Best EDD phone numbers to actually reach a human in 2025?

Unfortunately, the regular EDD numbers are completely swamped right now with the seasonal layoffs happening. Here are a few strategies that sometimes work: 1. Call exactly at 8:01 AM when they open 2. Try the alternate number: 1-833-978-2511 (though this is hit or miss) 3. Try calling on Wednesday afternoons which seem slightly less busy 4. When you do get through to the automated system, press 1-2-4 in sequence to bypass some of the recordings If your benefits were suddenly stopped, it could be due to a quarterly review, identity verification issue, or a certification error. Check your UI Online account for any notifications or messages first.

call right when they open and also right after lunch around 1:00. thats when i got thru last month. but it still took me like 25 tries

The EDD phone system is DELIBERATELY designed to frustrate people and make them give up!!! I was calling for 6 WEEKS straight before getting anywhere. The tier 1 reps can't even help with most issues, so when you finally get through, they just transfer you and you wait ANOTHER hour just to get disconnected half the time. The real secret? Call the employer line and pretend to be a business with a question, then ask to be transferred to claims. Worked for me twice. The employer line is 1-866-333-4606. Way less crowded.

I was in a similar situation last month and wasted nearly two weeks trying to get through. A friend recommended using Claimyr.com which is a service that basically calls EDD for you and connects you when they get through to a real person. Saved me hours of frustration and I finally got my disqualification issue resolved. They have a demo video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km It's not free but was absolutely worth it for me since I was about to miss rent payment while waiting to get my benefits sorted out.

As a former EDD employee (I left in 2023), I can tell you that calling at 8:01am is actually not the best strategy anymore because everyone does it. Try these less-known approaches: 1. Call at 11:45am (right before lunch) or 4:15pm (near end of day) when many people have given up 2. If you get the "too many callers" message, wait 90 seconds exactly and call again - the system releases spots in batches 3. When you do reach the IVR system, for disqualification issues, use 1-2-1-1-4 as your sequence 4. Check your EDD online account for any "Request for Information" notices - often disqualifications happen when you miss responding to these 5. Submit a question through UI Online's Contact EDD feature - they're required to respond within 5 business days

Am I the only one who thinks it's crazy that in 2025 we still have to deal with this phone nonsense? Why can't they just have a proper online messaging system that actually works? My sister-in-law in Oregon said their unemployment office lets you schedule phone appointments online!

just go to the edd office in person. thats what i did.

Update us if you get through! For the disqualification issue, be prepared with your employment history and make sure you understand exactly why they might have disqualified you. Common reasons include: - Missing or incomplete work search activities - Income reporting discrepancies - ID verification issues - Not being available for work - Refusing suitable work If you know what the issue might be, you can have documentation ready when you speak to a representative.

i tried that claimyr thing someone mentioned above and it actually worked! got connected to edd in like 25 min today after trying for a week on my own. just wanted to let everyone know