This thread has been incredibly helpful - thank you all for sharing your experiences and strategies! I'm dealing with almost the exact same situation as the original post, with EDD owing me around $3,800 from late 2020/early 2021. After reading through everyone's advice, I'm going to try calling tomorrow at 8:01am sharp and ask specifically for the "Claim Review Unit about retroactive certification for unpaid weeks from 2020-2021." I've spent tonight gathering all my documentation - claim number, exact dates of the unpaid weeks, old determination letters, and even found some screenshots of my certifications from that time. If the direct calling approach doesn't work within a week, I'll escalate to contacting my assembly member's office and filing a formal complaint through the EDD website. It's frustrating that we have to become experts at navigating bureaucracy just to get money we're legally owed, but seeing recent success stories like Mei's gives me hope that there are finally people at EDD who can resolve these pandemic-era issues. I'll update this thread with my results - whether successful or not - since this conversation has become such a valuable resource for all of us still fighting for our benefits. We shouldn't have to deal with this in 2025, but at least we can support each other through the process!

I've been reading through this entire thread and it's both reassuring and infuriating to see so many of us still fighting for pandemic-era benefits. EDD owes me about $2,600 from March 2021 when my claim got flagged during their fraud sweep, even though I was legitimately unemployed. What really caught my attention was Mei's success story about using the specific phrase "Claim Review Unit about retroactive certification" - that seems to be the magic words to get transferred to someone who actually knows how to handle these old cases. I'm definitely going to try that approach at 8:01am sharp. One thing I wanted to add that might help others: I just discovered that if you still have access to your old UI Online account, you can print out your payment history which shows the weeks that were certified but never paid. This creates a clear paper trail that proves you were owed the money. Look under "Payment Activity" and filter by the date range from your pandemic claim. It's absolutely ridiculous that we're all still dealing with this bureaucratic nightmare in 2025, but this thread has given me more actionable strategies than years of frustrating phone calls. Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences - we shouldn't have to become EDD experts just to get our own money, but here we are!

Honestly, at this point I'm convinced the entire unemployment office is just one very overwhelmed person named Greg trying his best with an old Dell computer from 2003

As someone who just went through this exact situation last month, here's what finally worked for me: I sent a certified letter to the main EDD office with copies of everything I had, including screenshots of my account showing the missing payments and a detailed timeline of all my contact attempts. I also included a statement that I never received the documentation letter they referenced. Within 10 days of them signing for that certified letter, I got a call back and my payments were released. Sometimes you have to create an undeniable paper trail that forces them to respond. Hang in there - it's frustrating but you will get through this!

did u try logging out and back in? sometimes the site is just buggy

Just wanted to check back - any updates? Were you able to get through to EDD and find out what was happening with your certification?

Update: I used TeleCert yesterday and it went through! The automated system is painfully slow but at least it worked. Still having trouble getting through to an actual person though. I have questions about why my last payment was less than I expected. Going to try the Claimyr thing as a last resort if I can't get through by Friday. Thanks everyone for all your help!

Just wanted to add - if you're still having trouble with TeleCert or need to speak with someone urgently, try calling the EDD switchboard at 1-800-480-3287 first thing Monday morning at exactly 8:00 AM. This number sometimes has shorter wait times than the main UI line. They can transfer you to the right department once connected. Also, check if your local library has free computer/internet access while yours is down. Most libraries let you use computers for 1-2 hours at a time, which would be enough to access UI Online and check for any important messages in your inbox. Some even have staff who can help navigate government websites if you're not sure what to look for. Hope your situation improves soon - the stress of dealing with EDD while unemployed is really tough. You're doing the right thing by staying on top of your certifications!

Glad we could help! Just remember to keep certifying on time (ideally Sunday morning) for the most consistent payment schedule. And double-check that your contact information is current in UI Online in case they need to reach you about your claim.

Just wanted to add my experience as someone who also returned to unemployment after a long break! I was off unemployment for about 4 years and when I had to file again in late 2024, I was completely lost with all the changes. The Money Network transition really caught me off guard too. What helped me was logging into UI Online and going to the "Payment Method" section to confirm my direct deposit info was correct. There's also a section that shows your payment history with the new system. One thing I noticed - if you have any issues with future payments, don't bother calling the general EDD number. The Money Network customer service line (for direct deposit questions) is actually more helpful and has shorter wait times. The number is on their website if you need it. Your experience with getting the payment Monday after weekend certification is actually ideal timing! Some of my friends who still use the Money Network card say it takes longer to get their funds available.