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 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!
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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?
Zoe Papanikolaou
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! 🤞
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Natasha Kuznetsova
•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! 🙌
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Zoe Christodoulou
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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