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

Hey everyone, I'm new here but dealing with the exact same nightmare! My benefits got cut off two weeks ago and I've been calling non-stop with zero luck. Reading through all these tips is super helpful - I had no idea about the 90-second rule or the alternate numbers. One thing I wanted to add: if you're getting "disqualification" like @Dyllan, definitely check if EDD sent you any mail recently. Sometimes they mail important requests that you might miss, and if you don't respond within their timeframe, they automatically disqualify you. I almost missed one that got buried in junk mail last year. Also, has anyone tried using the disability insurance number (1-800-480-3287) and asking to be transferred? I read somewhere that their wait times are shorter, but not sure if it actually works for UI claims. Going to try the 11:45am strategy tomorrow with that 1-2-1-1-4 sequence. Fingers crossed! Will report back if I get through.

I've been lurking here for a while but finally had to create an account because I'm going through the exact same thing! My benefits got suspended 10 days ago with just a generic "pending review" message and I've been calling every single day with no luck. What's really frustrating is that I've been following all the rules - certifying on time, reporting my job search activities, everything. Then suddenly they just cut me off right before the holidays when everything is already financially tight. I'm definitely going to try that 90-second rule @Nadia mentioned - I had no idea the system worked that way! I've been waiting like 5-10 minutes between calls thinking I needed to give it more time. Also going to check my mail more carefully for any notices I might have missed. Has anyone had luck with contacting their local assembly member's office? I heard they sometimes have direct lines to EDD for constituent services, but not sure if that's still a thing or if it actually helps. Thanks everyone for sharing these strategies - it's reassuring to know I'm not alone in this mess, even though it sucks that we all have to deal with it!

I feel for everyone going through this - the EDD system is absolutely broken and it's infuriating that we have to jump through all these hoops just to get our rightful benefits. I went through something similar earlier this year and wanted to share what finally worked for me. The key thing that helped was combining multiple strategies rather than relying on just one approach: 1. I used the 90-second rule religiously - set a timer and called back exactly at 90 seconds after getting the "too many callers" message 2. Alternated between the main number and that 1-833-978-2511 alternate number throughout the day 3. Called at off-peak times: 11:45am, 1:15pm, and 4:15pm were my sweet spots 4. When I finally got through to the automated system, the 1-2-1-1-4 sequence worked for disqualification issues The whole process took me about 8 days of persistent calling, but I eventually got through and got my benefits reinstated. The issue in my case was an unreported address change that flagged my account for review. One more tip: when you do get through to a rep, be super polite and patient even though you're frustrated. They deal with angry people all day and being kind can sometimes get them to go the extra mile to help resolve your issue quickly. Hang in there everyone - this system is awful but don't give up!

Just wanted to jump in and add my experience from last month - I was stuck in the same awful cycle for almost 3 weeks before finally breaking through. What ended up working for me was a combination of the strategies mentioned here: I followed @Nadia's insider tips religiously - especially that 90-second rule and the 11:45am timing. The key breakthrough came when I realized my issue wasn't actually a disqualification but a "pending eligibility review" that got triggered when I reported some freelance income incorrectly on my certification. For anyone dealing with sudden benefit stops, here's what I learned: - Check your EDD account daily for new messages or requests - If you see "disqualification" but no clear reason, it might be an automated hold pending manual review - Keep detailed records of every call attempt (time, number used, result) - it helped when I finally got through - The 1-2-1-1-4 sequence @Nadia mentioned worked perfectly for my situation The whole ordeal was incredibly stressful, especially with bills piling up, but persistence really does pay off. I probably made 200+ calls over those 3 weeks, but when I finally connected with a rep, they were able to resolve everything in about 20 minutes once they understood the issue. Don't give up! This system is designed terribly but your benefits are there waiting once you can get through to the right person.