How to Verify your Identity information with California EDD

A large number of unemployment seekers have been having issues getting through to California’s Employment Development Department (EDD) system to verify who they are for unemployment payments. There is a way to do so with by sending your information over via fax.

PSA for CA EDD folks: if you’ve been asked to mail in docs to verify your identity, faxing them to 916-653-2734 worked for me. Put your SSN and the EDD start date in the top right corner.

Pro-tip courtesy of @marialaganga. Workshare to stave off layoffs courtesy of @latguild

— Kiera Feldman (@kierafeldman) July 26, 2020

Within 48 hours of faxing my docs, I got a text from EDD saying my identity had been verified. A text! I didn’t even know they had my cell number.

In order to even GET that fax number, you have to be redialing EDD like it’s your job for days/weeks to even reach somebody

— Kiera Feldman (@kierafeldman) July 26, 2020

While we absolutely hate faxing anything since it is 2020 after all, there are at least 6 ways to fax via email for free. 

Certainly if you are more technologically illiterate you can sometimes send faxes at local convenience stores, but the most reliable road tested option is to be pillaged by Staples, OfficeDepot OfficeMax, UPS Store, or FedEx Office in store locations. From memory these services usually steal $8-10 per first page, and some less painful $1 per page thereafter.  Or ask a friend or relative if they still have a functioning land line and working fax machine you can borrow to get your unemployment benefits.

Ironically in the age of no one using land lines the EDD will send a text message to confirm your verification.

Note As of April 2021 we have a more expanded guide on the approved identification verification methods.

Check out our other California EDD Frequently Asked Questions.