Calling EDD SDI 1-800-480-3287 repeatedly but can't reach a human - any tricks?

Press 1, then 7, then 1, then 4... worked for me last week but still waited 45 min

The EDD phone system is DESIGNED to block people!!!! They WANT you to give up. I called 97 TIMES in one day last month trying to fix my claim that was pending for 6 weeks. When I finally got through the rep told me there was a "system flag" on my account that was easy to remove but could ONLY be done by phone. Convenient, right?? The whole system is broken on purpose!!!

I had this exact same issue last month with my pregnancy disability claim. After two weeks of failed calling, I finally used Claimyr to connect with an EDD representative. It got me through to an actual person in about 25 minutes when I'd spent days trying on my own. Not cheap but totally worth it for me since I was missing payments. Their site is claimyr.com and they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/1X-mEsLtbmQ?si=1hcSq3KFtCr4oAmd

try calling exactly at 8:01am. thats when they open and ur more likely to get thru. also dont call on mondays, way 2 busy.

Here's what I've learned from dealing with EDD SDI over the years: 1. Call Wednesday or Thursday (avoid Monday/Friday) 2. Call between 8:00-8:15am or 4:30-4:45pm 3. When the automated system asks why you're calling, say "payment status" not "claim questions" 4. Have your claim number, last 4 of SSN, and doctor info ready 5. Be polite but persistent with the representative If your claim has been pending since March 12th, there's likely a specific issue holding it up. When you get through, ask specifically what's causing the delay and what documentation they need. Common hold-ups include incomplete medical certification, identity verification issues, or overlapping benefit periods. Good luck!

When I had my back surgery last year my claim got stuck too i was so stressed but honestly what worked was I went to my local EDD office in person!! They couldn't fix it right there but the lady took my info and had someone call me directly the next day. Worth a shot if you have an office nearby. Also I think I had to make an appointment online first

Based on your timeline (pending since March 12th), your claim might be held up for a specific reason that requires human intervention. Common reasons for claims getting stuck in "pending" status include: - Missing or incomplete medical certification (Form DE 2501) - Discrepancies between your application and medical provider information - Employer verification delays - Base period wage issues - Identity verification requirements While calling is still your best option, you can also try: 1. Sending a secure message through your SDI Online account (though responses can take 7-10 days) 2. Asking your medical provider to check if they've received any requests for additional information 3. Verifying your identity is fully validated in the system (sometimes they need additional documentation) The 1-800-480-3287 number is indeed correct for SDI questions. Keep trying the techniques others have suggested for getting through.

wait i just realized this is for disability not unemployment lol...ignore my advice about 8:01am, i think thats the UI number hours not disability

anybody know if its illegal for them to keep us waiting for benefits this long?? feels like it should be!

Update: I FINALLY got through today! I tried the suggestion to call at 8:01am and press 1, then 7, then 1, then 4. It took three attempts but I got into the queue! Waited about 50 minutes but finally spoke to someone. Turns out there was an issue with how my doctor coded my medical condition that was flagging my claim for review. The rep was able to clear it up on the call and said I should receive my payments within 5-7 business days. THANK YOU all for your suggestions!

Congratulations on getting through and getting it resolved! Your success story gives me hope. I'm dealing with a similar situation with my SDI claim that's been pending for 3 weeks now. I'm going to try the exact same approach you used - calling at 8:01am with the 1-7-1-4 menu sequence. It's so frustrating that something as simple as a medical coding issue can hold up payments for weeks, but at least now I know there's light at the end of the tunnel. Thanks for sharing your update - it's exactly what people in this situation need to hear!

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm dealing with a similar situation - my SDI claim has been stuck in "pending" status for about 2.5 weeks now. Like others here, I've been burning through my savings while waiting and it's really stressful. I'm going to try the 8:01am calling strategy with the 1-7-1-4 menu sequence that worked for Jamal. It's reassuring to know that most of these delays seem to be due to fixable technical issues rather than actual problems with people's claims. The tip about saying "payment status" instead of "claim questions" when the automated system asks is also something I hadn't thought of. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - it really helps to know we're not alone in this struggle!

