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This whole thread is incredibly helpful! I'm dealing with a similar issue right now where EDD has my marital status wrong and it's affecting my benefit calculation. Reading through everyone's experiences, it sounds like these database errors are way more common than they should be. @Jackson Carter - thanks for the detailed update! Really encouraging to know this can actually get resolved. I'm curious - when you were on the call with the Tier 2 specialist, did they explain what might have caused the citizenship error in the first place? I'm wondering if there's something we can do to prevent these kinds of mix-ups in future applications. Also for anyone else dealing with similar issues - I found that keeping a detailed log of every call attempt (date, time, any reference numbers) has been helpful when I finally do get through. The reps seem to appreciate having that information readily available.
This is really helpful advice about keeping a log! I wish I had thought of that during my weeks of calling attempts. The rep actually didn't explain what caused the citizenship error specifically, but they did mention that these issues often happen during quarterly system updates when data gets pulled from multiple government databases and sometimes gets cross-referenced incorrectly. They said it's become more common since the January 2025 system upgrade. Really frustrating that we have to deal with their technical glitches affecting our benefits!
I'm so glad I found this thread! I'm currently dealing with what sounds like the exact same citizenship error - the system suddenly has me marked as needing work authorization even though I've been a US citizen my whole life and have successfully filed UI claims before. It's beyond frustrating that their system can just randomly decide you're not a citizen anymore! Reading through everyone's experiences, it's clear this is a widespread issue with their January 2025 system update. I'm definitely going to try the Claimyr service since calling directly has been completely useless - I've tried over 20 times this week and either get disconnected or stuck in endless hold loops. One thing I'm wondering - for those who got this resolved, did the citizenship error affect your ability to certify for benefits while waiting for the fix? I'm worried I'm going to miss certification deadlines while dealing with this mess. The whole situation is making me incredibly anxious about losing weeks of benefits over their technical screw-up.
I'm dealing with something similar right now too! The citizenship error is preventing me from certifying - every time I try to certify it redirects me back to the "update work authorization" page that doesn't apply to me. It's like being stuck in an endless loop. From what I've read in other threads, you CAN'T certify until they fix the citizenship status because it affects your entire eligibility determination. That's why this needs to be fixed ASAP - every week we can't certify is potentially lost benefits. Definitely try Claimyr, I'm planning to use it tomorrow morning. This whole situation is so stressful!
Yes, unfortunately the citizenship error completely blocks certification! I went through this same nightmare last month. You literally cannot proceed with any part of your claim until they fix the citizenship status - it's like the system treats you as ineligible for everything. The good news is that once they correct it, you should be able to backdate and certify for the weeks you missed during the error period. When I finally got through to a Tier 2 rep, they were able to process my missed certifications retroactively once the citizenship issue was resolved. Definitely prioritize getting this fixed ASAP though - the longer it drags on, the more complicated the backdating process becomes. Claimyr really is worth it to avoid the endless calling cycle!
@Emily - Adding to all the great advice here! 👋 One thing that really helped me when I reapplied last year was calling my state's unemployment office directly instead of just relying on the website. I know everyone says the phone lines are impossible, but I found that calling right when they open (usually 8 AM) gave me the best chance of getting through. The representative was able to walk me through the entire process and even flagged some issues with my application before I submitted it, which saved me weeks of back-and-forth. They also confirmed whether I should reopen my old claim or file a new one based on my specific situation. Another tip: if you're worried about missing any steps, most states have local workforce development offices where you can get help in person. The staff there are usually super knowledgeable about unemployment benefits and can review your application before you submit it. The whole process definitely feels overwhelming at first, but once you get that first payment, it's such a relief! You're almost through the hardest part just by asking for help here. Good luck! 🍀
@Hunter That's such a good point about calling right at 8 AM! 📞 I never thought about the timing being that important. I've been trying to call randomly throughout the day and always get busy signals. Definitely going to try first thing in the morning tomorrow. The in-person workforce office idea is brilliant too! I had no idea those existed. Just looked it up and there's one about 20 minutes from me. Sometimes getting face-to-face help is so much better than dealing with confusing websites and phone trees. Thanks for sharing your experience - it's really encouraging to hear that the reps can actually catch issues before you submit. That alone could save so much time and frustration! 🙏
Hey @Emily! 👋 I totally feel your pain - the reapplication process can be so confusing! I just went through this myself about 6 weeks ago and wanted to share a few things that really helped me: **Before you start:** - Create a checklist of all the documents you'll need (SSN, employment history, bank info, etc.) - Set aside a good 2-3 hours when you won't be interrupted - nothing worse than losing your progress halfway through! **During the application:** - Take screenshots of each page as you complete it (saved me when the site crashed on the confirmation page!) - If you get stuck on any questions, there's usually a little "?" help icon that explains what they're looking for **After submitting:** - Keep checking your account every few days for any requests for additional info - Start your weekly certifications right away, even while it's still "pending" - you don't want to miss any weeks! The waiting is definitely the hardest part, but most people I know (including myself) heard back within 2-3 weeks. And honestly, this community has been such a lifesaver for navigating all the confusing parts - don't hesitate to ask if you hit any specific roadblocks! You've got this! The fact that you're asking for help shows you're being proactive about it. 💪✨
I went through this exact same situation last month! If you're completely locked out of your old email, here's what worked for me: Call at 1-800-300-5616 right at 8:00 AM sharp (they open at 8). Have your social security number, driver's license, and employment history ready because they'll verify your identity thoroughly before making any changes. The rep was able to update my email address and send me a password reset link to the new email within about 10 minutes once I got through. The hardest part is just getting connected - took me about an hour of waiting, but it was worth it to get back into my account. Don't bother with the online "Ask " feature for this - they require phone verification for email changes for security reasons.
