For anyone still struggling with this, I discovered something that might help. If you're getting hung up on repeatedly, try calling from a different phone number if possible. I noticed that after getting disconnected multiple times from my cell phone, I tried calling from my landline and got through much more easily. I think their system might flag numbers that have been calling repeatedly and deprioritize them or something. Also, if you have a Google Voice number or can borrow someone else's phone, it's worth trying. I know it sounds crazy but after reading all these tips and trying everything else, the different phone number trick actually worked for me yesterday. Got through on the second try and finally resolved my certification issue that had been dragging on for weeks!

I've been following this thread and wanted to add one more tip that saved me last month. If you're still having trouble with all these methods, try the EDD Disability Insurance (DI) main line at 1-800-480-3287 and when they answer, politely explain that you were trying to reach UI but keep getting disconnected, and ask if they can transfer you directly to a UI specialist. I know it sounds weird, but the DI reps are generally less overwhelmed and they have the ability to do warm transfers (where they stay on the line until the UI rep picks up). This bypasses the automated system entirely. A DI rep helped me get connected to UI when I was having the same exact problem with getting hung up on. She actually stayed on the line, explained my situation to the UI rep, and made sure I got through. Sometimes the different departments are more willing to help each other out than the main UI line is to help us directly!

Has anyone tried going to an actual EDD office in person? wondering if thats faster

@Dylan Cooper - I went through the exact same thing a few months ago! The key is persistence and having multiple backup plans. Here's what finally worked for me: 1. Try the ID.me verification if you haven't already - sometimes it works better than EDD's own system 2. If that fails, gather EVERYTHING: driver's license, passport, utility bills, bank statements, tax returns - the more official docs the better 3. Call the technical support line (not the general number) - they're more equipped to handle verification issues specifically 4. Document everything - screenshot error messages, keep notes of who you talk to and when The whole process took me about 3 weeks, but I did get it resolved. Don't panic - this is unfortunately super common right now. You've got this! 💪

I'm so glad to see this thread because I was literally having the same panic yesterday! I've been on unemployment for about 4 months and you'd think I'd have learned by now, but holidays still catch me off guard. What really helped me was someone on this subreddit who mentioned that you can actually look up the Federal Reserve holiday calendar online to know exactly which days will cause delays. I bookmarked it and now I check it whenever my payment date is coming up. It's saved me so much stress! For anyone new to this - the pattern is super consistent: if UI Online shows "paid" and it's a federal holiday, expect your Money Network deposit the next business day, usually by late afternoon. The banking system delay is completely separate from EDD's processing, which is why your account status updates but the money doesn't transfer immediately.

As someone who just went through my first holiday payment delay last week, I wanted to share what I learned for other newcomers who might be panicking like I was! The biggest thing that helped calm my nerves was understanding that there are actually TWO separate processes happening: 1) EDD processing your certification (which shows as "paid" in UI Online), and 2) the banking system transferring the money (which gets delayed by federal holidays). Once I realized these were separate, it made so much more sense why my account could show "paid" but my Money Network card was still empty. I also started using a simple trick - whenever my payment date falls on or near a federal holiday, I just automatically add one business day to my expected deposit date. Takes all the guesswork and stress out of it! Really wish EDD would explain this distinction better on their website, but this community has been a lifesaver for figuring out how everything actually works.

Just wanted to chime in as someone who went through this exact nightmare about 6 months ago! The Cal Jobs 2FA issue is SO frustrating and you're absolutely right that it feels intentionally designed to trip people up. What finally worked for me was a combination of things mentioned here: - Created a new email specifically for government stuff (used ProtonMail instead of Gmail) - Cleared ALL browser data, not just cache - Used incognito/private browsing mode for the registration The key thing I learned is that Cal Jobs has some weird conflicts with certain browser extensions and saved login data. Starting completely fresh seemed to be what broke through for me. Also, if you do end up having to go to the EDD office, call ahead to see if they have specific "tech support" hours. Some locations have staff who actually know the Cal Jobs system better than others. Saved me from sitting there all day only to be told to "try again later" 🙄 Fingers crossed the Gmail trick works for you - sounds like that's been the winner for most people lately!

I'm going through this exact same issue right now and this thread has been incredibly helpful! My Cal Jobs 2FA emails aren't coming through either, and I've got less than a week before my deadline. Reading through everyone's experiences, it seems like the new Gmail account approach has the highest success rate. I'm definitely going to try that first thing tomorrow morning. The fact that @Freya Christensen got it working immediately with a fresh Gmail account gives me hope! I also had no idea about the registration bypass code that @Anastasia Kozlov mentioned - that's such valuable insider knowledge. And the Claimyr service sounds like a game-changer for actually reaching EDD without the endless "maximum callers" message. It's ridiculous that we have to jump through all these hoops for what should be basic functionality, but I'm grateful this community exists to help each other navigate these broken systems. Will definitely update with my results in case it helps others dealing with this nightmare!

I've been fighting the E318 error for 3 weeks now and this thread is literally a lifesaver! Just wanted to add one more tip that worked for me yesterday - if you're on a Mac, try using Safari instead of other browsers. I know everyone's been recommending Edge, but Safari seems to handle the EDD site's quirky coding better on macOS. Also, make sure to update your browser to the latest version before trying - I was running an outdated version of Chrome which might have been part of my problem. Combined Safari with the VPN + early morning timing (tried at 6:15 AM) and got through after weeks of frustration. It's absolutely mind-boggling that we need to become cybersecurity experts just to file a disability claim, but this community has been amazing at crowdsourcing solutions. Don't lose hope everyone - between all the methods shared here, there's definitely a combination that will work for your specific setup! 🙏

I've been dealing with this exact same E318 error for the past two weeks and I'm at my wit's end! Reading through all these solutions has given me so much hope though. I've tried a few individual fixes but clearly need to go with the "nuclear option" approach that @Ava Harris mentioned. Going to try the VPN + incognito + early morning combo tomorrow. Quick question for everyone who's had success - did you notice if the day of the week matters? I've been trying mostly on weekends thinking it would be less busy, but maybe weekdays are actually better? Also, for those using free VPNs, are there any specific ones you'd recommend that worked well with the EDD site? Thanks to everyone for turning this into such a helpful troubleshooting community - it's wild that we have to do this but at least we're not suffering alone! 🤝