SDI phone lines always busy - Tips to reach a human at California EDD Disability?

I found a way to solve SDI claim communication difficulties, watch this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TvgjktvfTU

Here's what I've learned after dealing with SDI for the past 6 months: 1. Persistence is key. Keep calling, even if it feels hopeless. 2. Document everything. Write down who you talked to, when, and what they said. 3. Use the online portal as much as possible. Sometimes you can resolve issues there without calling. 4. If you do get through, ask for a direct number or extension for follow-up. 5. Be polite but firm. The person on the other end is probably overwhelmed too. 6. If all else fails, contact your local government representative. They can sometimes expedite things. Remember, you're entitled to these benefits. Don't give up!

Plot twist: there are no actual humans at SDI. It's all just an elaborate AI system designed to frustrate us 🤖

Have you tried calling right when they open? I heard thats the best time to get through.

Unpopular opinion: maybe if we all stopped trying to game the system, it would work better for those who really need it. Just sayin' 🤷‍♂️

I heard they're updating the system soon. Maybe wait a few weeks and see if it gets better?

Have you tried reaching out to your local assemblymember or state senator? Sometimes their office can help cut through the red tape.

Pro tip: if you get through to someone but they can't help, ask to be transferred to a tier 2 specialist. They have more authority to actually fix things.

Have you tried faxing your documents? Sometimes that gets faster results than mailing or uploading online.

Remember when government services were supposed to make our lives easier? Pepperidge Farm remembers.

Have you tried sacrificing a goat to the SDI gods? Might be more effective than calling at this point 🐐

Anyone else notice how the hold music is always super loud and then the agent is super quiet? Like, pick a volume and stick with it! 🔊😆🔈

Hang in there, OP. It's a tough process but you'll get through it eventually. We're all rooting for you! 💪

For those who are struggling to reach someone at the SDI, Claimyr can be an effective solution, albeit at a cost. Claimyr offers a service that automates the call process, waiting on hold on your behalf and connecting you with an agent once they pick up. It's especially useful for those who have been unable to get through to SDI due to high call volumes. However, it's important to weigh the $20 cost per call against your personal situation. Some users have had success with Claimyr, saving them time and reducing frustration. On the downside, paying for something that should ideally be accessible for free can be a burden, especially for those already facing financial difficulties. Additionally, it's wise to verify the legitimacy of such services, although the feedback from some users here suggests Claimyr is genuine. Always consider alternative methods first, such as emailing, using online portals, or reaching out to local representatives, before spending money on third-party services. The SDI system is known for its inefficiencies, so any method that can help navigate it is worth considering.

I found a method 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 about it: https://youtu.be/1X-mEsLtbmQ

Idk if this helps, but I found their Twitter account to be surprisingly responsive. Might be worth a shot.

I feel your pain. The whole system is broken. I've been trying to sort out my claim for months. It's like screaming into the void.

Same boat here. Been trying for weeks to get through about my disability payments. Its like they dont want us to reach them 🙄

lol good luck. SDI is where claims go to die. Been waiting 3 months for mine to get sorted. 💀

Serious question: has anyone actually received their benefits without issues? Starting to feel like a unicorn over here.

Ugh, the SDI system is such a mess. I swear they make it difficult on purpose. Have you tried emailing them? Sometimes that works better than calling.

I've been dealing with SDI for my disability claim too, and I found that calling exactly at 8:00 AM when they open gives you the best shot. Also, if you get the "all circuits are busy" message, hang up immediately and redial - don't wait for it to disconnect you automatically. Sometimes I had to redial 20-30 times in a row, but persistence pays off. Another trick is to try calling on Wednesdays or Thursdays - Mondays and Fridays seem to be their busiest days. Hope this helps!

