Can't reach EDD SDI by phone - stuck in endless hold cycle for weeks!

Welcome to the wonderful world of EDD! They're chronically understaffed and their phone system is a nightmare. Try calling right when they open at 8am - that's when I finally got through after trying for 2 weeks straight. Also make sure you're calling the right number. For SDI it's 1-800-480-3287.

I had this EXACT same problem last month! I spent hours trying to get through to someone. When I finally did, they told me my claim was delayed because they needed additional verification from my employer. Check your SDI Online account for any messages or tasks in your inbox - sometimes they need additional info but don't clearly tell you. Also, have you tried using the contact form through your SDI Online account? It's not fast (took about 5 days to get a response for me) but at least it's something.

the trick is to press 0 right after the automated system starts then wait for the menu options and press 1-2-4 in that order, worked for me

I've been through this frustration too. After weeks of failing to get through on the phone, I discovered a service called Claimyr that actually got me connected to an EDD representative in about 20 minutes. It was amazing after all the failed attempts I'd made on my own. They basically call EDD for you and navigate the phone system, then call you when they have an agent on the line. I was skeptical at first but it worked perfectly. You can see how it works in their video demo: https://youtu.be/1X-mEsLtbmQ?si=1hcSq3KFtCr4oAmd Their website is claimyr.com if you want to check it out. It saved me so much frustration with my disability claim issue.

Your frustration is completely understandable. The phone systems at EDD are notoriously difficult to navigate, especially for SDI claims. Here are a few things that might help: 1. Make sure you're calling during their business hours (8am-5pm Monday-Friday) 2. If your claim shows "pending review" for more than 14 business days, there might be an issue they haven't communicated. Sometimes they need additional information but the notification doesn't show up properly in your online account. 3. In some cases, they may need verification from your employer about your last day worked or wages. Has your employer completed their portion of the process? 4. If your doctor submitted the medical certification electronically through SDI Online, it's usually processed faster than paper forms. You might want to confirm with your doctor's office exactly how they submitted it. 5. As a last resort, you can contact your state assembly member's office. They often have liaisons who can help constituents with EDD issues. Hang in there! This system is frustrating, but persistence usually pays off eventually.

I had a similar issue with my disability claim last year and IT WAS AWFUL!!! I couldn't reach anyone for like a month and my landlord was threatening to evict me and everything. The EDD system is BROKEN and they don't care about us at all!! I ended up having to borrow money from family just to survive while waiting for them to fix their mistake. It's criminal how they treat people who are already dealing with health issues!!!!

Has anyone tried going to an actual EDD office in person? I know they don't typically handle SDI claims in the unemployment offices, but I'm wondering if that might be a way to at least talk to someone who could help navigate the system?

UPDATE: I finally got through to someone at EDD today! For anyone with the same problem, I ended up using that Claimyr service that someone mentioned above, and it actually worked. Got connected to an EDD rep in about 25 minutes. Turns out there was a discrepancy between the dates on my doctor's certification and what my employer reported as my last day worked. The rep was able to fix it right away and said my payments should start processing within 48 hours. Thank you all for your help and suggestions! This forum was a lifesaver when I was feeling completely stuck.