Going to EDD office instead of calling SDI - appointment needed or walk-in ok?

Omg same!!! I've been calling like crazy for DAYS and can't get through either. SO ANNOYING!!!! Let us know if going in person works!!!

Most EDD offices are walk-in, but for SDI specifically you might not get the help you need. The physical offices mainly handle unemployment stuff, not disability claims. SDI is handled by a separate division and those workers are usually not at the regular EDD offices. I went to my local office last month thinking they could help with my SDI certification issue and got sent home - complete waste of time. They just told me to keep calling the disability number. 😠

I had same problm last yr. Kept getting that stupid recorded messge about call volume. I found out you can use Claimyr to get through to an actual SDI person. Its this service that gets you past the phone queue. I was skeptical but watched their demo video (https://youtu.be/1X-mEsLtbmQ?si=1hcSq3KFtCr4oAmd) and tried it. Got through to a rep in like 15min after trying for days on my own. You can check them out at claimyr.com if your still stuck

I work as a disability advocate and can clarify a few things here: 1. EDD offices are primarily for Unemployment Insurance services, not SDI. Some offices may have limited SDI assistance but it's not guaranteed. 2. Most EDD offices are walk-in, but have extremely long wait times. Some locations now have appointment options through the website. 3. For SDI claims specifically, the local offices often just direct you back to the phone system or online portal since the specialized SDI staff aren't physically present at most locations. 4. The best times to call SDI are right at 8:00 AM when they open or around 1:15 PM right after lunch. Their call volume management system resets at these times. 5. Have you tried sending a secure message through your SDI Online account? While not as fast as a call, they typically respond within 5-7 business days. One final tip: make sure your claim number and all identifying information is ready before you call. Every second counts once you get through!

I had this exact same issue in January. After trying for weeks to get through by phone, I ended up using Claimyr (claimyr.com) and got connected to an SDI rep in about 20 minutes. They helped resolve my pending claim status that same day. Saved me so much frustration! Their video demo shows exactly how it works: https://youtu.be/1X-mEsLtbmQ?si=1hcSq3KFtCr4oAmd As for going to an office - I tried that first and it was a complete waste of time. The staff there told me they don't handle SDI claims in person and I'd need to call the disability number anyway.

My husband just went thru this whole thing with his knee surgery disability. The EDD offices cant help with disability stuff AT ALL. they r completely different departments even tho its all EDD!! so stupid!!! dont waste ur time going in person seriously

Update! I finally got through this morning, thanks everyone 😊 I tried calling right at 8am again but this time I used a different approach. Instead of selecting the option for claim status, I chose the option for general information first. That put me in a different queue, and I only waited about 15 minutes! When I got a rep, I explained my situation and they were able to transfer me to the right department. Turns out my employer submitted information that didn't match what my doctor sent in. The rep helped clear it up and said my claim should be processed within 3-5 business days. Such a relief! Wanted to share what worked for me in case it helps someone else dealing with the same SDI phone nightmare!

So glad you got through and got it resolved! That's such a smart trick about calling the general information line first - I never would have thought of that. It's crazy how one small mismatch between employer and doctor info can hold up the whole claim. For anyone else still struggling, this thread has been super helpful. Between the secure messaging option, the 1:15pm call time tip, and now this general info line trick, there are actually several strategies to try. Hope your claim processes quickly now that it's sorted out!

Another option that might help - if you have a state assembly member or senator's office nearby, they often have caseworkers who can help with EDD/SDI issues. I reached out to my assemblyman's office when I was stuck in a similar situation and they were able to contact EDD on my behalf. It took about a week but they got my claim moving again. It's a free service and sometimes they have better access to the right people than we do as individual callers. Worth a shot if the phone tricks don't work!

Wow, this thread is incredibly helpful! I've been lurking here for a while but had to create an account just to thank everyone for sharing these strategies. I'm currently dealing with my own SDI nightmare - claim has been pending for 6 weeks after my shoulder surgery and I was getting desperate. The general information line trick is genius! I never would have thought to try a different queue to get through. Also really appreciate the tip about assembly member offices - I had no idea that was even an option. It's sad that we need all these workarounds just to access benefits we've paid into, but at least this community is sharing what actually works. Going to try calling the general info line at 8am sharp tomorrow and see if I can get some movement on my claim. Fingers crossed! Thanks again everyone for taking the time to share your experiences.

This whole thread has been so eye-opening! I'm dealing with my own SDI claim issues right now (been waiting 4 weeks after my carpal tunnel surgery) and was getting nowhere with the regular phone number. Reading about everyone's experiences makes me feel less alone in this frustrating process. The general information line trick sounds brilliant - definitely trying that first thing tomorrow morning. And I had absolutely no idea about contacting assembly member offices for help with EDD issues. That's such valuable information that I wish was more widely known! It's really unfortunate that we have to become detectives and share "insider tricks" just to access benefits we've earned, but I'm so grateful for communities like this where people actually help each other navigate these bureaucratic mazes. The system is clearly broken when people are waiting weeks or months for basic claim processing. Thanks to everyone who shared their strategies and experiences. Going to bookmark this thread and update with my results after trying some of these approaches!

This thread is exactly what I needed to find! I've been struggling with my own SDI claim for 3 weeks now after my ankle surgery and was about to drive myself crazy calling that same number over and over. The recording saying they've reached call capacity is like torture when you're in pain and need your benefits to kick in. I'm definitely going to try the general information line trick that worked for you - that's such a clever workaround! And the assembly member office option is something I never knew existed. It's honestly ridiculous that we need these "hacks" just to talk to someone about claims we've paid into our whole working lives. Really appreciate everyone sharing what actually works instead of just complaining. This community is a lifesaver when the official system fails us. Going to try calling at 8am tomorrow using the general info line approach and will report back with results. Thanks for giving me hope that there's actually a way through this mess!

