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To address your follow-up questions: The verification process has two parts - ID.me (which verifies your identity) and EDD's own verification (which confirms your eligibility for benefits). Here's what you should do: 1. For ID.me: Upload your ID plus documents showing your current address (utility bill, lease agreement, bank statement) 2. For EDD: Ensure your current mailing address is listed in your application 3. Be prepared to explain the address discrepancy if you get an eligibility interview phone call 4. Keep checking your UI Online account for any pending issues or required actions Most importantly, don't panic if there's a slight delay. Address mismatches are common and usually resolved with proper documentation. Just be honest and consistent with your information.
I went through this same situation about 6 months ago! My license showed my old apartment but I had moved in with my girlfriend. What really helped me was being proactive - I called EDD right after submitting my ID.me verification to explain the address discrepancy upfront. The rep made a note in my file, so when they reviewed my application, they already knew why the addresses didn't match. It saved me from getting flagged for a lengthy eligibility interview. Also, make sure you have multiple documents for your current address - I used my lease, a utility bill, AND a bank statement just to be safe. The whole process took about 3 weeks total, which isn't bad considering all the horror stories you hear.
That's really smart advice about calling ahead to explain the situation! I never thought about being proactive like that. Did you have any trouble getting through to EDD on the phone? I keep hearing it's nearly impossible to reach someone. Also, when you called, did you need any specific information ready besides just explaining the address mismatch?
I went through this exact same process 6 months ago and won my appeal! Here's what I wish someone had told me from the start: 1. **Timeline matters** - you only have 30 days from the date on your disqualification notice to file your appeal, so don't delay. 2. **BE VERY SPECIFIC** on the DE 1000M form. Don't just write "I was laid off" - write something like "I was notified on [date] by my supervisor [name] that my position was being eliminated due to company budget cuts. I did not resign or quit voluntarily." 3. **Organize your evidence** - create a simple timeline of events with supporting documents for each point. This will help both with your written appeal and the hearing. 4. **Practice your story** - you'll need to clearly explain what happened during the hearing. Practice telling your story in a logical order without getting emotional (even though it's frustrating!). The good news is that if you truly were laid off and have documentation, these cases are usually winnable. The key is being thorough and organized. You've got this! Let me know if you need help organizing your timeline or have other questions.
This is exactly the kind of step-by-step guidance I was looking for! Thank you so much Sean. I'm definitely within the 30-day window (just got the notice yesterday) and I love the idea of creating a timeline with supporting docs. Quick question - when you say "practice your story," did you actually rehearse it out loud or just write it down? I'm worried I'll get flustered during the phone hearing and forget important details.
I actually did both! I wrote out my main points first, then practiced saying them out loud several times. It really helped because during the actual hearing I was super nervous but having rehearsed made me feel more confident. I'd recommend recording yourself on your phone - it sounds weird but you'll catch places where you ramble or miss key details. Also, keep your timeline document right in front of you during the hearing so you can glance at it if you get stuck. The judges are usually pretty patient and will give you time to collect your thoughts if needed.
I just went through this nightmare last year and want to share a few things that really helped me win my case: **Documentation is EVERYTHING** - I collected every piece of paper I could find: my layoff notice, the email chain about budget cuts, even my final paycheck stub that showed "layoff" instead of "termination." The more official documents you have, the stronger your case. **Don't assume EDD has your employment records** - they often don't have the full picture and rely heavily on what your former employer reported. This is why YOUR evidence is so crucial. **Write a cover letter with your appeal** - I included a one-page summary explaining exactly what happened, referencing the attached documents. Something like "As evidenced by the attached layoff notice dated X, email from manager dated Y, etc., I was involuntarily separated due to company budget constraints, not voluntary resignation." **Keep detailed records going forward** - document every interaction with EDD, keep copies of everything you send them, and note dates/times of phone calls. The whole process took about 2 months for me but was 100% worth it. Once I got to the hearing and presented my evidence, the judge overturned the decision within a week. Stay organized and persistent - you can definitely win this if you were truly laid off!
My friend had this exact problem and said she had to do an "Affidavit of Wages" form to prove when her severance was for. Did anyone send you that form?
EDD only sends the Affidavit of Wages form if they have conflicting information about your wages. In a straightforward severance situation like this, they typically don't need additional verification unless there's a discrepancy between what the employer reported and what the claimant reported. The system is just slow processing these reviews.
UPDATE: You all were right! Just checked my UI Online account and my status changed from pending to paid for weeks 4 and 5, and weeks 1-3 now say "disqualified - excessive earnings" which makes sense because of the severance. Thank you all for the explanations and help!
Congratulations! This is exactly what I needed to hear. I'm currently dealing with a similar severance-related pending situation and was starting to lose hope. Your timeline matches what others have said - around 5-6 weeks for review. Thanks for coming back to update us, it really helps the community when people share their outcomes. Hope your financial stress is relieved now!
