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 dealing with this exact same issue right now and reading through everyone's experiences has been so helpful! My work email got shut down when I was laid off and now I can't access my account at all. Based on what everyone is sharing, it sounds like calling is really the only reliable option when you're completely locked out of your old email. I'm planning to follow the advice here about calling at 8 AM on a Tuesday or Wednesday with all my information ready. Has anyone tried the "Ask " online feature for this issue, or is that just a waste of time? I'm a bit nervous about the phone call since I've heard horror stories about wait times, but it seems like many of you have had success once you actually get through to a human. Thanks to everyone who has shared their step-by-step experiences - it's making this feel much less overwhelming for those of us who are new to dealing with issues!
@NebulaNinja Welcome to the community! I'm also pretty new here but wanted to share that I tried the "Ask " online feature first and it was completely useless for this issue - they just sent me a generic response saying to call. Don't waste your time with that route. Based on what everyone is saying here, the phone call really is your best bet. I'm in the same boat as you (lost access to my work email after being laid off) and I'm planning to call this Tuesday morning armed with all the info people have mentioned. The success stories in this thread are really encouraging! One tip I picked up from reading through everything - make sure you have a backup phone or charger ready since the hold times can be long. Good luck to both of us! 🤞
As someone who just successfully changed my email address last week, I wanted to add my experience to help others! I was in the same situation - my old email got compromised and I had to close it. Here's what worked for me: I called the 1-800-300-5616 number on a Wednesday at exactly 8:00 AM and got through after about 1 hour and 20 minutes on hold. The rep was really helpful once I got connected. They asked for my SSN, driver's license number, full name, previous addresses from the last 2 years, and details about my last employer (company name, dates worked, and my weekly benefit amount). The whole verification process took about 5 minutes, then they updated my email immediately and sent a password reset link while I was still on the phone. I was able to log into my account with the new email within 10 minutes of hanging up. One tip that really helped - I wrote down all my information beforehand and had it right in front of me, which made the verification super quick. Don't give up on calling - it really is the fastest way to resolve this once you get through!
@Holly Lascelles Thank you so much for sharing your recent experience! This gives me a lot of hope as someone who s'new to this community and dealing with the exact same issue. I really appreciate that you included the specific timeline - 1 hour and 20 minutes on hold doesn t'sound fun, but it s'way better than some of the horror stories I ve'heard about people waiting all day. Your tip about writing everything down beforehand is brilliant - I m'definitely going to make a cheat sheet with all my info before I call. Quick question: when they asked about previous addresses from the last 2 years, did they want complete addresses or just the cities/states? I ve'moved a couple times and want to make sure I have the right level of detail ready. It s'so encouraging to hear that once you got through, the actual process was quick and worked immediately. Thanks for taking the time to help newcomers like me navigate this frustrating situation!
@Holly Lascelles This is exactly what I needed to read! I m'brand new to this community and have been stressing about this email issue for weeks. Your detailed breakdown with the actual timeline is so helpful - knowing that it took 1 hour 20 minutes gives me realistic expectations rather than just hoping for the best. I love your tip about writing everything down beforehand too. One question: when you called at exactly 8:00 AM, did you dial right at 8:00 or start dialing a minute or two before so you d'connect right at 8:00? I want to get the timing right to maximize my chances. Also, did they ask about your benefit year start date or just the employment info? I m'gathering all my documents now and want to make sure I don t'miss anything important. It s'so reassuring to hear from someone who just went through this successfully - thank you for giving back to help newcomers like me!
