Alternative EDD phone numbers besides the main 800 line?

Yes, there are alternative numbers but they're for specific departments. What's your specific issue? That determines which number might help you. The UI general support (833-978-2511) is different from technical support (855-327-7057) and different from the disability claims (800-480-3287).

the tech support number is faster sometimes but they just transfer u anyway most of the time

As someone who went through this same situation in February, I'd recommend trying these specific approaches: 1. Call right when they open at 8:00am - but not at 8:00 exactly because everyone does that. Try 8:07 or 8:12. 2. Try mid-week (Wednesday/Thursday) as Mondays and Fridays tend to be busier. 3. If your claim is pending for that long, it usually means there's an eligibility issue that needs manual review. In this case, calling the 833-978-2511 number is your best bet. 4. When you get the automated system, try pressing 1-2-4 to get to claim status, rather than 1-2-1 which everyone uses for general questions. Also, have you checked your UI Online inbox? Sometimes they send messages requesting additional information that can clear up pending payments if you respond.

when i had this problem my brother-in-law told me to just keep calling over and over until i get through. took him 143 calls one time but he got his money the next day

I was in the exact same boat last month - 'pending' for weeks with no explanation and couldn't get through on any number. After trying literally everything, I ended up using Claimyr (claimyr.com) and got through to an EDD rep in about 15 minutes. It's a service that basically auto-dials EDD for you until it gets through, then calls you when it has an agent on the line. Totally worth it because the rep immediately fixed my pending payments issue. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km The pending status usually means there's a simple flag on your account that only a rep can remove.

The whole EDD phone system is DELIBERATELY DESIGNED TO KEEP US FROM GETTING HELP!!! I'm convinced of it. I've called HUNDREDS of times over the past 2 months trying to fix my claim. The 800 number is useless, the 833 number is useless, the technical support line is useless. When I finally got through after 3 weeks of trying, the rep told me my account had some stupid flag that they could have fixed in 30 seconds if I had been able to reach someone. WHY DON'T THEY JUST HIRE MORE PEOPLE?? We pay taxes for this garbage service!

One more tip - if your pending status has lasted over 3 weeks, you can also try contacting your state assembly member's office. They have dedicated EDD liaisons who can often resolve issues faster than you can by calling directly. Google "[your county] state assembly member" to find yours. Their constituent services staff can submit an inquiry on your behalf that usually gets a response within 1-2 business days.

I went through this exact same nightmare in January - pending for 6 weeks and couldn't get through to anyone. What finally worked for me was calling the 833-978-2511 number at exactly 8:01 AM on a Tuesday, then immediately hanging up and calling back if I got the busy message. It took about 20 tries but I got through around 8:45 AM. The rep told me my account had an "interview flag" that was automatically triggered when I reported part-time work earnings, but no one had ever scheduled the actual interview. She cleared it in literally 2 minutes and I got all my back payments within 48 hours. Pro tip: When you do get through, ask them to explain exactly WHY your payments are pending so you know what to watch for in the future. Sometimes it's something simple like they need you to verify your work search activities or there's a date discrepancy they need to confirm. Good luck - don't give up! The system is broken but there ARE people there who can help once you finally reach them.