I'm in almost the exact same boat! Got married 6 weeks ago, updated with SSA right away, and submitted my name change request to EDD about 12 days ago. Still showing "pending review" and I have certification coming up this Friday. Based on all the responses here, sounds like I need to stick with my maiden name for certification until I get that official confirmation email. It's really frustrating that it takes so long when other agencies can process name changes much faster, but at least now I know what to expect timeline-wise. Has anyone noticed if submitting on certain days of the week makes a difference in processing time? I submitted mine on a Wednesday afternoon and wondering if that affects anything. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences - this thread has been incredibly helpful! I was starting to worry something was wrong with my submission.

I went through this exact same process last year! It took about 19 business days for my name change to be approved after I submitted my marriage certificate. The "pending review" status is completely normal and unfortunately doesn't give you any updates until it's fully processed. Definitely keep certifying with your maiden name until you get the official confirmation email - I cannot stress this enough! I saw someone else mention they tried using their new name too early and it caused major delays. One tip that helped me: I set a calendar reminder for 3 weeks out from my submission date to call that identity verification number (866-401-2849) if I hadn't heard anything by then. Thankfully I got my confirmation email at day 19, so I didn't need to call. Also, once you do get approved, make sure to update your direct deposit info if your bank account is under your new name. The systems don't always sync that automatically. Good luck and congrats on the marriage!

Hey Javier! I went through a similar situation about 6 months ago when I was laid off from my tech job. You'll definitely get multiple pieces of mail from EDD - the approval letter, your customer account number, and the paper certification forms (DE 2063). Mine took about 7-8 days to arrive. For certification without internet, I'd strongly recommend the phone option (telecert) over mail. I used it for almost 2 months when I moved and didn't have reliable internet set up yet. The automated system at 1-866-333-4606 is actually pretty intuitive - it asks the same basic questions as online like whether you worked, looked for work, were available for work, etc. You just press numbers to respond. The key thing is you MUST have your EDD Customer Account Number to use telecert - write it down as soon as you get that letter! Also, make sure to certify during your designated 2-week period regardless of which method you use. Phone certification processes payments just as fast as online (usually 1-2 business days), while mail can take a week or more. One tip: if you're worried about deadlines, you can call the general EDD number to confirm your certification dates once you're in the system. Better to be safe than sorry!

I'm in a very similar situation right now! Filed my claim about 2 weeks ago and still waiting for my phone interview. This thread is super helpful - I had no idea there were so many different documents they send out. Quick question for everyone: if I end up getting my interview next week, should I expect the same timeline (5-8 days) for receiving the approval letter and other paperwork? Also, has anyone tried using the EDD mobile app or does that have the same internet connectivity issues as the regular website? My phone data is more reliable than my home wifi right now, so wondering if that might be a backup option for certification if needed.

I'm new here but this thread has been absolutely incredible to find! I've been struggling with this exact ID.me issue for the past two weeks - my account is showing some mysterious @outlook.com email that I've never seen before, and I can't get past the identity verification to file my unemployment claim. Reading through everyone's experiences has given me so much hope and practical advice. I had no idea there was actually a working phone number for ID.me! I've been going in circles with their chat bot and online support forms getting nowhere. I'm definitely going to try the 8 AM calling strategy that so many people have had success with. Already setting my alarm and gathering all my documents (driver's license, SSN card, recent bank statement, birth certificate). I'm also writing down those key phrases like "search for duplicate accounts under this SSN" and "identity resolution team" that multiple people mentioned. What's really eye-opening is learning how these mystery accounts can come from tax preparation services, previous employers, or other government agencies creating ID.me accounts without us knowing. I used TurboTax a few years ago and now I'm wondering if that's where this phantom account came from! Thank you everyone for sharing such detailed experiences and advice. This community support is honestly keeping me sane through this frustrating process. Really hoping to join the success stories soon! 🤞 @Zainab Ibrahim please keep us posted on how your nephew's call goes tomorrow - we're all rooting for you both!

