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.
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- Connect you to a human agent at the EDD
- Skip the long phone menu
- Call the correct department
- Redial until on hold
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- Give you free callbacks if the EDD drops your call
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- DO post questions about your issues.
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Can't reach EDD on phone - claim filed Feb 25 still pending with no updates
I'm at my wits' end trying to reach someone at EDD about my husband's unemployment claim. He filed on February 25th (just over two weeks ago) and we've heard absolutely nothing back. The claim status just says 'pending' on UI Online with no explanation. We've tried calling the main number at least 20+ times over the past week at different times of day, but either get the 'we're experiencing high call volume' message or it just disconnects us after the automated menu. We desperately need to know if there's something wrong with the application or if we just need to wait longer. He was laid off from his construction management position after 6 years when the company lost a major contract. Is there a specific number or trick to actually speak with a real human? This limbo is making our anxiety skyrocket since our mortgage payment is coming up.
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Quit job to care for mom with dementia - EDD denied me but interview transcript is wrong
I'm in a really tough spot and need advice about qualifying for unemployment benefits. I had to quit my nursing assistant job of 5 years last month because my mom's dementia suddenly got much worse. She fell twice in one week and her doctor said she now needs 24/7 supervision. I'm her only family in California. I explained all this when I applied for benefits, but EDD denied my claim. I filed an appeal right away and finally got to review the eligibility interviewer's notes. I was shocked - they completely misrepresented what I told them! The transcript says I quit "to help mother occasionally" and "other care options weren't explored" which is absolutely NOT what I said. I clearly explained it was an emergency medical situation requiring constant care, and that I contacted three home care agencies who couldn't start for 6+ weeks. Does quitting for caregiver responsibilities qualify me for benefits? And how do I correct this interview transcript before my appeal hearing? I'm desperate - my savings are nearly gone and I can't work while caring for mom full-time.
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my sister went thru similar thing last yr. make sure u emphasize that u tried EVERYTHING before quitting. what sealed the deal for her was proving she asked her boss for reduced hours/different schedule and was denied. did u do that?
Yes, I did ask for a flexible schedule or reduced hours! My supervisor initially said they'd try to accommodate me, but HR later said they couldn't guarantee anything less than 36 hours per week on rotating shifts. I have the email from HR explaining this - should I bring that to the hearing?
Yes, absolutely bring that email from HR! That's exactly the kind of documentation that helps win appeals. It demonstrates that you attempted to preserve your employment before quitting, which is a critical element in establishing good cause. To address your earlier question - yes, bring printed copies of everything to your hearing, including your written correction of the transcript errors. Make at least three copies of each document (one for you, one for the judge, one for EDD's representative). One last piece of advice: prepare a concise (2-3 minute) opening statement that clearly outlines your situation. Focus on the chronology of events and the necessity of your decision to leave work. Practice it beforehand so you can deliver it calmly despite what I'm sure is a very stressful situation.
I used Claimyr today and finally got through to EDD! The agent was actually really helpful and added notes to my file about the transcript errors. She said I should still bring it up at the hearing, but having it in my file beforehand will help. She also confirmed that family caregiving CAN qualify as good cause with proper documentation. I feel so much more prepared now! Thank you all for your help - I'll update after my hearing next month.
EDD disqualified me and wants $22K overpayment but why not full amount?
Just had an EDD eligibility interview last week (June 2025) about my claim from September 2024 when I left my marketing job due to workplace harassment and my father needing full-time care after his stroke. I thought everything was fine since I've been receiving benefits for 8 months, but yesterday I got hit with a disqualification notice AND an overpayment demand for $22,000! The weird thing is, I've received about $34,500 total from EDD. Why am I only being asked to repay part of it? Does this mean some weeks were approved and others weren't? I'm definitely filing an appeal, but I have no idea what documentation I need or if the appeal hearing will be on the phone or in person. Has anyone gone through this process recently? I'm freaking out about owing this much money!
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One thing nobody mentioned yet - if you're filing an appeal for both reasons (workplace harassment and caregiver duties), make sure to address them separately in your appeal letter. The judge will evaluate each reason independently. Also, if you're having financial hardship, you can request a waiver of the overpayment based on financial hardship. It doesn't always work, but it's worth trying if repayment would cause significant financial strain.
The waivers are basically IMPOSSIBLE to get unless you're practically homeless! I tried that route and they denied me even though I was barely making rent after losing my job. The whole system is rigged!