Just wanted to add another resource that helped me when I was stuck in SDI phone hell last year - your state senator's office can also help, not just assembly members! I contacted Senator [my district]'s office when I couldn't get through after 3 weeks, and their caseworker was amazing. They have direct contacts at EDD and can often cut through the red tape much faster than we can as individuals. Also, if you're dealing with a time-sensitive medical situation (like needing to schedule follow-up surgery or treatments), make sure to mention that when you do get through to someone. They sometimes have expedited processing for urgent medical cases. This thread is seriously the most helpful thing I've found online about actually getting SDI claims resolved. Bookmarking it for sure! Hope everyone gets their claims sorted out soon.

This thread has been absolutely incredible! I just joined this community because I'm dealing with my own SDI nightmare - been waiting 5 weeks after my herniated disc surgery and getting nowhere with the phone system. Reading through everyone's experiences and solutions has given me so much hope and a clear action plan. I'm going to try the general information line trick at 8am tomorrow, and if that doesn't work, I'll reach out to my assembly member's office. I had no idea these options existed! It's both inspiring and infuriating that this community has had to become experts at working around a broken system, but I'm so grateful for everyone sharing what actually works. The fact that we need "secret strategies" just to access benefits we've paid into our entire careers is absolutely ridiculous, but at least we're helping each other navigate it. This thread should honestly be pinned or turned into a resource guide! Will definitely update with my results to add to our collective knowledge base.

This thread has been such a lifesaver! I've been dealing with my own SDI claim stuck in pending status for 3 weeks after my rotator cuff surgery, and like everyone else here, I've been getting that infuriating "call volume" recording every single day. The general information line trick is absolutely brilliant - I never would have thought to try a different queue to get through! Definitely trying that at 8am sharp tomorrow. And I had no idea about contacting assembly member or senator offices for help - that's such valuable information that should be more widely known. It's honestly shameful that we need to crowdsource these workarounds just to access benefits we've earned, but I'm so grateful this community exists to help each other navigate the broken system. The fact that a simple mismatch between employer and doctor info can hold up claims for weeks is ridiculous. Going to bookmark this thread and try the strategies everyone has shared. Will report back with results to add to our collective knowledge base! Thanks to everyone for sharing what actually works instead of just venting - this is exactly the kind of practical help people need when they're stressed about money while trying to recover from surgery.

This thread is absolutely amazing - it's like a complete masterclass in navigating SDI phone hell! I've been lurking here for months dealing with my own claim issues after wrist surgery, but finally had to create an account to thank everyone for sharing these incredibly helpful strategies. The general information line trick that Finley discovered is pure genius - I would never have thought to try a different queue to bypass the main disability line. And learning about assembly member and senator offices as backup options is such valuable information that I wish was posted everywhere! It's both inspiring and deeply frustrating that this community has had to reverse-engineer all these workarounds just to access benefits we've paid into our entire working lives. The fact that we need "secret strategies" and insider tips to talk to our own government agencies is absolutely broken, but I'm so grateful you're all sharing what actually works. I'm definitely trying the 8am general info line approach tomorrow morning, and if that fails, I'll be reaching out to my local representatives. This thread should honestly be turned into an official resource guide - it's more helpful than anything on the actual EDD website! Will update with my results to keep building our collective knowledge base.

This entire thread has been absolutely incredible! As someone who's been dealing with my own SDI claim delays for the past month after my knee replacement surgery, I can't thank everyone enough for sharing these strategies. The phone system has been a complete nightmare - I've literally been calling every day and getting that same infuriating "call volume" message. The general information line trick is absolutely brilliant! I never would have thought to try a different queue to bypass the main disability line. That's the kind of creative problem-solving that shouldn't be necessary but clearly works when the official system fails us completely. I'm also blown away by learning about assembly member and senator offices being able to help with EDD issues - I had absolutely no idea that was even an option! It's such a relief to know there are actual people whose job it is to help when we get stuck in bureaucratic hell. Going to try the 8am general info line approach first thing tomorrow morning, and if that doesn't work, I'm definitely reaching out to my local representatives. This community has created the most comprehensive SDI claim resolution guide I've seen anywhere - it's honestly more helpful than anything on the official EDD website! Will definitely update with my results to keep building this amazing resource we've all created together.

This thread has been absolutely incredible to read through! I'm currently dealing with my own SDI claim that's been stuck for 2 weeks after my gallbladder surgery, and like everyone else here, I've been completely unable to get through on the main disability phone line. That recording about reaching call capacity is seriously maddening when you're in pain and worried about bills! The general information line trick that @Finley Garrett discovered is absolutely genius - I would have never thought to try a different queue to bypass the main system. And learning about assembly member and senator offices being able to help with EDD issues is such valuable information that should be common knowledge but somehow isn't! It's honestly both amazing and infuriating that this community has had to reverse-engineer all these workarounds just to access benefits we've been paying into our entire careers. This thread has become more useful than anything on the official EDD website, which is pretty sad when you think about it. I'm definitely going to try the 8am general info line strategy tomorrow morning, and if that doesn't work, I'll be contacting my local representatives. Will absolutely report back with results to keep building this incredible resource everyone has created here. Thank you all for sharing what actually works instead of just complaining - this is exactly the kind of practical help people need when they're stressed about money while trying to recover!