California Unemployment

Can't reach California Unemployment? Claimyr connects you to a live EDD agent in minutes.

Claimyr is a pay-as-you-go service. We do not charge a recurring subscription.



Fox KTVUABC 7CBSSan Francisco Chronicle

Using Claimyr will:

  • Connect you to a human agent at the EDD
  • Skip the long phone menu
  • Call the correct department
  • Redial until on hold
  • Forward a call to your phone with reduced hold time
  • Give you free callbacks if the EDD drops your call

If I could give 10 stars I would

If I could give 10 stars I would If I could give 10 stars I would Such an amazing service so needed during the times when EDD almost never picks up Claimyr gets me on the phone with EDD every time without fail faster. A much needed service without Claimyr I would have never received the payment I needed to support me during my postpartum recovery. Thank you so much Claimyr!


Really made a difference

Really made a difference, save me time and energy from going to a local office for making the call.


Worth not wasting your time calling for hours.

Was a bit nervous or untrusting at first, but my calls went thru. First time the wait was a bit long but their customer chat line on their page was helpful and put me at ease that I would receive my call. Today my call dropped because of EDD and Claimyr heard my concern on the same chat and another call was made within the hour.


An incredibly helpful service

An incredibly helpful service! Got me connected to a CA EDD agent without major hassle (outside of EDD's agents dropping calls – which Claimyr has free protection for). If you need to file a new claim and can't do it online, pay the $ to Claimyr to get the process started. Absolutely worth it!


Consistent,frustration free, quality Service.

Used this service a couple times now. Before I'd call 200 times in less than a weak frustrated as can be. But using claimyr with a couple hours of waiting i was on the line with an representative or on hold. Dropped a couple times but each reconnected not long after and was mission accomplished, thanks to Claimyr.


IT WORKS!! Not a scam!

I tried for weeks to get thru to EDD PFL program with no luck. I gave this a try thinking it may be a scam. OMG! It worked and They got thru within an hour and my claim is going to finally get paid!! I upgraded to the $60 call. Best $60 spent!

Read all of our Trustpilot reviews


Ask the community...

  • DO post questions about your issues.
  • DO answer questions and support each other.
  • DO post tips & tricks to help folks.
  • DO NOT post call problems here - there is a support tab at the top for that :)

Brooklyn, congratulations on your new job! 🎉 I totally understand your privacy concerns - I had the exact same worries when I started working again after a 7-month unemployment period last year. The good news is that EDD never contacted my employer directly about my previous unemployment benefits. From what I experienced and learned, EDD's main focus is on preventing fraud (people who work while still collecting benefits) rather than verifying every person who legitimately finds new employment. When they do wage verification, it's typically through the automated quarterly wage reporting system that employers already use for tax purposes - not individual calls or letters about former claimants. Your new employer will only receive standard new hire forms (like everyone else gets) but nothing that would indicate your unemployment history. The key is to be completely accurate on your final certification about your start date and wages, then stop certifying once you begin full-time work. I know it feels nerve-wracking, but you can start your new job with confidence knowing that your unemployment status will remain private. Focus on doing great work and enjoying this well-deserved fresh start after 4 months of searching! You've got this! 💪

0 coins

Tami, thank you so much for sharing your experience! A 7-month unemployment period sounds incredibly challenging, so I really appreciate you taking the time to offer such encouraging words. It's so reassuring to hear from yet another person who went through this exact situation without any issues with EDD contacting their employer. The consistency in everyone's experiences is really helping calm my nerves about this whole thing. Your explanation about EDD focusing on fraud prevention rather than individual verification makes perfect sense - they'd want to use their resources efficiently rather than checking up on every legitimate job placement. I'm feeling much more confident now about starting this new chapter without worrying about my unemployment history creating awkward situations at work. I'm definitely going to be completely honest on my final certification and then just focus on excelling in this new role. After 4 months of searching, I'm ready to put all my energy into this fresh start! Thanks for the congratulations and encouragement - this community has been absolutely incredible! 🙏

