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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I'm currently going through this exact same situation and wanted to add some recent insights! Lost my job at a local boutique in mid-January but didn't file until last week because I was convinced I'd find something quickly in retail. After reading through all these encouraging success stories, I started calling 1-800-300-5616 at exactly 8:00 AM this morning and actually got through on my 28th attempt! The rep was surprisingly understanding when I explained that I didn't realize how important it was to file immediately and had been actively job searching thinking something would come up soon. She said this situation is incredibly common, especially post-pandemic when people are more optimistic about finding work quickly. She submitted my backdate request for 7 weeks during that same call and said to expect a decision within 10-14 business days. One thing that seemed to help - when she asked about job search activities, I just mentioned I had been applying to various retail and customer service positions online and in-person, and she didn't ask for specific documentation. For anyone still trying to get through: the early morning calling strategy absolutely works! Those busy signals are frustrating but don't give up. Having your last day of work, final paycheck date, and honest explanation ready makes the actual conversation much smoother once you connect. Will definitely update when I hear back about my decision!
Wow, congrats on getting through on your 28th attempt this morning! That's actually pretty good compared to some of the other stories here. It's really encouraging to hear that the rep said this situation is incredibly common - makes me feel less alone in making this mistake. I'm planning to start my own calling marathon tomorrow morning at 8 AM and your success today is giving me so much motivation! It's also reassuring that they didn't ask for specific documentation about your job search activities - I have some records but they're pretty scattered too. Please definitely keep us updated when you hear back about your decision - having real-time updates from someone going through this process right now is so helpful for the rest of us still working up the courage to start calling. Your timing with sharing this is perfect since so many of us are in the exact same boat! Good luck with your approval!
I'm currently in the exact same situation and this entire thread has been a lifesaver! Lost my job at a small pizza place in late January but didn't file until this week because I was absolutely sure I'd find something quickly in food service. Reading everyone's success stories here is giving me so much hope when everything else I've read online about EDD has been pretty discouraging. I'm definitely going to start the persistent 8 AM calling strategy tomorrow using 1-800-300-5616 and just keep at it until I break through. My situation is identical to so many others here - I genuinely had no idea how critical it was to file immediately and spent those weeks actively job hunting, thinking something would come up fast. One question for those who've been successful - when you explained your reasoning to the rep, did you use any specific phrases or language that seemed to resonate well? I want to make sure I articulate my situation clearly when I finally get through. The potential of getting 6-7 weeks of back benefits would honestly save me from having to ask family for help with rent. Thanks to everyone who's shared their experiences - knowing that persistence and honesty actually work is giving me the courage to tackle those inevitable busy signals!
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I'm going through this exact same nightmare right now and reading everyone's experiences has been both helpful and terrifying! Got my call in notice 2 days ago and have been calling since early morning with nothing but that dreaded "too busy" message. The stress is unreal knowing I only have 8 days left to respond and literally cannot reach anyone. After seeing all the success stories with Claimyr here, I think I'm going to have to try it tomorrow morning. The $20-25 cost definitely stings when you're already struggling financially, but losing my entire benefit stream would be catastrophic. Thank you everyone for sharing your real experiences - this thread has been a lifesaver in showing me there are actually viable solutions beyond spending days hitting redial on their broken phone system. It's absolutely ridiculous that we have to pay a third party just to reach a government agency, but when your livelihood is on the line, what choice do we have? For anyone else dealing with call in notices, don't waste precious time on manual calling when you're up against these inflexible deadlines!
I'm brand new to this community but unfortunately dealing with the exact same terrifying situation! Just got my call in notice this morning and after reading through everyone's experiences here, I'm already convinced that manual calling is going to be impossible with only a 10-day deadline. The stories about spending entire days calling with zero success are absolutely horrifying when you know your benefits are on the line. I'm definitely going to try Claimyr first thing tomorrow based on all the positive experiences shared here - even though the $20-25 cost is painful when you're already unemployed, it's clearly way better than risking losing everything to their broken phone system. Thank you so much for posting this and thank you to everyone who shared their strategies. This thread is literally saving people from financial disaster by showing us there are actually working solutions beyond EDD's nightmare phone system!
