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.
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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This is such a smart move for someone in tech recruiting! The industry pivot to UI/UX makes total sense given your background in understanding candidate needs and market demands. I'm actually considering a similar career change myself after getting laid off from my marketing role. One thing I'd add to the great advice already given - when you meet with your caseworker, definitely emphasize how your recruiting experience translates to UX research and user interviews. That connection should really strengthen your case for approval since you're not starting from zero. Also, if you don't mind sharing after your intake appointment, I'd love to hear how the process goes! There are probably a lot of us in similar situations who could benefit from knowing the real timeline and requirements.
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This thread is absolutely golden! I've been calling those EDD numbers for over a month with zero success, and now I finally understand why. I had no idea that 800-300-5616 and 833-978-7653 were the same line - I've literally been switching between them thinking I was outsmarting the system. The lunch break revelation from 12-1:30pm is huge too since that's exactly when I usually try calling on my work breaks. I'm going to start the 7:55am strategy tomorrow morning with all my documents ready and headphones charged for the potential long hold. If that doesn't work after a week of solid attempts, I'm definitely going with Claimyr based on all the success stories here. My claim has been stuck in pending hell for 5 weeks now and I've probably made 80+ failed calls already. At some point you have to admit the system is too broken for manual calling and just pay for a solution that actually works. Thanks everyone for sharing the real strategies that EDD doesn't tell you about!
Welcome to the EDD phone number struggle club! Your experience is so relatable - I think we've all been there thinking we were being clever switching between those numbers when they're literally the same system. The lunch break discovery was a game-changer for me too since I was wasting so many attempts during that 12-1:30pm dead zone. Five weeks pending with 80+ failed calls definitely puts you in the territory where paying for Claimyr starts making financial sense. I was hesitant about spending money on something that "should be free" until I calculated how much I was losing in delayed benefits versus the service fee. The 7:55am strategy is definitely worth trying first - make sure your phone is fully charged and you have a comfortable setup since you might be holding for 1-2 hours if you get through. But honestly, don't feel guilty if you end up going the Claimyr route after a week. Sometimes the broken system forces us to find working solutions, and your sanity is worth protecting too. Good luck tomorrow morning!
I've been lurking and reading through this entire thread - what an incredible resource! I had no idea I was making so many basic mistakes. Like everyone else, I was switching between 800-300-5616 and 833-978-7653 thinking they were different lines, and definitely calling during that 12-1:30pm lunch blackout that @Amara Okafor mentioned. I've been stuck with a pending claim for 4 weeks and probably made 60+ failed attempts already. The 7:55am strategy that worked for @Anita George gives me hope that manual calling can still work with proper timing and persistence. I'm going to try that approach starting Monday - phone charged, headphones ready, documents organized, and calling from a quiet spot. If it doesn't work after a solid week of early morning attempts, I'll definitely consider Claimyr based on all the success stories here. This community is providing way more practical help than any official EDD resource I've found. Thanks everyone for sharing your real experiences instead of just generic advice!
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I moved from LA to Portland while on EDD last year and everything worked out fine! Here's what I learned from the process: 1. Update your address through UI Online ASAP - I did it the day after I arrived and had no payment interruptions 2. Keep detailed records of ALL job applications (company, position, date, method of application) - I used a simple Google Sheets document 3. Be prepared for a potential phone interview 2-4 weeks after updating your address - mine was just basic questions about my job search efforts 4. Apply to jobs in both states if you want, but be realistic about which ones you could actually accept (consider relocation costs, remote work options, etc.) 5. Make sure mail forwarding is set up properly because some EDD notices still come by regular mail The phone interview was actually pretty straightforward - they asked about my work search activities, confirmed I was available for work, and verified my contact info. The whole call took maybe 15 minutes. Don't let the horror stories scare you too much - most people who follow the rules have smooth experiences, they just don't post about it as much as people who have problems! Good luck with your move to Arizona and job search!
Thank you so much for this comprehensive breakdown! This is exactly the kind of detailed guidance I was hoping to find. I'm feeling much more confident about the whole process now. The Google Sheets idea is perfect - I'm going to set that up today before I start applying to jobs in both states. It's really reassuring to hear that your phone interview was straightforward and only took 15 minutes. I was imagining some kind of intense interrogation, but it sounds like they just want to verify you're following the rules. Your point about being realistic about which jobs I could actually accept is really important too - I need to think through the logistics of potential relocation or remote work before applying. Thanks again for taking the time to share your experience!
I've been collecting California EDD benefits while living in Nevada for about 4 months now, so I can share my experience! The process is definitely doable, but here are a few things I wish I'd known upfront: 1. Update your address immediately through UI Online - I did this within 24 hours of moving and it went smoothly 2. Save confirmation screenshots when you update your info online, just in case there are any questions later 3. If you're job searching in multiple states, consider setting up separate folders or tags in your email to organize applications by state - it made my record-keeping much easier 4. Don't panic if your claim gets a temporary hold after updating your address - mine was held for about a week while they "reviewed" but payments resumed automatically 5. When doing your work search activities, apply to jobs you'd genuinely consider accepting - EDD can ask follow-up questions about specific applications The phone interview I had was pretty routine - they mainly wanted to confirm I was actively looking for work and understood the requirements. Overall it's been much less stressful than I anticipated. Just stay organized, be honest, and follow all the normal certification requirements. You've got this!
