Can't reach California Unemployment? Claimyr connects you to a live EDD agent in minutes.
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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!
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 :)
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FINAL UPDATE: Just wanted to close the loop on this - my payments went from pending to paid this morning! Took exactly 2 business days after completing the ID verification. All three weeks of my claim were paid at once. So relieved this worked out. For anyone with similar issues, don't wait - call EDD right away and get your ID verification sorted out!
That's excellent news! Thanks for coming back to update the thread. It will definitely help others who find themselves in a similar situation.
Yaaaaay! 🎉 So happy for you! Nothing better than seeing that money finally hit after all the stress!
This is such a helpful thread! I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - filed my claim 2 weeks ago and just realized I never got any ID.me verification link. My eligibility interview is scheduled for next week, but now I'm worried they won't even process it if my identity isn't verified first. Should I try to get the ID verification sorted out before my interview, or does the order not matter? Also, for those who used Claimyr, did you have any issues with the service or was it pretty straightforward?
Hey! Based on what I learned from this thread, definitely get your ID verification sorted out ASAP - don't wait for your interview! The two processes are completely separate and your payments will be held up even if your eligibility interview goes perfectly. I'd recommend calling EDD tomorrow morning at 8am to get a new ID.me link sent to you. If you can't get through after multiple tries, the Claimyr service that @d9bbb2bc99cf used seems legit - she got connected in 30 minutes and had her whole issue resolved. Better to handle this now while you're still well within the 30-day window rather than risk delays later!
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I'm dealing with this exact same verification code issue and have been stuck for almost a week now! This thread has been such a lifesaver - reading through everyone's experiences and solutions has given me actual hope instead of just feeling helpless. @AstroAce and @Amelia Cartwright - huge thanks for sharing your detailed success stories with the 6:30 AM call strategy! I had no idea that calling right when tech support opens would make such a difference. I've been dreading the phone call because I thought it meant spending my entire day on hold, but hearing about your 15-20 minute wait times makes it feel actually manageable. I'm definitely going to try the early morning call tomorrow with the "multi-factor authentication failure" phrase and have all my verification info organized and ready. It's incredible that this community has essentially become EDD's unofficial tech support and created the step-by-step guide they should have provided from the start. @Mei Zhang - also planning to check my email provider settings tonight based on your IT expertise. The idea that my email might be blocking EDD messages hadn't even occurred to me. It's so frustrating that their "security upgrade" has locked so many of us out, but seeing how everyone here has shared real working solutions instead of just venting makes dealing with this bureaucratic nightmare feel less overwhelming. Will definitely report back with how my call goes!
@Ravi Patel - I m'in the exact same boat as you! Been locked out for 6 days now and was starting to lose hope until I found this thread. The detailed success stories from @AstroAce and @Amelia Cartwright have been such a game-changer - I never would have thought to call at 6:30 AM or use that specific multi-factor authentication "failure phrase. I" m actually'planning to try calling tomorrow morning too, so hopefully we ll both'have success stories to add soon! I ve already'checked my email settings tonight based on @Mei Zhang s advice and'added edd.ca.gov to my safe senders list, but I think the phone call route is going to be the real solution here. It s honestly mind-blowing'that this community has had to figure out the actual working solutions while EDD just tells people to wait 24 hours "with no real" help. But I m so grateful'for everyone sharing their experiences - makes this whole nightmare feel way less isolating. Good luck with your call tomorrow! 🤞
I've been following this thread closely as I'm dealing with the exact same verification code nightmare! Been locked out for 3 days now and was getting really stressed about filing my claim on time. @AstroAce and @Amelia Cartwright - thank you so much for sharing your detailed success stories! The 6:30 AM call strategy with the "multi-factor authentication failure" phrase seems to be the golden ticket based on all these consistent results. I had no idea that calling right when tech support opens would make such a huge difference with wait times. @Mei Zhang - really appreciate all your IT expertise throughout this thread. I'm going to check my email settings tonight and add edd.ca.gov to my safe senders list before trying the call tomorrow. It's honestly ridiculous that EDD's "upgrade" has caused all these problems and we've had to crowdsource the actual working solutions, but I'm so grateful for this community support. Having a concrete action plan instead of just repeatedly trying to log in and getting nowhere makes this whole situation feel way more manageable. I'm planning to try the early morning call tomorrow with all my verification info ready. Will definitely update everyone on how it goes - fingers crossed I can add another success story to this thread! 🤞
@Anastasia Sokolov - You ve'got such a solid plan outlined! I m'new to this community but have been reading through this entire thread because I m'stuck with the same verification code issue. It s'honestly amazing how everyone here has figured out the actual working solutions while EDD just keeps giving people the runaround. The consistency of success with that 6:30 AM timing is really encouraging - seems like that s'when you can actually get through to someone who knows how to handle this multi-factor "authentication failure issue" instead of being told to just wait it out. I m'definitely going to try the same approach tomorrow morning. One thing I noticed from all the success stories is how important it seems to be to have all your verification info ready before calling SSN, (address, employment details .)I m'going to organize everything tonight so I m'not scrambling when they ask for it. Thanks to everyone who s'shared their experiences here - this thread has been more helpful than anything EDD has provided! Looking forward to hopefully reading your success story tomorrow! Good luck! 💪
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I'm dealing with EDD right now for a totally different issue (certification problems), but I've learned that persistence is key. The system is overwhelmed and understaffed. For updating phone numbers specifically, I found out they have a dedicated Identity Alert section you can call at 866-401-2849, which sometimes has shorter wait times than the main line. Might be worth trying that number too.
Thank you for that specific number! I'll add it to my list of options to try. Really appreciate everyone's suggestions - I feel like I have an actual game plan now!