I'm going through this exact nightmare too! Got my call in notice 3 days ago and have been calling obsessively with zero success. The "too busy" message is absolutely maddening when you know the clock is ticking on that 10-day deadline. After reading everyone's experiences here, I'm convinced that manual calling is basically hopeless at this point - the system seems completely overwhelmed. I'm definitely going to try Claimyr tomorrow morning based on all the success stories shared here. The $20-25 cost really hurts when you're already struggling on unemployment, but losing my entire benefit stream would be catastrophic. Thank you all for sharing your real experiences and strategies - this thread has been incredibly helpful in showing me that I'm not alone in this broken system and that there are actually viable solutions beyond spending days hitting redial. It's frustrating that we have to pay extra just to access a basic government service, but when your livelihood is literally on the line, sometimes you have to work around a broken system rather than let it defeat you.
I'm so sorry you're dealing with this stress too! I'm actually brand new to this community but unfortunately going through the exact same nightmare right now. Just got my call in notice yesterday and after spending today calling nonstop with nothing but that horrible "too busy" message, I'm already feeling that same panic you described. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been eye-opening - it's both terrifying to see how broken the system is but also reassuring to know there are people who've actually found solutions. Based on all the success stories, I think I'm going to try Claimyr first thing tomorrow morning too. You're absolutely right that the cost hurts when money is already so tight, but losing everything would be so much worse. Thank you for sharing your experience - it really helps to know I'm not the only one going through this right now. We shouldn't have to jump through these hoops, but at least there seems to be a way around their impossible phone system!
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I've been struggling with CalJOBS for about 4 weeks now and this entire thread has been such a lifesaver! Like everyone else here, I was getting incredibly discouraged thinking I was somehow failing at job searching since I've applied to 25+ positions through their system with only one response (which turned out to be way below market rate). Reading all these experiences has completely changed my approach. The "compliance tool" mindset is exactly what I needed to hear - I've been wasting hours daily on that clunky interface when I should have been treating it like bureaucratic paperwork while focusing my real energy elsewhere. I'm definitely going to implement the strategies everyone mentioned: that daily morning check with "Last 3 Days" filter, applying to 3-4 state positions weekly just for documentation, and most importantly - using that work search log feature to record ALL my job search activities. I had no idea you could log external applications there for audit protection! It's honestly frustrating that we all have to reverse-engineer these workarounds to make a broken government system somewhat functional, but I'm so grateful for this community sharing real experiences and practical solutions. Now I can stop feeling guilty about CalJOBS "not working" and put my time where it actually generates results. Thanks for starting this conversation - you've helped way more people navigate this bureaucratic maze than you probably realize! Sometimes peer knowledge beats official guidance every time. 🙏
I've been on CalJOBS for about 6 weeks now and this thread has honestly been a game-changer! I was getting so frustrated thinking there was something wrong with my approach - I've submitted 28 applications through their system with only one response (which was for a position paying $12/hour when the posting said $18-20). The "compliance tool" mindset everyone keeps mentioning is exactly the perspective shift I needed. I've been treating CalJOBS like it should actually function as a modern job platform when clearly it's just a bureaucratic hoop we have to jump through to satisfy EDD requirements. I'm definitely going to start implementing the systematic approach that's been mentioned - quick daily check with the "Last 3 Days" filter, apply to 3-4 state/government positions weekly for documentation purposes, and use that work search log feature to record all my external job applications. Had no idea you could log LinkedIn and Indeed activities directly in CalJOBS for audit protection! It's honestly wild that we all have to collectively figure out these workarounds just to make a government system somewhat functional, but I'm grateful for this community sharing real experiences. Now I can stop wasting 2+ hours daily on that outdated interface and focus my actual energy on LinkedIn networking and direct company outreach where I'm getting real responses. Thanks everyone for being so generous with practical advice - this discussion has been way more helpful than any official EDD guidance I've received! 🙏
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So ridiculous. I'm 63 and was laid off through no fault of my own. Over my lifetime I have paid more than 100K in unemployment (I made good money). In California the most you can get is $450 a week. Doesn't even pay my rent. The claim has run out after 6 months and I'm still unable to get an extension. The system is a joke.