Join the conversation
I went through this nightmare too! Here's what finally worked for me: I called the Bank of America EDD line (1-866-692-9374) early in the morning around 8am - way less busy than calling EDD directly. They were able to tell me my card was actually delivered but to the wrong mailbox in my apartment complex. The postal worker had been putting it in a different unit! BoA expedited a replacement card for free and I got it in 3 business days. Also, once you do get your card, definitely set up direct deposit ASAP so you never have to deal with this mail situation again. Good luck! 🤞
This is super helpful! I never thought to call BoA directly instead of EDD. That early morning tip is gold too - makes total sense that it would be less busy. Really appreciate you sharing what actually worked for you rather than just complaining about the system. Definitely going to try this approach! 🙏
I'm dealing with the exact same issue right now - it's been 3 weeks since my card was supposedly "issued" and nothing in my mailbox. Reading through all these responses, it sounds like calling Bank of America directly at 1-866-692-9374 in the early morning might be the way to go instead of trying to reach EDD. Has anyone had success getting BoA to expedite a replacement card if the original got lost in the mail? Also wondering if there's a way to track the card delivery through USPS once BoA confirms they sent it out. This whole situation is so stressful when you're already dealing with unemployment 😩
Hey! I actually just went through this exact situation last week. Called BoA at that number around 7:45am and got through right away. They confirmed my card was sent but seemed to have gotten lost somewhere. The rep was super helpful and expedited a replacement card at no charge - got it in 2 business days! As for tracking, they don't give you a USPS tracking number for the regular delivery, but they do for expedited replacements. The stress is real when you're already dealing with unemployment stuff, but hang in there - BoA's customer service is way better than EDD's. Definitely call them first thing in the morning! 💪
Join the conversation
This thread is absolutely incredible - it's become like the ultimate EDD wage verification troubleshooting guide! I'm currently dealing with a similar issue where EDD says I don't have enough wages despite working full-time at a healthcare clinic for 18 months. After reading through everyone's experiences, I'm pretty sure it's a name discrepancy issue since I go by "Jen" at work but my legal name is "Jennifer" on my Social Security card. I've been trying to call EDD for over a week with zero success - just constant busy signals and disconnections. It's so frustrating when you know there's probably a simple fix but you can't reach anyone! Based on all the success stories here, I'm definitely going to try Claimyr tomorrow. I've got all my pay stubs organized and now I know to ask specifically for a tier 2 rep for wage investigations. The amount of practical knowledge shared in this thread is amazing - from the DE 4506 form to checking federal EINs to backup resources like assemblymember offices. It's exactly the kind of real-world information you can't find in official guides. Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their experiences and help others navigate this confusing system!
Hi Jen! Your situation sounds exactly like what so many people in this thread have experienced - the "Jen" vs "Jennifer" name discrepancy is definitely worth investigating, especially since that pattern has come up repeatedly here. Healthcare clinics often have really detailed payroll records too, so once you get through to the right EDD rep, they should be able to sort this out pretty quickly. I'm new to this community but have been following this thread closely since I'm dealing with my own EDD issues. The Claimyr service really does seem to be the game-changer for actually reaching a human - so many success stories here! Having your pay stubs organized is smart, and definitely ask for that tier 2 rep since they're the ones who can actually handle wage investigations. This thread has been such an education on all the different things that can go wrong with EDD's wage matching system. Your healthcare experience might also be helpful to mention to the rep, since medical facilities sometimes use complex payroll systems that could have reporting quirks. Keep us posted on how it goes - every success story here helps the next person who finds themselves in the same frustrating situation!
Just wanted to jump in as someone who's been following this thread closely - the collective knowledge here is absolutely incredible! I'm dealing with a similar EDD wage verification issue right now (filed 3 weeks ago, got the "insufficient wages" message despite working consistently for 2+ years) and this thread has been more helpful than any official EDD resource I've found. The name discrepancy issue seems to be SO common based on everyone's experiences. I actually use a completely different name professionally (my middle name) than what's on my Social Security card, so that's probably my issue too. It's mind-blowing that something so simple can cause such a massive headache! I've been stuck in the endless EDD phone loop for days, but I'm definitely trying Claimyr this week based on all the success stories here. Having a step-by-step action plan (gather docs, ask for tier 2 rep, mention potential name issues) makes this feel actually manageable instead of hopeless. This community support is amazing - thank you to everyone who shared their experiences! It really shows how powerful it is when people help each other navigate these bureaucratic nightmares. Will definitely update once I get through!
Hi Fatima! Your situation with using your middle name professionally is definitely something worth investigating - that type of name discrepancy has been the root cause for so many people in this thread! It's really frustrating how such a simple administrative mismatch can create such huge barriers to getting the benefits you've earned. The fact that you've been working consistently for 2+ years should make this a pretty straightforward fix once you get the right person on the phone. Claimyr has been such a lifesaver for people here - definitely worth trying since the traditional calling approach seems to be a dead end for most of us. Having that step-by-step action plan really does help! I'd also suggest having some form of ID that shows both names (if you have anything like that) just in case the tier 2 rep needs additional verification. This thread has become such an invaluable resource - it's amazing how one person's question has turned into this comprehensive guide that's helping so many people. Looking forward to hearing about your success story too!
