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
I'm going through this exact same situation right now and it's honestly been one of the most stressful experiences I've had with any government agency. Filed my appeal about 7 weeks ago after being disqualified - my employer claimed I was terminated for violating company policy, but I have evidence showing the "violation" was actually me following safety protocols they had trained us on just weeks earlier. Like everyone else here, zero certification weeks since filing the appeal. The financial stress has been intense, especially since I have a mortgage and car payment. I ended up having to borrow money from family just to cover basic expenses. What's been most helpful from reading this thread: - Applied for CalFresh yesterday after seeing multiple people recommend it - Started keeping a detailed log of all my job search activities - Found the appeals board direct number and confirmed my case is in their system (they're scheduling hearings 12-14 weeks out now - even longer than what others reported!) - Organized all my documentation including emails, training materials, and witness contact info The complete lack of transparency from EDD during this process is maddening. You file your appeal and then basically disappear into a black hole with no updates or communication. If it wasn't for communities like this sharing experiences, I would have no idea if I was doing something wrong or if this endless waiting is actually normal. For anyone else dealing with this - hang in there. It sounds like the system is designed to discourage people from pursuing legitimate claims, but based on what I'm reading here, most people with solid evidence do eventually win and get their back pay. We just have to survive the waiting period first.
I'm so sorry you're going through this too - 7 weeks is a really long time to be in limbo, especially when you have mortgage and car payments to worry about. Your situation with the safety protocols sounds like you have a really strong case though! It's infuriating that they're penalizing you for literally following the training they gave you. The 12-14 week timeline you got from the appeals board is even longer than what others were reporting - it really seems like the backlog just keeps getting worse. That's incredibly frustrating when you're already struggling financially. I'm glad you were able to get help from family, but it's awful that people have to go into debt or borrow money just because EDD's system is so broken. Thanks for sharing the tip about organizing witness contact info - I hadn't thought about that but it makes total sense. Having people who can verify the safety training and protocols could be really powerful evidence for your case. You're absolutely right that the lack of communication makes everything so much worse. At least knowing the realistic timeline helps with planning, even if it's much longer than we'd hoped. We're all basically becoming experts at navigating this mess just to get what we're legally entitled to. Hang in there - it sounds like you've got solid documentation and a strong case!
I'm currently in week 5 of waiting after filing my appeal and this thread has been incredibly helpful! My situation is similar - employer claimed I was fired for cause but I have documentation showing it was actually a position elimination due to budget cuts. No certification weeks since filing the appeal, which has been really tough financially. What's been most frustrating is exactly what everyone here is describing - the complete radio silence from EDD after you file. You submit your appeal and then just... wait. No updates, no timeline, nothing. I had no idea if this was normal until reading everyone's experiences here. I've already applied for CalFresh based on recommendations in this thread (great suggestion!) and I'm going to call the appeals board directly tomorrow to at least confirm my case is in their system. The 12-14 week timeline some of you are reporting is honestly scary given my financial situation, but it's better to know the reality than keep hoping for that optimistic "30+ days" they initially quote. One thing I'm curious about - for those who won their appeals and got the batch of back weeks to certify, was that process straightforward or did you run into any additional complications with EDD when trying to actually get paid? I'm trying to prepare mentally for what might come after the appeal (assuming I win). Thanks to everyone sharing their experiences here. It's the only place I've found real information about what this process actually looks like!
I can answer your question about the back certification process! When I won my appeal (took about 9 weeks), EDD sent me an email saying I had certification weeks available in my UI Online portal. I logged in and there were something like 8-9 weeks all lined up to certify for at once. The actual certification process was pretty straightforward - same questions as usual about job search, availability, etc. I just had to go through each week individually. The tricky part was making sure I had accurate job search records for all those back weeks, which is why keeping that detailed log everyone's talking about is so important! Payment came through normally after that, though it was a larger lump sum obviously since it covered multiple weeks. No additional complications on my end, but I've heard some people had to call to get their payments processed if there were any technical glitches. Overall though, once the appeal was won, the back certification was much smoother than the actual appeal waiting process. Fingers crossed your position elimination documentation is solid - that sounds like a strong case!
