Struggling to reach EDD SDI phone agents - any 2025 tricks that actually work?

Have you tried calling exactly at 8:01 instead of 8:00? Everyone hits redial at 8:00 sharp, but I found that waiting just 60 seconds can sometimes help. Also, try this: when the automated system starts, press 1, then 2, then wait 45 seconds before pressing 4. For some reason this specific sequence worked for me last month when my pregnancy disability claim was stuck. Worth a shot!

its all random honestly. i called like 37 times last week no joke. just gotta keep trying. the system is broken af

I've been dealing with EDD SDI claims for years (both personally and helping family members), and the phone situation has definitely gotten worse in 2025. Here are some suggestions that might help: 1. The "pending medical certification review" status typically means one of three things: a) your doctor's certification was received but flagged for additional review (common with certain medical conditions), b) there was a discrepancy between your claim date and the doctor's certification, or c) the medical office submitted incomplete information. 2. Instead of calling the main number, try the SDI Medical Review unit directly at 1-855-342-XXXX. This bypasses the general queue. 3. Send a secure message through your SDI Online account specifically asking what documentation is missing or causing the delay. Be very specific in your message. 4. If you have online access, check if there are any "Forms" or "Messages" showing in your account that might indicate what's needed. Remember, the 7-day waiting period doesn't start until after your claim is approved, so it's worth being persistent now to avoid further delays in your benefit payments.

After 3 days of constantly trying to reach EDD for my SDI claim, I finally got through using Claimyr (claimyr.com). They connected me to an EDD agent in about 20 minutes after I'd spent days trying on my own. You can see how it works in their video demo: https://youtu.be/1X-mEsLtbmQ?si=1hcSq3KFtCr4oAmd The agent I spoke with told me my claim was delayed because my employer submitted conflicting last day worked information. Once I got that cleared up, my claim was processed within 48 hours. Definitely worth it for the peace of mind alone!

So I had the exact same "pending medical certification review" status in February and it was driving me CRAZY!! Turns out the problem wasn't missing documents but that my doctor had checked a box saying my condition might be work-related (it wasn't). This triggered an automatic extended review. The most ANNOYING part was that nobody bothered to tell me this!!! I only found out after finally reaching someone. One thing nobody mentioned yet - try calling the employer line and pretending to be your HR department calling about an employee's claim (yours). Sometimes they answer those calls faster and they can still see your claim info.

Just thought of something else that might help - the EDD has a new callback feature that they rolled out in January. When you call the main number, listen carefully to all the prompts (don't skip any by pressing buttons early). After you go through the claim status options, there should be an option to request a callback rather than waiting on hold. It doesn't always offer this option - seems to depend on current call volume - but when it does, it's very helpful. Also, verify that your doctor's office actually submitted the forms electronically. Sometimes they say they did but actually didn't complete all the steps. I had a case where my doctor's assistant thought she submitted everything, but it never actually went through because she missed the final confirmation step.

did u try the online chat feature? sometimes works better than phone

THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO MAKE YOU GIVE UP!!! I went through EXACTLY this in March. Called 500+ times over TWO WEEKS!!! And guess what?? When I finally got through they told me there was NOTHING wrong with my claim - it was just "in the queue" waiting to be processed!!! No one had even LOOKED at it yet after THREE WEEKS!!! The system is BROKEN and they DON'T CARE about us!! My advice? BOMBARD your local state representative's office with calls. That's what finally worked for me. They have special liaisons with EDD who can actually get things done.

UPDATE: I finally got through this morning! Used the 8:01 trick (thanks for that suggestion!) and only had to wait about 20 minutes on hold. The agent was actually super helpful and explained that there was a discrepancy between the last day I worked on my claim form and what my employer reported. She fixed it on the spot and said my claim should be processed within 3-5 business days. Such a relief! Thanks everyone for all your suggestions and support. This community is amazing!