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 :)
Join the conversation
Join the conversation
my cousin got fired after 2 months and still got benefits they just asked more questions and had a phone interview
Just make sure you SAVE EVERYTHING - any messages where she said you were doing a good job, the termination paper, EVERYTHING! EDD interviews are all about EVIDENCE. If you have proof she was initially happy with your work, that strengthens your case that there was no misconduct. The burden of proof is on HER to show why you shouldn't get benefits. The system isn't perfect but at least has SOME protections for workers!
Good advice. I don't have text messages, but I do have some emails from the first two weeks where she compliments my work. I'll gather those up now before responding to EDD.
Join the conversation
Okay so what about if someone sends you money through Venmo to pay you back for something? Does that count??? I'm now paranoid about ALL money coming into my accounts!!
No, being paid back for something isn't income - it's just getting your own money returned to you. EDD is only concerned with NEW income you earn from providing services/work during your benefit period.
To wrap this up clearly for anyone with similar questions: 1. Bank interest does NOT need to be reported when certifying for unemployment benefits 2. The certification question specifically asks about income from WORK you performed 3. Passive income (interest, dividends, etc.) isn't considered work income for UI purposes 4. You still need to report this interest on your taxes to the IRS - this is separate from EDD 5. Always report any actual work you perform, even small amounts or side gigs Hope this helps! The distinction is about whether you performed services to earn the money.
Join the conversation
Quick update to my earlier comment - I just remembered that in situations where supervisors need to "recompute" and no weeks are available to certify, there's often a flag on the claim that requires manual removal. This specifically happens when there's a mismatch between your reported work history and what's in their system. When you do get through to someone (either via phone or through a service like the one mentioned above), make sure to use these exact words: "I need a Tier 2 specialist to remove the stop payment alert and release weeks for certification." The front-line representatives sometimes don't know the proper terminology to resolve your specific issue, so being precise about what you need can make a big difference.
Thank you! This is super helpful. I'm going to write down this exact phrasing and use it when I call tomorrow. At least now I have some specific terminology that might actually get results instead of vague promises.
anyone else notice edd is WAY worse in 2025 than before?? my first claim in 2023 was processed in like 10 days. now everyones waiting months??? what happened??
They've been cutting staff while claims are increasing. Classic government logic - reduce resources when demand goes up! I read somewhere they laid off a bunch of the temporary workers they hired during the pandemic, but claim volumes are rising again with all the tech layoffs and economic issues. So now we all suffer with worse service than ever.
Join the conversation
Wait so EDD wont automaticaly switch ur payments to the new card?????? thats the stupidest thing ive ever heard omg. why even send people cards if they dont work with out extra steps??
The reasoning (though not very user-friendly) is that some people might want to have the card as a backup option but continue receiving payments via direct deposit. The system gives you the choice, but they definitely don't make it clear that you need to manually select your preference.
Join the conversation
wait are u sure they manipulated ur timecard?? how did u find out? that's super illegal lol
Yeah, I'm 100% sure. I kept track of my hours in my phone notes because I was suspicious, and then I noticed the printed timesheets showed 30-min breaks I never took. When I questioned my supervisor, he literally said "just be grateful you're getting paid for that time and stop complaining."
One more important tip for your interview: frame your decision to quit in terms of having "no reasonable alternative." EDD looks for whether you exhausted all options before quitting. Mention if you tried to: 1. Request formal accommodations for your diabetes 2. Report the break violations to HR or upper management 3. Request transfer to another department/location 4. Report drug use concerns to someone above your supervisor If your company was small with no HR department, explain that too. The key is showing you didn't quit at the first sign of trouble but tried your best to make the situation work while protecting your health and sobriety.
This is super helpful, thank you! It was a small company (only 11 employees) with no HR department, so my supervisor was essentially the final authority. I did email the owner once about the break issue but never received a response. I'll make sure to mention that as well.
Join the conversation
I went thru this last year and ended up doing Instacart, which was better than food delivery cuz I didn't have to drive as much. just shopping and then dropping off in my neighborhood. not great money but better than nothing!
UPDATE: I got through to EDD this morning! The rep said I DO qualify for a new claim, but at a much lower benefit amount ($97/week vs. my previous $450). She said this is because my base period only includes that one quarter with the November job. It's not much, but it's something to help with groceries while I keep searching for work. She also confirmed the CalFresh application should be approved since my income is now so low. Thank you everyone for the advice and support. For anyone else in a similar situation - definitely check if you have ANY earnings during your benefit year that might qualify you for a new claim, even a small one.
That's awesome news! $97 isn't much but it's definitely better than $0. Glad you got something figured out!
Great news! And remember, once the strike ends and you're able to get back to work, make sure to report any earnings correctly. You can still collect partial benefits if you work part-time but earn less than your weekly benefit amount. Every dollar helps right now.
Join the conversation
just curious wht kind of job was this? retail? office? factory? different industries have different standards for what counts as "hostile" so it might matter
It was retail management at a large chain store. I was an assistant manager who reported inventory mismanagement, then suddenly started getting written up for things I didn't do.
ok thats helpful bc retail has super clear standards about inventory reporting and retaliation. make sure you mention your position title at the hearing
On the day of your hearing, arrive early (at least 30 minutes), dress professionally, and bring multiple copies of all your evidence (one for you, one for the judge, and one for the employer's representative). Also, as stressful as it may be, try to get a good night's sleep beforehand so you can think clearly. Finally, don't be afraid to respectfully ask the judge for clarification if you don't understand a question. And remember that if the employer doesn't show up for the hearing (which happens quite often), that significantly increases your chances of winning as long as you can articulate your case clearly.
Do you know if these hearings are still being done by phone due to COVID or are they in person now? The letter wasn't totally clear. And that's a good point about bringing multiple copies - I wouldn't have thought of that.
Most EDD appeals are still being conducted by phone in 2025, but it varies by office and case type. Your appeal notice should specify whether it's phone or in-person (usually in small print near the bottom). If it's by phone, have all your documents organized and in front of you, and make sure you're in a quiet place with good reception. If you're not sure, call EDD to confirm - this is another situation where getting through to a representative is crucial.
Join the conversation
has anyone ever had their interview and then got denied anyway? i'm worried this will happen to me next week
Yes, having an interview doesn't guarantee approval. The interview is just to gather facts about your claim that may be unclear or need verification. Common reasons for post-interview denials include: conflicting information from your employer, insufficient work history in your base period, or evidence that you weren't available for work. However, even if denied, you always have the right to appeal the decision within 30 days.
UPDATE: My claim just switched from pending to paid this morning! Exactly one week after my interview. No additional communication from EDD, it just updated in the system. Thanks everyone for your help and reassurance during my mini-panic. For anyone else in this situation - it seems like the 24-48 hour timeframe they mention is definitely not accurate, but patience (however difficult) pays off.
congrats!! told u itd work out :) now u can relax
StarStrider
Don't worry too much yet! My first payment showed $0 pending for about 5 days then suddenly updated with the correct amount. I think it's just how their system works while processing new claims.
0 coins
Diego Vargas
Just checking in - has there been any update to your claim status? It's been a few days since your original post.
0 coins
Omar Fawaz
•Yes! The amount updated this morning to my correct weekly benefit amount! Both weeks are still pending, but at least now they show the right dollar amount. Such a relief. Thanks everyone for your help and reassurance.
0 coins
Anastasia Fedorov
•Great news! Now you just wait for it to change from pending to paid, then another 1-2 days for it to hit your account/card. The system works eventually but man do they make you SWEAT!!!
0 coins