Join the conversation
As someone who's been through this exact situation multiple times, I wanted to add one more reassuring voice to this thread! I'm a freelance marketing consultant who's navigated several temporary contracts while on UI over the past couple years. The process really is as straightforward as everyone's describing - just keep certifying every two weeks and report your earnings honestly. One thing I'd emphasize that hasn't been mentioned much: don't be surprised if your UI Online account shows $0 payments for the weeks you're working full-time hours. This is totally normal and doesn't mean anything is wrong with your claim! Your benefit amount will automatically resume once you report lower or no earnings again. Also, since you're in design, definitely keep track of any new skills or software you learn during the freelance gig - this can actually strengthen your job search narrative when you're back to looking for permanent work. The freelance experience shows you're staying current and adaptable in your field. You're making the right call taking this opportunity. Temporary work while on UI is much more common than people realize, and the system is designed to handle it smoothly. Best of luck with your project!
This is such a helpful perspective, thank you! I'm new to this community and this whole thread has been incredibly reassuring. I'm currently in my second month of UI after my marketing role was eliminated, and I just got offered a 6-week consulting project. Like so many others here, I was really worried about potentially disrupting my benefits, but seeing all these positive real-world experiences has given me the confidence to move forward. Your point about the $0 payments showing up as normal during working weeks is particularly helpful - I probably would have panicked seeing that without this context! It's also great to think about how the freelance experience can actually strengthen my job search story later. Thanks to everyone in this thread for sharing such practical, actionable advice. This community is amazing!
I'm a graphic designer who went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago! Had been on UI for 2 months when I got offered a 5-week branding project. I was so stressed about potentially losing my benefits, but it ended up being completely seamless. Just kept certifying every two weeks, reported all my freelance earnings honestly, and got $0 for the weeks I was working full-time (since my project rate put me over my weekly benefit amount). When the project ended, I went back to regular certifications with no income and my payments resumed automatically the very next certification period - no delays, no interviews, nothing complicated at all. The key really is just being consistent with your bi-weekly certifications and transparent about your earnings. Don't let the fear of bureaucratic complications stop you from taking good work opportunities! The system actually handles temporary freelance situations like this really well when you follow the basic rules.
Join the conversation
This thread is exactly what I needed! I'm currently on UI benefits and just found out I'll be receiving a settlement from a class action lawsuit against a previous employer. Reading through Sean's experience and everyone's detailed explanations has been so helpful in understanding the key distinction between wage-related settlements (which need to be reported) versus other types of legal compensation. What really stands out to me is how being proactive and transparent with EDD actually worked in Sean's favor - he got it resolved without major complications by addressing it head-on rather than hoping it wouldn't be discovered later. The advice about checking settlement documentation for specific language like "back wages," "unpaid overtime," or "premium pay violations" is incredibly practical. I'm still waiting to receive my settlement details, but based on what I know about the lawsuit (it was related to break time violations), I'm expecting it will fall into the wage-related category that needs to be reported. Thanks everyone for sharing such valuable real-world guidance - this community is amazing for helping newcomers navigate these complex UI situations!
Welcome to the community! This thread has been such a goldmine of information for all of us dealing with UI benefits. Your situation with the break time violations settlement sounds very similar to what others have described - definitely wage-related compensation that would need to be reported. It's smart that you're preparing ahead of time instead of waiting until the settlement arrives. Sean's experience really shows that EDD is much more understanding when you're upfront with them from the start. The fact that you're already thinking about checking the settlement documentation for specific language shows you've absorbed all the great advice shared here. Break time violation settlements typically fall under premium pay requirements, so you're probably right that it'll need to be reported. This community has been amazing for breaking down these complex rules into practical guidance that actually makes sense!
This thread has been incredibly helpful for me as someone new to UI benefits! I'm currently on unemployment and had been wondering about this exact type of situation. Reading through Sean's complete experience from initial confusion to successful resolution with EDD really demonstrates that being proactive and honest is the best approach. The key distinction everyone has explained between wage-related settlements (overtime, back pay, meal break violations) versus other types of legal damages is something I never would have understood without this discussion. What really stands out is how the amount doesn't matter as much as what the settlement represents - it's all about whether it's compensating for wages you should have been paid originally. I'm bookmarking this thread because even though I don't have any pending settlements, this kind of real-world breakdown of EDD rules is exactly what newcomers like me need to navigate the system. Thanks to everyone who shared their knowledge and experiences - this community is amazing for making complex regulations understandable!
Join the conversation
This exact situation happened to me in February! My UI Online account showed absolutely nothing about my denial - no status change, no notifications, nothing. But I got this thick denial packet in the mail dated almost 2 weeks earlier. When I finally got through to EDD (took forever), the rep explained that their online system and mailing system don't sync properly, especially for determination letters. She said the online account is just a "convenience feature" but all official notices MUST be sent by mail per state law. The really annoying part is that I had been checking my online account religiously thinking that's where I'd see any updates. Turns out I wasted almost my entire appeal window because I trusted their broken system! For your appeal, definitely mention the delayed notification issue - apparently it's so common that there's actually a checkbox on the appeal form specifically for "delayed mail delivery." File ASAP though, you're already pretty deep into that 30-day window from the letter date. Also, going forward, I signed up for USPS Informed Delivery so I can at least see when EDD mail is coming before it actually arrives. Their whole system is stuck in the 90s but we have to work around it somehow!
