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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!
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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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So glad to hear you got through and got it resolved! This gives me hope for others who might be in similar situations. It's frustrating how the system works but at least there are solutions. Thanks for updating us - it's really helpful to know that EDD reps can be understanding when you explain what happened. Hope your rescheduled interview goes smoothly on Tuesday! 🤞
This is such great news! I'm really happy it worked out for you. It's stories like this that help the rest of us know we're not alone in dealing with EDD's complicated system. Definitely keeping my fingers crossed for your Tuesday interview - you've got this! 🙌
This is exactly why I always keep my phone on full volume during business hours when I'm expecting EDD calls! But don't beat yourself up - we've all been there with the DND mode mishaps. The most important thing is that you acted quickly and called back right away. That shows good faith effort on your part. I'd suggest calling first thing Monday morning at exactly 8:00 AM when they open - you'll have a better chance of getting through then. Also, make sure you're calling the right number (1-833-978-2511) and try different menu options if one doesn't work. Some people have luck with the disability option then asking to be transferred. Keep documenting everything - the time you missed the call, when you called back, how many times you've tried reaching them. This paper trail could be helpful if you need to appeal later. You're doing all the right things, just keep being persistent!
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good luck!!! the system is frustrating but once its set up its fine just dont miss certification days
Hey Diego! One more tip that saved me - download the EDD mobile app ahead of time and make sure you can log into your UI Online account from both your phone and computer. Sometimes the website crashes during peak hours (like Monday mornings when everyone's certifying), so having backup access methods is crucial. Also, if you're in tech or any industry where you might get contract/freelance work while collecting UI, make sure you understand the earnings reporting rules. You can work part-time and still collect partial benefits, but you MUST report any income when you certify or you'll get hit with an overpayment penalty later. The waiting is stressful but you're being smart by planning ahead. Most people don't prepare like this and end up scrambling. You've got this! 💪
This is such great advice about having backup access methods! I hadn't even thought about the website potentially crashing during busy times. Definitely downloading the app now. Quick question though - when you mention reporting earnings while on UI, does that include like a one-time freelance gig? Or are we talking more about regular part-time work? I might pick up some occasional graphic design work to help with expenses but don't want to mess up my benefits.
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I'm going through this EXACT same nightmare right now! Started calling PFL on Monday for my claim that's been stuck for 2 weeks and I swear I've made at least 500 calls with zero success. Reading through all these strategies is giving me so much hope though - I had no idea there were so many creative workarounds! I'm taking notes on everything: the 7:59 AM timing, dual phone approach, disability number transfer, Spanish line trick, Friday afternoon calls, staying on the line after the "high call volume" message. It's absolutely ridiculous that we have to become phone ninjas just to get information about our own claims, especially when we're already stressed with new babies and medical bills. But knowing that so many of you have eventually gotten through gives me the motivation to keep trying. I'm going to arm myself with all these tactics tomorrow and see what works. Will definitely update here if I have success - we need to help each other beat this broken system! Thank you all for sharing your hard-won wisdom! 🙏
You're definitely not alone in this frustration! I'm actually new to dealing with PFL but reading through everyone's experiences here is both eye-opening and terrifying. I had no idea the phone system was THIS broken. It's honestly shocking that in 2025 we still have to resort to these kinds of workarounds just to access basic government services. The fact that you've already made 500 calls is just insane - no new parent should have to deal with this level of stress on top of everything else. I'm bookmarking this entire thread because clearly I'm going to need all these strategies when my time comes. Really hoping one of these methods works for you tomorrow! Please do update us - it sounds like this community has become an unofficial PFL survival guide at this point. Sending you strength and patience! 🤞
