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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.
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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!
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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.
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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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One more tip: if you have a complex issue (like identity verification or appeal questions), calling the main line might not help even if you get through. In that case, try these specialized numbers: - For ID.me verification issues: 1-866-401-2849 - For Money Network card problems: 1-866-320-8699 - For overpayment questions: 1-800-676-5737 Also, sometimes the foreign language lines have shorter waits. You can request an English-speaking rep after connecting.
Thanks for these specialized numbers! My issue is about a pending certification where I reported some part-time work, so I'll stick with the main line for now, but I'm saving these for future reference.
I feel your pain! Just went through this same nightmare last month. Here's what finally worked for me: I used the "comma trick" - call 1-800-300-5616, then when you hear the first menu press 1,2,1 really quickly with commas in between (like 1,,2,,1). The commas create pauses that help you get through the system faster. Also try calling at 8:02 AM exactly - I read somewhere that their system resets right after 8 and there's a brief window before it gets overloaded again. Took me 15 tries but I got through! Don't give up, you've got this! 🙏
The comma trick sounds really interesting! I've never heard of that one before. Do you literally press the comma key on your phone or is that just a way of describing the pauses between button presses? And 8:02 AM specifically is such a precise time - I've been trying right at 8:00 so maybe that extra 2 minutes makes all the difference. Thanks for the encouragement, I really needed to hear that! 🤞
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Diego, I'm so sorry you're dealing with this stress! The same-day disqualification is definitely jarring, but please don't lose hope. Your situation actually has several factors that work in your favor for an appeal: The 65-mile each way commute creating a 25% financial burden on your take-home pay is substantial evidence of genuine hardship. Combined with your documentation showing you attempted to negotiate alternatives with your employer first, plus your vehicle reliability issues, you have a much stronger case than you might realize. I've seen similar commute-related appeals succeed when the claimant could demonstrate: 1) The financial impact was significant (which yours clearly is), 2) They made good faith efforts to find solutions before quitting (you have the emails), and 3) The commute created genuine hardship beyond mere inconvenience (130 miles daily with an unreliable car definitely qualifies). File that DE 1000M appeal form as soon as possible - don't wait! Be extremely detailed about the costs, include all your documentation, and emphasize both the financial hardship and safety concerns. Keep documenting your ongoing job search efforts too, as this shows you're actively seeking work. The appeal process gives you a real chance to present your complete story, not just whatever limited information EDD initially reviewed. Stay strong - this quick decision doesn't mean your case is hopeless!
This is exactly the kind of detailed guidance Diego needs right now! I just wanted to add that when filing the DE 1000M, it's also worth mentioning any family obligations or health considerations that made the 130-mile daily commute particularly burdensome. For example, if you have young children, elderly parents to care for, or any medical conditions that make long commutes difficult, include those details too. EDD considers the "totality of circumstances" in good cause determinations, so paint the complete picture of why this commute was genuinely unworkable for your specific situation. The fact that you're getting such consistent advice from multiple people here about having a strong case should give you confidence - this community has seen a lot of these situations play out!
Diego, I know this is incredibly stressful, but don't give up! I went through something very similar in 2024 when my employer moved locations and I got hit with the same instant disqualification after my interview. The key thing that helped me win my appeal was being super specific about the numbers and having documentation. For your appeal, make sure to include: 1) Exact mileage calculations (65 miles each way = 650 miles per week just for work!), 2) Detailed cost breakdown including gas, maintenance, and time lost, 3) Those emails showing you tried to negotiate with your employer, 4) Evidence of your car's reliability issues, and 5) Documentation that you've been actively job searching. The fact that this would eat up 25% of your take-home pay is huge - that's well above what most people would consider reasonable. I calculated mine at about 20% and that was a major factor in winning my appeal. The appeals judge was much more thorough than whoever made the initial decision. It took about 10 weeks total for my hearing, but I got full backpay once I won. Keep applying for jobs and save all your application records - it shows you're serious about finding work. You've got this!
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Congrats on getting your payment! This is such a helpful thread - I'm bookmarking it for future reference. It's really reassuring to see actual timelines from real people who've gone through the SDI process. The 16-day timeline from doctor submission to first payment seems pretty consistent with what others have shared here. Thanks for taking the time to update us with your outcome!
Totally agree! This thread has been so helpful. I'm currently waiting on my own SDI claim (doctor submitted last week) and seeing everyone's real experiences and timelines is way more useful than the vague info on EDD's website. It's nice to know what to actually expect instead of just guessing. Hope your claim goes smoothly when you need it!
