Can't get through to EDD for SDI/FMLA - phone line always at max capacity

Yes, that's the right number for SDI but it's absolutely useless trying to get through. I went through the exact same thing last month with my pregnancy disability claim. I found this service called Claimyr that actually connects you with an EDD rep. Saved my sanity! Their site is claimyr.com and they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km. It's basically an auto-dialer that holds your place in line and calls you when it gets through. Worth every penny because I was about to miss my deadline too.

You're calling the main SDI number, which is correct, but there's a more specific unit for FMLA/PFL claims - try (877) 238-4373 and press options 1, then 2, then 1 again at the prompts. This sometimes routes you to agents who handle specifically Paid Family Leave cases which sounds like what you might be dealing with. Also, don't call on Mondays or early mornings when volume is highest. Try Wednesday or Thursday around 3-4pm when many people aren't calling. Don't hang up if you get through the first menu - sometimes you'll get the max callers message at first but then get put in queue if you wait.

I HATE calling EDD!!!! Been thru this nightmare 3x now with my claims. The phone system is designed to make us give up I swear. One thing that helped me - if you have access to multiple phones (like your cell, work phone, home phone), call from all of them simultaneously on speaker. Eventually one might get through. That's how I finally reached someone after 2 weeks of trying. The system is rigged against us regular people!!!!

have u tried emailing them? sometimes thats faster. there should be a contact form on the edd website somewhere

the system totally sux and they dont care. its designed to make ppl give up their benefits. i had to drive to an actual edd office after trying to call for like a month. total waste of gas and time but at least i finally got my issue fixed. check if theres an office near u maybe??

I experienced the same issue with my SDI claim last month. Here are some strategies that may help: 1. Call precisely at 8:00 AM when their system opens - set an alarm for 7:58 AM and start dialing at exactly 8:00:00 2. Try calling on Wednesday afternoons between 2-4 PM when call volume tends to be lower 3. If you receive the maximum callers message, don't hang up immediately. Sometimes the system will place you in a queue after announcing the message if you stay on the line 4. Ensure you're selecting the correct options in the phone tree for SDI specifically 5. If your claim is online, check if there are any messages in your SDI Online account requiring a response 6. As a last resort, you can contact your state representative's office and ask for assistance with EDD - they often have dedicated staff for constituent services Best of luck with your claim!

I used Claimyr last week and got through to EDD in about 45 minutes after trying for days on my own. The rep I spoke with told me they're severely understaffed in the disability department right now because they shifted resources to handle regular unemployment. That's why it's nearly impossible to get through on your own. The rep I talked to was super helpful once I finally got connected.

I feel your pain! I went through this exact same nightmare with my SDI claim last year. Here's what finally worked for me: I called the main number at exactly 8:00 AM on a Wednesday using the redial feature on my phone. I set up my phone to automatically redial every 30 seconds while I did other things. After about 2 hours of this, I finally got through to the queue instead of the max capacity message. The key is persistence and timing - avoid Mondays and Fridays at all costs. Also, make sure you have all your paperwork ready before you call because once you get through, you want to handle everything in one call. The wait time was still 1.5 hours once I got in the queue, but at least I was making progress. Don't give up - you've got 10 days which is more time than you think if you're strategic about it!