Reading through everyone's experiences here is both heartbreaking and incredibly helpful! I'm currently 6 months pregnant and honestly terrified about dealing with PFL after my baby arrives, knowing how broken this system is. It's absolutely appalling that new parents - who are already dealing with recovery, newborn care, and medical expenses - have to become phone system hackers just to access their own benefits. The fact that people are making 500-1000+ calls is just criminal. I'm definitely bookmarking all these strategies for when I need them: the dual phone method, early morning timing, Spanish line trick, disability transfer approach, and staying on the line after the rejection message. Thank you all for turning this thread into an invaluable survival guide! It shouldn't take a village to crack the PFL phone system, but I'm grateful this community exists to help each other navigate this nightmare. Sending strength to everyone currently battling this broken system - you shouldn't have to fight this hard for benefits you've earned! 💙
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I went through this exact situation about 6 months ago and it was incredibly stressful! One thing that hasn't been mentioned yet - if you have any family members or friends who work in government or legal fields, they might be able to help you navigate this faster. My sister works as a paralegal and she knew to check something called the "Notice of Computation" in addition to the determination letter. Apparently EDD sometimes issues multiple documents for disqualifications and they don't always show up in the same place online. Also, when you do file your appeal, consider including a statement about how the lack of proper notice has prejudiced your ability to prepare a defense. Administrative law judges take notice issues seriously since due process requires adequate notification. Don't give up - the system is frustrating but there are people who genuinely want to help you get through this!
This is really helpful advice! The "Notice of Computation" tip is something I never would have known to look for. It's so frustrating that EDD has all these different document types scattered across their system with no clear explanation of what to expect or where to find things. Your point about due process and inadequate notification is really important too - if they don't properly notify people, that's a legitimate legal issue that could strengthen an appeal. Thanks for mentioning that administrative law judges take this seriously. It gives me hope that the system, while frustrating, does have some checks and balances built in to protect people when EDD drops the ball on basic communication!
This whole thread has been incredibly eye-opening about how broken EDD's notification system really is! Reading through everyone's experiences, it's clear this isn't just isolated incidents - it's a systemic problem affecting tons of people. What strikes me most is how many different workarounds people have had to figure out just to get basic documents that should be automatically provided. The fact that you have to try calling different phone numbers (DI line), use third-party services like Claimyr, contact elected officials, or physically visit offices just to get a copy of your own determination letter is absolutely ridiculous. For anyone else dealing with this nightmare, I'd suggest creating a document tracking all your attempts to get the letter - dates you called, who you talked to, what they told you, etc. This kind of documentation could be useful evidence if you need to appeal or file a complaint later. Also, it might be worth filing a complaint with the California State Auditor's office about these notification failures - they've investigated EDD before and this seems like exactly the kind of systemic issue they should know about. No one should have to jump through this many hoops just to exercise their basic right to appeal an adverse decision!
You've really hit the nail on the head about how systemic this problem is! It's honestly shocking that in 2025, people are still having to use these crazy workarounds just to access their own government documents. The fact that there are multiple phone numbers, third-party services, and even legislative offices all trying to fill the gaps in EDD's basic communication system shows how fundamentally broken it is. I love your suggestion about documenting everything and contacting the State Auditor - that's thinking beyond just solving your individual problem to actually trying to fix the system for everyone. If enough people start filing complaints about these notification failures, maybe we'll finally see some real accountability and improvements. It's ridiculous that people should have to become EDD experts and learn all these secret tricks just to navigate what should be a straightforward process. Thanks for bringing up the bigger picture issue here!
Tom Maxon
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
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Ravi Choudhury
I had a similar issue trying to reach PFL. What worked for me was calling the number (1-800-480-3287) that Katie mentioned, but I had to call right when they opened at 8 AM to get through. The wait times are brutal, but early morning seems to be your best bet. Also, make sure you have all your documents ready before calling since they'll ask for a lot of information to verify your claim.
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Liam Sullivan
•Thanks for the tip about calling at 8 AM! I've been struggling to get through for days. Just to clarify - when you called the number, were you able to speak directly with someone about paid family leave, or did they transfer you to another department? I want to make sure I'm prepared with the right information when I call tomorrow morning.
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