This is exactly what I needed to hear - thank you! I feel so much better knowing there's actually a checkbox on the appeal form for delayed mail delivery. I was worried I'd have to write some long explanation about why I'm filing "late" when really it's their system that's broken. Definitely signing up for USPS Informed Delivery right now - that's such a smart workaround! It's crazy that we have to jump through all these hoops because EDD can't figure out how to sync their own systems in 2025. I'm filing my appeal first thing tomorrow morning. Really appreciate you sharing your experience!
This happened to me too! Got my denial letter 8 days after it was mailed, with zero indication in my UI Online account. What really helped me was immediately taking screenshots of my online account showing NO denial notification, then keeping the envelope with the postmark as proof of the mail delay. When I filed my appeal (literally the next day), I attached both pieces of evidence and checked the "delayed mail delivery" box that someone mentioned here. The appeals judge actually commented that this is an ongoing issue with EDD's dual notification system and didn't penalize me for the "late" filing. My appeal was successful partly because I had clear documentation that their own system failed to notify me properly. One more tip: when you file your appeal, request that all future correspondence be sent via certified mail. It costs a bit more but ensures you get proper delivery confirmation and they can't claim you "didn't receive" anything. The whole system is broken but you can still work within it if you're strategic about documentation!
This is such solid advice! I'm definitely taking screenshots of my online account right now showing no denial notification - I hadn't even thought of doing that but it makes total sense to document their system failure. The certified mail tip is brilliant too, especially since it seems like EDD's regular mail system is so unreliable. I'm feeling much more confident about my appeal now knowing that judges are aware of this ongoing notification problem and won't automatically penalize us for their broken system. Thank you for sharing your successful appeal strategy - it gives me hope that I can actually win this thing if I document everything properly!
Pedro Sawyer
I went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago when I got laid off from my tech startup. Got a $5,200 severance payment and EDD did exactly what happened to you - skipped my benefits for that week completely. I was so confused at first because like you, I'd seen conflicting information online about whether severance affects UI benefits. Here's what I learned after calling EDD (took me literally 47 attempts over 3 days to get through): California treats severance as "wages" for the week it's received, regardless of what time period it actually represents. So even though your $4,300 was for 3 years of service, EDD sees it as income during that specific certification week. Since it was probably higher than your weekly benefit amount ($450 max in CA), they didn't pay you anything for that week. The good news is you didn't actually lose that week - it extends your benefit year by one week at the end. And honestly, reporting it truthfully was 100% the right move. I know someone who tried to hide their severance and ended up with a $6,000 overpayment demand that destroyed their credit. Your benefits should go back to normal for your next certification. Hang in there!
0 coins
Juan Moreno
•Wow, 47 attempts to get through to EDD?! That's both impressive and terrifying at the same time. I can't believe you had the patience to keep trying - I gave up after about 10 attempts yesterday. Your explanation really helps clarify what happened though. It's so counterintuitive that they treat severance as "wages" for just that one week when it clearly represents years of work, but I guess their system doesn't account for the nuance. The story about your friend hiding severance and getting hit with a $6,000 overpayment is exactly the kind of nightmare I was trying to avoid by reporting everything honestly. That would completely ruin me right now! Thanks for sharing your experience - it really helps knowing that so many people have been through this exact same situation and come out fine on the other side.
0 coins
Ava Hernandez
I'm new to unemployment and this thread has been incredibly eye-opening! I just got laid off last week and I'm expecting a severance payment in a couple weeks. Reading everyone's experiences here, it sounds like I need to brace myself for missing benefits that week, but at least now I know what to expect instead of being blindsided like you were, Mateo. What's really helpful is seeing how many people have been through this exact situation - it makes me feel less alone in navigating all these confusing UI rules for the first time. I definitely plan to report my severance honestly when I get it, especially after reading those horror stories about overpayment notices. Missing one week of benefits sounds way better than dealing with collections and garnished future payments! One question for those who've been through this - does the timing of when you receive the severance within your certification period matter at all? Like if I get it on a Monday vs Friday of my certification week, does that change anything with how EDD calculates it?
0 coins