I'm new to this community but wanted to share some encouragement after reading your story! I just successfully won my second appeal about 3 months ago for almost the exact same issue - work search documentation while doing part-time work. My overpayment was $5,200, so I totally understand that financial stress you're dealing with. What really helped me was creating what I called a "comprehensive evidence narrative" that went beyond just listing job applications. I documented not only WHERE I applied, but also HOW my actions consistently showed I was prioritizing full-time work over my part-time gig. Key elements that made the difference: - Screenshots of job alerts I had set up specifically for full-time positions in my field - Email threads with recruiters discussing full-time opportunities - Documentation of times I requested time off from my part-time job for interviews - Evidence that I was willing to relocate or take a pay cut for the right full-time position The CUIAB took about 12 weeks but completely reversed the ALJ's decision. They specifically mentioned that the original ruling had "applied an overly narrow interpretation of work search requirements" and that my evidence clearly demonstrated "sustained efforts to secure full-time employment." Reading all these success stories in this thread should give you real confidence. The fact that you already have more detailed records to submit puts you in a strong position. With $7,800 at stake and the patterns we're seeing with work search documentation appeals, I genuinely believe you have an excellent chance of getting this overturned. Don't give up - the second appeal process really does provide a fair, fresh review of your case!

I'm new to this community but wanted to add my voice to all the encouragement here! I just successfully won my second appeal about 2 months ago for the exact same issue - insufficient work search documentation while doing part-time work. My overpayment was $6,400, so I completely understand that overwhelming financial stress you're experiencing. What made the biggest difference for me was realizing that the CUIAB isn't just looking for more paperwork - they want to see the complete picture of your genuine job search efforts and availability for full-time work. I created what I called a "holistic evidence package" that included: - Detailed spreadsheet with every application (company, date, position, method, follow-up actions) - Screenshots showing my active engagement on job boards over time - Email confirmations and recruiter correspondence - Documentation of how I communicated with my part-time employer about my job search priorities - A clear written statement explaining how each piece of evidence demonstrated my availability for full-time work The key was addressing each specific point in the denial letter and showing how the ALJ had misinterpreted my evidence. The Board took about 10 weeks and completely overturned the decision, noting that the original determination had "failed to recognize the comprehensive scope of claimant's job search activities." Based on all the success stories in this thread and the fact that you have additional detailed records, I'm genuinely optimistic about your chances. Work search documentation appeals seem to have good success rates when presented systematically. With $7,800 at stake, this is absolutely worth pursuing. The second appeal really does give you a fresh, thorough review. Don't give up hope!

I just filed my unemployment claim 2 days ago after being laid off from my warehouse operations coordinator position due to facility closure. This thread has been absolutely amazing to discover! I was really stressed about the phone interview requirement after hearing so many different stories from people I know. Reading through everyone's real experiences has completely changed my perspective. The key insight that interviews are only for specific eligibility issues rather than being automatic is huge! My UI Online account shows "pending" with no flags, and based on all the success stories shared here from people with straightforward layoffs, I'm feeling much more confident about my situation. I already called that automated phone line (1-866-333-4606) that multiple people mentioned - what a fantastic resource! It confirmed my claim is in normal processing with no issues flagged, which has really eased my anxiety about potentially missing something important. The realistic timelines everyone shared (especially Christian's 11-day approval story) give me proper expectations instead of constantly worrying. It's amazing how much stress comes from simply not knowing what's "normal" in this process. Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their actual experiences - it makes such a difference for those of us navigating this for the first time!

This thread has been incredibly helpful for me as well! I just filed my unemployment claim 3 days ago after being laid off from my medical receptionist position due to clinic restructuring. Like so many others here, I was really anxious about the phone interview requirement - I had no idea they were only triggered by specific eligibility issues rather than being automatic for everyone. Reading Christian's success story and all the other positive outcomes from people with straightforward layoffs has given me so much peace of mind. My situation sounds very similar - clean layoff due to restructuring, no performance issues, full availability for work, and my UI Online account just shows "pending" with no flags. I called that automated phone line (1-866-333-4606) yesterday and it confirmed my claim is in normal processing with no issues, which was such a relief! It's amazing how that one resource can eliminate so much anxiety about whether something might be wrong. The realistic timeline expectations everyone shared (10-14 days for straightforward cases) are so valuable. I was checking my account constantly, but now I know that's completely unnecessary. Thank you to everyone who shared their real experiences and practical tips - it's made this stressful process so much more manageable for newcomers like me!

I just went through this exact same issue two weeks ago and it was driving me absolutely crazy! The "must have registered before" error message is so poorly worded - it really should say something like "complete your account setup" instead. What's happening is when you file by phone, EDD creates what they call a "partial account" or "skeleton account" in their system, but you still need to complete the online registration process. The system thinks you should already know about this account, hence the confusing error message. Since you mentioned filing 8 days ago and having a hyphenated last name, I'd bet money that's the issue. Their phone system frequently records hyphenated names incorrectly - sometimes as two separate words, sometimes without the hyphen entirely, or even all caps with no punctuation. Here's what worked for me: I called the technical support line at 1-833-978-2511 at exactly 8:00 AM on a Tuesday morning. Got through after about 25 minutes on hold. The rep could immediately see how my name was recorded in their system (they had "Smith-Johnson" recorded as "SMITH JOHNSON" with just a space) and helped me complete the registration using their exact format. While you're waiting to get through, try registering with different variations of "Doyle-Martinez" - maybe "DOYLE MARTINEZ", "Doyle Martinez", or even "DOYLEMARTINEZ" as one word. Sometimes you get lucky and find the exact format they used. Don't stress about certification timing - you won't be able to certify until 2-3 weeks after filing anyway, and they'll notify you when it's available. You have plenty of time to get this sorted out!

