Locked out of EDD account - can't access email/phone number - in-person filing possible?

You definitely have options! EDD offices do accept in-person visits, but you need to schedule an appointment first through their website or by calling. Going in person is actually smart since you can bring multiple forms of ID to verify your identity. Make sure to bring your driver's license/state ID, social security card, and any previous EDD paperwork you might have. The staff can help you update your contact information and file a new claim all at once. I had a similar situation last year and getting it handled in person was much easier than the phone runaround.

omg same thing happened 2 me!! so annoying like why cant they just let u reset it like normal websites??? i ended up having to make a whole new account but then they said it was fraud bc i already had 1 account so i got flagged it was a NIGHTMARE

I've helped several people with this exact issue. Here's what you need to do: 1. Do NOT create a new account - that will flag you for potential fraud and delay everything 2. Visit an America's Job Center of California (AJCC) location in person - they work with EDD and can help with account recovery 3. Bring multiple forms of ID: driver's license, passport, birth certificate, Social Security card, AND proof of address 4. Ask specifically for an "Account Recovery Request Form" - not all representatives know about this form unless you ask 5. Be prepared to answer security questions about your previous claims and employment history This process typically takes 7-10 business days to complete, but it properly links your new contact information to your existing account without creating fraud flags. I've seen the in-person route work much more efficiently than calling in.

The EDD system is DELIBERATELY designed to be as difficult as possible to keep people from accessing their benefits!!! They WANT you to give up so they don't have to pay you what you're owed! I went through EXACTLY this situation in 2023 and ended up waiting 2.5 MONTHS to get my account fixed. By that time I had to borrow money from family and almost got evicted!!! The "in-person" option is a JOKE - I went to THREE different offices and got THREE different answers. One even told me they "don't handle account issues in person anymore" which was a complete LIE!!

If you're struggling to get through to EDD on the phone (which is almost guaranteed), I recently discovered a service called Claimyr that helped me tremendously. They have a system that navigates EDD's phone tree and gets you connected to an actual representative, usually within 5-10 minutes instead of spending hours redialing. I was super skeptical at first, but it actually worked when I needed to fix my account issues. They have a video showing how it works at https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km and their website is claimyr.com. Honestly, it saved me days of frustration after I kept getting the "we're experiencing high call volume" message for two weeks straight.

Just curious, have you tried using the "Contact EDD" section in UI Online? Oh wait, you can't even log in... nevermind lol. This happened to my roommate and he ended up having to mail in a paper form to reset his account access. Took forever but eventually worked.

To answer your question about appointment wait times - it varies by office location and time of year. Urban offices tend to have longer waits (2-3 weeks currently in LA and SF areas), but smaller county offices often have appointments available within 3-5 days. The key is to call the appointment line early in the morning (7:30am) when they first open. That's when cancellations from the previous day become available. One thing I strongly recommend: while waiting for your appointment, start gathering these documents to bring with you: - ID and Social Security card - W-2s or pay stubs from your most recent employer - Any EDD customer account number from previous correspondence - Rental agreement or utility bill showing your current address - A list of all employers from the past 18 months with contact info Having all these ready will make the in-person process much smoother.

Regarding expediting the process - yes, there is actually a way. When you visit in person, specifically request that they mark your case as a "Hardship Priority" due to immediate financial need. You'll need to provide some basic documentation of financial hardship (past-due bills, eviction notice, etc.). This designation can reduce the account recovery timeframe from 7-10 days down to 2-3 days. Also, many people don't know this, but if your account gets corrected mid-week, you can submit your initial claim AND certify for the prior week(s) all at once. This prevents you from having to wait for the next bi-weekly certification period.

somebody told me u can try talking 2 ur state assembly person's office?? they have special EDD liaisons or something that can help fix account probs faster than regular customer service. never tried it myself tho

I went through this exact same nightmare last year! Here's what actually worked for me: I called my local state assembly office and spoke with their EDD liaison - they got my account unlocked in 2 days versus the months I'd been waiting. Also, if you can find ANY old EDD paperwork with your customer account number on it (even from years ago), bring that to the in-person appointment - it speeds up the identity verification process significantly. One more tip: if you have a trusted family member who can receive mail at their address, you can have EDD send verification documents there while you're getting your contact info sorted out. The key is being proactive with multiple approaches at once rather than waiting for one method to work. Don't give up - the system is broken but there are workarounds!

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now! Just wanted to share what I learned from calling around today - apparently some EDD offices have different policies about walk-ins versus appointments. The Sacramento office told me they only do appointments, but when I called the Stockton office, they said they accept walk-ins for "account access emergencies" on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 8-10am (first come, first served). Might be worth calling multiple offices in your area to see if any have more flexible policies. Also, I discovered that if you have ANY old tax documents that show EDD payments from previous years, those can help with identity verification even if you don't have your customer account number. Hope this helps and good luck - this whole system is so frustrating!

I work as a benefits advocate and see this situation frequently. Here are some additional options that might help while you're pursuing the in-person route: 1. **ID.me verification bypass**: If you can access the EDD website at all, look for the "Forgot Username/Password" option and try using ID.me verification instead of the old email/phone. Sometimes this works even when the contact info is outdated. 2. **Employment Development Department Disability Insurance (DI) offices**: These are separate from regular EDD offices and often have shorter wait times. They can sometimes help with UI account issues too - worth calling to ask. 3. **Document everything**: Keep records of every call, visit attempt, and person you speak with. If you end up needing to escalate to supervisors or file complaints, this documentation becomes crucial. 4. **Local workforce development boards**: Many counties have these and they often have direct lines to EDD that bypass the regular customer service bottleneck. The key is to have multiple irons in the fire simultaneously. While waiting for your in-person appointment, keep trying the assembly office route and other phone options. I've seen people get through faster by trying multiple approaches rather than waiting for just one to work. Stay persistent - you will get through this!