Just checking back - were you able to get this resolved? The secure message option or the alternate phone number might be your best bets if you're still stuck.
glad u got it fixed!! now get ready for the next nightmare: certification issues 😂
@1617fc26d8e8 So happy to hear you got it resolved! I'm dealing with a similar phone verification issue right now and was getting nowhere with the regular EDD line. Definitely going to try the Claimyr service you mentioned - sounds like it's worth it just to save the headache of calling 50+ times. Quick question: do you remember roughly how much the Claimyr service cost? Want to make sure I budget for it if my secure message attempt doesn't work out.
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I'm in a similar situation and just wanted to share what I learned from calling around today. In addition to what everyone else mentioned, check if your utility companies have any emergency assistance programs - PG&E, SoCal Edison, and water companies often have funds that can free up money in your budget for rent. Also, some food banks in California have emergency cash assistance programs (not just food) - I found out about this from a social worker. It might only be $200-500 but every bit helps when you're facing eviction. One more tip: if you have any credit cards with available credit, some allow cash advances that you can use for rent in emergencies. Not ideal because of fees and interest, but it might buy you time while waiting for the assistance programs to process. Pedro, make sure you're also looking into local food assistance so you can redirect any grocery money toward rent. CalFresh (food stamps) applications can sometimes be expedited too if you explain your emergency situation.
This is really comprehensive advice, thank you! I hadn't thought about utility assistance programs - that's a great point about freeing up money for rent. I'm going to call PG&E tomorrow morning to see what they offer. The food bank cash assistance is news to me too - do you happen to know which food banks in California offer this? I'm willing to drive a bit if needed. And you're absolutely right about applying for CalFresh - I was putting it off but every dollar counts right now.
Pedro, I've been following this thread and wanted to add a few things that might help with your immediate situation: 1. **Emergency cash assistance**: Many counties have same-day emergency funds specifically for rent. In my county (Riverside), they have a "Crisis Intervention Program" that can provide up to $1,500 within 24-48 hours if you meet certain criteria. Call your county's Department of Public Social Services directly and ask about emergency/crisis assistance programs. 2. **Community action agencies**: These are federally funded programs in every county that often have faster processing times than larger state programs. Search "[your county] Community Action Agency" - they usually have emergency rental assistance with shorter wait times. 3. **Unemployment timing tip**: Since you mentioned your first payment won't cover rent, double-check when exactly it's being deposited. EDD payments sometimes hit accounts earlier than expected, especially if you're on direct deposit. You can check your payment status 24/7 on the EDD website. 4. **Immediate documentation**: Start gathering all your paperwork NOW while you're making calls. Having everything ready can literally cut days off processing time when you do get through to someone. The stress is real, but you're already doing the right things by reaching out early. Keep us posted on how it goes!
This is really helpful, thank you PaulineW! I'm definitely going to call my county's Department of Public Social Services first thing Monday morning to ask about crisis intervention programs - that 24-48 hour timeline could be a lifesaver. I hadn't heard of Community Action Agencies before either, so I'll look that up for my county. And you're right about checking my EDD payment status - I should probably check that tonight to see if there's any chance it might come through earlier than expected. I've been so focused on the rental assistance programs that I almost forgot to double-check the unemployment timing. Really appreciate all the specific program names and suggestions - it gives me a much clearer action plan for Monday!
Sofia Gutierrez
Wow, this thread is absolutely incredible! As someone who just started collecting unemployment benefits last week, I had no idea there were so many backup options when the main EDD systems fail. I was panicking thinking I'd have to choose between certifying on time or having internet at home. The suggestions about public library WiFi, mobile hotspot lending programs, community centers, college computer labs, and even McDonald's parking lot WiFi have completely changed my perspective on how to handle these situations. I'm definitely going to map out all the free WiFi locations and computer access points in my area as a backup plan. The tip about calling right at 8 AM is golden too - I'll remember that for next time. It's really unfortunate that we have to become creative problem-solvers just to access basic government services, but I'm so grateful for this community sharing practical solutions. This thread is like the ultimate EDD troubleshooting guide that should be required reading for anyone navigating unemployment benefits. Thank you all for taking the time to help each other out - it really restores faith in people looking out for one another during tough times!
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Omar Hassan
•I'm so glad you found this thread helpful! As someone who's been navigating the EDD system for a while now, I can tell you that having multiple backup plans really is essential. Your idea about mapping out all the free WiFi and computer access locations in your area is brilliant - I wish I had thought to do that when I first started. It's like creating your own personal "EDD emergency network"! One thing I'd add to all the great suggestions here is to maybe keep a written list of these backup options in your wallet or phone, along with important numbers like the main EDD customer service line. That way if you're ever in a panic situation like the original poster was, you don't have to try to remember all these options while you're stressed. It really is a shame that we have to be this resourceful just to access our benefits, but seeing how this community comes together to share solutions gives me hope. Welcome to the unemployment journey - hopefully it's a short one for you, but at least now you're well-prepared for any technical hiccups along the way!
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Brady Clean
This thread has been an absolute lifesaver! I'm dealing with my first month of unemployment and honestly felt completely lost when I couldn't get through on TeleCert yesterday. Reading through everyone's backup strategies has given me so much confidence that I can handle whatever technical issues EDD throws at me. I had no idea about the library mobile hotspot program, community center computers, or even that you could certify through the main customer service line. I'm definitely going to create my own "EDD backup plan" checklist based on all these suggestions. The tip about screenshotting confirmation numbers is something I'll start doing immediately - I can't afford to have payments disappear due to system glitches. It's really eye-opening how resourceful we all have to become just to access our own benefits, but this community support makes such a huge difference. Thank you to everyone who shared their hard-learned workarounds - you're literally helping people keep roofs over their heads and food on the table!
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