California Unemployment
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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
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- DO post questions about your issues.
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- DO post tips & tricks to help folks.
- DO NOT post call problems here - there is a support tab at the top for that :)
Accidentally marked 'not working for company anymore' during EDD certification - how to fix this mistake?
I'm having a total panic moment right now! While certifying for benefits last Sunday, I accidentally clicked the option saying I'm 'not going to be working for the company any longer' when I'm DEFINITELY still employed at my part-time job. I realized my mistake immediately after submitting. I've been calling EDD non-stop since 8:00 AM Monday morning but keep getting the 'we're experiencing high call volume' message and then it hangs up! So frustrating! I already sent a message through UI Online explaining the mistake, but I'm worried about my payment being delayed or getting disqualified. There's an EDD/disability office about 20 minutes from my house - would it be worth going there to explain in person? Do they even handle certification corrections there or is that a waste of time? Has anyone made a similar mistake when certifying? How long did it take to resolve? I really need this week's payment to make rent and I'm freaking out that this stupid misclick is going to cause major problems.
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EDD UI Online stuck on loading screen after login - can't access my claim
I'm at my wits end with this UI Online loading issue. When I sign into my EDD account, it lets me enter my username and password just fine, but then the next page just keeps loading forever with that spinning circle. I've been trying since Tuesday and still can't access my certifications or claim history. I'm using Chrome and tried on my phone too - same problem. My payment is due this week and I need to certify! Has anyone else run into this problem recently? Any ideas on how to fix it? I already tried clearing my cache but no luck.
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This might sound strange, but sometimes the UI Online browser compatibility issues can be fixed by adjusting your zoom level. Try pressing Ctrl and - (minus key) a few times to zoom out to 80% or 75%. For some reason, that has fixed the infinite loading screen for me several times. If that doesn't work, I've also found that completely signing out, closing the browser completely, then waiting about 10 minutes before trying again can help. The system sometimes gets stuck with a session that didn't properly close.
Wait, really? I would never have thought of changing the zoom level. That's such a weird fix but I'll definitely try it. I'll also try the complete sign-out and wait. Thanks for these unique suggestions!
Can my son apply for UI benefits 5 months after layoff while working part-time?
My son lost his full-time construction job in early December after working there for over 2 years. Right away he picked up a part-time retail job (only 15-18 hours weekly) that pays $19/hr compared to his previous $32/hr. We didn't think about unemployment at first because he was so focused on finding another full-time position, but it's been 5 months now and his savings are almost gone. Can he still file for unemployment this late after being laid off from his main job? And if he qualifies, could he possibly get retroactive benefits for the past months while reporting his part-time income? His rent is due next week and I'm trying to help him figure out his options. Any advice would be really appreciated.
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btw when he certifies every 2 weeks he HAS to report his part time income accurately!!! my roomate got caught underreporting and now has to pay everything back PLUS a penalty. not worth it!!!
This is critical advice! Penalties for unreported income can include a 30% penalty on top of the overpayment and potential disqualification from future benefits for fraud. Better to get a smaller benefit check than risk these consequences.
Just want to follow up - has your son started his application yet? If he's having trouble, remember that getting through to an EDD rep can be really helpful. I used Claimyr and it saved me hours of frustration. The rep I spoke with was able to backdate my claim by 6 weeks because I explained I didn't know I qualified while working reduced hours.
Yes! He started his application yesterday but got stuck when trying to enter information about his part-time job. We've been trying to call EDD directly with no luck. I think we'll try Claimyr today based on your recommendation - sounds like it could really help with getting the claim backdated too. Thanks for checking in!
Laid off from tech job but working at husband's business unpaid - EDD eligibility question
I got laid off from my software developer position on July 31, 2024 (yay tech industry cuts 🙄). I've been helping at my husband's small consulting business since then, but I've never taken a salary from it (we keep business and personal finances separate for tax reasons). I'm putting in about 15-20 hours a week there handling client communications and some basic bookkeeping. My question is: Am I eligible for unemployment benefits from my tech job layoff even though I'm working at my husband's business? Since I'm not getting paid, I'm really struggling financially, but I'm worried EDD might view this as self-employment or something that disqualifies me. Has anyone dealt with a similar situation or know the rules around this? I don't want to apply and then get hit with an overpayment notice later!
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i think ur overthinking this. just apply! worst they can say is no lol. ur not getting paid so how is that even work? my nieghbor volunteers at a charity 15hrs a week and still gets unemployment because volunteering isnt a job. ur basically volunteering for ur husband
There's a significant difference between volunteering for a charitable organization and working unpaid for a family business. EDD treats these situations very differently. Family businesses receive extra scrutiny because there's often an expectation of eventual compensation or non-monetary benefits. Volunteering at a registered non-profit is a clearly defined relationship.
UPDATE: I wanted to thank everyone for their advice! I used Claimyr to reach an EDD representative yesterday after failing to get through on my own for days. The rep was really helpful and told me I should definitely apply but make sure to report the unpaid hours when certifying. She said I'll likely get an eligibility interview, but as long as I'm honestly reporting everything and actively looking for work in my field, I should be eligible. I'm going to file my claim today and make sure I keep detailed records of all my job search activities. Will update again after my interview!
That's great news! Glad you were able to get some official guidance. Definitely keep detailed records of your job search activities - names of companies, dates of application, any follow-ups, interviews, etc. This will be extremely helpful during your eligibility interview. Good luck with your claim!
How long for San Diego EDD appeal hearing date after receipt? Waiting since May
Feeling super stressed about how slow my appeal process is going. My EDD disqualification appeal was received by the San Diego appeals office on May 6th (over 6 weeks ago now), but I still haven't gotten any notice about a hearing date. My rent is due next week and I've been counting on these benefits after being laid off from my restaurant management job in March. Has anyone else gone through the appeals process with the San Diego office specifically? How long did it take from when they acknowledged receiving your appeal to actually scheduling a hearing? I've tried calling the appeal office, but I just get a voicemail saying they're experiencing high call volumes. Starting to panic a little...
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Quick update to what I said earlier - I just remembered something that might help you. When you do get your hearing notice, it'll come with instructions for requesting an expedited hearing due to financial hardship. If you can document that you're at risk of eviction or utility shutoff, they might be able to move you up in the queue. I didn't qualify for this since I was staying with family, but the judge mentioned they do prioritize these cases when possible.
That's incredibly helpful information - thank you! I definitely qualify for financial hardship consideration. I'll keep an eye out for that option when I get my notice.
Eleanor Foster
have u tried calling the different edd numbers? theres like 3 different ones i think. sometimes the less obvious ones have shorter wait times.
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Ella Russell
AuthorI've only been trying the main 800-300-5616 number. Do you know what the other numbers are? I'll try anything at this point!
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Mohammed Khan
The other main EDD numbers are 1-833-978-2511 (general help) and 1-866-333-4606 (automated self-service). However, for certification corrections, you specifically need the 5616 number since the others don't have representatives who can access and modify your certification details. The 2511 agents can only help with general questions and account issues.
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Ella Russell
Update: I FINALLY got through to EDD this morning! Called at 8:01 exactly like someone suggested, waited on hold for about 35 minutes, but eventually spoke to a representative. They confirmed this was a simple error they could fix, and the representative updated my certification on the spot. She said my payment should process normally within 24-48 hours. Such a relief! Thanks everyone for your advice and help with this stressful situation.
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Gavin King
awesome!! glad it worked out for u!
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Kai Rivera
Great news! This is exactly why speaking directly with a representative is so important for certification errors. Glad you got it resolved quickly.
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