Best times to actually reach EDD in 2025 - any secret phone numbers?

I'm going INSANE trying to reach EDD about my claim!! I've been calling non-stop for TWO DAYS STRAIGHT and can't get through to anyone. Every single time I call, I either get the automated message saying they're experiencing high call volume or that there are no available appointments. I've tried calling right when they open at 8am, during lunch hours, and right before they close at 5pm. Nothing works! Does anyone know if there's a better time of day or specific day of the week when the lines aren't as busy? Is there maybe a different number I should be trying besides the main customer service line? I'm desperate at this point because I need to ask about my missing payment from three weeks ago that still hasn't shown up on my Money Network card. Any tips would be GREATLY appreciated!

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28 comments

Malik Davis

•9M

The "secret" to reaching EDD is persistence and timing. Tuesdays and Wednesdays tend to be slightly better than Mondays (absolute worst) or Fridays. The sweet spot is between 10:30-11:30am or 2:15-3:30pm when call volume sometimes dips. The main numbers (833-978-2511 or 800-300-5616) are correct, but try this strategy: instead of hanging up when you get the "too many callers" message, keep redialing immediately for at least 45 minutes straight. It took me 37 calls in a row last month, but I finally got through. Also, make sure you're selecting the right options in the phone tree. For payment issues on your Money Network card, press 1, then 6, then 4 when prompted. This routes you to payment specialists who can specifically help with missing payments.

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GalacticGuru

•9M

I've worked for years helping people navigate unemployment issues, and unfortunately the phone system has gotten worse since 2025 started with all the new claims coming in. Here's what actually works: 1. The best time is Tuesday-Thursday between 10:15-11:15am or 2:00-3:15pm. 2. The correct number for payment issues is 866-401-2849 (Money Network specific) or 800-300-5616 (general claims). 3. For your specific missing payment issue, you need to speak with a Tier 2 specialist. When you call, immediately ask for a Tier 2 specialist who handles payment disputes/issues. 4. Be prepared with your information: claim ID, last four of SSN, Money Network card number, and the exact week(s) showing missing payments. If you're still having trouble reaching someone, there's a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helps you bypass the busy lines and get connected with an EDD agent. They have a video demo showing how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km. I've had multiple clients use it successfully when they were in your situation with missing payments.

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Ravi Gupta

•9M

The whole system is designed to frustrate us into giving up!!! I've been dealing with EDD since January and let me tell you - NONE of the "tricks" people suggest actually work consistently. One day 8am works, next day it doesn't. One day the 2pm slot works, next day nothing. It's all designed to wear us down. What finally worked for me was contacting my state assembly member's office. They have dedicated EDD liaisons who can cut through the red tape and actually get answers. Google "[your county] state assembly member" and fill out their constituent services form specifically mentioning your EDD issue. They contacted EDD on my behalf and I had an answer within 3 business days after weeks of getting nowhere on my own!

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Emma Wilson

•9M

UPDATE: I FINALLY got through!!! After trying the Claimyr service that was mentioned here. I was honestly skeptical but I was desperate after another day of failed calls. Got connected to an EDD rep in about 20 minutes. Turns out my payment was held up because of an identity verification flag that was never cleared properly after I completed my ID.me verification. The agent was able to remove the flag and release my payment - should hit my Money Network card in 24-48 hours! Thank you everyone for all your suggestions. This community has been a lifesaver!

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Andre Laurent

•4M

@Emma Wilson That s'such great news! I ve'been following this thread because I m'in a similar boat - stuck in limbo for weeks with no clear explanation. The identity verification issue you mentioned is really interesting because I also did the ID.me process but never got any follow-up confirmation that it was fully processed on EDD s'end. It makes me wonder how many of us are dealing with the same backend issue without knowing it. Thanks for sharing your success story - it gives the rest of us hope that there actually IS a solution to these payment delays!

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Daniel Rivera

•4M

@Emma Wilson That s'amazing news! I ve'been lurking on this thread because I m'dealing with the exact same issue - missing payments for the past 3 weeks. The identity verification flag issue you mentioned is really eye-opening. I completed my ID.me verification back in December but like others here, I never got any confirmation that EDD actually processed it on their end. It s'so frustrating that we have to jump through all these hoops and then the system doesn t'even properly communicate between departments. Did the agent give you any insight into how long this has been a widespread issue? I m'definitely going to mention this specific problem when I finally get through to someone. Thanks for coming back to update us - it really helps knowing there s'light at the end of the tunnel!

