Thank you everyone for all the advice! We've filed the appeal today and included all the specific information and regulations you suggested. We're also going to keep trying to call EDD directly. I'll update this thread if we get it resolved so it might help someone else dealing with the same issue.

My brother had almost the identical problem last year with his claim. The appeal process actually worked surprisingly well for him. The judge instantly recognized it as a technical issue when they saw the login timestamp data compared to the ID.me verification completion time. They backdated everything and he got all the benefits he was entitled to. Just make sure you gather ALL documentation showing your attempts to comply with deadlines.

mail applications take FOREVER now!! my neighbor tried calling edd for 3 weeks straight couldnt get thru either. she ended up just going in person to the edd office and they helped her right there. maybe try that?

I had the same issue back in November when I applied by mail. Waited and waited... then I realized I had certification forms in my mailbox that were about to be late! Turns out they processed my application but never sent me the confirmation letter. When I finally got through to someone they said sometimes the notification letters get lost. Have you checked your mailbox carefully? Maybe they already processed it but the letter got lost.

@system_critic Technically yes, they require you to look for work, but when I certified I just put that I was looking for full-time work to replace my reduced-hour position. They never questioned it or asked for details. I think as long as you're working and reporting wages, they don't scrutinize the work search stuff as much as when you're fully unemployed.

UPDATE: Thank you all for the helpful advice! I showed my girlfriend this thread and she decided to take the assistant manager position with reduced hours AND apply for partial unemployment. We're going to document everything carefully about the store closure to make it clear this wasn't a voluntary reduction. She's going to apply this weekend and I'll update again once we see how it goes. Fingers crossed the partial benefits help make up most of the difference!

Just a suggestion - have your husband check that his identity verification through ID.me is complete. Sometimes claims get stuck in pending status if there are identity verification issues, even when you've received the Money Network card. The card issuance is automatic but the claim approval requires identity confirmation. If there's any issue there, it would explain the delay.

UPDATE: Just wanted to let everyone know that my husband's claim was finally approved! The letter came yesterday, almost exactly 4 weeks after he applied. The money was deposited to the Money Network card about 12 hours before we got the letter. Thanks everyone for your helpful advice and reassurance during this stressful time!

Another important thing: while you're trying to get through on the phone, make sure you're still certifying for benefits every two weeks on time. Even if your claim is pending, don't miss your certification dates. Many people focus so much on calling that they miss certification and that creates a whole new problem that can further delay payments.

Update for anyone still following: I called the technical support line that someone suggested above (1-833-978-2511) at exactly 8:00 AM this morning, went through the prompts, and after a 45-minute wait, I got through to a representative! They were able to see that my identity verification was flagged for a manual review, which was causing the pending status. The representative expedited the review, and they said my payments should be processed within 3-5 business days. For anyone else stuck in pending status - sometimes it's an identity verification issue that needs manual intervention. Keep trying the phone numbers early in the morning!