Unexpected EDD payment arrived in 2025 after ending claim in 2021 - what's going on?

This hhappened to me too!! But mine was $1250 last month and I ended my claim back in 2022. I called EDD like 18 times and couldn't get thru to ANYONE. Nobody picks up ever. I ended up just depositing the check cuz free money lol but now I'm kinda paranoid they'll come after me for overpayment later on???

This is most likely a retroactive adjustment payment. EDD periodically reviews old claims and sometimes determines claimants were eligible for additional benefits they didn't receive at the time. This often happens after wage investigations or when they recalculate benefit amounts after receiving additional employer information. Check if you received a Notice of Determination or other paperwork explaining the payment. Also, look in your UI Online account (if you can still access it) for messages explaining the adjustment. If the check is legitimate, it's your money legally owed to you. However, if you're concerned, you can always contact EDD to verify before depositing it.

my cousin got a random check too last yr, he just casht it and nothing bad happened sooo

This is actually quite common with EDD. They frequently conduct retroactive reviews of claims from 2020-2021 because that period was so chaotic with all the different programs and changing rules. Several possibilities for what happened: 1. An employer wage audit showed you were underpaid on your weekly benefit amount 2. A quarterly wage review found additional wages that increased your base period 3. They found weeks where you certified but weren't paid due to a system error 4. A mass adjustment was made to claims in your category after a policy review You should definitely log into your UI Online account. The explanation should be there under "Notices and Determinations." The UI Online system retains your account for 4 years, so it should still be accessible. If you can't remember your login, use the account recovery option. If you can't access your account online, you need to speak with an EDD representative. I struggled with this too, but finally got through using Claimyr (claimyr.com). They have a service that helps you reach an actual EDD agent without spending hours on hold. There's a good video demo of how it works here: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km Don't ignore this - you need to understand why you received this money to avoid potential issues later.

Has anyone checked if this is a scam? Real EDD checks have watermarks and security features. There were a lot of unemployment scams during covid. Maybe somebody got your old info and is trying to get you to deposit a fake check??

After reading through the conversation, I'd recommend taking these steps: 1. Verify the check is legitimate (which you've done) 2. Since you couldn't find an explanation in UI Online, you need to speak with an EDD representative directly 3. Keep documentation of any communication with EDD about this payment 4. Don't spend the money until you understand why you received it It's most likely a legitimate adjustment, but it's always best to confirm. As someone else mentioned, trying the Claimyr service is probably your best bet for actually reaching someone at EDD without the frustration of endless calling. The good news is that if this is a legitimate adjustment payment, you're entitled to it and there shouldn't be any negative consequences for depositing it.

UPDATE: I finally got through to EDD! They explained that they conducted an audit of 2020-2021 claims and found that I was eligible for an additional week of benefits plus some Federal Adjusted Compensation that I never received. The representative confirmed it's legitimate and I can deposit the check without worry. For anyone struggling to reach EDD, I used that Claimyr service mentioned above and got connected to a real person in about 25 minutes. Definitely worth it rather than calling for days. Thanks everyone for the help and advice!

Great to hear you got it sorted out! This is really helpful info for others who might get similar unexpected payments. I'm curious - did the EDD rep mention how long this audit process has been going on? Seems like a lot of people are getting these retroactive payments from 2020-2021 claims. Also, did they say if there are any tax implications since this is income from a previous tax year?

This is such valuable information for everyone dealing with similar situations! I'm actually in a somewhat related boat - I received an unexpected $920 payment last week from EDD for a claim that ended in early 2022. I've been too nervous to cash it because I wasn't sure if it was legitimate or some kind of error. Reading about your experience and the fact that EDD is actively conducting these audits from the pandemic period gives me a lot more confidence. I'm definitely going to try that Claimyr service to get through to someone and verify what's going on with my payment. Thanks for sharing your resolution - it's really helpful to see how these situations actually play out!

Wow, reading through all of this is really reassuring! I just received a $485 check from EDD yesterday for a claim that ended in December 2021, and I was panicking thinking it might be some kind of mistake or scam. I've been employed full-time since January 2022 and haven't had any contact with EDD since then. Seeing that so many people are experiencing the same thing with these retroactive audit payments makes me feel much better about the situation. I'm definitely going to use that Claimyr service to get through to EDD and confirm what this payment is for before I deposit it. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this thread has been incredibly helpful!

This thread is incredibly helpful! I'm dealing with a similar situation - got a $892 check from EDD last Friday for a claim that ended in March 2022. Like so many others here, I just stopped certifying when I found new employment and never formally closed my claim. I've been staring at this check for days, torn between excitement and terror that it's some kind of trap. Reading about everyone's experiences with these pandemic-era audits is such a huge relief. It sounds like EDD is systematically reviewing old claims and finding people were owed additional benefits they never received. I'm definitely going to use that Claimyr service to get through to someone at EDD before I deposit it. Has anyone who used Claimyr had any issues with their service, or has it been consistently reliable for reaching EDD representatives?

This is such a helpful thread! I just want to add that anyone who receives these unexpected payments should also check if they need to report this income to their current state's unemployment office, especially if they moved like the original poster did. I moved from California to Texas after my 2021 claim ended, and when I got a similar retroactive payment last year, Texas EDD wanted to know about it even though it was from California. It didn't affect my eligibility or anything, but they like to keep records updated. Also, definitely keep that check stub and any documentation you get from EDD about why you received the payment - you'll want it for your tax records and just in case any questions come up later. The IRS can be just as confusing as EDD sometimes!

This entire thread has been such a lifesaver! I received a $627 check from EDD three days ago for a claim that ended in September 2021, and I was absolutely convinced it was either a scam or some terrible mistake that would result in me owing them money later. Reading everyone's experiences with these pandemic-era audit payments has completely changed my perspective. It's amazing how many people are going through the exact same thing - getting unexpected legitimate payments years after their claims ended. I'm definitely going to use Claimyr to get through to EDD and confirm the details before depositing, but knowing that so many others have had positive outcomes gives me a lot more confidence. Thanks to everyone who shared their stories and especially to the original poster for the detailed update about what EDD told them. This community is incredibly valuable for navigating EDD's confusing processes!