0 coins

Brooklyn, first off congratulations on landing the new job after 4 months! 🎉 I can completely relate to your privacy concerns - I went through this exact same worry when I started my current position after being unemployed for about 4 months as well. From my experience, EDD did not contact my employer at all. What I learned is that EDD's primary focus is on fraud prevention (catching people who continue collecting while working) rather than verifying every legitimate job placement. Their wage verification is typically done through automated quarterly wage matching using data employers already submit for tax purposes - not direct contact about individual cases. Your employer will only receive standard new hire paperwork (DE 34 form) that they process for ALL employees regardless of unemployment history. Nothing in that documentation would flag your previous benefit status. Just be completely accurate when reporting your new job on your final certification and stop certifying once you start full-time work. Then you can focus entirely on succeeding in your new role without stressing about your employment history. You've earned this opportunity - time to look forward, not back! Best of luck! 💪

0 coins

I'm going through the exact same situation right now and this thread has been a lifesaver! Got terminated during what was clearly a department restructuring but they marked it as "misconduct" on my paperwork. My hearing is in about 3 weeks and I've been absolutely terrified about potentially facing my former manager. Reading everyone's experiences here has been so reassuring though. It sounds like the key takeaways are: 1) Many employers don't even show up or send weak representation, 2) Even when they do attend, the judge focuses on the actual legal definition of misconduct rather than just employer claims, and 3) The burden of proof is on THEM to demonstrate willful policy violations with proper documentation. I've started gathering all my documentation - performance reviews, emails about the restructuring, evidence of other people being let go around the same time. It's really encouraging to hear so many success stories from people who were in similar situations. One thing I'm curious about - for those who won their appeals, did you end up getting back pay for the time between when you were initially denied and when the appeal was approved? I'm worried about the financial gap if this process takes a while. Thanks to everyone who shared their stories - it's making this whole ordeal feel much less overwhelming!

0 coins

Yes, you absolutely do get back pay for the period between your initial denial and when your appeal is approved! When I won my appeal about 6 months ago, I received all the retroactive benefits in one lump payment about a week after getting the approval decision. It was such a relief because I had been struggling financially during that gap period. The back pay includes all the weekly benefit amounts you would have received if you hadn't been initially denied, so it can be a substantial amount depending on how long the appeal process takes. In my case, it was about 8 weeks worth of benefits since that's how long the whole process took from filing the appeal to getting the decision. It's great that you're gathering all that documentation - performance reviews and evidence of restructuring were exactly what helped me win my case too. The fact that you have evidence of other people being let go around the same time will be really powerful in showing this was a business decision rather than misconduct on your part. You're approaching this exactly right, and from everything I've read in this thread, you have really good chances of success. Hang in there - the financial relief when you win will be worth the stress of going through this process!

0 coins

I'm scheduled for my EDD appeal hearing in two weeks and this entire thread has been incredibly helpful! Like many of you, I was terminated during what was clearly company downsizing but they're claiming "misconduct" to fight my unemployment benefits. Reading through all these experiences has really calmed my nerves. It sounds like the most important things are: 1) Having documentation that shows this was really about business restructuring, not my conduct, 2) Understanding that they have to prove actual willful misconduct under the legal definition, and 3) Staying calm and factual during the hearing. I've been putting together a timeline of events and gathering emails about the department changes, my performance reviews, and information about other employees who were let go. It's so encouraging to see how many people have successfully won their appeals even when employers showed up with representation. One quick question for those who've been through this - did any of you record the hearing or take detailed notes during it? I'm wondering if it's worth having some kind of record of what was said, especially if my employer makes claims that contradict the documentation I have. Thanks again to everyone who shared their stories - knowing that the process is fair and focuses on legal standards rather than just employer accusations has given me so much more confidence!

