That's amazing news! So glad you got through and figured out what was causing the issue. The driver's license renewal discrepancy makes total sense - it's frustrating that such a minor thing can lock you out for months, but at least now you know what happened. Make sure to backdate those certifications for the weeks you were eligible before starting the canvassing job, and don't forget to report your canvassing earnings accurately when you get to those weeks. This is such a helpful update for anyone else dealing with similar ID verification nightmares - sometimes it really is just a data mismatch that needs manual review. Congrats on finally breaking through the EDD maze!

Wow, what a relief that you finally got through! Your update is incredibly valuable - I never would have thought that a driver's license renewal could cause an identity verification lockout. It's so frustrating that EDD's system can't handle something as routine as updating your license without flagging your account. The fact that you had to wait months and jump through so many hoops for what was essentially a data synchronization issue is ridiculous. Thanks for sharing the resolution - this thread is going to help so many people who are dealing with similar mysterious account locks. Make sure to save all your documentation from this process in case you run into any other issues during your back-certification!

I went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago and it's absolutely frustrating! Here's what worked for me: First, definitely try calling early in the morning (right at 8am when they open) or later in the afternoon around 3-4pm - those seem to be the best times to get through. Second, when you do get through to an agent, ask them to check if your address is correct in their system AND ask them to send you a duplicate form via expedited mail. They can do this, but you have to specifically request it. Third, if you're really in a financial bind, ask about the "hardship expedite" process. Not many people know about this, but if you can demonstrate financial hardship (like pending eviction notices or medical bills), they can sometimes fast-track your verification process. You'll need to provide documentation of the hardship though. Also, make sure when you do get your form that you send it back via certified mail with tracking - I learned this the hard way when my first submission got "lost" in their system. Hang in there - I know it feels hopeless but once you get past this verification hurdle, the payments do come through. The whole process took me about 5 weeks total from start to first payment, but 3 of those weeks were just waiting for verification.

I'm in a very similar boat - filed my SDI claim 3 weeks ago and still haven't received the verification form! Reading through all these comments has been really eye-opening. I had no idea that SDI and regular unemployment were handled so differently, and I was actually planning to drive to the EDD office tomorrow morning thinking I could just walk in. The Claimyr service sounds promising - I'm definitely going to try that first thing tomorrow. And @Lucas Notre-Dame, thank you for mentioning the hardship expedite option! I'm also facing potential eviction and had no clue that was even a possibility. One question for anyone who's been through this - when you finally do get through to an agent, is there a specific script or way you should ask about these options? I don't want to waste the opportunity if I finally get someone on the phone. Should I lead with asking about the hardship expedite, or start with just requesting a duplicate form first? This whole situation is so stressful, but at least now I have some actual strategies to try instead of just waiting helplessly by the mailbox every day!

Hey, just following up - were you able to get this resolved? I'm curious which method ended up working for you.

So glad to hear you got it resolved! This thread is super helpful for anyone else dealing with this issue. I'm bookmarking it because I feel like EDD account problems are so common and their error messages are never clear about what's actually wrong. The fact that your account was locked but the system was still pretending to send reset emails is typical EDD - they make everything so confusing. Thanks for sharing the solution that worked!

UPDATE: I finally got through! I took the advice about trying late at night (went online at 11:30pm) and turned off all my browser extensions. The site was actually much faster and I was able to complete my entire application! Now it says my claim is processing and I should receive something in the mail within 10 days. Thanks everyone for your help - this community is amazing!

I'm going through the exact same nightmare right now! Been trying for 4 days straight and keep getting error messages or the site just freezes during the income verification section. It's so frustrating when you desperately need benefits and the system designed to help you is completely broken. Reading through all these responses gives me some hope though - I'm definitely going to try the late night approach and disable all my browser extensions. Has anyone had success with the mobile app version, or is the regular mobile site through a browser better? Also really considering the in-person office visit if I can't get through online by this weekend.

Another RIDICULOUS thing they do is verify with your employer, who has a FINANCIAL INCENTIVE to deny your claim! If your employer says anything that doesn't perfectly match your statement, EDD will side with them. Make sure every date and dollar amount you provide EXACTLY matches your documentation!

I went through something similar last year and it turned out EDD needed to verify my wages through their system called the "Base Period Employer Account Cross-match" or something like that. Basically, your employer reports wages quarterly to the state, and if there's ANY discrepancy between what you claim and what they have on file, they flag it for manual review. In my case, my employer had reported my wages under a slightly different name (they had my middle initial wrong) so the system couldn't match them automatically. Try asking EDD specifically if your wages are showing up in their system and if there are any matching issues with your employer's quarterly reports.