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To all those having trouble reaching a human at California Unemployment. I just ran across this video that gave me a shortcut to reach a human. Hope it helps! https://youtu.be/Ize0EkN4HDI
I've been dealing with EDD hold times for months now. From my experience, it really varies - sometimes 30 minutes, sometimes 4+ hours. The key is to call right when they open at 8am. I've also found that calling on Tuesday or Wednesday gives you better chances than Monday or Friday. Hang in there, it's frustrating but eventually you'll get through!
@Zara Ahmed Thanks for the tip about calling right at 8am! I m'new to dealing with EDD and have been struggling to get through. Do you have any other advice for first-time callers? I ve'been trying for weeks with no luck and getting really discouraged. Also wondering if there s'a specific number that works better than others?
Carmen Lopez
I'm dealing with this exact same situation right now and this thread has been incredibly helpful! Just discovered someone filed unemployment claims using my identity last week and I've been in complete panic mode. Like everyone else, I tried calling the fraud hotline multiple times and it's absolutely useless - either busy signals or they hang up on you. Based on all the advice shared here, I'm abandoning that approach completely and going straight to: 1. Filing a police report today to get a case number 2. Emailing identitytheft@edd.ca.gov with all details 3. Contacting my state assembly member's office immediately The assembly member route seems to be the real secret weapon that everyone discovers too late. I had no idea they had dedicated EDD liaisons who could actually cut through the bureaucracy. I'm also really concerned about the tax implications since multiple people mentioned receiving 1099-G forms for benefits they never got. Going to file Form 14039 with the IRS preemptively and put fraud alerts on all my credit reports today. It's absolutely insane that we have to become experts in navigating broken government systems just because criminals stole our information, but I'm so grateful everyone shared what actually works instead of the official channels that clearly don't. This community has probably saved me months of frustration! Has anyone had success with getting EDD to send written confirmation once the fraudulent claim is closed? I want to make sure I have documentation that this was resolved properly.
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StarSailor}
•You're absolutely right about getting written confirmation - that's a crucial step that I almost forgot about! When my case was finally resolved through my assembly member's office, I specifically requested written confirmation from EDD that the fraudulent claim had been terminated and that no benefits were actually paid out. It took about a week after the verbal confirmation, but they did send me an official letter stating that the claim was closed due to identity theft. Keep that document with all your other paperwork because you'll likely need it for tax purposes and as proof that you reported the fraud promptly. Also, don't be surprised if you get one more piece of mail from EDD even after it's "resolved" - sometimes there's a lag in their system and you might get a final notice about the closed claim. Just keep it with your documentation. The assembly member route really is the game-changer here. I wish more people knew about it from the start instead of wasting months trying to navigate EDD's broken channels. You've got a solid plan and should be able to get this resolved much faster than the rest of us did. Stay persistent and document everything!
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Savannah Vin
I'm so sorry you're dealing with this - EDD identity theft has become such a widespread problem and their fraud reporting system is completely broken. I just went through this nightmare myself about 4 months ago and totally understand your panic! Everyone here has given excellent advice, but I wanted to add a few things that really helped speed up my case: **Skip the fraud hotline completely** - I wasted 2 weeks trying to get through and it's genuinely useless. Go straight to these steps: 1. **File police report first** (you need that case number for everything) 2. **Email identitytheft@edd.ca.gov** with your police case number and ALL details 3. **Contact your state assembly member's office immediately** - this is the real game changer everyone discovers too late **Critical addition:** When you email EDD, also send the exact same email to your employer's HR department. They need to flag your account and contest any employment verification requests from EDD. This prevents the fraudster from potentially getting "employment verification" that could make their claim look more legitimate. **Tax protection steps:** - File Form 14039 with the IRS preemptively - Put fraud alerts on all three credit bureaus TODAY - Request your wage transcript from the IRS to monitor for fraudulent income My assembly member's office got me connected to an actual EDD fraud specialist within 24 hours, and the whole thing was resolved in 3 weeks. The regular channels are completely broken, but there are ways around the system once you know them. Document absolutely everything and don't give up - you'll get through this!
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Olivia Kay
•This is such great additional advice! I hadn't thought about notifying my employer's HR department - that's brilliant to prevent any potential employment verification issues. I'm definitely going to add that to my action plan along with all the other steps you've outlined. It's really encouraging to hear you got connected to an actual EDD fraud specialist within 24 hours through your assembly member's office. That gives me hope that this can actually be resolved quickly once the right people get involved, instead of the months-long horror stories some others have shared. The tip about requesting the wage transcript from the IRS is also really smart - I want to catch any fraudulent activity as early as possible before it becomes a bigger mess. Going to set up regular monitoring of that along with my credit reports. Thank you for taking the time to share what actually worked! It's so helpful to have a clear roadmap from people who successfully navigated this nightmare. I'm feeling much more confident about getting this resolved now.
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