That's such a relief! I'm in week 6 of pending status with a similar severance situation and was getting really worried. Your update gives me hope that mine should resolve soon too. Did you have to do anything specific to get it moving, or did it just update automatically? Also wondering how long it took for the actual money to hit your account once the status changed to paid. Thanks for updating the thread - it really helps those of us still waiting!
I'm so sorry you're dealing with this - it's absolutely maddening when EDD hits you with multiple issues at once! I went through something similar last year and here's what I learned: The key thing is that these are two separate issues that need to be handled differently. The 10-week disqualification is likely because they think you provided false information (even if you didn't!), while the overpayment from 2 years ago is a completely different matter. For the disqualification appeal, definitely include your termination letter showing it was a layoff due to downsizing. Also gather any emails or documentation from your employer confirming the workforce reduction. EDD will likely contact your former employer during the appeal process to verify the separation reason. For the overpayment, since it's from an old claim and they sent notices to your wrong address, you have a strong case for a waiver. Document everything showing you updated your address - screenshots from your online account, any confirmation emails, etc. One important thing everyone's mentioned but I'll emphasize - you MUST continue certifying every two weeks during the 10-week disqualification period, and yes, you still need to do work search activities and keep records. I know it seems pointless when you're not getting paid, but if you don't certify, your claim gets closed. File both appeals immediately and send them certified mail. The waiting is brutal, but many people do win their appeals when they have proper documentation.
Thank you so much for this detailed breakdown @Sienna Gomez! This is exactly the kind of guidance I needed. I do have my termination letter and some emails from HR about the layoffs, so I'll definitely include those with my disqualification appeal. Quick question - when you say they'll contact my former employer during the appeal, do you know if that could cause any issues for me? I left on good terms but I'm worried about bothering them with EDD calls. Also, did you have to wait the full appeal processing time before your benefits resumed, or did they expedite anything once they realized their mistake? I'm going to get both appeals submitted this week via certified mail. Thanks again for taking the time to explain everything so clearly!
I'm really sorry you're going through this nightmare with EDD - it's incredibly stressful to deal with both a disqualification AND an overpayment at the same time, especially when you're already struggling financially. One thing I wanted to add that might help with your overpayment situation: since they sent the original notices to your old address from 2 years ago, make sure to request what's called a "good cause" determination along with your overpayment waiver. This basically argues that you shouldn't be held responsible for the overpayment because you never received proper notice due to their address error. When you file your appeals, include evidence that you updated your address with EDD - screenshots of your online account showing the current address, any confirmation emails, even bank statements or other mail showing you were living at your current address during the time period in question. Also, don't let them pressure you into paying the overpayment while your appeals are pending. You have the right to contest it first, and paying it could actually hurt your case by making it look like you're admitting fault. The whole system is designed to discourage people from fighting these decisions, but you clearly have grounds to appeal both issues. Stay strong and document everything!
This is such great advice @Tyler Murphy! The "good cause" determination is something I hadn't heard of before but it makes perfect sense for my situation. I definitely have screenshots from my EDD online account showing my current address, and I can pull bank statements and utility bills to prove I've been living here during that whole time period. You're absolutely right about not paying the overpayment while appeals are pending - I was actually considering doing that just to stop the stress, but I can see how that would look like I'm admitting I owe the money. It really does feel like they design this system to make people give up. Between the impossible phone wait times, confusing notices, and overlapping issues, it's like they're banking on people just paying up rather than fighting it. But I'm not going to let them steamroll me when I know I followed all the rules correctly. Thanks for the encouragement and the specific guidance on the "good cause" angle - I'm adding that to my appeal strategy for sure!
Omar Zaki
I had a similar issue a few weeks ago! What worked for me was making sure I was using Chrome (not Safari or Firefox) and temporarily disabling my ad blocker. Also, check if your pop-up blocker is on - sometimes the verification window gets blocked. If you're still having trouble, try doing it during off-peak hours like early morning or late evening when the system isn't as overloaded. The whole process is definitely frustrating but hang in there!
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Yara Sabbagh
•Thanks for the browser tip! I never would have thought about the ad blocker being an issue. That makes total sense though - these government sites are so picky about what they allow. I'll definitely try the early morning approach too, hadn't considered that the system might be overloaded during peak hours.
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Carmen Ortiz
I've been dealing with this exact same issue! What finally worked for me was logging out completely, clearing my browser cache, and then logging back in using a fresh incognito/private browsing window. Also make sure you're not using any VPN or proxy - CalJobs seems to flag those as suspicious. The account verification is super sensitive to any inconsistencies, so double-check that your name is entered exactly as it appears on your ID (including middle initials, hyphens, etc.). If you uploaded any documents before, try deleting them and re-uploading with different file names. Sometimes their system gets confused by special characters or long file names. Good luck!
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