Just a heads up, there's been a lot of ID.me scams going around. Make sure you're only using the official site and never give out your info over the phone!

I went through this exact same nightmare last year! What finally worked for me was doing the video verification during off-peak hours (early morning or late evening). The wait times were much shorter and the agents seemed less rushed. Also, make sure you have really good lighting - I failed twice because my documents weren't clear enough on camera. It's frustrating but don't give up! Once you get through, the benefits should start flowing within a few days.

FINAL UPDATE: Good news! The Tier 2 specialist called me back today and reviewed my case. Because my job was permanently eliminated (not just seasonal layoff), they're processing what they called a 'backdated new claim.' I had to provide my Forest Service RIF notice and answer questions about my work history. They said I should see the claim update in my UI Online account within 10 days, and then I can certify for benefits again. Such a relief! Thanks to everyone who helped me navigate this complicated situation.

This is such a helpful thread for seasonal workers! I'm actually in a similar situation - worked for Cal Fire seasonally for 3 years and just found out they're cutting our crew due to budget issues. I was supposed to start back up next month but got the elimination notice last week. Reading through everyone's experiences, it sounds like the key is really getting to that Tier 2 specialist and having all your documentation ready. @Harper Hill - congrats on getting it resolved! Do you mind me asking roughly how long the whole process took from when you first called to when you could certify again? I'm trying to plan my finances and wondering if I should start looking for temporary work while this gets sorted out. The "backdated new claim" option sounds like exactly what I'll need too since my position was permanently eliminated, not just a seasonal break.

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - got disqualified for two weeks because I misunderstood that availability question too. It's honestly such a relief reading everyone's responses here because I was panicking thinking my whole claim was ruined. Already filed my DE 1000M appeal form and I'm keeping my fingers crossed. The waiting is the hardest part but it sounds like most people who made honest mistakes like this get their appeals approved eventually. Thanks for posting about this - knowing I'm not alone in making this error really helps!

This happened to me too about 6 months ago! That availability question is seriously the most confusing one on the whole certification form. I made the same exact mistake - kept answering 'yes' because I thought I needed to explain my situation. Got disqualified for 3 weeks before I figured out what was happening. Filed the DE 1000M appeal right away and won after about 8 weeks. The key is being really detailed in your explanation about how you misunderstood the question. I literally wrote out my thought process step by step so they could see it was genuine confusion, not trying to fraud the system. Keep certifying every two weeks while you wait - that's super important! And don't let that "indefinitely" comment scare you too much, the rep probably just meant you'd be disqualified until you either appeal successfully or answer correctly going forward.

UPDATE: Just wanted to let everyone know that my payment finally switched from pending to paid this morning! Took exactly 5 days. Thanks for all the advice and support, it really helped me not panic while waiting. For anyone else in this situation - yes, reporting settlement money will trigger a review, but it does eventually clear if everything is properly reported.

Glad to hear your payment went through! For future reference, if anyone else is dealing with settlement income, it's worth noting that EDD typically processes these reviews in order of submission. The 5-7 business day timeframe mentioned earlier is pretty accurate for most cases. Just remember to always report any income - even if it causes a delay, it's much better than dealing with overpayment issues later. The system is designed to protect both you and the state from errors.

Glad you finally got through to EDD and got some clarity! That's a huge relief just knowing where you stand. The contract wording thing is really important - I've seen cases where districts classify summer as "temporary layoff" vs "unpaid leave" and it makes all the difference for EDD eligibility. Since you're IT support, definitely ask about summer maintenance projects too - a lot of districts do major system updates/upgrades when students aren't around. Even if it's just a few weeks of work, every bit helps bridge that gap. Good luck with everything and thanks for updating us! It's really helpful to see how these situations actually play out.

Great update Lucas! So glad you got through to EDD and got some real answers. The contract wording thing is huge - I work in HR for a district and can confirm that how they classify the summer period makes ALL the difference. Some districts do "seasonal layoff" which can qualify you for benefits, while others do "unpaid leave" which usually doesn't. Also wanted to add that if you do end up doing gig work over summer, make sure to track your expenses (gas, car maintenance, phone data) - a lot of those are tax deductible for delivery drivers. And definitely keep EDD in the loop about any income you earn from gigs if you do end up qualifying for partial benefits. You handled this whole situation really smart by getting official answers instead of just guessing. Hope the summer works out well for you!