Final advice from someone who's been through this: if you're hitting caller limits regularly, you're probably better off with an automated solution. I wasted 3 weeks learning all these calling tricks when I could have been done in one day.

I've been experiencing the exact same thing! After about 120-130 attempts in one day, I start getting those weird immediate disconnects instead of the normal busy signals. It's definitely some kind of daily limit per phone number. What's frustrating is that EDD doesn't publish this information anywhere, so we're all just figuring it out through trial and error. I've started keeping a call log and noticed the pattern resets each morning around 8am PT. Might be worth trying a different phone number or switching to one of those callback services everyone's mentioning if you keep hitting the wall.

Just wanted to share my recent experience with the new PIN system since I finally got through yesterday! After reading all these tips, I tried calling on a Wednesday at 1:45 PM and got connected in about 15 minutes - way better than my previous attempts. The PIN system definitely takes some getting used to, but here's what I learned: make sure you enter it slowly and clearly because the system is pretty picky. Also, have your Social Security number ready right after the PIN because they ask for it immediately. One thing I noticed is that if you hear a brief pause after entering your PIN, don't hang up - that's normal and it means the system is processing. Overall, while the new system adds an extra step, it does seem to streamline things once you're actually connected to an agent. Thanks everyone for all the helpful advice in this thread! 🙌

I've been struggling with the new PIN system too, but I found something that really helps - if you get the "system busy" message, wait exactly 3 minutes before calling back instead of immediately redialing. I think their system has some kind of cooldown period. Also, I discovered that if you press 0 right after entering your PIN, it sometimes bypasses the automated menu and gets you to a human faster. Been using this trick for the past two weeks and my average wait time went from 2+ hours to about 30-45 minutes. The PIN thing is still annoying but at least there's ways to work around the system! Hope this helps someone else who's been stuck in callback hell like I was 🤞

Just wanted to add my experience since I'm seeing so many different timelines here! I submitted my 2500A form about 3 weeks ago and it took exactly 14 business days to process. Like others mentioned, I had some part-time retail work during my claim period (months 2-5, all properly reported) which definitely triggered the manual review. What helped me was calling on day 10 using the 8am strategy - got through on my 6th attempt that morning. The rep was super helpful and explained that my case was just sitting in the review queue waiting for someone to verify my reported earnings against their records. She cleared it while I was on the phone and I got paid two days later with full backpay for the waiting period. One thing I'd add to all the great advice here - when you call, have your Social Security number, claim confirmation number, and the exact date you submitted the 2500A form ready. They ask for all of this right away and having it ready seems to make the process smoother. Also don't get discouraged by the busy signals - I probably made 40+ attempts over 3 days but it was absolutely worth it to get everything resolved!

Just wanted to share my recent experience to add to this helpful thread! I submitted my 2500A form 10 days ago and was getting really anxious reading about all the different processing times everyone mentioned. Following the advice here, I called yesterday morning right at 8am and got through on my 12th attempt (which felt like a miracle!). Turns out there was indeed a flag on my account - I had reported some occasional handyman work correctly during my claim, but their system flagged it for verification because the amounts varied week to week. The rep was able to clear it immediately and said my payment should process within 1-2 business days. She also confirmed that any kind of irregular income (even when properly reported) almost always triggers manual review for 2500A forms. The whole call took maybe 10 minutes once I actually got through. So definitely don't hesitate to call around that 7-10 day mark if you're worried - the "processing" status really doesn't tell you if there's something fixable holding things up. This community knowledge has been so much more helpful than anything on the EDD website!

any update?? did ur $ come thru yet??

I'm so glad this worked out for you! This is actually a really helpful thread for anyone else experiencing similar delays. I've been on EDD for about 6 months now and had two random payment delays like this - both times the money eventually came through within 3-4 days just like yours did. It's frustrating that EDD doesn't communicate these system hiccups better, but at least we know now that "paid" status means the money is definitely coming, even if it takes longer than usual. Thanks for updating us with the resolution!

I just want to say how incredibly helpful this entire thread has been! I'm in almost the exact same situation - my hours just got cut from 37 to 18 per week at my office job due to budget constraints. I had never heard of partial unemployment before finding this post, and now I feel like I actually have a path forward instead of just panicking about my rent payment. The advice about applying immediately, keeping detailed records, and understanding the earnings vs. paid distinction is going to save me so much confusion. I'm especially grateful for the tips about calling EDD during lunch hours and certifying on Sunday mornings - these little details make such a difference when you're navigating an unfamiliar system. Planning to file my claim tomorrow morning and start documenting everything from the beginning. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences - you're literally helping people keep roofs over their heads! 🙏

I'm also going through this exact situation right now - my retail job just cut my hours from 38 to 22 per week due to "seasonal adjustments." This whole thread has been incredibly reassuring! I had no idea partial unemployment existed until I started researching after getting my schedule reduced. One thing I wanted to add that I learned from my union rep: make sure you understand your company's policy on requesting additional hours or overtime. Some employers will argue that you "refused" available work if you don't pick up extra shifts when offered, which could potentially affect your UI eligibility. My manager mentioned they might have occasional extra hours available, so I'm making sure to accept any offered shifts to show I'm willing to work more. Also, for anyone worried about the financial gap while waiting for benefits to start - I called 211 (the community services helpline) and they connected me with local organizations that help with emergency rent assistance. It's worth knowing about these resources even if you don't end up needing them. Planning to file my claim this weekend after reading all this great advice. Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences - it's making this whole situation feel much less overwhelming!