Best time to call EDD? 20+ attempts and can't get through

In my experience, Wednesdays and Thursdays between 8:15-8:45am are slightly better. The key is calling right after their opening rush (they open at 8am) but before the midday surge. I've also had some luck around 4pm on Tuesdays. Mondays and Fridays are absolutely the worst days to try. Some people say to press different number combinations to get different departments, but honestly I think it's mostly luck. The system is completely overwhelmed right now.

i call like 50-60 times a day sometimes lol its just how it is with edd these days

After trying for weeks, I finally had success using Claimyr. It's a service that basically connects you with an EDD representative. I was skeptical at first but was desperate after calling 30+ times myself. It worked and got me connected within about 40 minutes (which is WAY better than my endless redialing). They have a demo video that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km You can check it out at claimyr.com. Seriously saved me so much frustration and I was able to get my pending payment issue resolved in that one call.

The EDD phone system is THE WORST!!!! I spent three entire days (literally 8 hours each day) calling and redialing. I finally got through at 3:17pm on a Thursday. Then after waiting on hold for 1.5 hours, they transferred me to another department and I GOT DISCONNECTED!!!! I cried for an hour afterward. The whole system is DESIGNED to make us give up. Don't let them win!!!

Here's what worked for me: call the disability number instead (1-800-480-3287) and then ask to be transferred to regular unemployment. For some reason the disability line isn't as swamped. I got through on my third try using this method. Also, make sure you're calling the right number for your specific issue. Different problems require different departments, and using the wrong number means you'll just get transferred anyway (if you're lucky enough to get through at all).

The best time to call EDD statistically is between 10:30 am and 11:45 am on Wednesdays and Thursdays. This is based on call volume data from previous years. Mondays and Fridays have approximately 35% higher call volume. If your issue is related to a pending payment after certification, you might be able to resolve it without calling. Have you checked your UI Online account for any flags or notifications requiring additional information? Sometimes there are action items that aren't clearly labeled. Also, if it's been less than 10 business days since you certified, the system might still be processing normally, especially if this is your first or second certification period.

My neighbor works for EDD (not on the phones though) and she says they're MASSIVELY understaffed right now. They lost a bunch of temporary workers they hired during COVID and never replaced them, even though claims are still way higher than pre-pandemic levels. It's not that they don't want to help - the whole system is just falling apart. Keep trying though - they can't just ignore your claim forever!

I just wanted to follow up and see if you had any luck getting through? Were you able to resolve your pending payment issue?

I'm going through the exact same nightmare right now! Been calling for 2 weeks straight with no luck. Reading through all these comments, I think I'm going to try the Wednesday morning 8:15-8:45am window that @Mei Chen suggested, and if that doesn't work, I might have to bite the bullet and try that Claimyr service @Giovanni Marino mentioned. It's so frustrating that we have to resort to paid services just to access our own unemployment benefits! But at this point, the stress and time wasted calling 50+ times is probably worth more than whatever they charge. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - at least I know I'm not alone in this madness!

Just wanted to chime in as someone who finally made it through this EDD hell! After reading all these comments, I can confirm that timing really does matter. I had success on a Thursday at 10:45am after literally 47 attempts over two weeks (yes, I kept count because I was losing my mind). Here's what I learned: Don't hang up immediately when you get the "higher than normal call volume" message. Sometimes if you wait through the whole recording, it will actually put you in a queue instead of disconnecting. Also, have ALL your information ready - claim number, SSN, employment history, etc. The reps move FAST and if you're not prepared, they'll rush you off the call. One more tip: if you do get disconnected during a transfer (which happened to me twice), call back immediately and tell them you were just disconnected mid-call. Give them your claim number and ask them to check recent call logs. Sometimes they can see the incomplete call and prioritize you. Hang in there everyone - the system is absolutely broken but you WILL eventually get through. Don't let them wear you down!

Ugh, reading through all these comments makes me feel both better and worse at the same time! Better because I'm clearly not alone in this absolute nightmare, but worse because it sounds like this is just the reality we're all stuck with. I'm on day 12 of calling with literally ZERO success - not even a queue, just that soul-crushing "higher than normal call volume" message followed by the dial tone. I've tried every single suggestion I could find online: different times, different numbers, mashing buttons, you name it. Nothing works! My certification has been "pending" for over a month now and I'm starting to panic. Bills don't care that EDD can't get their act together. Has anyone had success with contacting their local assemblyperson's office? I've heard they can sometimes intervene with EDD issues, but I'm not sure if that's just wishful thinking. At this point I'm seriously considering that Claimyr service everyone's mentioning, even though it kills me to pay someone else just to access my own benefits. This whole situation is beyond ridiculous!