That's not entirely accurate. Financial hardship waivers are evaluated case-by-case. While they do have strict criteria, they're not impossible to obtain. You need to provide comprehensive financial documentation showing your income, expenses, assets, and demonstrate that repayment would cause significant hardship. About 30% of waiver requests are approved when properly documented.
Update: I finally got through to EDD after using the Claimyr service that someone suggested. The agent explained that they disqualified me because I didn't show enough evidence that I tried to preserve my employment before quitting due to harassment. They accepted my caregiver status for my father, which is why only part of the benefits are being reclaimed. The agent suggested I include these documents in my appeal: 1. Any emails/texts to HR or management about the harassment 2. Medical certification for my father's condition 3. A detailed statement explaining both situations The appeal will be by phone unless I specifically request in-person. I have 30 days from the notice date to file. Wish me luck everyone! I'll update again after the appeal hearing.
good luck!! glad u got answers finally!!
That's excellent information. Make sure your statement is chronological and specific about dates. For the harassment portion, focus on explaining why you felt you had no choice but to quit - the administrative law judge will be looking for evidence that you exhausted all reasonable alternatives before leaving your job. Good luck with your appeal!
EDD partial unemployment - can I use existing claim for reduced hours or file new one?
Hi everyone, I just started a new job three weeks ago after being on regular unemployment for about 2 months. The company just announced they're cutting everyone's hours by 30% starting next week "due to economic conditions" 🙄 I still have about 4 months left on my benefit year according to my UI Online account. Do I need to file a whole new claim for partial unemployment because this is a different employer than my original claim? Or can I just start certifying again on my existing claim? Just trying to avoid any mistakes that might delay payments since my rent just went up $250/month. Thanks for any help!
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back in 2023 i had same issue and ended up having to just file a new claim even though my benefit year wasnt over yet. the edd rep said something about my base period changing? i'm still confused about what happened but anyway...my payments came through ok
The rep might have been referring to a potential benefit increase. If you had higher wages during your most recent base period than your original claim was based on, filing a new claim might result in a higher weekly benefit amount. However, this is an exception, not the rule. Generally, reopening an existing claim is the correct approach within the same benefit year.
Update: I used Claimyr this morning after trying to call for 2 days with no luck. Got connected to an agent in about 20 minutes! She said my account had a weird technical glitch that was hiding the "Reopen Claim" button. She fixed it on her end and now I can see the option. Already submitted my information. Thanks everyone for your help! For anyone with the same issue, definitely call if you can't see the reopen option - it might be a system problem, not user error.
glad u got it fixed!! edd and their glitchy system 🤦♂️
Yay!!! So glad u got it working. Make sure u keep all ur paystubs from partial work. They sometimes ask for proof of ur hours later. That happened to my cousin.
SDI payments delayed after 3 weeks - received waiting period notice but still no money
I'm totally confused about my SDI claim timeline. My doctor submitted all my medical documentation on time, and I got the 7-day waiting period notice in the mail about 3 weeks ago. But I still haven't received ANY benefit payments for my claim period (12/05/24 to 01/03/2025). I've already returned to work since January 17th, but there's still zero money in my account! Rent is coming up and I'm getting really anxious. What could be causing this delay? Has anyone experienced something similar with SDI payments? I thought once they acknowledged the waiting period was over, payments would process automatically. Do I need to call them or is this normal processing time?
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UPDATE: I finally got through to EDD this morning! Turns out they were missing wage verification from my employer. The representative said they sent a request to my company's HR department two weeks ago but never received a response. I immediately called my HR manager who found the form buried in her email. She submitted it today, and the EDD rep said I should see payment within 3-5 business days. So relieved to finally know what was happening! Thanks everyone for your help and suggestions.
Great news! This is a common issue with SDI claims. For anyone else experiencing delays, always check if your employer has received and responded to wage verification requests. Glad you got it resolved!
Freya Christensen
Any luck with reaching someone? I'm curious if Claimyr worked for you if you decided to try it.
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Ravi Malhotra
AuthorWe actually tried the technical support number first (the 833 one someone mentioned) and got through after about 12 attempts! The rep couldn't directly help but transferred us to someone who could. Turns out there was a wage verification issue that needed to be sorted. Should be resolved within 3 business days according to the agent. Such a relief to finally know what's happening!
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Anastasia Kozlov
wait so did you get the issue fixed? or do you still need help?
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Ravi Malhotra
AuthorYes! Finally managed to get through using the technical support line after many attempts. There was a wage verification issue they needed to correct. Rep said payment should be processed within 3 business days. Fingers crossed!
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