This is why we need universal basic income. The current system is clearly not working for people when they need it most. 😤

I went through this exact same situation a few months ago! After weeks of waiting, I finally got through to someone who told me there was a "processing hold" on my account that wasn't showing up anywhere online. Apparently it's pretty common but they don't notify you about it. The rep was able to release the hold immediately and I got my backpay within a few days. Definitely try the suggestions others have mentioned about calling early or using that callback service. Also, if you have any local EDD offices that do walk-ins, that might be another option. Hang in there - I know how stressful it is when you're counting on that money! 💪

This thread is so eye-opening! I'm currently on my first PFL claim and everything seems to be going smoothly, but reading about this "phantom claim glitch" is definitely making me anxious about what could happen. It sounds absolutely terrifying to have your claim just vanish, especially when you're depending on those benefits during such an important time with your baby. I'm taking screenshots of everything in my account right now just in case this happens to me. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and solutions - especially the specific tips about calling at 8 AM and using the right terminology. This community is amazing for helping each other navigate EDD's broken system. @Amara and @Margot, I'll be thinking of you both tomorrow morning! Hopefully you both get through quickly and get this resolved. Please keep us updated - your experiences will help so many other parents who might face this same issue. 🤞✨

I'm new to this community but had to jump in because this exact thing happened to my sister last month! Her entire PFL claim just disappeared from her account overnight, along with all her messages and documentation. She was absolutely panicking, especially since she was already dealing with postpartum anxiety. After reading through this thread, I'm realizing she went through the same "phantom claim glitch" that so many of you have experienced. She ended up getting it resolved, but it took about 3 weeks of persistent calling and multiple escalations. The key thing that finally worked was getting connected to someone in the technical support team who could actually see the "hidden" claim in their system. One tip I learned from her experience: if the first person you talk to says they can't see any record of your claim, don't let them convince you to start over. Ask to speak to a supervisor or technical specialist immediately. Your claim IS still there in their system, it's just not displaying properly. @Amara, I'm sending you all the positive vibes for your call tomorrow! This community seems amazing for support - I wish my sister had known about it when she was going through this nightmare. You've got this! 💪

Hey Ana! Just wanted to add my experience to this really helpful thread. I had to fix a similar date error on my SDI application about 3 months ago - I accidentally put my last day of work as a Friday when it was actually the following Monday. I was so nervous about calling, but honestly it was way easier than I expected! I called the SDI line at 8:15 AM on a Thursday and waited about 30 minutes. The rep was really understanding and said these date corrections are super routine. She asked for my SSN, the incorrect date I had submitted, and the correct date. The whole correction took maybe 5 minutes and she gave me a reference number to keep for my records. What really helped was having my doctor's note handy that showed the actual start date of my disability - the rep said that made the verification process much smoother. My benefits weren't delayed at all and everything processed normally. Don't stress too much about it - you'll get it sorted! Just call early and have your info ready. Good luck! 🤞

Just wanted to add my two cents as someone who's dealt with SDI corrections before! Reading through all these responses is so heartwarming - this community really knows how to support each other through the bureaucratic maze 😊 Ana, you're definitely not alone in making application errors. I had to fix an incorrect employer address last year and was convinced it would delay everything for months. Turns out the SDI reps handle these corrections constantly and they have it down to a science! One small tip I haven't seen mentioned yet: if you happen to have any paperwork from your doctor that shows the correct disability start date (like a medical report or treatment notes), keep that handy when you call. It's not always necessary, but sometimes it can help speed things up if there are any questions. Also, don't beat yourself up about the mistake - when you're dealing with a disability and trying to navigate all this paperwork while probably not feeling your best, small errors are totally understandable. The system should be more user-friendly, but at least the correction process seems pretty straightforward based on everyone's experiences here. You've got this! Call early, stay patient, and you'll have it sorted in no time. Keep us updated on how it goes! 💪✨

Just wanted to add my voice to this incredible thread as someone who's been lurking in this community for a while but finally joined to share my experience! I went through the exact same ID.me nightmare about 3 months ago when filing for SDI after a herniated disc surgery. What ultimately worked for me was actually a combination of several approaches mentioned here: I used the incognito browser method with cleared cache, called the (800) 480-3287 number at exactly 8:01 AM (got through on my 4th try), and had all my documents scanned at high resolution ready to go. The agent was able to guide me through an alternative verification process that bypassed ID.me entirely! The whole thing took about 45 minutes once I got connected, and my claim was backdated properly. Hassan, your persistence and willingness to share your journey really helped me when I was in the same desperate situation. This thread has become such an amazing resource - I've actually referred three other people to it who were dealing with similar issues, and two of them have already gotten their claims resolved using the strategies shared here. Thank you to everyone who contributed solutions and encouragement - this is exactly what community support should look like!

As someone who just joined this community while frantically searching for ID.me solutions at 2 AM, I cannot express how relieved I am to have found this thread! I've been stuck in verification hell for 6 days trying to file my SDI claim after a workplace back injury, and I was honestly starting to panic about missing deadlines and not being able to pay rent. Reading through Hassan's original struggle and then his triumphant update, plus all the incredibly detailed technical fixes and strategic approaches everyone has shared, has given me both hope and a concrete action plan. The fact that this community has essentially crowdsourced the most comprehensive ID.me troubleshooting guide on the internet - covering everything from browser cache clearing to calling strategies to alternative services - is absolutely amazing. I'm going to start with the technical fixes tonight (incognito mode, proper document lighting, multiple browsers) and have that (800) 480-3287 number queued up for an 8 AM sharp call tomorrow. It's completely ridiculous that we need to become verification system experts just to access benefits we've literally paid into through our paychecks, but seeing how this community rallies around each other to navigate these broken bureaucratic systems gives me so much faith. Thank you Hassan for starting this discussion and coming back with your success story, and thank you to everyone who shared their experiences - you're all literally saving people's livelihoods with this information!

I've been dealing with the same tax confusion after being on SDI for most of 2024 following a workplace injury! Got my 1099-G last week and immediately started panicking about owing taxes. After reading through everyone's responses here, I checked my old paystubs and sure enough - SDI deductions every single pay period. It's such a relief to know that since WE paid the premiums through payroll deductions, the benefits aren't federally taxable. I think the real issue is that EDD should include a simple explanation with the 1099-G form explaining this distinction instead of just sending out a scary-looking tax document with no context. Would save thousands of people the stress and confusion we're all experiencing! Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this thread has been more helpful than hours of trying to navigate government websites.

I'm going through this exact same situation right now! Just got my 1099-G for SDI benefits I received last year and was completely lost about what to do with it. Reading through all these responses has been such a huge help - it's clear that most of us California workers pay our own SDI premiums through payroll deductions, which means the benefits aren't federally taxable even though we have to report them. I pulled out my old paystubs and yep, there's the SDI deduction every month! It's frustrating that the 1099-G doesn't come with any explanation about this, but at least now I know what to tell TurboTax when it asks about the premiums. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this community has been way more helpful than trying to navigate the EDD website or sit on hold for hours!