California Unemployment
CommunityGovernment Services
Can't reach California Unemployment? Claimyr calls for you, so you don't have to wait on hold.
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
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 :)
Need to speak to a representative at EDD - tried everything, nothing works
I've been trying for 2 weeks to speak to a representative at EDD about my claim issue. I've called the 800-300-5616 number probably 200+ times. I know the menu pattern (1-wait-1-1-***) but I either get the 'too busy' message or sit on hold for 2+ hours just to have the call drop. I'm starting to panic because my benefits got stopped and I need to speak to someone ASAP. Has anyone actually gotten through recently? What am I doing wrong?
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Update: Finally spoke to a representative today using Claimyr after weeks of failed manual attempts. Got my issue resolved and benefits restarted. Honestly should have done this weeks ago instead of torturing myself with endless redialing.
Same experience here. Claimyr connected me to a representative in under 30 minutes after I'd been trying manually for 3 weeks
The peace of mind alone is worth it. No more sitting by the phone all day hoping to speak to someone
I feel your pain! I've been in the exact same situation - spent countless hours calling EDD trying to speak to a representative with zero success. The system is absolutely broken. After reading through all these comments, I'm convinced that using a service like Claimyr is the only realistic way to actually get through anymore. The fact that so many people are having success with it while manual calling fails repeatedly says everything. At some point you have to stop banging your head against the wall and try a different approach. Hope you get your benefits sorted out soon!
EDD phone nightmare - called right at 8am but still can't reach anyone after 6 hours
I'm so frustrated I could scream! My claim status switched to 'pending' yesterday after I submitted my bi-weekly certification. I set THREE alarms to make sure I'd be ready to call EDD the minute they opened this morning. Literally dialed at 7:59:50 am so I'd get through right at 8:00. Guess what? 'We're experiencing higher than normal call volume. Please try again later.' CLICK. I've called 27 times today (yes, I've been counting). Every single time: same automated message, then disconnected. It's now 2pm and I'm starting to panic. I can't afford to have my payments delayed - rent is due next week and I'm already behind on utilities. Is anyone else having this problem TODAY specifically? Any tricks to getting through? This is my first time having an issue since I started claiming in January and I'm completely lost.
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btw they hangup when their call queues are full not cuz they dont wanna talk to u. system cant handle more than like 300 ppl on hold or somethin
Quick update for anyone following this thread: Starting last month, EDD implemented a new pending review process that automatically flags some certifications for a brief manual review. These typically resolve within 3-5 business days without any action required. However, if your payment history has been consistent and suddenly changes to pending, it's still worth trying to contact them as it could indicate a more specific issue with your claim.
UPDATE: I got through!!! Used the Claimyr service someone recommended above and had a callback within 30 minutes. The EDD rep said my account had a random quarterly review flag (exactly like someone else mentioned). She removed the flag and my payment is being processed now! Should have the money in 24-48 hours. Such a relief!
That's amazing news! So glad you got it resolved. The quarterly review flag thing seems to be happening to a lot of people lately. Thanks for updating the thread - really helpful for others going through the same thing. Definitely bookmarking that Claimyr service for future reference!
EDD payment stuck on pending after certifying for 2 weeks - normal wait time?
Just certified for my biweekly unemployment benefits for the first time last Sunday, and my payment status is still showing as 'pending' in UI Online. It's been 13 days now and I'm getting worried. My rent is due next week and I was counting on this money. Is this normal for a first-time certification or is something wrong with my claim? I've tried calling EDD at least 15 times but can't get through - just get the 'maximum calls reached' message every time. How long should pending status typically last? I answered 'no' to all the questions about refusing work, being able and available, etc. Thanks for any insight!
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Based on everything you've shared, it sounds like this is likely a technical hold that requires manual review. This unfortunately means you'll need to speak with an EDD representative to resolve it. A common reason for first payments to get stuck in pending without obvious explanation is that your wage information may need manual verification, especially if you worked for multiple employers during your base period. Keep certifying on schedule even if the payment is pending. Once they resolve whatever is causing the hold, all your eligible weeks should be paid at once.
Thank you - that's reassuring. I'll make sure to keep certifying on time. I did work for two different employers last year, so maybe that's triggering some extra verification. I'll try calling Monday morning at 8:01am sharp!
Just wanted to follow up - did your payment ever clear? I'm curious because mine eventually went through automatically, but I've heard from others who had to call to get it fixed.
Great news! The first payment is often the slowest - future certifications should process much faster now that your claim is fully established in their system. Glad it worked out without having to call!
That's awesome news! I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - my first payment has been pending for 8 days. Your story gives me hope that it might just clear on its own. Did you get the full backpay for all those weeks it was pending, or just the most recent certification?
EDD payment shows paid but Money Network card not loaded after 3 days - should I panic?
I certified for my weekly benefits on Sunday morning and checked my UI Online account yesterday - it shows 'PAID' status for $583 as of Tuesday afternoon. But I've checked my Money Network card balance religiously every few hours and there's still NOTHING there! It's now Thursday and I'm starting to panic. I thought payments usually hit the card within 24-48 hours after showing paid? Is anyone else experiencing delays with their Money Network deposits this week? This is my first time using this card system (was on direct deposit before) and I've got rent due next week. Should I be worried or is this normal processing time? When should I start calling EDD?
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my bf had the same issue but for him it was because he hadnt updated his adress with edd when we moved. make sure all your contact info is current in UI Online and matches what you gave Money Network
good point actually. i forgot that stuff needs to match or it can cause delays. did your bf have to call to fix it or could he update online?
I'm going through the exact same thing right now! My payment showed "paid" on Wednesday and it's still not on my Money Network card. Reading through all these responses is actually really reassuring - sounds like 3-4 business days is pretty normal even though it's super stressful when you need the money. I've been checking the app like every hour which is probably making it worse. Thanks for posting this question, I was starting to think something was wrong with my claim!
Tom Maxon
To all those having trouble reaching a human at California Unemployment. I just ran across this video that gave me a shortcut to reach a human. Hope it helps! https://youtu.be/Ize0EkN4HDI
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Sophia Rodriguez
I've been struggling with this same issue for weeks! After reading through all these experiences, it seems like persistence is key. Has anyone had success with the "ask to speak to a supervisor" approach when you get tier 1? I'm wondering if that might be another way to get escalated to tier 2 without having to keep calling back. Also, for those who successfully got through to tier 2, what time of day did you call? I'm trying to figure out if there are better windows when tier 2 reps are more likely to pick up directly.
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