Join the conversation
I just went through this exact process and wanted to share my timeline to help set expectations! I submitted my paper application 7 weeks ago after my computer died, and here's how it played out: Week 1: Mailed application (regular mail - mistake!) Week 3: Started calling EDD daily at 8:01 AM Week 4: Finally got through, they confirmed receipt and gave me a case reference number Week 5: Application showed up in UI Online system Week 6: Received customer account number in mail Week 7: First payment deposited (backdated to original filing date) The 8:01 AM calling strategy is absolutely legit - I got through 3 different times using that exact timing. When you do reach someone, ask for a case reference number for your call and get the specific status (like "in data entry queue" vs "processing"). Also, definitely start your job search documentation NOW even before your claim processes. You'll need 3 work search activities per week once you start certifying, and having that ready made everything so much smoother. The waiting is brutal but hang in there - once it processes you get all your back pay from your original intended filing date. Just stay on top of following up!
This timeline is super helpful Zane, thank you! Seven weeks total but getting backdated payments makes it worth the wait. I'm really glad to see another confirmation that the 8:01 AM strategy works - I've been seeing that advice throughout this whole thread and it's reassuring to know it's not just a coincidence. I'm particularly interested in that case reference number you mentioned getting when you called. Did having that number help with your subsequent calls or interactions with EDD? I'm planning to start calling next week and want to make sure I ask for all the right information when I finally get through to someone. Also, when you say "backdated to original filing date," do you mean the date you first mailed the application or the date you actually became eligible to file? Just want to understand exactly how they calculate that in case there are any issues with my claim later on.
I'm in the exact same boat right now! Just submitted my paper application yesterday after my internet was down for almost two weeks. Reading through everyone's experiences here is both incredibly helpful and terrifying at the same time - I had no idea paper applications could take 4-6 weeks to process! I'm definitely going to follow all the advice from this thread: starting job search documentation immediately, trying that 8:01 AM calling strategy in a couple weeks to confirm they received it, and checking my mailbox religiously once I hit the 3-week mark. Really wish I had known about the certified mail tip before sending it though! One thing I'm curious about - for those who had success with the 8:01 AM calling method, did you call on weekdays only or did weekends work too? I'm trying to plan out my calling strategy and want to maximize my chances of actually getting through to someone. Also, should I wait a full 2 weeks before calling, or is it worth trying earlier just to confirm they received the application? Thanks to everyone sharing their timelines and tips - this thread is going to be my survival guide for the next month or two! It's so reassuring to know others have made it through this process successfully, even with all the delays and complications.
Hey Diego! You're starting at the right time to follow everyone's advice here from day one. Definitely stick to weekdays only for the 8:01 AM calling strategy - EDD customer service is closed on weekends. I'd wait at least 10-14 days before your first call since it takes time for paper applications to even get logged into their system. Calling too early might just waste your time since they literally won't have any record of it yet. The certified mail thing is such a common regret in this thread! Since you just sent yours yesterday, you might want to consider what one person mentioned about proactively sending a second application via certified mail if you don't get confirmation within 3-4 weeks. It sounds extreme but given how many people have had their applications "disappear," having that backup might be worth the peace of mind. Starting that job search log right away is smart - sounds like having those 3 weekly activities documented from the beginning will save you so much stress later when certification time comes around. Good luck with the process!
Emma Johnson
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!
0 coins
Chloe Delgado
•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!
0 coins
Omar Farouk
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.
0 coins
Eduardo Silva
•This is exactly the kind of reassurance I needed to hear! As someone who's been paralyzed by the fear of bureaucratic complications, your experience really drives home that the system actually works pretty smoothly when you follow the rules. It's so helpful to hear from another designer who went through the identical situation - 5 weeks, branding project, seamless transition back to regular benefits. The fact that your payments resumed automatically the very next certification period without any delays or interviews is huge peace of mind. I think you're absolutely right that we shouldn't let fear of complications prevent us from taking good opportunities. This whole thread has completely shifted my perspective from anxiety to confidence. Thank you for adding your voice to this incredibly helpful discussion!
0 coins