I'm new to this community but found this thread while desperately searching for help with my own ID.me nightmare! My unemployment claim has been stuck for 8 days because ID.me is showing some random @yahoo.com email I've never created or used. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been such a relief - I genuinely thought I was the only one dealing with this! The consistent advice about calling 866-775-4363 at exactly 8:00 AM EST seems to be the golden solution that actually works. I'm particularly grateful for the detailed breakdowns from @QuantumQuasar, @Oliver Weber, and others about what to expect during the call. The fact that these mystery accounts can come from tax preparation services, previous employers, or other government agencies without our knowledge is both infuriating and enlightening. Now I'm wondering if my phantom account traces back to when I used H&R Block a couple years ago. Already have my alarm set for tomorrow morning and all my documents organized (driver's license, SSN card, utility bill, birth certificate). I'm also noting down those key phrases about "duplicate accounts under SSN" and "identity resolution team" that multiple people have mentioned as helpful. This thread has transformed what felt like an impossible bureaucratic nightmare into something that actually seems solvable with the right approach. Thank you everyone for sharing such detailed experiences and creating this supportive community! @Zainab Ibrahim really hoping your nephew's call goes smoothly tomorrow - please keep us posted! We're all in this together! 💪

Just wanted to share another resource that might help - if you're struggling to get through to EDD by phone, you can also try their online Ask EDD feature or contact your local Assembly member's office. Sometimes constituent services can help expedite things when you're dealing with benefit deadlines. Also, while you're waiting on the CTB application, don't forget to keep certifying for your remaining weeks and maintaining your job search activities. I know it feels pointless when you're planning to go into training, but you want to keep everything current until you get that approval. One more thing - if the IT certification doesn't work out for any reason, I've seen people get approved for CTB with trade programs too (welding, HVAC, etc.). The key is making sure whatever you choose is on that ETPL list and leads to in-demand jobs in your area. Hang in there! It sounds like you have a solid plan and you're taking all the right steps. The fact that you're being proactive about this with 4 weeks left puts you in a much better position than people who wait until the last minute.

I'm dealing with this exact same situation right now and this thread has been a lifesaver! My benefits are ending in about 3 weeks and I've been panicking. The CTB program sounds like exactly what I need - I had no idea it existed. @Kaitlyn Jenkins - really appreciate you sharing your experience calling EDD and getting concrete answers. That gives me hope that I can get through too. The 12-week IT certification sounds like a smart move. I'm curious though - for anyone who's gone through the CTB application process, do you know if there are any income or asset limits? I have a small savings account (maybe $2000) that I've been trying not to touch, but I'm worried that might disqualify me somehow. Also wondering if the training program has to be full-time or if part-time programs are eligible too? The job market has been absolutely brutal. I've been out of work since August and despite applying everywhere, I'm not getting anywhere. At least with CTB I could be learning new skills while still getting some income. This thread has given me the first bit of hope I've had in weeks!

Just joined this community because I'm going through the exact same nightmare! Been stuck in pending status for 2.5 weeks after reporting some Instacart earnings on my certification. That "max callers" message is absolutely soul-crushing when you're already stressed about making ends meet. This thread has been incredibly helpful though - I had no idea about the technical support line strategy! Reading all the success stories with calling 1-833-978-2511 at 1:45pm on Thursdays gives me actual hope for the first time in weeks. The assemblymember office tip is genius too - never would have thought of that but it makes perfect sense they'd have direct EDD contacts. It's beyond frustrating that we have to develop these elaborate strategies just to talk to someone about our own benefits, but I'm so grateful this community exists to share what actually works. The fact that reporting ANY income seems to automatically trigger "pending hell" for so many of us shows there's clearly a broken process on EDD's end. Going to try the tech support line tomorrow at 1:45pm - fingers crossed! Will definitely update with results. Thanks everyone for the hope and practical advice when the official system has completely failed us! 🙏

New to this community but unfortunately not new to EDD frustration! I've been stuck in pending status for over 3 weeks after reporting some delivery app earnings on my last certification. Like everyone else here, I keep getting that soul-crushing "max callers" message no matter when I try calling the main line. This thread has been absolutely invaluable though - I had no clue about the technical support line strategy or the assemblymember office option! The fact that multiple people have had success calling 1-833-978-2511 at 1:45pm on Thursdays gives me real hope for the first time in weeks. It's beyond maddening that we have to crowdsource these "insider secrets" just to access our own unemployment benefits, but I'm so grateful this community exists to share what actually works when EDD's official resources are basically useless. Planning to try the tech support line strategy this Thursday - will definitely update with results. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences and proving we're not alone in this broken system! 🤞