@Rebecca Johnston This is incredibly detailed and helpful! I ve'been struggling with this exact issue for about two weeks now. Just wanted to confirm - when you say right "at 8:00 AM sharp, do" you mean you should dial at exactly 8:00 or start calling a few minutes before? I ve'heard conflicting advice about this. Also, did you call on a specific day of the week that seemed to work better? I m'wondering if Mondays are worse because of weekend backlogs or if mid-week might be better. Really appreciate you taking the time to share all these details - it gives me hope that I can actually get this resolved!
@Rebecca Johnston This is such great advice! I m'actually dealing with this same problem right now. My old work email got deactivated when I was laid off and now I m'stuck. One question - did they ask you to verify any recent activity on your account during the call? I m'worried they might ask about my last certification dates and I haven t'been keeping great track. Also, did the whole process really only take 10 minutes once you got through to someone? That seems almost too good to be true given how complicated everything else with has been! Thanks for giving me hope that this is actually solvable.
I just went through this myself a few weeks ago! The key is being prepared when you call. Here's what I learned: First, try logging into your account one more time to see if you can access the profile settings - sometimes you can change the email there even if the old one isn't working. If that doesn't work, you'll need to call at 1-800-300-5616. I recommend calling right when they open at 8 AM on Tuesday or Wednesday (avoid Mondays if possible). Have everything ready: SSN, driver's license number, full employment history for the past 18 months, previous claim amounts, and your new email address written down. The verification process is thorough but once they confirm your identity, they can update your email immediately and send you a reset link. The whole call took about 15 minutes once I got through to a human. Don't give up - it's definitely solvable!
@Adaline Wong Thank you so much for this breakdown! I m'new to this community and this is exactly what I needed to see. I ve'been dreading making this call but your step-by-step approach makes it feel much more manageable. I m'curious about the timing - when you called at 8 AM on Tuesday/Wednesday, how long did you typically stay on hold? And did you have to go through multiple menu options or transfers before reaching someone who could actually change the email? I want to set realistic expectations for myself. Also, just to confirm - they were able to send the password reset link to your new email address immediately during the call, right? I m'worried about getting stuck in limbo where they change it but I still can t'access my account. Really appreciate you taking the time to share your experience here!
@Adaline Wong This is incredibly helpful! I m'new to dealing with issues and have been putting off this email change for way too long. Your advice about calling Tuesday/Wednesday is brilliant - I was planning to call on Monday thinking it would be better to start the week, but your logic makes total sense. One thing I m'wondering about - when they verify your employment history, do they want exact dates or just general timeframes? I worked for a few different companies over the past 18 months and I m'not sure I remember all the exact start/end dates. Also, did you notice any difference in wait times depending on what time in the morning you called? Like is 8:00 AM sharp better than 8:15 AM? I really want to maximize my chances of getting through quickly. Thanks for being so generous with the details - this community is amazing for newcomers like me!
Congratulations on finally getting your refund! 11 weeks is still way too long, but at least the assembly member route worked. For anyone else dealing with this - I went through a similar situation last year and found that keeping detailed records of every phone call (date, time, rep name if they give it, what they told you) really helped when I escalated to my assembly member. Also, if your overpayment was related to work search requirements or reporting issues, make sure you understand exactly what caused it so you don't accidentally create another overpayment situation in the future. The EDD doesn't always explain the "why" clearly in their notices.
