Can't reach EDD on phone for weeks - any tips to actually talk to a human?
I filed my unemployment claim and I'm having trouble getting through to EDD. I've been trying to call for hours but can't get anyone on the line. Has anyone else experienced this? Any tips on how to actually reach a human at EDD? I'm getting really frustrated and need to speak with someone about my claim.
36 comments


Tom Maxon
I found a way to solve EDD phone system frustration, watch this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KgN9g0_NK4M
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Sasha Ivanov
Welcome to the club, buddy. EDD's phone system is a nightmare. I've been trying for weeks to get through. It's like they're purposely making it impossible to talk to anyone. 🤬
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Liam Murphy
•Seriously, its ridiculous. I spent 3 days straight calling non-stop. My finger hurts from hitting redial lol
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Amara Okafor
•Have you tried calling right when they open? I heard thats the best time to get through
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Sasha Ivanov
•Tried that. No luck. It's like playing the lottery, except the odds are worse 😅
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CaptainAwesome
I found a method that actually works to get someone on the phone. I used this site's (claimyr.com) calling tool that dials the phone menu, stays on hold, waits for a live agent to pick up, then sends the call to my phone. It does cost $20, but it works. Here's a video explaining it: https://youtu.be/1X-mEsLtbmQ
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Yuki Tanaka
•Sounds too good to be true. Has anyone else tried this?
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Esmeralda Gómez
•20 bucks? Thats kinda steep. Is it really worth it?
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CaptainAwesome
•I was skeptical too, but it saved me hours of frustration. Totally worth it IMO. Got my issue resolved in one call.
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Klaus Schmidt
•Just tried it. Can confirm it works! Finally got through after weeks of trying on my own.
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Aisha Patel
Here's what I've learned after dealing with EDD for months: • Call early in the morning, right when they open • Use the trick where you press 1-2-4 as soon as the automated message starts • Keep trying even if you get a busy signal. Sometimes it takes 50+ attempts • Be prepared with all your info ready when you do get through • If all else fails, contact your local assembly member's office. They can sometimes help push things through Hope this helps someone. Stay persistent!
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LilMama23
•This is gold 💯 Thanks for sharing your wisdom!
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Dmitri Volkov
•Whats the 1-2-4 trick? Never heard of that before
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Aisha Patel
•@profile10 It's supposed to bypass some of the automated menus and get you to a real person faster. YMMV tho
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Gabrielle Dubois
ugh im in the same boat. been trying to reach edd for 2 weeks now. this system is so broken 😫
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Tyrone Johnson
Have you tried contacting them through UI Online? Sometimes you can get a response faster that way than calling.
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Miguel Hernández
•Yeah, I've tried that too. No luck so far. It's been radio silence 😞
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Ingrid Larsson
Pro tip: call the employer line instead of the claimant line. They usually pick up faster and can still help with most issues.
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Carlos Mendoza
•Isn't that like... cheating the system? 🤔
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Ingrid Larsson
•desperate times call for desperate measures my friend
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Zainab Mahmoud
•I tried this and got scolded by the rep. YMMV I guess 🤷♂️
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Ava Williams
Anyone else notice how the hold music is always WAY louder than the actual rep when they pick up? Nearly blew out my eardrums last time 🙉
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Raj Gupta
•LOL yes! I thought it was just me. That music haunts my dreams now 😂
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Lena Müller
Honestly, at this point I'm convinced EDD is run by a bunch of hamsters on wheels. How hard is it to answer a damn phone?
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TechNinja
Have you tried reaching out to your local assemblymember or state senator? They sometimes have direct lines to EDD and can help push your claim through.
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Miguel Hernández
•I hadn't thought of that. How do I find out who my local rep is?
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TechNinja
•Just google '[your city] state assembly member'. Their office should have a way to contact them about EDD issues.
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Keisha Thompson
Plot twist: there are no actual EDD employees. It's all just an elaborate social experiment to see how long we'll keep calling 🤡
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Paolo Bianchi
•Bruh 💀 I wouldn't even be surprised at this point
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Ravi Sharma
I feel your pain! I went through the same nightmare for almost a month. Here's what finally worked for me: I started calling at exactly 8:00 AM when they open, but instead of the main number, I called the disability insurance line (1-800-480-3287) and explained that I needed help with my UI claim. They were able to transfer me to the right department and I actually got through! It took about 45 minutes on hold but way better than the endless busy signals. Also, make sure you have your social, claim number, and all your docs ready because they move fast once you get someone. Don't give up - you'll get through eventually! 💪
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Dylan Evans
•This is such a helpful tip! I never would have thought to try the disability line. Going to give this a shot tomorrow morning at 8 AM sharp. Thanks for sharing what worked for you - gives me hope that I'll finally get through! 🙏
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Ally Tailer
I've been in this exact situation! After weeks of frustration, I discovered that calling the Spanish language line (1-800-326-0404) even if you don't speak Spanish can sometimes get you through faster. When they answer, just politely explain that you need English assistance and they'll usually transfer you to an English-speaking rep. The wait times are often shorter because fewer people know about this option. Also, try calling on Wednesdays or Thursdays - I noticed Mondays and Fridays are absolutely brutal. Hang in there, Miguel! The system is broken but you'll eventually get through. 🤞
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Emma Johnson
•Wow, I never knew about the Spanish line trick! That's actually genius. I've been banging my head against the wall trying the main number for weeks. Definitely going to try this tomorrow along with the Wednesday/Thursday timing tip. Thanks for sharing this - you might have just saved my sanity! 😅
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Ravi Choudhury
•This is brilliant advice! I had no idea about calling on specific days of the week making a difference. The Spanish line tip is something I never would have thought of either. I've been stuck in this same cycle for about 3 weeks now and getting more frustrated each day. Going to try both the disability line that @RaviSharma mentioned and your Spanish line trick. Between those two options plus timing it right, hopefully one of them will finally work! Really appreciate everyone sharing what's actually worked for them instead of just complaining. 🙏
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Gabriel Ruiz
I just went through this same ordeal last month and finally broke through! Here's my winning strategy: Download an auto-dialer app (I used "Auto Redial" on Android) and set it to call the main EDD number every 30 seconds starting at 7:58 AM. I know it sounds excessive, but I got through on attempt #73 after 2 hours. Also, once you're in the phone tree, press 1 for English, then 1 again for UI claims, then 2 for existing claims, then 4 for claim questions. This specific sequence seemed to have shorter hold times than other options. Most importantly - DON'T HANG UP even if you're on hold for 2+ hours. I made that mistake twice and had to start over. The reps are actually really helpful once you get through, so it's worth the wait. Stay strong! 💪
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Aria Khan
•This is exactly the kind of detailed strategy I needed! The auto-dialer app idea is genius - I can't believe I've been manually redialing this whole time like a caveman 😅. And thanks for the specific button sequence, that's super helpful. I'm definitely going to try this approach starting tomorrow morning. 73 attempts sounds brutal but honestly if it works, it's better than the endless frustration I've been dealing with. Really appreciate you taking the time to share the exact steps that worked for you! 🙏
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