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Giovanni Gallo

•4M

@Emma Wilson Congratulations on finally getting through! Your success story gives me so much hope. I ve'been calling EDD for over a week now about my delayed payments and getting nowhere. The identity verification flag issue you mentioned sounds exactly like what might be happening to me - I also did the ID.me process months ago but never received any follow-up confirmation that it was properly linked to my EDD account. It s'infuriating that we can complete all the required steps but then get stuck because of backend processing issues we have no visibility into. Did the agent mention if this is a common problem they re'seeing? And how long did the Claimyr service take to connect you? I m'at my wit s'end with the regular phone lines and considering trying it myself. Thanks for taking the time to update us all - it really means a lot to know that these payment holds can actually be resolved!

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Yara Khoury

•3M

@Emma Wilson That s'such fantastic news! I ve'been following this whole thread because I m'dealing with a similar payment delay situation. The identity verification flag issue you discovered is really helpful to know about - I wonder how many of us are stuck because of these hidden backend problems that we can t'see. I completed my ID.me verification back in November but like others mentioned, never got clear confirmation it was fully processed on EDD s'side. It s'so frustrating that we have to be detective work to figure out what s'actually blocking our payments! Did the agent give you any tips on how to avoid this kind of issue in the future? And thanks for taking the time to come back and share your success - it really gives the rest of us hope that there IS a way to get these problems resolved!

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Mateo Rodriguez

•3M

@Emma Wilson That s'incredible news! I just joined this community because I ve'been having the exact same problem - missing payments for almost a month now and can t'get through to anyone at EDD. The identity verification flag issue you mentioned is really eye-opening because I also completed ID.me verification but never heard back about whether it was properly processed. It s'so frustrating that we can do everything we re'supposed to do but still get stuck because of these hidden system glitches. How much did the Claimyr service cost? I m'seriously considering it at this point since I ve'wasted so many hours trying to call directly. Thanks for sharing your solution - it gives those of us still stuck some real hope!

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Amina Bah

•3M

@Emma Wilson Congratulations on getting through! Your story gives me so much hope because I ve'been stuck in the same situation for weeks now. The identity verification flag issue is really enlightening - I completed my ID.me back in January but never got any confirmation that EDD actually processed it properly on their end. It s'maddening that we can jump through all the hoops they require but then get trapped by invisible backend issues. Did the agent mention how widespread this ID verification flag problem is? I m'definitely going to bring this up specifically when I finally reach someone. Also, if you don t'mind sharing, roughly what did the Claimyr service cost? I ve'been hesitant to try paid services but at this point I m'losing more money sitting in limbo than it would probably cost. Thanks for coming back to update everyone - it really helps to know these payment holds can actually be resolved!

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Maya Jackson

•3M

Just wanted to share another approach that worked for me after reading through all these comments. I was in a similar situation - missing payments for 3 weeks and couldn't get through on the phone. Instead of just calling the main numbers, I tried calling the EDD Disability Insurance (DI) line at 800-480-3287 and explained that I needed to be transferred to someone who could help with my unemployment claim payment issue. The DI line is usually less busy, and the rep was able to transfer me directly to a Tier 2 unemployment specialist without me having to go through the normal phone tree nightmare. Got through in about 15 minutes total! Turns out I had the same identity verification flag issue that Emma mentioned - apparently it's VERY common right now because of system updates they did in January. The agent told me they're seeing this problem daily where people complete ID.me but the flag doesn't get cleared automatically in their system. She said if you completed ID verification more than 60 days ago and are still having payment issues, there's a 90% chance it's this exact problem. Worth mentioning when you finally get through to someone!

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NeonNinja

•2M

Wow, that's such a clever workaround using the DI line! I never would have thought to try that approach. The fact that this identity verification flag issue is affecting 90% of people who completed ID.me over 60 days ago is shocking - no wonder so many of us are stuck in limbo! I'm definitely going to try calling the DI number tomorrow and mention this specific flag issue. Thanks for sharing this alternative method, it sounds way more promising than spending hours redialing the main lines. Did the Tier 2 specialist give you any timeline on when your payment should be released?