I've been in the same situation and here's what finally worked for me: I started calling SDI at 7:59 AM sharp and kept hitting redial until I got through the busy signal. It took about 45 minutes of constant redialing, but I finally got into the queue. Once you're on hold, don't hang up no matter how long it takes - I waited 3 hours but got to speak to someone. Also, have all your paperwork ready and write down the rep's name and direct extension if they give you one. The whole system is frustrating but don't give up - you deserve these benefits and they're legally required to help you eventually!

I've been in a similar situation and what helped me was using the callback feature on their website when it's available. Instead of staying on hold for hours, you can request a callback and they'll call you back when an agent is free. It's not always available, but when it is, it saves so much time and frustration. Also, try calling their technical support line first - sometimes they can transfer you directly to a claims specialist without going through the main queue. The number is different and usually less busy. Don't give up - I know it's exhausting but you'll eventually get through!

I totally feel your frustration! I went through the same nightmare a few months ago. What finally worked for me was a combination approach: I'd start calling at 7:58 AM (even earlier than 8 AM) and use the redial strategy others mentioned, but I also sent emails to sdi@edd.ca.gov AND reached out to my assemblymember's office at the same time. The assemblymember's office actually got back to me first and helped expedite my case. Also, don't forget to document every single attempt you make - date, time, how long you waited, what happened. This documentation helped when I finally got through because I could show them how long I'd been trying. The system is absolutely broken, but you WILL get through eventually. Hang in there! 💪

I've been struggling with the same issue for weeks! Reading through everyone's experiences here makes me feel less alone in this frustrating process. I'm definitely going to try the 7:58 AM calling strategy and the constant redial approach that several people mentioned. The assemblymember contact idea is something I never considered - that's brilliant! Has anyone had success with the fax option that was mentioned? I'm willing to try anything at this point. Also, for those who got through using Claimyr, was it worth the $20 cost? I'm on a tight budget but if it actually works, it might be worth it just for my sanity. Thanks everyone for sharing your tips and experiences. It's both heartbreaking and comforting to know so many of us are going through the same struggle with this broken system. We shouldn't have to jump through these hoops just to access benefits we're entitled to, but I appreciate this community for helping each other navigate it! 💙

I'm going through the exact same nightmare right now! Reading all these strategies gives me some hope though. I've been calling for two weeks straight with no luck. Tomorrow I'm going to try the 7:58 AM approach that several people mentioned, along with the constant redial strategy. The assemblymember contact tip is genius - I never thought of that! Also going to try emailing sdi@edd.ca.gov since that seems to work for some people. It's ridiculous that we have to become professional phone warriors just to access our own benefits, but I appreciate everyone sharing what's worked for them. Has anyone tried calling on different days of the week? I've mostly been calling Mondays and Fridays but sounds like mid-week might be better. This whole process is so draining but seeing this community support each other gives me strength to keep pushing! 💪

I'm going through the exact same struggle! Been trying to reach SDI for over a week now and it's beyond frustrating. Reading through all these tips is giving me hope though - I had no idea about the 7:58 AM strategy or the assemblymember contact option. One thing I wanted to add that might help others: I found that when you do get that busy signal, don't wait for it to disconnect you automatically. Hang up immediately and redial - I read somewhere that waiting actually puts you at the back of some queue. Also, make sure to have literally everything ready before you call because if you do get through, you don't want to waste precious time searching for documents. The fact that we have to become professional phone warriors just to access benefits we're entitled to is absolutely ridiculous, but I'm grateful for this community sharing strategies. Going to try the multi-pronged approach tomorrow - early calling, emailing, AND reaching out to my local rep. Will report back if I have any success! 🤞