0 coins

I actually work at an EDD office and can clarify about the kiosks - they're available at most of the larger offices but not all locations have them yet. You'll need your SSN, claim number, and a valid ID to access the kiosk. The service is free, just like using UI Online. The kiosks are available during regular office hours (usually 8 AM to 5 PM Monday-Friday). The documents printed from the kiosks have the official EDD letterhead and seal, which is exactly what most landlords and agencies want to see. If you call your local office ahead of time, they can tell you if they have a kiosk available and what the current wait times are like. Way better than sitting on hold for hours!

0 coins

This is incredibly helpful information! Thank you for sharing your insider knowledge about the kiosks. I had no idea EDD offices had these self-service options. Do you know if there's a way to find out which offices have kiosks without having to call each one individually? Maybe on the EDD website or something? I'm in the Bay Area and would love to find the closest location with a kiosk rather than dealing with the phone system. The fact that they print with official letterhead and seal is exactly what I need for my upcoming apartment application!

0 coins

I've been following this thread and it's been so helpful! I'm in a similar situation where I need proof of EDD payments for multiple things - apartment application, child care assistance, and healthcare premium reductions. One thing I discovered that might help others is that you can actually request a "Monetary Determination" letter through UI Online which shows your approved weekly benefit amount and claim duration. It's different from the payment history printout and has more official language that some agencies prefer. You can find it under the "Claim Information" section rather than Payment History. It takes a few days to generate but gets mailed to you automatically. This might be a good middle ground between the basic printout and having to call for the full verification letter!

0 coins

@Ruby Garcia That s'really helpful info about the Monetary Determination letter! I had no idea that was an option through UI Online. I m'dealing with a landlord who keeps saying the payment history doesn "t'look official enough so" this could be perfect. Quick question - when you say it gets mailed automatically, do you mean it comes to your regular mailing address on file with EDD? And is there any way to track when it gets sent out? I m'always worried about mail getting lost, especially important documents like this. Thanks for sharing this tip - you might have just saved me hours of trying to get through on the EDD phone lines!

0 coins

@Ruby Garcia This is amazing information! I ve'been dealing with EDD paperwork for months and never knew about the Monetary Determination letter option. Just to clarify - when you request it through the Claim "Information section," does it show up as a specific button or link? I want to make sure I m'looking in the right place. Also, does the letter show both your weekly benefit amount AND your total claim balance, or just the weekly amount? My apartment complex specifically asked for documentation showing ongoing "benefit eligibility so" I want to make sure this covers what they need. Really appreciate you sharing this tip - it could save so many people the headache of calling EDD!

0 coins

I went through something similar last year! The key thing is don't panic - they really do call within that 7-day window they mentioned in the voicemail. In my experience, they usually try again around the same time of day as the original missed call, so maybe try to keep your schedule lighter around 2-3pm over the next few days. Also, make sure your voicemail greeting is professional and mentions you're expecting an important call from EDD - sometimes that helps them know they have the right person. The fact that they left a voicemail is actually a good sign that your case is still active. Hang in there!

0 coins

That's really reassuring to hear! I've been so stressed about this whole situation. I'll definitely try to keep my schedule clear around 2-3pm for the next few days and update my voicemail greeting like you suggested. It's good to know that getting a voicemail is actually a positive sign - I was worried they were just going through the motions before denying my claim. Thanks for sharing your experience, it really helps to know I'm not alone in dealing with EDD's unpredictable scheduling!

0 coins

I've been through this exact situation multiple times with EDD! The fact that they called and left a voicemail saying they'll try again within 7 days is actually really good - it means your case is still active and they're following protocol. A few tips from my experience: 1) They often call around the same time as the missed call, so try to keep 2-3pm free for the next week, 2) Make sure your phone isn't set to auto-reject unknown numbers, 3) Have all your documents ready because when they do call back, they usually want to complete the interview right then and there. The waiting is super stressful but you're not going to lose your benefits over this - they know their scheduling is unpredictable. Just stay available and keep checking your UI Online account for any updates!