Just joined this community because I'm going through the exact same thing - 3 weeks of calling EDD with zero success! Reading through everyone's experiences here is both comforting and terrifying. It's wild that in 2025 we're all having to develop "strategies" just to talk to a government agency about our own benefits. I've been trying the random calling approach but clearly need to be more strategic about timing. Definitely going to try those Wednesday/Thursday morning windows people mentioned. Also really intrigued by the Claimyr service - normally I'd be skeptical but seeing multiple people here confirm it actually worked makes it tempting. One question for those who've gotten through: when you finally do reach someone, how long are the actual calls? I'm wondering if I should block out more time than just getting connected, in case there's a long process to resolve issues. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this community is a lifesaver for maintaining sanity during this nightmare process!

I'm also dealing with this nightmare right now and honestly, this thread has been more helpful than anything EDD has provided! I've been calling for about 10 days straight with zero luck - just that same frustrating "higher than normal call volume" message every single time. Reading everyone's experiences here makes me feel less crazy for wanting to throw my phone across the room. The Wednesday/Thursday 8:15-8:45am window that @Mei Chen mentioned sounds promising - I've been doing the random calling approach which clearly isn't working. Also going to try @Connor O'Neill's tip about waiting through the entire recording instead of hanging up immediately. My payments have been stuck on "pending" for almost 3 weeks now and my landlord is NOT understanding about EDD's dysfunction. At this point I'm seriously considering that Claimyr service too - seeing multiple people confirm it actually worked is pretty convincing, even though it's frustrating we have to pay extra just to access our own benefits. Thanks everyone for sharing your strategies and keeping each other sane during this absolute mess of a system!

New to this community but unfortunately not new to the EDD nightmare! I've been following this thread and wow, it's both heartbreaking and validating to see how many people are going through the exact same struggle. I'm currently on day 8 of the endless calling cycle with zero success. My claim has been stuck on "pending" for 2.5 weeks now and I'm starting to panic about rent. Like everyone else here, I just get that soul-crushing "higher than normal call volume" message followed by immediate disconnection. Reading through all your experiences, I'm definitely going to try the Wednesday/Thursday 8:15-8:45am strategy that @Mei Chen shared, and @Connor O'Neill's tip about waiting through the entire automated message instead of hanging up right away. I've been doing the "hang up and redial immediately" approach which clearly isn't working. The Claimyr service that @Giovanni Marino mentioned is also looking more tempting by the day. I hate that we have to consider paying extra just to access our own benefits, but my mental health can't take much more of this. Has anyone else tried it recently besides Jamal and Giovanni? Thank you all for sharing your experiences - it's weirdly comforting to know I'm not alone in this bureaucratic hell! 🤞

Just wanted to jump in here as another newcomer to this community who's going through the exact same EDD hell! I've been calling for about 2 weeks now with absolutely no success - just that same automated "higher than normal call volume" message followed by the dial tone. It's maddening! Reading through everyone's experiences here has been both validating and helpful. I had no idea there were strategic times to call - I've just been randomly dialing throughout the day like a crazy person. Definitely going to try that Wednesday/Thursday 8:15-8:45am window that @Mei Chen mentioned, and @Connor O'Neill's tip about waiting through the entire automated message instead of hanging up immediately. My payments have been stuck on "pending" for over 3 weeks now with no explanation, and rent is due next week. The stress is unreal! After seeing multiple people here confirm success with that Claimyr service, I'm seriously considering it even though it kills me to pay extra just to access my own benefits. But honestly, my time and mental health are worth more than whatever they charge at this point. Thank you all for sharing your strategies and experiences - it's weirdly comforting to know I'm not alone in this bureaucratic nightmare. This thread is more helpful than anything EDD has provided! 🙏

Just discovered this community while desperately searching for EDD help online, and wow - reading through all these experiences makes me feel so much less alone in this nightmare! I've been calling for 12 days straight with absolutely zero success. Just that same soul-crushing "higher than normal call volume" message every single time. My certification has been stuck on "pending" for 4 weeks now with zero explanation or communication from EDD. I'm a single mom and my savings are completely wiped out - this is getting really scary. I've tried calling at random times throughout the day but clearly need to be more strategic based on everyone's advice here. Definitely going to try those Wednesday/Thursday 8:15-8:45am windows that @Mei Chen suggested, and @Connor O'Neill's tip about waiting through the entire automated message instead of hanging up immediately. I feel like such an idiot for not thinking of these strategies before! After reading multiple success stories about Claimyr from @Jamal Edwards, @Giovanni Marino and others, I think I'm going to have to try it too. It absolutely kills me to pay extra just to access my own unemployment benefits, but I'm running out of options and my kid needs stability. Thank you all for sharing your experiences and strategies - this thread has been more helpful than anything official from EDD. At least we can get through this bureaucratic hell together! 🙏