I've been dealing with this exact same issue for months now! After reading through all these amazing tips, I wanted to share what finally worked for me last week. I combined several strategies: started calling at exactly 7:57 AM (even earlier than most suggested), used the constant redial method, AND simultaneously sent an email to sdi@edd.ca.gov with "URGENT: Multiple Failed Contact Attempts" in the subject line. The breakthrough came when I documented every single call attempt with timestamps and attached that log to my email. I also included my case number and a brief summary of my situation. Surprisingly, I got an email response within 2 days offering me a scheduled callback appointment! For anyone still struggling - don't give up on the email route even if it seems slow. The combination approach really seems to work. Also, when you do get through, immediately ask for the representative's direct extension and best times to reach them for follow-ups. This whole system is absolutely broken and it's heartbreaking that we have to become experts at navigating bureaucracy just to access our benefits. But seeing this community support each other gives me so much hope. You all are warriors! 💪✨

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm dealing with the same SDI phone nightmare - been trying to reach them about my disability claim for over two weeks with no success. The 7:57/7:58 AM strategy combined with constant redialing sounds promising, and I had no idea about the assemblymember contact option. One thing I'm curious about - has anyone had success with the online chat feature, or is that just as overwhelmed as the phone lines? Also, for those who used Claimyr, how quickly did they actually connect you once you paid? It's both frustrating and comforting to see so many of us going through the exact same struggle. The system is clearly broken when we need a whole community strategy guide just to access benefits we're entitled to. But I'm grateful for everyone sharing their experiences and tips - it gives me hope that persistence will eventually pay off! Going to try the multi-approach method starting tomorrow: early morning calls + email with documentation + reaching out to my local rep. Will definitely report back with results! 🤞💪

I've been following this thread and wanted to add my experience - I finally got through last month after 6 weeks of trying! What worked for me was a combination of several strategies mentioned here: I called at exactly 7:55 AM (even earlier than most suggestions) while simultaneously having my partner try a different SDI number at the same time. We also sent a detailed email to sdi@edd.ca.gov with timestamps of all our failed attempts. The breakthrough came when I got connected through the technical support line transfer trick someone mentioned - they were able to transfer me directly to a claims specialist! The whole call took 45 minutes but we resolved my entire claim issue in one conversation. For anyone still struggling: document EVERYTHING, try multiple approaches at once, and don't be afraid to ask for supervisors or specialists. Also, Wednesday at 7:55 AM seemed to be the sweet spot timing-wise. The system is absolutely broken but persistence really does pay off. Sending strength to everyone still fighting this battle! 💪✨

I've been reading through all these amazing strategies and wanted to share what just worked for me this morning! After weeks of failed attempts, I finally got through using a combination of tips from this thread. I called at 7:54 AM (going even earlier based on the success stories here) and used the immediate hang-up/redial method when I got the busy signal. It took about 35 redials, but I finally got into the queue around 8:12 AM. While on hold, I also sent an email to sdi@edd.ca.gov with "URGENT - Week 3 of Failed Contact Attempts" as the subject line and attached a log of all my call attempts. The key breakthrough was when I asked the first rep to transfer me to a "tier 2 specialist" - something I learned from reading the comments here. The specialist was able to resolve my claim issue in about 20 minutes! For anyone still struggling: persistence really does work, document everything, and don't be afraid to ask for higher-level help once you get through. This community's advice literally saved my sanity. Thank you all for sharing your experiences - we're all stronger together in fighting this broken system! 💪🙏

I'm in the exact same boat and this thread has been a lifesaver! After reading everyone's strategies, I'm going to try the 7:54 AM calling approach combined with the email documentation method tomorrow. The tier 2 specialist tip is something I never knew about - definitely asking for that if I get through to someone who can't help. It's both heartbreaking and comforting to see how many of us are struggling with this broken system. We shouldn't need a PhD in phone warfare just to access our benefits! But seeing all these success stories gives me hope that persistence really does pay off. Quick question for those who've gotten through - when you ask for a tier 2 specialist, do you need to give a specific reason or can you just say the first person couldn't resolve your issue? Also, has anyone tried the callback feature recently or is that still basically non-existent? Thanks to everyone sharing their experiences and keeping each other motivated. This community support means everything when dealing with such a frustrating system! 💙