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I went to the EDD office in Fresno once and the security guard asked for my appointment confirmation. When I said I didn't have one he turned me away. Do some offices require appointments while others don't???
This actually varies by office and sometimes changes based on staffing levels. While many EDD offices accept walk-ins, some have shifted to appointment-only systems during busy periods. It's best to call the specific office you plan to visit beforehand to confirm their current policy. The EDD website should list contact information for your local office.
For those having issues with pending payments like the original poster, there are typically three common causes: 1. Identity verification issues (most common) 2. Income reporting discrepancies 3. Eligibility questions requiring interview The first one can usually be resolved at a local office as OP discovered. The second might require documentation. The third almost always requires a phone interview with a claims specialist. Knowing which category your issue falls into can help you determine whether an in-person visit will be helpful or if you need to pursue other avenues.
Is there any way to find out which category your issue falls into without speaking to someone? My UI Online account just shows "pending" with no explanation, and I can't get through on the phone.
Sometimes the UI Online inbox will have notifications with more details, though these can be frustratingly vague. Check the "Notifications" and "History" sections of your account. If you see terms like "identity alert," "quarterly review," or "eligibility interview," those give clues. Also check your physical mail - EDD sends certain notices only through USPS, especially for eligibility interviews and verification requests. If you can't get clarity, an in-person visit is worth trying. The worst outcome is being told you need to call, which puts you back where you started.
One more thing that might be relevant - EDD has something called an "alternate base period" that can be used if you don't qualify under the standard base period. It uses more recent quarters. But from what you've described, the standard base period should work for your husband's situation as long as he had enough W-2 earnings during those quarters.
when he files make sure he says hes ABLE and AVAILABLE for fulltime work each week when he certifies. they denied my husband for 2 weeks bc he said he wasn't available one day when he had a doctors appointment. so annoying
This happened to me! I actually had to appeal my disqualification. Make sure when you certify you clearly indicate you quit for HEALTH AND SAFETY reasons! If they schedule an interview, be ready with specific examples of the safety violations. I won my appeal by showing the job duties were misrepresented (hired for one thing, made to do another) and that safety protocols weren't followed. It was stressful but worked out in the end. Don't give up!
Just my testimony! I was specific about dates, names of supervisors I spoke to, and exactly what safety protocols were violated (and why they mattered). Being very detailed helped a lot. The judge believed me because I could answer all follow-up questions consistently. Oh, and I mentioned I tried to resolve it before quitting - that part is super important!
Let me clarify some things about contacting EDD, since there's a bit of misinformation in this thread. The main UI claims line (1-800-300-5616) is staffed Monday-Friday 8am-5pm. If your issue is specifically about payments that switched from pending to disqualified, you likely need a tier 2 specialist. When you call, use these exact prompts to reach the right department: Press 1 for English, then 2 for claim questions, then 1 for existing claim. At this point, you need to explicitly say you need to speak with a tier 2 specialist about a disqualification issue. The first-level representatives can't help with disqualification statuses but can transfer you. Also, if your disqualification is related to an eligibility interview, ask if there's an interview scheduled. If so, prepare documentation showing your eligibility based on whatever issue they've flagged (either job separation or availability for work).
Thank you so much for these specific instructions! I didn't know about the tier 2 specialist distinction. I just checked my UI Online account again and I see there is actually an eligibility interview scheduled for next week. I didn't notice that before because I was only looking at the payment status page. Should I still try to call before the interview?
If you already have an interview scheduled, it's best to prepare for that rather than trying to bypass it by phone. The interview is your opportunity to address whatever eligibility issue has been flagged. Check your UI Online inbox for any notices about what documentation you should have ready. Common issues include proof of right to work, reason for job separation, or availability for work. Having your documentation organized and ready will make the interview go much more smoothly.
UPDATE: I tried calling this morning using the exact prompts that @profile1 suggested, and after 12 attempts I finally got through! The tier 2 specialist explained that my employer contested my claim saying I quit (which is NOT true - I was laid off). They've scheduled a phone interview for next week to resolve it. Thank you everyone for your suggestions! If the interview doesn't fix things, I'll try the assembly member route or Claimyr. Will post another update after my interview.
Amy Fleming
just went thru this!! call the 2511 number not the 5616 one. 5616 reps r useless for this problem. and call exactly at 8:02am not 8:00 (everyone calls at 8 sharp). ask SPECIFICALLY for tier 2 or claim specialist. dont waste time with regular reps. took me 3 weeks to figure this out but finally got paid last friday after the specialist fixed it. good luck!!
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Butch Sledgehammer
•does the 2511 number actually work better?? ive been trying the main one forever!!
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Sara Unger
Just to follow up on this thread - the system update issue affecting certifications is specifically related to how the EDD database processes consecutive certifications. Some accounts are getting caught in what they call a 'certification loop' where the UI Online interface shows successful submission but the backend payment processing system never receives the data. The only permanent fix is getting a tier 2 specialist to manually break the loop and reprocess your certifications. For your mortgage issue, definitely request the hardship forbearance as suggested above, but also get documentation from EDD about the system issue to support your claim. A Tier 2 specialist can provide an official notice of payment delay that most mortgage companies will accept.
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Tyler Murphy
•Thank you SO much for this detailed explanation! This makes perfect sense and explains exactly what we're experiencing. I'm going to try calling again tomorrow morning using the 2511 number at 8:02am as someone suggested. Fingers crossed I can get through to a Tier 2 specialist who can fix this 'certification loop' issue. I'll definitely ask for documentation of the delay for our mortgage company too. I really appreciate everyone's help!
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