0 coins

This is super helpful advice! I'm definitely going to check my phone settings to make sure unknown numbers aren't being blocked. That's such a good point about having all documents ready - I've been so focused on just getting the call that I hadn't thought about being prepared for the actual interview. Do you remember what specific documents they typically ask for during these eligibility interviews? I want to make sure I have everything organized and ready to go when they call back. The stress of waiting is killing me but it's reassuring to hear from people who've been through this successfully!

0 coins

Amina Sow

I'm in the exact same situation right now! Just filed my claim 3 days ago after being laid off from my banking customer service role due to branch closure. This entire thread has been such a relief to read - I was genuinely panicking thinking everyone automatically gets a phone interview. The clarification that interviews are only for specific eligibility issues rather than standard procedure is huge! My UI Online account just shows "pending" with no flags, and based on all the experiences shared here, it sounds like I should just be patient and trust the process. I already tried that automated phone line (1-866-333-4606) that several people mentioned - what a fantastic resource! It confirmed my claim is in normal processing with no issues, which has completely eased my anxiety about potentially missing something important. The realistic timelines everyone shared (10-14 days for straightforward cases) are so valuable. I was checking my account obsessively every few hours, but now I know that's totally unnecessary. Christian's 11-day approval story and all the other success stories give me real hope that this will work out smoothly. Thank you to everyone who shared their actual experiences instead of just generic advice - it makes such a difference for newcomers navigating this stressful process for the first time!

0 coins

I'm so glad I found this thread too! I'm actually about to file my first unemployment claim this week after being laid off from my office coordinator position due to company relocation. Like you, I was really stressed about the whole process and had no idea what was normal vs. what should be concerning. Reading through everyone's real experiences here has been incredibly eye-opening - especially learning that phone interviews aren't automatic but only happen when there are specific eligibility questions. Your situation sounds very similar to mine (straightforward layoff, no complications), so it's really encouraging to see you're getting confirmation through that automated line that everything is processing normally. I'm definitely going to use that phone number once I file! Thank you for sharing your experience and to everyone else who contributed - this thread has turned what felt like a terrifying unknown process into something much more manageable with clear expectations.

0 coins

Zara Shah

This thread has been absolutely invaluable! I'm filing my unemployment claim tomorrow after being laid off from my retail store manager position due to company-wide restructuring. Reading through everyone's real experiences has completely transformed my understanding of the process - I had no idea that phone interviews were only for specific eligibility issues rather than being automatic for everyone. Like so many others here, I was really anxious about potentially missing an interview notification or doing something wrong. But seeing Christian's success story (11 days, no interview needed) along with all the other similar outcomes gives me so much confidence. My situation is straightforward - layoff due to restructuring, no performance issues, full availability - so based on everything shared here, I'm optimistically expecting a smooth process. The practical tips everyone provided are gold: the automated phone line (1-866-333-4606) for checking status, realistic 10-14 day processing expectations, and the importance of checking both UI Online and physical mail. I'm bookmarking this entire thread to reference throughout my claim process. What I appreciate most is how people shared actual timelines and outcomes rather than just generic advice. It's amazing how much anxiety comes from simply not knowing what's "normal" in this process. Thank you to everyone who took the time to document their experiences - it makes such a difference for newcomers like me navigating unemployment for the first time!

0 coins

I'm in such a similar boat! Filing my claim this week after being laid off from my customer service supervisor position due to department elimination. This thread has been a lifesaver - I was honestly terrified about the whole process and kept imagining worst-case scenarios. Reading everyone's real experiences has shown me that straightforward layoffs like ours often process without interviews, which is such a relief! The automated phone line tip is genius - I had no idea that resource existed. I'm definitely going to use it to check my status without the stress of trying to reach a live agent. It's incredible how much peace of mind comes from understanding what's actually normal versus what we worry might go wrong. Thank you to everyone who shared their timelines and outcomes - having these real data points makes this intimidating process feel so much more manageable!

0 coins

Prev1...118119120121122...611Next