I'm so grateful to have found this thread! I've been dealing with a pending SDI claim for about 2 weeks now and was starting to feel completely helpless. Reading Jamal's success story and everyone's tips has given me the roadmap I desperately needed. I had no idea there were specific menu sequences that work better or that certain days/times are more effective for calling. I'm definitely going to try the 8:01am strategy with the 1-7-1-4 sequence tomorrow morning. It's such a relief to know that most of these delays are due to simple technical issues that can be resolved once you actually reach a representative. The financial stress while waiting for benefits is real, but knowing there's a light at the end of the tunnel makes it bearable. Thank you all for sharing your experiences and supporting each other through this frustrating process!

I'm new to this community but had to join after reading this incredibly helpful thread! I'm currently dealing with my own SDI nightmare - my claim has been pending for almost 5 weeks now after a workplace injury, and I was starting to lose hope completely. Seeing Jamal's success story and all the practical tips everyone has shared has been a game-changer. I had no clue about the 1-7-1-4 menu sequence or the importance of calling right at 8:01am on mid-week days. I've been randomly calling at different times and getting nowhere. Tomorrow I'm going to follow the exact strategy that worked - Wednesday morning at 8:01am with the proper menu navigation and saying "payment status" instead of "claim questions." The financial stress is overwhelming when you're already dealing with an injury, but this community has given me both hope and a concrete action plan. Thank you all for being so supportive and sharing what actually works!

I just want to say how amazing this community is! I've been lurking here for a while but finally decided to create an account after reading through this entire thread. I'm currently waiting for my maternity leave SDI claim to be processed (it's been pending for about 10 days now) and I was starting to get really anxious about it. Seeing everyone share their experiences so openly and provide such detailed, practical advice is incredible. The fact that Jamal came back to update everyone with his success story really shows the kind of supportive community this is. I'm bookmarking all these tips about calling at 8:01am on Wednesday/Thursday, using the 1-7-1-4 menu sequence, and saying "payment status" instead of "claim questions." Even though my claim hasn't been pending as long as some others here, I want to be proactive about resolving any potential issues before they drag on for weeks. Thank you all for creating such a helpful resource for people navigating this confusing system!

This thread has been such a lifesaver for me! I've been struggling with my SDI claim for about 3 weeks now - it's been stuck in pending status and I was starting to panic about my bills. Reading through everyone's experiences and seeing Jamal's successful resolution has given me so much hope and a clear game plan. I had no idea about the specific menu navigation (1-7-1-4) or the importance of timing the calls for 8:01am on mid-week days. I've been calling randomly throughout the day and getting nowhere. The tip about saying "payment status" instead of "claim questions" is genius - I never would have thought that different menu options could route you differently within the system. Tomorrow is Thursday so I'm going to try the exact strategy that worked for Jamal. It's incredible how supportive this community is - everyone sharing real, actionable advice instead of just generic "keep trying" responses. Thank you all for taking the time to document what actually works!

I'm brand new to this community but had to join after reading through this amazing thread! I've been dealing with my own SDI claim nightmare for about 2.5 weeks now after surgery, and I was feeling completely lost and overwhelmed by the process. Seeing Jamal's success story and all the incredibly detailed, practical advice from everyone here has been such a relief - finally actionable strategies instead of generic "keep calling" advice! I had no idea about the 1-7-1-4 menu sequence or that saying "payment status" vs "claim questions" could make such a difference in routing. I've been calling at random times and getting nowhere, but now I have a real game plan. I'm going to try the 8:01am Wednesday strategy tomorrow morning with all my documentation ready (claim number, SSN, doctor info). The financial stress while waiting for benefits is so overwhelming, especially when you're already dealing with recovery from surgery. But this community has given me both hope and a concrete action plan. Thank you all for being so generous with sharing what actually works - I'll definitely report back with my results!

I just discovered this thread and I'm so grateful! I've been struggling with my SDI claim for the past 6 weeks - it's been pending since mid-February after a car accident left me unable to work. I've called dozens of times using the regular approach and never gotten through to a human. Reading through everyone's experiences here, especially Jamal's success story, has given me the first real hope I've felt in weeks. I'm definitely going to try the 8:01am Wednesday call with the 1-7-1-4 menu sequence and saying "payment status" instead of "claim questions." The financial pressure has been crushing - I'm behind on rent and my savings are completely depleted. But seeing how many people have successfully resolved their issues using these specific strategies gives me confidence that there's light at the end of this tunnel. Thank you all for sharing such detailed, actionable advice. I'll make sure to report back with my results to help the next person who finds themselves in this frustrating situation!