Do all EDD unemployment claims require phone interviews? Confused about my pending claim

No, not everyone gets a phone interview. They're only required when there's an eligibility issue that needs clarification. Common reasons include: quitting your job, being fired for misconduct, refusing suitable work, or having availability limitations. If your layoff was straightforward and you meet all eligibility requirements, you might not need an interview at all. Check your UI Online account for any notifications or messages about pending eligibility issues. If your account doesn't show any flags and just says 'pending,' it might just be in the standard processing queue.

i had 2 wait 6 whole weeks before even gettin an intrvw last yr. system is broke af

I filed in January and NEVER had an interview. My claim went from pending to paid after about 10 days. But my sister-in-law had to do an interview because she had quit her previous job before the one she got laid off from. So I think it really depends on your specific situation and what you put on your application. Did you indicate any of these on your application? - Quit a job in the last 18 months - Were fired/terminated for cause - Are working part-time - Have availability restrictions - Have any non-citizen work authorization issues If you answered yes to ANY of those, you'll probably get an interview. If not, you might just sail through without one!

I've been through the EDD process multiple times (seasonal construction worker), and here's what I've learned: Phone interviews are specifically for resolving eligibility questions. From what you're describing - a straightforward layoff with no complications - you probably won't need one. BUT - the 'pending' status can sometimes stay that way for weeks even without interview requirements. If your claim stays pending for more than 10-14 days, you should try contacting EDD. And we all know how impossible that can be with their phone lines constantly jammed. I'd recommend using Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to an EDD representative. It helped me skip the busy signals and connect with an agent when my claim was stuck in pending for no apparent reason. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km Sometimes just talking to a live person can get your claim processed immediately, even without a formal interview.

omg the phone interviews are the WORST! I had one last year and the interviewer didn't even call at the scheduled time!!! had to wait ANOTHER week for them to reschedule. total nightmare. hope u dont have to deal with that!!!

To provide some additional clarity: EDD applies a determination process to every claim. Think of it like a flowchart. Clean claims (straightforward layoffs with no complicating factors) typically flow through without interviews. Any answers on your application that raise potential eligibility flags will trigger an interview requirement. Some statistics from my experience helping people with claims (I'm a former workforce development counselor): About 30-40% of claimants require interviews. The rest process without them. Current processing times for non-interview claims are running about 10-14 calendar days (not business days). If your claim status changes from pending to "pending eligibility interview," then you'll receive a notice with a scheduled date and time. Otherwise, continue certifying for benefits every two weeks while waiting for the pending status to change to paid.

quick question sorry to jump in - do you know if the phone interviews are recorded??? im worried about saying the wrong thing

UPDATE: My claim just changed from pending to paid this morning! No interview required after all. It took exactly 11 days from filing to approval. Thanks everyone for your help and information! For anyone reading this later - it seems if your case is straightforward (simple layoff, no complications), you might not need an interview at all.