Welcome to the community, Riya! You're absolutely right that this thread is incredibly helpful - I wish I had found something like this when I was dealing with my registration issues. The middle name situation you mentioned could definitely be the culprit! EDD's phone system is notorious for recording names inconsistently, especially when people give their full legal name during filing but then try to register online using a shorter version (or vice versa). A few tips based on what I learned from my own experience: When you call that technical support line tomorrow, have your claim confirmation number ready if you received one when you filed by phone. Also, be prepared to verify your identity with info about your previous employer and wages - they sometimes ask for that to locate your account. The rep will be able to see exactly how your name was entered in their system and help you register using their exact format. If you don't get through on your first try, don't give up! I had to call three times before I got through, but it was totally worth it. The technical support reps are generally much more helpful than the regular claims line, and they understand this specific registration issue really well. Good luck tomorrow morning - you've got this!

I'm going through this exact same issue with my elderly neighbor's claim right now! She filed her initial unemployment about 10 days ago and we're hitting all the same problems - weekend phone certification giving the "business hours" message and online account setup repeatedly failing with "information doesn't match." After reading everyone's experiences here, it's clear this is a systematic issue with how EDD handles first-time claims. These automatic review flags that block automated systems but don't notify claimants are absolutely terrible design. One additional tip I discovered: if your mom worked for any educational institution (including as a substitute teacher, cafeteria worker, etc.), that can trigger additional review flags since school employment has special seasonal considerations for unemployment eligibility. I'm planning to try the 8:00 AM sharp calling strategy on Monday with both the tech support line (1-833-978-2511) and potentially the DI line backup (1-800-480-3287). It's honestly both comforting and infuriating to see so many people dealing with identical issues. This thread should basically be required reading for anyone helping family members with their first EDD claim! Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences and solutions.

I'm currently going through this EXACT same situation with my mom's unemployment claim! She filed about 2 weeks ago and we're hitting all the same roadblocks - the weekend phone certification system keeps saying "call during business hours" when it should be 24/7, and the online account setup fails every single time with "information doesn't match our records" even though we've verified everything multiple times. After reading through all these experiences, it's becoming really clear that EDD has some serious systematic issues with first-time claims. These automatic review flags that block all the automated systems without any notification to claimants are just terrible system design. What's been most helpful from this thread: - The 8:00 AM sharp calling strategy for both tech support (1-833-978-2511) and the DI line workaround (1-800-480-3287) - Checking for exact name formatting from the physical award letter (including middle initials/abbreviations) - Understanding that government or educational employment history can trigger additional review flags I'm planning to call first thing Monday morning using these strategies. It's honestly both reassuring and frustrating to see so many people dealing with identical issues - shows this isn't user error but just EDD's broken communication process. Thanks everyone for sharing your solutions - this community thread has been more helpful than any official EDD guidance I've found!

I'm also a newcomer to this community and I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who shared their experiences here! I'm 66 and still working, but I've been worried about what would happen if I got laid off since I've been collecting Social Security for a year now. My coworkers have said the same thing about not being eligible for unemployment if you're on Social Security, so I was really nervous about my financial security. Reading through all these responses has been such a relief! It's clear that this misinformation is everywhere, and I'm so grateful that Elijah asked this question. The detailed advice about documentation, work search requirements, and the application process is incredibly helpful. I'm bookmarking this thread just in case I ever need it. Elijah, I hope your claim goes smoothly! Please do update us on how it works out - knowing that someone in your exact situation successfully navigated the process would give me (and probably many other seniors) a lot of peace of mind for the future.

As someone who's been working in senior advocacy for over a decade, I'm absolutely thrilled to see this thread and all the accurate information being shared! This misinformation about Social Security recipients not being eligible for unemployment benefits is one of the most persistent and harmful myths I encounter in my work. What makes me especially angry is that this false information often comes from employers and supervisors who should know better. Whether it's intentional (to discourage claims and keep their UI tax rates down) or just ignorance, the result is the same - seniors who have worked and paid into the system for decades are being denied benefits they've rightfully earned. Elijah, you did exactly the right thing by questioning what your supervisor told you and seeking out accurate information. Too many seniors just accept what they're told and miss out on thousands of dollars in benefits. Your question and this entire discussion thread is going to help countless other seniors who find themselves in similar situations. For anyone reading this who might face layoffs in the future: ALWAYS verify benefit eligibility directly with the appropriate agency (EDD for unemployment, SSA for Social Security issues) rather than taking an employer's word for it. And don't let anyone make you feel guilty for claiming benefits you've paid into through decades of hard work!