I just wanted to add another perspective for anyone finding this thread who might be worried about these interviews. I work as a benefits counselor at a workforce development center, and I see clients go through EDD eligibility interviews fairly regularly. The vast majority are exactly what everyone has described here - routine verification calls that don't result in any benefit interruptions. The most common triggers I see are: reporting new earnings (like Aisha's situation), employer-submitted corrections to wage/separation info, and periodic random audits (yes, these do exist despite what some say). My advice is always the same: be honest, have your documents ready, and don't volunteer extra information beyond what they ask. Answer their questions directly and clearly. If you were legitimately laid off and have been truthful on your certifications, these interviews are usually just a formality. I've only seen benefits get suspended when there were actual eligibility issues that should have disqualified the person from the start. Thanks for sharing your positive outcome, Aisha - it's exactly what I would expect for someone in your situation!

I'm scheduled for one of these interviews next week too, and this whole thread has been incredibly helpful! I was panicking when I got the notice because I thought I'd done something wrong, but it sounds like these are much more routine than they seem. My situation is a bit different - I've been on unemployment since December and haven't reported any additional earnings, so I'm wondering if mine might be one of those random audits that @Freya Johansen mentioned. Has anyone here gone through an interview where they didn't report new work? I'm curious what kinds of questions they ask in those cases. I have all my original layoff paperwork saved, so hopefully that will be sufficient. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - it's made me feel so much less anxious about this!

I just wanted to say THANK YOU to everyone who shared their actual working strategies in this thread! I was in the same nightmare situation - benefit year expiring this Friday and I'd been calling the main number for over a week with zero success. After reading through all these comments, I decided to try the 7:58 AM approach with the 1-2-1 routing that @Ella Lewis, @Caden Nguyen, and others mentioned. Called yesterday (Wednesday) at exactly 7:58 AM, got the busy signal once, redialed at 7:59 AM and got through to the menu. Used the 1-2-1 sequence and waited about 20 minutes before connecting to a rep who was super helpful and professional. Got my benefit year extended and even had time to ask about the wage requirements for my new claim period. The timing really seems to be everything - calling just before that 8 AM rush and having multiple backup strategies ready made all the difference. For anyone still struggling, don't give up! This thread proves there are ways to get through if you have the right approach and timing. Having your documents ready and the mobile app open like @Yara Elias suggested also saved time during the actual call. You've all been lifesavers!

I've been dealing with EDD phone hell for months and this thread is honestly the most helpful resource I've found anywhere! I tried the 7:58 AM strategy with the 1-2-1 routing that @Ella Lewis mentioned and it actually worked - got through this morning after just two redials. The rep was super helpful and resolved my pending payment issue in about 10 minutes once connected. One additional tip I'd add: if you're calling about multiple issues (like I had both pending payments AND needed to update my address), prioritize them before the call so you don't waste time once you're connected. Also, I noticed the reps seem more patient and helpful in the earlier morning hours compared to when I've gotten through later in the day. For anyone still struggling - the persistence really does pay off when you combine it with the right timing and routing strategies. Don't give up! Having backup plans like the assembly member contact info ready is smart too, but try the phone strategies first since they seem to be working consistently for people in this thread.

This thread is incredibly helpful! I'm dealing with a similar employer address issue right now - my claim has been pending for 2 weeks because EDD has my previous employer's old office address from before they relocated. I've been calling daily with no luck getting through, but seeing Dylan's success story gives me hope. I'm definitely going to try calling right at 8am tomorrow and mention specifically that it's for "employer address correction for a flagged claim" like Miguel suggested. It's so frustrating that this can't be fixed online, but at least now I know what to expect for timing once I do get through. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences!

Just wanted to chime in as someone who works in HR and deals with EDD employer verifications regularly. When EDD sends verification requests to the wrong address, it creates a backlog on both ends - we employers never receive the forms to respond, and claimants get stuck in limbo. If you know your employer's current correct address, you might also try reaching out to your former employer's HR department directly to let them know EDD might be trying to contact them at an old address. Sometimes they can proactively call EDD to provide the correct information, which can speed up the process. Obviously this only works if you're on decent terms with your former employer, but it's worth considering as an additional avenue while you're trying to get through to EDD yourself.

This thread has been incredibly detailed and helpful! I want to add one more consideration that might be useful for people doing plasma donations while on unemployment. If you're planning to donate regularly, it's worth factoring the income into your budget planning since it will reduce your weekly UI benefits through that 75% deduction formula. For example, if you're earning $120/week from plasma and your regular UI benefit is $300, you'll end up with about $229 total ($300 UI minus $71.25 deduction plus $120 plasma income). It's still extra money in your pocket, but not the full $120 on top of your benefits like some people might expect. Also, keep in mind that plasma donation can be physically demanding - make sure you're eating well and staying hydrated, especially if you're also dealing with the stress of job searching. The last thing you want is to get sick or run down and miss donation appointments you were counting on financially!

This has been such a comprehensive discussion - thank you everyone for sharing your experiences! I'm actually a former EDD eligibility worker, and I wanted to add a few professional insights that might be helpful. First, you're all absolutely correct about reporting plasma donation income as "Other" income. What I'd emphasize is that EDD's computer system automatically flags accounts when there are discrepancies between reported income and third-party data sources (like those 1099s mentioned earlier), so honesty really is the best policy here. One thing I haven't seen mentioned is that if you're donating plasma regularly, EDD might eventually ask for a statement from the plasma center during a routine eligibility review - not because you're in trouble, but just to verify the income source. Most centers can provide a summary statement if requested. Also, for anyone worried about the work search requirements, plasma donation time doesn't excuse you from your weekly work search activities, but the income won't disqualify you from benefits as long as you're reporting it correctly. Keep doing what you're doing - being proactive about reporting requirements shows good faith compliance!

Quick update question - have you checked if you qualify for State Disability Insurance (SDI) or Paid Family Leave while waiting for UI to resolve? Some people don't realize they might qualify for other benefits if they have health issues or caregiving responsibilities. It's separate from unemployment but could provide some temporary relief.

Congrats on finding the new job! Even though you'll be working soon, definitely don't give up on the appeal - those 6 months of back benefits could be substantial money that you're legally entitled to. I went through something similar and almost dropped my appeal when I found work, but I'm so glad I didn't because I eventually got over $8,000 in back pay. One thing to consider: if your new job starts before your hearing date, make sure to report the employment change properly when you certify. You'll need to stop certifying for new weeks once you're working full-time, but you can still pursue the appeal for the weeks you were legitimately unemployed. The administrative law judge will focus on whether you were entitled to benefits during the original claim period, not your current employment status. Also, having a job offer/employment letter might actually help your case - it shows you're actively seeking work and not trying to game the system, which reinforces that this really was just an honest mistake about the address.