California Unemployment
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Can't reach California Unemployment? Claimyr calls for you, so you don't have to wait on hold.
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- Connect you to a human agent at the EDD
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- Call the correct department
- Redial until on hold
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- 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 :)
EDD eligibility for 1-month furlough - can I get unemployment during temp layoff?
My company just announced they're implementing a 1-month furlough for my department due to a system upgrade. We'll all be temporarily laid off with a guaranteed return date (April 10th, 2025). I've never been in this situation before - am I eligible for unemployment benefits during such a short period? My supervisor suggested filing but wasn't sure if there's a minimum time requirement for furloughs. Has anyone gone through a similar situation? What documents will I need to supply when filing? Also, would I need to do the work search requirements if I already have a return date?
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Can I qualify for EDD if I quit due to hostile work environment and verbal abuse?
My workplace has become unbearable over the last few months. My manager frequently erupts into screaming fits, threatening to fire everyone on the spot during team meetings. I've personally been yelled at and cursed out in front of coworkers, which has triggered severe anxiety. I'm literally having panic attacks before shifts now. To make things worse, HR seems to be working with management to manipulate our hours and pay - I've noticed unexplained deductions and schedule changes that weren't approved. I'm at my breaking point but can't afford to just quit without some financial safety net. Does anyone know if EDD considers this type of hostile work environment as good cause for leaving a job? Would I be eligible for unemployment benefits if I document these incidents before quitting? I've been at this company for 3 years with no prior issues until this new manager started.
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anyone else notice edd phone lines r IMPOSSIBLE lately?? i tried for 3 weeks everyday, always gets the "too many callers" message and hangs up on me
Try early morning calling - right when they open at 8am. That's how I used to get through before I discovered Claimyr. Monday and Tuesday are usually the worst days to call.
tried that already!! called at exactly 8:00am for 2 weeks straight. same message everytime. system is broken
I went through something very similar last year - toxic manager, screaming matches, the whole nine yards. Here's what I learned from my experience: The documentation everyone mentioned is absolutely critical, but also consider recording incidents on your phone if it's legal in your state (California is a two-party consent state, so be careful). What really helped my case was showing a pattern of escalating behavior over time. One thing that surprised me: EDD actually cares a lot about whether you sought help for the mental health impact. I had to get a letter from my therapist stating that my work environment was causing severe anxiety and panic attacks. That medical documentation was probably the deciding factor in my approval. Also, don't underestimate the power of witness statements. If any coworkers witnessed the verbal abuse, ask them to write brief statements with dates and what they observed. Even if they're hesitant to get involved officially, having their contact info ready for EDD to potentially interview can strengthen your case. The process took about 6 weeks total for me, but I was ultimately approved without needing to appeal. Hang in there - it's definitely possible to get benefits for hostile work environment, you just need to build an airtight case first.
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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
Hey! That message means they've approved your unemployment application and you'll be getting your EDD debit (Bank of America ) in the mail soon. This is the they'll use to deposit your unemployment payments. It usually takes about 7-10 business days to arrive after you see that message. Once you get it, you'll need to activate it and then you should start seeing your payments deposited. Make sure to keep an eye on your mail and also check your EDD account online for any updates on payment dates!
EDD says employer needs more time after interview - Do they really only have 48 hours to respond?
Just had my eligibility interview yesterday after waiting THREE WEEKS since filing my claim. The EDD interviewer told me they need to get more info from my former employer before making a decision. I was let go from my retail job because I accidentally processed a customer's card twice for $232 (honest mistake during a rush). My manager gave me a 'write-up' one day, then the very next day they suspended me, and then fired me the following week. The EDD rep mentioned something about my employer having a deadline to provide information. Is it true they only have 48 hours to respond to EDD's request? I'm stressing about bills and need to know when I might get a decision. Has anyone dealt with this 'employer needs more time' situation?
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Just got the decision letter today - I was APPROVED! The EDD determined it was not misconduct since it was an isolated mistake and the company didn't follow their own progressive discipline policy. All those weeks of stress for nothing! Thanks everyone for your help and support through this.
Congratulations!! That's such great news! I'm so happy it worked out for you. This gives me hope for my own case that's been pending for weeks. Did you get backpay for all the weeks you were waiting?
EDD shows 'You Do Not Need to Reapply' message - What steps now?
Hey everyone, I'm totally confused right now. I just tried filing a new unemployment claim on the EDD website (first time applying since 2021), and got this weird notification saying "You Do Not Need to Reapply..." I was laid off from my marketing job last Thursday and thought I needed to file a completely new claim. Does this message mean I already have an active claim from before? My previous unemployment ended over 3 years ago during the pandemic, so I'm really confused why it's saying I don't need to reapply. Do I just ignore this and continue with certifying for benefits somehow? Or do I need to call EDD? I can't figure out what my next steps should be and I'm worried about delaying my benefits. Any advice from someone who's dealt with this recently would be super helpful!
