How to change name on EDD account? Need advice on contacting them

I found a way to solve EDD name change issues, watch this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9VdAafD8x3w

I went through this a few months ago. It's a pain in the butt, but doable. You'll need to call EDD directly - there's no way to do it online. Be prepared to wait on hold for hours tho 🙄

Make sure you have all your documents ready before you call. They'll ask for ID, social security card, and probably the document showing your name change (like a marriage certificate or court order). It'll save you time once you finally get through to someone.

I found a way to get someone on the phone without waiting for hours. 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

OP, whatever you do, DON'T try to use your new name before it's officially changed in the system. I made that mistake and it caused a huge mess with my claim. Took weeks to sort out. 😫

Has anyone tried going to an EDD office in person? I wonder if that might be faster than calling.

Here's a detailed guide on changing your name with EDD: 1. Gather all necessary documents (ID, SSN card, name change doc) 2. Call EDD at 1-800-300-5616 3. Be prepared to verify your identity 4. Explain you need to update your name 5. They'll guide you through the process 6. You may need to mail in copies of your documents 7. Follow up in a week if you haven't heard back 8. Don't use your new name until you get confirmation Hope this helps! Good luck!

lol good luck. EDD is a joke. I've been trying to fix an issue with my account for months and can't get anyone to help. The whole system is broken 🤡

Has anyone tried reaching out to their state representative for help? I've heard sometimes they can intervene if you're having trouble with EDD.

Quick tip: if you're gonna try calling, use a phone that can do three-way calling. That way, if you finally get through and they need to transfer you, you can add a third line instead of getting disconnected and having to start all over. Learned that the hard way 😅

Thanks for all the helpful advice everyone! I'm going to try calling first thing in the morning when they open and have all my documents ready. If that doesn't work out, I might look into that calling service someone mentioned or contact my state rep. Really appreciate you all sharing your experiences - makes me feel less anxious about the whole process knowing others have gotten through it successfully 🙏

Just want to add that when you do get through to someone, ask them to email you a confirmation of the name change request with a reference number. I learned this from another forum - having that reference number makes it way easier to follow up if something goes wrong or if you need to call back. Also, be super clear about spelling out your new name letter by letter to avoid any typos in their system. Good luck!

I recently went through this process and wanted to share a few additional tips that helped me. First, if you're calling early in the morning, try calling exactly at 8:00 AM when they open - I found I got through faster than calling even 5-10 minutes later. Second, make sure you have your EDD customer account number handy (not just your SSN) as they often ask for it to verify your identity. Third, if you're married and changing your name due to marriage, they might ask for both your marriage certificate AND your updated driver's license, so have both ready. The whole process took about 3 weeks for me once I finally got through to someone. Also, they'll likely tell you to continue using your old name for certifying benefits until you get written confirmation that the change is complete. Hope this helps and good luck getting through! 🤞

I went through a name change with EDD about 6 months ago after getting married. Here's what I learned: definitely call right when they open at 8 AM - I tried calling later in the day multiple times and could never get through. When you do reach someone, be patient because they'll need to put you on hold while they access the name change system (apparently it's a separate system from their main one). The rep told me it typically takes 2-3 weeks to process, but mine actually took closer to 4 weeks. Make sure you don't update your name anywhere else (like with your bank or employer) until EDD confirms the change is complete, otherwise it can cause issues with your benefit payments. Also, keep checking your EDD online account because sometimes the name updates there before you get the official letter. The whole process is definitely a pain, but it's doable if you're persistent. Hang in there!

I'm going through a similar situation right now! Reading through all these responses is so reassuring - it's nice to know I'm not the only one struggling with EDD's phone system. I've been putting off calling because I was dreading the wait times, but seeing that people have actually gotten through gives me hope. I'm definitely going to try the 8 AM calling strategy and make sure I have all my documents organized first. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this thread is exactly what I needed to see today!