This is such great advice about keeping detailed records! I wish I had known this when I was going through my overpayment situation. One thing I'd add - when you call EDD, always ask for the representative's ID number (not just their name) since sometimes they give fake names. Also, if anyone is dealing with work search requirement overpayments specifically, make sure to request a copy of your "wage transcript" from EDD - it shows exactly which weeks they think you didn't meet requirements. Sometimes there are errors in their system that can be corrected without having to go through the whole appeal process.
As someone who just went through this nightmare myself, I can confirm that the assembly member route is absolutely the way to go if you're past the 10-week mark. I waited 13 weeks for my $3,200 refund and got nowhere with regular EDD calls. Within 3 days of contacting my assembly member's office, I had a call back from their EDD liaison who could see exactly where my case was stuck in their system. Turns out my refund was sitting in a "manual review queue" that apparently no regular EDD rep can access or even see. The liaison was able to flag it for immediate processing and I got my check 8 days later. Don't waste more time calling the regular number - go straight to your elected representative. They deal with EDD issues all day and know exactly which buttons to push.
This is really helpful to know about the "manual review queue" that regular reps can't access! I'm dealing with a similar situation right now (week 7 of waiting for my $2,800 refund) and getting the runaround from phone reps. Can you share which assembly member's office you contacted and roughly how long the whole process took from first contacting them to getting your check? Also, did you need to provide any specific documentation to their EDD liaison, or did they handle everything once you gave them your basic case info? I'm definitely going to try this route instead of wasting more time with the regular phone line.
Keisha Jackson
I'm dealing with a very similar situation right now and this entire thread has been a lifesaver! I gave my two weeks notice at my office job last Friday, and my boss immediately said "Fine, today can be your last day then" and had security escort me out. I've been panicking all weekend thinking I disqualified myself for unemployment by quitting first. Reading everyone's experiences here, especially the consistent advice about EDD focusing on who made the final decision to end employment, is giving me so much relief. It's clear that in all these cases, including mine, the employer chose to terminate us before our notice periods ended, even though we were willing to work. I'm planning to file my claim this week, and I'm going to make sure to document the exact timeline: I gave notice on Friday with an intended last day two weeks out, but employer chose to end my employment immediately that same day. I unfortunately don't have any supportive texts like Anna, but I do have my resignation email showing my original intended end date. Thank you to everyone who shared their stories - it's amazing how common this situation is and how helpful real experiences are compared to trying to interpret EDD guidelines online. The waiting period sounds brutal, but knowing that most of these cases end up getting approved when you have clear documentation is keeping me optimistic!
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Norah Quay
•Having security escort you out actually strengthens your case! That's a clear indication that your employer made the decision to terminate you immediately rather than you abandoning your job. The fact that your boss said "today can be your last day then" shows they were making an emotional decision to cut short your notice period. Your resignation email with the original intended end date is perfect documentation - it proves you were acting in good faith and willing to work the full two weeks. EDD will see this as a textbook case of constructive discharge. Don't worry about not having supportive texts like Anna - your email trail and the security escort detail actually paint a very clear picture of what happened. File that claim and stay strong during the waiting period!
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Olivia Evans
I'm currently in almost the exact same situation and this thread has been incredibly helpful! I gave my notice at my marketing job two weeks ago, and my manager immediately told me "if you're leaving anyway, just go ahead and leave today." I've been so anxious about whether I'd qualify for unemployment since I technically resigned first, but reading all these success stories is giving me real hope. What's really striking me is how consistent everyone's advice is about EDD focusing on who made the final decision to end the employment relationship. In all these cases, including mine, we were willing to work our notice periods but our employers chose to terminate us early instead. I don't have any supportive texts like Anna, but I do have my resignation email clearly stating my intended last day of work, which should prove I was prepared to fulfill my obligations. I'm going to file my claim this week and try to stay patient during what sounds like an inevitable lengthy waiting period. The documentation angle seems crucial - I'm making sure to save everything and write down the exact timeline of events. Thank you to everyone who shared their real experiences here. It's amazing how much more helpful actual stories are compared to trying to decipher official EDD guidelines online!
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Nia Williams
•Your situation sounds so similar to what I went through! I'm new to this community but have been dealing with unemployment issues for months. The fact that your manager said "just go ahead and leave today" is actually really good evidence that they made the decision to end your employment early. That resignation email with your intended last day is perfect documentation - it shows you were acting professionally and in good faith. I've learned from reading these threads that EDD really does focus on who made that final decision, and it's clearly your employer in this case. The waiting period is definitely nerve-wracking, but based on all the success stories here, you seem to be in a strong position. Make sure to keep that email handy for your eligibility interview and stick to the basic timeline when you talk to EDD. Good luck with your claim!
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