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New member here dealing with this exact same frustrating situation! Just got laid off from my software engineering job on Monday and tried to file for unemployment today, only to get hit with that same "You Do Not Need to Reapply" message. My last claim was also from 2021 during the pandemic. This thread has been incredibly valuable - I had no idea this was such a widespread issue with old pandemic-era claims still causing system glitches. It's honestly shocking that EDD hasn't resolved this after 4+ years, but I'm grateful to have found this community with real solutions from people who've actually dealt with it successfully. Based on everyone's advice here, I'm planning to call tomorrow morning right at 8 AM with all my documentation organized: screenshots of the error message, my old EDD customer account number (found it in a 2021 email), and complete employment details. The success stories from people getting through after 15-25 attempts give me hope that persistence really does pay off. If the calling strategy doesn't work after a reasonable number of tries, I'll definitely consider the Claimyr service that multiple people recommended. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this community has been far more helpful than any official EDD resources!
Welcome to the community @Aaron Boston! As someone who just went through this exact same nightmare with the pandemic claim glitch, I completely feel your frustration. It's absolutely insane that EDD still hasn't fixed this widespread issue after all these years. You're totally on the right track with your preparation strategy - having those screenshots, old account number, and employment details ready is exactly what made the difference for me when I finally got through. The 8 AM calling approach really does seem to be the most effective based on everyone's experiences here. One additional tip I'd add: when you do get through, be very clear about the timeline - mention that your last claim was from 2021 and that you're seeing this message despite years passing since your benefit year ended. That seemed to help the rep immediately understand it was the pandemic claim glitch rather than a legitimate active claim situation. The persistence is key - don't get discouraged if it takes 20+ attempts. Once you reach someone who knows how to handle this issue, the actual fix only takes about 10-15 minutes. Good luck with your calls tomorrow! Looking forward to hearing your success story soon.
I'm also new to this community and unfortunately dealing with this exact same issue! Just got laid off from my project management position on Wednesday and when I tried to file for unemployment today, I got hit with that same confusing "You Do Not Need to Reapply" message. My previous claim was also from way back in 2021 during the pandemic. Reading through this entire thread has been such a relief - I honestly thought I was going crazy or had done something wrong when I saw that message. It's both frustrating and reassuring to see how many people are experiencing this identical glitch with old pandemic claims still showing as "active" in EDD's system after all these years. It's absolutely ridiculous that EDD hasn't fixed this widespread issue by now, especially when it's clearly affecting so many people who legitimately need to file new claims. You'd think they would have developed some kind of automated process to clean up these old pandemic-era claims instead of forcing everyone to call and get it resolved manually. Based on all the successful experiences shared here, I'm definitely going to try the 8 AM calling strategy starting tomorrow. I've already gathered my old EDD customer account number from a 2021 email, taken screenshots of the error message, and have all my employment details organized and ready. The persistence approach seems to really work based on everyone's stories. If calling doesn't work after a reasonable number of attempts, I'll definitely look into that Claimyr service that several people mentioned. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and practical solutions - this community has been infinitely more helpful than anything I could find on the official EDD website!
Welcome to the community @Mei Lin! I'm also new here and dealing with this exact same frustrating situation. Just joined this thread because I got laid off from my marketing job last week and encountered that same confusing "You Do Not Need to Reapply" message when trying to file online. My last claim was also from 2021 during the pandemic. It's honestly both comforting and infuriating to see how widespread this issue is! You're absolutely right that EDD should have fixed this system glitch years ago instead of making thousands of people go through the same manual process. The fact that we're all still dealing with this in 2025 is just mind-boggling. Your preparation strategy sounds perfect based on all the success stories in this thread. I'm planning to try the same 8 AM calling approach starting tomorrow with all my documentation ready. It's encouraging to see how many people here have gotten through with persistence, even when it took 20+ attempts. This community has definitely been a lifesaver for understanding what we're actually dealing with and having a clear action plan. Good luck with your calls tomorrow - hopefully we'll both have success stories to add to this thread soon! The manual fix seems to only take 10-15 minutes once you reach the right person, so there's light at the end of the tunnel.
Jamal Anderson
Update: I applied online yesterday and the process was pretty straightforward. I had to provide the specific reason (temporary layoff/furlough), my last day worked, and expected return date. The system accepted my application and said I'd be notified about the next steps within 10 days. I'll update again once I hear back about whether I'm approved and if there are any special work search requirements with my guaranteed return date. Thanks everyone for the helpful advice!
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QuantumQuasar
good luck! make sure u certify every 2 weeks even if still pending
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Jamal Anderson
AuthorThanks for the reminder! I'll make sure to keep certifying regardless of the status.
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Katherine Shultz
Great job filing right away! One thing to keep in mind - even though you have a guaranteed return date, EDD might still require you to register with CalJOBS and complete some work search activities. The requirements are often reduced for temporary layoffs, but not always completely waived. When you get your determination letter, pay close attention to any work search requirements listed. Also, if your return date gets pushed back for any reason, make sure to update EDD immediately so your benefits don't get interrupted. Hope everything goes smoothly for you!
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