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Zainab Omar

•2M

This is brilliant advice! I've been banging my head against the wall trying the main EDD lines for over a week with zero success. The DI line transfer approach is so clever - I never would have thought to try that route. The 90% statistic about the ID verification flag issue is mind-blowing... it explains why so many of us are dealing with identical problems right now. I completed my ID.me back in December and have been stuck with pending payments ever since. I'm definitely calling that DI number first thing tomorrow morning and specifically mentioning the verification flag issue. Thank you for sharing this workaround - it gives me real hope that I might actually get through to someone who can help! @Maya Jackson did they give you any estimate on how long it takes for payments to be released once they clear that flag?

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Fidel Carson

•2M

@Maya Jackson This is such valuable information! I ve'been struggling with the same payment delays and had no idea about using the DI line as a backdoor to reach someone. The 90% statistic about ID verification flags is really eye-opening - it explains why there are so many of us dealing with identical issues. I completed my ID.me verification back in November but never got any follow-up confirmation that it was properly processed on EDD s'end. I m'definitely going to try calling that DI number tomorrow and specifically mention this verification flag problem. Did the Tier 2 specialist give you any timeline on when your payment should be released once they clear the flag? And were there any other common issues they mentioned seeing frequently? Thanks for sharing this creative workaround - it gives me real hope after weeks of getting nowhere with the main lines!

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Jayden Hill

•1M

I've been dealing with EDD payment issues for the past month and this thread has been incredibly helpful! After reading everyone's experiences, I tried the DI line approach that Maya suggested (800-480-3287) and it actually worked! Got transferred to a Tier 2 specialist in about 20 minutes. Turns out I had the same identity verification flag issue that's been mentioned multiple times here. The agent confirmed what Maya said - this is extremely common right now, especially for people who completed ID.me verification between November and February. She said they're processing hundreds of these flag removals daily because of system integration issues from their January updates. For anyone still struggling, here's what the specialist told me to expect: once they remove the flag, payments typically process within 24-48 hours. She also mentioned that if you've been stuck for more than 3 weeks with completed ID verification, you should specifically ask about "identity verification flags" and "ID.me integration status" when you get through to someone. The key is being persistent but also knowing exactly what to ask for. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences here - this community support makes such a difference when dealing with these frustrating system issues!

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Chloe Martin

•23d

@Jayden Hill Thank you so much for confirming that the DI line workaround actually works! I m'a newcomer here but have been lurking and reading everyone s'experiences because I m'dealing with the exact same payment delays. It s'incredibly frustrating being stuck in limbo for weeks without knowing what s'wrong. The identity verification flag issue seems to be affecting so many people - I completed my ID.me back in January and have been waiting for payments ever since. I m'definitely going to try calling that DI number tomorrow and ask specifically about identity "verification flags and" ID.me "integration status like" you mentioned. It s'such a relief to finally have concrete steps to take instead of just randomly calling and hoping for the best. This community has been a lifesaver for understanding what s'actually going on behind the scenes!

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Justin Chang

•12d

As someone who just joined this community after weeks of EDD frustration, I can't thank everyone enough for sharing these detailed experiences and solutions! I've been stuck with missing payments since early February and had no idea about the identity verification flag issue until reading this thread. I completed my ID.me verification back in January but like so many others here, never received any confirmation that it was properly integrated with my EDD account. The fact that this is affecting 90% of people who verified over 60 days ago explains SO much about why the phone lines are completely jammed and why we're all dealing with identical problems. I'm definitely going to try the DI line approach (800-480-3287) that Maya and Jayden confirmed works. Having specific terminology to use - "identity verification flags" and "ID.me integration status" - makes me feel like I finally have a real strategy instead of just desperately calling random numbers and hoping someone can help. It's honestly mind-blowing that such a widespread system issue isn't being communicated to claimants. We're all left thinking we did something wrong when it's actually a backend integration problem from EDD's January system updates. This community support has been invaluable for understanding what's really happening behind the scenes!

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