EDD $5k Backdated Benefits from January - Any Success Stories or Advice?
Hey everyone, I'm trying to get my $5k backdated benefits from January. Has anyone had any luck with this? I've been waiting for months and I'm starting to get really frustrated. Any advice on how to speed up the process or who I should contact?
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Tom Maxon
I found a way to solve getting backdated unemployment benefits, watch this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOsW2gp-hPw
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Zara Shah
Ugh, I feel your pain. I've been waiting on backdated benefits since March. It's like they're purposely making it difficult for us to get what we're owed. Have you tried calling the EDD office directly?
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Sean O'Brien
•Yeah, I've tried calling but it's impossible to get through. I've been on hold for hours and then the call just drops. It's so frustrating!
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Luca Bianchi
•Pro tip: call right when they open. I managed to get through after only 30 minutes on hold that way. Good luck!
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Zara Shah
•Thanks for the tip! I'll give that a shot tomorrow morning. Fingers crossed 🤞
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GalacticGuardian
I found a way to actually 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/DOLxZQb92wM
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Nia Harris
•Sounds too good to be true. Has anyone else tried this?
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Mateo Gonzalez
•I'm skeptical. Why should we have to pay to talk to EDD? That's ridiculous.
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GalacticGuardian
•I get the skepticism, but it honestly saved me so much time and frustration. I was able to resolve my issue in one call. For me, it was worth the $20 to not spend hours on hold.
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Aisha Ali
•Can you give more details about how it works? Do they guarantee you'll get through?
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GalacticGuardian
•Sure! You choose the department you need to reach, pay the fee, and they start calling. When an agent picks up, they connect the call to your phone. They don't guarantee you'll get through, but they keep trying until they do or until the office closes.
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Ethan Moore
Have you tried contacting your local state representative? Sometimes they can help push things along with EDD. It worked for me when I was stuck in limbo for months.
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Yuki Nakamura
Ive been in the same boat since February. its rediculous how broken the system is. we need to organize and demand better service from EDD!
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StarSurfer
•Preach! 🙌 Maybe we should start a petition or something?
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Yuki Nakamura
•That's not a bad idea actually. Anyone know how to get something like that started?
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Carmen Reyes
Here's what worked for me to get my backdated benefits: 1. Document everything. Keep a log of all your calls, emails, and attempts to contact EDD. 2. Write a clear, concise letter explaining your situation and why you're entitled to the backdated benefits. Include dates and any relevant claim numbers. 3. Send this letter via certified mail to your local EDD office AND to the main EDD headquarters. 4. Simultaneously, contact your state assembly member and state senator. Many have staff dedicated to helping with EDD issues. 5. If you can get through on the phone, ask to speak with a Tier 2 specialist. They have more authority to resolve complex issues. 6. Be persistent but polite. It's frustrating, but the person on the other end of the line isn't personally responsible for the delays. 7. If all else fails, consider filing a complaint with the state ombudsman. It took me about 6 weeks using this method, but I finally got my backdated benefits. Don't give up!
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Sean O'Brien
•Wow, thank you so much for this detailed advice! I'm definitely going to try this approach. Did you use any specific wording in your letter that seemed to help?
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Carmen Reyes
•Glad to help! In my letter, I made sure to use clear, factual language. I started with "I am writing to request immediate assistance with my claim for backdated unemployment benefits." Then I listed the key dates and facts. I also mentioned the financial hardship the delay was causing. Keep it under one page if possible.
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Andre Moreau
•This is gold 💯 Saving this for future reference. Thanks for sharing your experience!
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Zoe Christodoulou
lol good luck. EDD is a joke. I've been waiting 8 months for my appeal hearing. The whole system needs to be scrapped and rebuilt from the ground up.
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Jamal Thompson
•8 months?! That's insane. I'm so sorry you're dealing with that. Have you tried reaching out to local media? Sometimes public pressure can help.
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Zoe Christodoulou
•Nah, haven't tried media yet. Might be worth a shot tho. At this point I'm ready to try anything 🤷♂️
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Mei Chen
Quick question - when you say backdated benefits, did you initially file late or is this a separate issue? The process can be different depending on the situation.
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Sean O'Brien
•Good question! I filed on time, but there was an issue with my claim that took a while to resolve. Now that it's fixed, I'm trying to get the benefits for the weeks I missed while the problem was being sorted out.
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Mei Chen
•Ah, gotcha. In that case, you might need to specifically request retroactive certification for those weeks. Sometimes they don't automatically allow you to certify for past weeks even if the delay wasn't your fault. Definitely bring this up when you talk to a rep!
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CosmicCadet
Has anyone had any luck with the EDD website? I've heard they updated it recently, but tbh it still seems like a nightmare to navigate 🙄
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Liam O'Connor
•Ugh, don't get me started on that website. It's like they purposely designed it to be as confusing as possible 🤦♀️
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Amara Adeyemi
•I actually found it a bit better after the update. Try using the search function - it helped me find the forms I needed way faster.
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Giovanni Gallo
Just a heads up, there's been a lot of EDD scams going around lately. Make sure you're only giving your info to legit EDD sources. Stay safe out there, folks!
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Fatima Al-Mazrouei
•Good looking out! 👀 I got a sketchy text the other day claiming to be EDD. Almost fell for it but thankfully realized it was fake.
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