirement to use ID.me creates these single points of failure that completely block people from accessing benefits they're entitled to? It's ridiculous that you can't even START a claim if ID.me is having issues. The system is designed to make it difficult to get benefits, change my mind.

One important update: As of January 2025, EDD has implemented a temporary verification exception process for cases where ID.me verification is delayed more than 7 business days. You need to: 1. Contact EDD's technical support line at 1-855-327-7057 2. Request the "ID Verification Exception Form" (DE 1326E) 3. Submit the completed form with copies of your ID documents 4. Continue working with ID.me to resolve the suspension This exception process won't fully approve your claim, but it will allow EDD to begin processing it while you resolve the ID.me issues. Your first payment may be delayed until full verification is complete, but at least your claim will be in the system.

Just curious - what do you think caused your ID.me account to get suspended in the first place? Did you get any specific error message or explanation?

Based on your situation and timeline, I'd recommend taking these steps in this order: 1. Tomorrow morning, call EDD technical support (1-855-327-7057) first to request the ID Verification Exception Form 2. Then try ID.me's direct support line again, but this time when you hit their automated system, try pressing 0 repeatedly or saying "agent" - sometimes this bypasses the automation 3. While waiting for responses, gather all your identity documents (driver's license, passport if you have one, social security card, and a utility bill or lease with your name and address) 4. Document all your attempts to resolve this with dates and times The good news is that once your claim is eventually processed, you'll receive all backdated payments from your original filing date. So while this is incredibly stressful now, you won't lose any benefits you're entitled to.

I went through something similar last year! One thing that really helped was calling ID.me early in the morning (like 8 AM Pacific) when their call volume is lower. I also found that if you can get through to their phone support, ask specifically to speak with their "Account Recovery Team" - they have more authority to lift suspensions than regular customer service. Also, when you call EDD for that exception form, make sure to mention that your workplace closed due to bankruptcy - they sometimes prioritize cases where the job loss was completely involuntary. Keep your head up, this will get resolved! The system is frustrating but most people do eventually get through it.

I'm dealing with a similar ID.me nightmare right now! My account got suspended two weeks ago and I've been going in circles with their support. Reading through all these suggestions gives me hope though. I tried the early morning call trick that Liam mentioned and actually got through to a human after only 15 minutes on hold - way better than my previous attempts. They escalated me to the Account Recovery Team who said they're reviewing my case and should have an answer within 3-5 business days. For anyone else stuck in this situation, I'd also recommend checking if your local unemployment office has walk-in hours. Mine does appointments on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and the counselor there was able to submit a priority review request to EDD on my behalf while I'm waiting for ID.me to get their act together. Sometimes the old-school in-person approach still works better than all the online systems!

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet - if you're really desperate and running out of time for rent, you might want to look into emergency financial assistance programs in your area while you're waiting for this ID.me mess to get resolved. Many counties have emergency rental assistance or utility help that can bridge the gap. Also, some food banks offer emergency cash assistance for utilities/rent. In my county, there's a program through the Salvation Army that can provide up to $500 in emergency assistance within 24-48 hours for people facing eviction due to job loss. It's not much, but it could buy you some breathing room while you're fighting through the bureaucracy. You can usually find these programs by calling 211 or checking your county's social services website. I know it's frustrating to have to jump through even more hoops when you should be able to access your unemployment benefits, but sometimes you gotta attack the problem from multiple angles. Hang in there - it sounds like you've got a solid plan now with all the advice from everyone here!

Hey Giovanni, I just wanted to check in and see how things are going with your ID.me situation! It's been a couple days since you got all that great advice from everyone. Were you able to get through to EDD for that exception form? And did the early morning ID.me call strategy work out for you? I'm in a similar boat (though thankfully not quite as urgent) and I've been following this thread closely. Your situation really highlighted how broken this whole system can be when you need help the most. Really hoping you were able to make some progress and get at least one of these bureaucratic wheels turning in your favor!

That's such great news to hear you're making progress on multiple fronts! The fact that you got the EDD exception form submitted so quickly and actually reached ID.me's Account Recovery Team is huge. It sounds like having that structured plan really made all the difference compared to just spinning your wheels with regular customer service. I'm also dealing with some EDD complications (different issue but equally frustrating) and this whole thread has been incredibly educational. The 211 tip for emergency assistance is something I never would have thought of but makes total sense as a backup plan. It's exactly the kind of practical advice you need when you're stressed about immediate bills while fighting through bureaucracy. Really hoping both EDD and ID.me come through for you within their promised timeframes! Please keep us posted - your experience is definitely helping other people who are stuck in similar situations figure out their next steps.

Wow, this thread has become an incredible resource for anyone dealing with ID.me/EDD issues! As someone who went through a similar nightmare about 6 months ago, I can confirm that almost everything mentioned here is spot-on advice. Just wanted to add one more tip that saved me: if you end up getting your ID.me account restored but then run into issues during the actual verification process (like webcam problems or document upload failures), there's a "selfie + document" verification option that's often more reliable than the live video verification. Look for it under "Alternative verification methods" once you're back in your account. Also, Giovanni - seeing your updates about making progress is so encouraging! For anyone else following this thread, definitely save it or bookmark it. The step-by-step approach everyone laid out here (EDD exception form + early morning ID.me calls + 211 backup plan) is like a masterclass in navigating broken bureaucratic systems. Really hope everyone gets their situations resolved soon. It's frustrating that we have to become experts in workarounds just to access benefits we're entitled to, but at least we can help each other figure it out!