I'm dealing with this exact same issue right now! Got my CAN letter in the mail this morning and have been trying to register for hours with no success - keep getting that frustrating "information doesn't match our records" error. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful and reassuring. I had no idea about the 24-48 hour waiting period - EDD definitely should make this clearer on their website instead of just giving a generic error message. I'm going to follow all the advice here: wait until tomorrow evening, use my exact name format from my driver's license, enter my SSN without dashes, double-check I'm using the correct CAN (not some other reference number), try late at night when the system is less busy, and use a fresh incognito browser window. It's so frustrating that we have to learn all these workarounds through community forums instead of having clear instructions from EDD, but I'm grateful for everyone sharing their experiences and solutions!

I'm going through this exact same issue right now! Just received my CAN letter yesterday and have been trying to register all day with no luck - that "information doesn't match our records" error is so frustrating! Reading through this thread has been such a lifesaver though. I had no idea about the 24-48 hour waiting period that everyone mentions - EDD really should put that information right on their registration page instead of making us figure it out the hard way. I'm going to wait until tomorrow night and try again using all the tips from this thread: exact name format from my license, SSN without dashes, making sure I have the actual CAN number and not some other reference number, and trying during off-peak hours. It's amazing how this community shares all these workarounds that EDD should really be providing upfront. Thanks to everyone for posting their solutions - gives me hope that I'll be able to get registered soon!

Try accessing the site very early morning like 5am. Thats when it worked for me. Less traffic on their servers then.

Success! Just wanted to update everyone. I ended up using Claimyr to reach an EDD rep this morning (took about 35 mins but WAY better than calling myself all day). The agent explained this is a known issue with their latest system update. They fixed my language preference on their end and reset my account access. I'm now able to log in normally and just completed my certification! For anyone else having this problem, here's what they told me: When the update rolled out, some accounts got stuck in a weird state where the language preference wasn't properly set but the system still tries to force you to select one. The fix has to be done on their end. Thanks everyone for your help!

I'm going through this exact same situation right now! Lost my job at a hotel last Friday and trying to file after not needing benefits since early 2022. The "account exists but login fails" loop is maddening. Reading through all these responses is both frustrating (that EDD hasn't fixed this obvious system flaw) and reassuring (that I'm not alone and there IS a solution). The 18-month auto-lockout "security feature" seems designed to discourage people from reapplying rather than actually provide security. I'm going to try the early morning calling strategy - probably Tuesday at 8:00am sharp with all my documents ready. Found my old customer account number in an email from 2022 thankfully. It's ridiculous that we have to jump through all these hoops just to access benefits we're entitled to, but at least now I know what to expect when I finally get through. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences! This thread should be pinned somewhere because clearly this affects hundreds of people every day.

I'm dealing with this nightmare too! Just got laid off from my retail job on Monday and haven't touched my EDD account since 2022. Spent the last 3 days trying every combination of passwords and getting nowhere - thought I was losing my mind until I found this thread. The fact that this happens to 200-300 people DAILY according to what someone mentioned here and EDD still hasn't created an online fix is absolutely insane. It's like they're deliberately making it harder for people who actually found work and stayed off benefits for a while. I'm going to try the 8:00am Tuesday calling strategy with my old customer account number ready (luckily found it in my email archive). Has anyone had success with the auto-dialer apps mentioned? I'm willing to try anything at this point because manually redialing for hours isn't sustainable when you're already stressed about being unemployed. Really grateful for everyone sharing their experiences here - at least now I know I'm not alone in this broken system and there IS light at the end of the tunnel once you get through to a human!

Really hoping your new claim gets approved! I went through something similar last year - was laid off from my retail management job in 2022, exhausted my benefits in 2023, then did some gig work and temp positions before filing a second claim in late 2024. One thing I learned is that even if your weekly benefit amount ends up being lower (mine dropped from $320 to $180 based on the temp work wages), you might still qualify for additional weeks if you hadn't used up the maximum duration on your first claim. Also, if you're still struggling to find permanent work, look into any retraining programs EDD offers - some of them can extend your benefits while you're in school or certification programs. Keep us posted on how it goes! This community has been such a lifesaver for navigating all the EDD confusion.

Just wanted to jump in here as someone who's been through the second claim process recently! Based on what you've shared about earning $4,800 from temp work in Nov-Dec 2023 and March-April 2024, you should definitely qualify for a new claim. That amount spread across those quarters would easily meet the minimum earnings requirements. A few tips from my experience: - Apply online ASAP - it's much faster than calling - Have all your employment info ready (employer names, addresses, dates, gross wages) - The system will automatically calculate your base period and weekly benefit amount - Even if your new weekly amount is lower, it's still income while you keep job searching Good luck with your application! The warehouse/logistics field has been picking up lately, so hopefully you'll find something permanent soon. This community is great for support during the process.

I went through penalty weeks myself about 6 months ago. The most important thing for your brother to understand is that he MUST keep certifying every two weeks during the penalty period - even though he won't get paid. Each certification counts as serving one penalty week. Also, if he's struggling financially, he should look into local food banks and emergency assistance programs. Many counties have rent assistance programs too. The penalty weeks will end eventually, but he needs to stay on top of the certifications or they'll just sit there forever.

I'm new here but dealing with a similar situation. Your brother should also know that during penalty weeks, any work he does needs to be reported accurately when he certifies - even though he's not getting UI benefits, incorrect reporting during penalty weeks can lead to additional penalties later. I learned this the hard way. Also, if he's considering taking temporary work during the penalty period, he should still report those earnings on his certifications. The penalty weeks will still count down as long as he's certifying, regardless of whether he's working or not.