I completely understand your frustration, @Socal_Stan. The system really doesn't seem designed for people who've been paying into it for decades and then need it most. $450/week when you've contributed so much over your career feels like such an insult, especially when rent alone costs more than that in most of California. Have you looked into whether you might qualify for any of the federal extension programs that sometimes get activated during high unemployment periods? Also, at 63, you might want to check if there are any special programs for older workers through your local workforce development office - sometimes they have resources specifically for people closer to retirement age who face age discrimination in hiring. I know it doesn't solve the immediate financial crisis, but you shouldn't have to drain your retirement savings because the system is so inadequate. Really hoping things turn around for you soon. The whole situation is just wrong.
I'm in almost exactly the same situation as you, @Jayden Reed! My benefits just exhausted last week and I was absolutely panicking about potentially waiting until my benefit year ends in October - that would be a 7+ month gap that I honestly can't afford. Reading through this entire thread has been such a lifesaver! I had no idea about the exception for people who worked during their benefit year. I did some part-time retail work and freelance photography during my claim period and earned about $4,700 total. From what everyone's sharing, it sounds like if I earned over that $1,300 threshold in any single quarter, I might qualify to file a new claim right away. The consistent advice about using Claimyr to actually get through to EDD and asking specifically about "lag quarter" wages seems to be the winning strategy from all the success stories here. I've been dreading calling EDD because their phone system is absolutely brutal, but seeing so many people get positive results gives me real confidence to try. @Ava Williams - your coffee shop experience is incredibly encouraging! The fact that you avoided a 5-month gap and got benefits restored within 2 weeks shows this exception really works when you have the right information and approach. This community has been amazing for understanding rules that EDD makes way too confusing. I'm going to organize all my retail pay stubs and photography invoices by quarter this weekend and call first thing Monday using Claimyr. Really hoping my earnings were concentrated enough in one quarter to qualify! Thanks to everyone who's shared their real experiences - you've turned what felt like a hopeless situation into something manageable 🙏
Mei-Ling Chen
This thread has been an absolute lifesaver! I'm going through the exact same situation right now - been receiving benefits since late January and just got an interview notice yesterday. Like so many others here, I was completely panicked thinking I'd done something wrong or that they were going to demand all my money back. But reading through everyone's experiences, especially seeing @Aisha's positive update, has really put my mind at ease. I haven't reported any additional earnings, so mine is probably one of those random audits that @Freya Johansen mentioned. It's incredible how much anxiety these notices cause when you don't know what to expect, but this thread shows they're really just routine checks. I'll make sure to have all my original employment documents ready and try not to overthink it. Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their stories - knowing that these interviews are typically quick, straightforward, and don't interrupt benefits when you've been honest really makes all the difference!
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Miguel Ortiz
•@Mei-Ling Chen I m'so glad this thread has helped ease your anxiety! I was in the exact same boat just a few weeks ago - got that interview notice and immediately started catastrophizing about having to pay everything back or being accused of fraud. But as you can see from everyone s'experiences here, these interviews are really just administrative checkpoints. Since you haven t'reported additional earnings, your interview will probably be even more straightforward than some of the work-related ones discussed here. The random audits tend to be very basic - they ll'likely just verify your separation details, confirm you re'still looking for work, and maybe ask about your job search activities. Having your original employment documents ready is perfect preparation. One thing I learned from reading everyone s'advice: answer their questions directly and don t'feel like you need to over-explain everything. The interviewers are just checking boxes on their verification process, not trying to trip you up. You ll'do great, and please consider updating us after your interview - these positive follow-ups really help other people who find this thread while stressing about their own notices!
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Pedro Sawyer
This thread is incredibly thorough and helpful! I'm scheduled for an eligibility interview next week after being on unemployment for about 2 months. Like many others here, I initially panicked when I got the notice, but reading through all these positive experiences has really calmed my nerves. What strikes me most is how consistent everyone's stories are - quick calls (10-15 minutes), routine verification questions, and benefits continuing normally afterward. I did report some Uber earnings last month (about $200 over 3 days), so that's probably what triggered mine. It's so reassuring to see that properly reporting additional work actually protects you rather than getting you in trouble. I'll definitely have my Uber payment records ready along with my original layoff documentation. Special thanks to everyone who shared their follow-up experiences - knowing the actual outcomes rather than just speculation makes such a huge difference when you're anxious about something like this!
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