This whole thread is incredibly helpful! I'm currently going through the SDI process myself - my doctor submitted their portion about a week ago and I've been anxiously checking my account daily. Seeing that 16 days is pretty typical really helps set realistic expectations. One question for those who've been through this: did you get any kind of notification when your first payment was issued, or did the money just show up on your EDD card? I want to make sure I don't miss anything important while I'm waiting.
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I'm facing the exact same situation and honestly, reading all these responses has been both helpful and terrifying. I exhausted my regular UI benefits 3 weeks ago and there really aren't any extensions available right now in California. What I wish I had done differently (and what might help you): Start applying for CalFresh and CalWORKs NOW, not when your benefits run out. The application process took me almost 6 weeks and I could have avoided some really scary weeks if I'd started earlier. Also, check with your local American Job Centers - they sometimes have emergency assistance funds that aren't widely advertised. I got a one-time $800 utility assistance through them that literally kept my power on. For the healthcare admin field specifically, I've had better luck with staffing agencies like Robert Half and Adecco. The pay isn't amazing but it's something, and some of their temp positions have turned into permanent offers for people I know. The mental toll of this is just as hard as the financial stress. You're doing everything right - 178 applications shows incredible persistence. Don't let anyone tell you you're not trying hard enough. The system is broken, not you. Hang in there. You're not alone in this struggle. 💪
Thank you so much for sharing your experience - it really helps to know I'm not alone in this. The 6-week timeline for CalFresh/CalWORKs is exactly the kind of detail I needed to know. I'm definitely going to start those applications this week rather than waiting. The American Job Centers tip is gold - I had no idea they had emergency assistance funds. I'm going to call my local center tomorrow morning. And you're absolutely right about the mental toll. Some days I feel like I'm failing, but hearing from people like you reminds me that I'm actually doing everything I can in a really difficult situation. I'll definitely look into Robert Half and Adecco too. At this point, any income is better than no income, and if it can stretch my remaining benefits while I keep looking for something permanent, that's a win. Thanks for the encouragement and practical advice. It means more than you know! 💙
I'm really sorry you're going through this - the uncertainty is absolutely awful when you have a mortgage and kids depending on you. I went through something very similar in 2024 and wanted to share what actually worked for me. First, the hard truth: there are no UI extensions available right now in California like there were during COVID. Once your regular benefits are exhausted, that's it for unemployment compensation. BUT - and this is important - you have more options than you might realize: **Start these applications NOW (don't wait):** - CalFresh (food assistance) - you can apply while still on UI - CalWORKs (cash assistance for families with children) - with two teens you likely qualify - Local utility assistance programs (call 211 for your area) **Job search strategies that helped me:** - Healthcare staffing agencies (Kelly Services, Maxim Healthcare) often have admin roles - Part-time work can actually extend your UI benefits if you earn less than your weekly benefit amount - Remote healthcare admin positions have more opportunities - expand your search nationwide **One thing I wish I'd known:** Document EVERYTHING about your job search beyond just the required activities. If you ever need to appeal anything or apply for other programs, that documentation becomes crucial. The system feels designed to make you give up, but you're clearly a fighter with 178 applications already. That persistence WILL pay off. You're doing everything right in an impossible situation. Hang in there - you're not alone in this fight. 💪
Henrietta Beasley
I've been struggling with this same for weeks! Based on what I'm reading here, it sounds like there are a few different scenarios. For those who can't see any option at all (like me), it seems calling to manually enable the feature is the key step. But I'm also wondering - has anyone had success with the mobile app vs the desktop website? Sometimes the mobile interface shows different options. Also, @Aisha Hussain, when you called and got the feature enabled, did they mention anything about how long the take to process once uploaded? I'm worried about timing since I have a pending interview scheduled.
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Grant Vikers
•@Henrietta Beasley I haven t'tried the mobile app yet, but that s'a great suggestion! I ll'give that a shot. Regarding processing times, when I finally got my uploaded last month, it took about 5-7 business days before I saw any update in my account. However, I ve'heard from others in this community that it can vary widely - some see updates in 3 days, others wait 2+ weeks. Since you have a pending interview, I d'definitely recommend calling to let them know you re'working on uploading the and ask if there s'a specific deadline. Sometimes they can note your account that are coming, which might help with your interview timing. The phone numbers that @Katie Lopez and @Tom Maxon shared above have been lifesavers for actually getting through to a human!
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Omar Hassan
I'm new to this community and just wanted to say thank you all for sharing such detailed solutions! I've been stuck on this document for over a month. Reading through all your experiences has given me a clear action plan: 1) Try different browsers and clear cache first, 2) Check if mobile app shows different options, and 3) Call using the numbers shared here to get the feature manually enabled if needed. It's so frustrating that this isn't more straightforward from 's side, but I really appreciate how everyone here helps each other navigate these problems. Will update once I try these steps!
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