EDD mail claim processing time? Still waiting after 3 weeks with no eligibility determination

I submitted a paper claim back in January when my ID.me verification was giving me issues. It took almost 5 weeks to hear anything back! Turns out they were completely backed up with processing mail claims. What finally worked for me was using Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to an EDD agent by phone. Their service connected me to an actual human at EDD who confirmed they had received my application but it was sitting in a processing queue. Saved me another week or two of anxiety waiting. Check out their demo video if you're interested: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km

Mail claims take FOREVER!!!!!! I waited 6 weeks and nothing then suddenly got 3 letters on the same day from EDD. System is completely broken. They expect us to starve while they take their sweet time??

Paper applications typically take 3-5 weeks for processing according to what an EDD rep told me when I had issues with my claim. The timeline depends on current workload and staffing. Here's what I recommend: 1. Create a UI Online account if you haven't already - sometimes your claim info will appear there even before you get mail notification 2. Try calling at precisely 8:01am when they open - this timing worked for me 3. If you provided an email address on your application, check spam folders regularly 4. At the 4-week mark, you can submit an inquiry through AskEDD on their website specifically about your claim status It's frustrating, but the paper applications do move through the system, just more slowly than online submissions.

same thing happend to me but worse lol. I waited 4 weeks then got a letter saying they needed additional info that I already sent with my original application!! had to send it again and wait another 3 weeks. total nightmare

Did you call the 833 number or the 800 number? There's a huge difference. The 833 number is basically useless but the 800-300-5616 number can actually get you to claims specialists who can see your application status.

I'd recommend calling first thing when they open at 8am. If your claim has already been in processing for 3+ weeks, an EDD representative should be able to see it in their system and tell you its status. The mail processing times have improved since the pandemic peak, but they're still running behind their target timeframes. If calling doesn't work, there's an option to request a callback on the EDD Contact page, though those can take 3-5 business days. I'd also suggest checking your UI Online account daily - sometimes information appears there before you receive physical mail. One important note: make sure you're certifying for weeks even if you haven't received eligibility confirmation yet. You can do this through UI Online or by mailing in the continued claim forms if you received them.

Update: I got through to EDD this morning! Took about 17 calls, but finally got past the automatic hang-up message. The representative confirmed they received my paper application and it's in the system, but hasn't been processed yet. She said they're currently processing mail applications from about 4 weeks ago, so mine should come up for review next week. She also helped me verify my UI Online account is properly linked to my claim. Thanks everyone for your advice and sharing your experiences!

Congrats on getting through @Xan Dae! That's awesome that you got confirmation your application is in the system. Just wanted to add - when you do start receiving those documents that @Axel Bourke mentioned, make sure you respond to them ASAP. I made the mistake of taking a few extra days to send back my continued claim form and it delayed my first payment by another week. Also, if you get any requests for additional documentation, send it right away even if you think you already provided it. The EDD system isn't perfect and sometimes things get separated from your original application. You're in the home stretch now!

The mail processing times are definitely frustrating! I went through this same situation last year and it took about 4.5 weeks before I got my first letter from EDD. What helped me stay sane during the wait was setting up text alerts through UI Online (if you haven't already) - sometimes you'll get notifications there before the physical mail arrives. Also, don't forget that once you do get approved, your benefits will be backdated to when you first filed, so you won't lose those weeks of eligibility. The waiting is the hardest part, but hang in there - it sounds like you're right on track timing-wise based on what others have shared!

I'm currently going through this exact same situation! Filed my paper application 2.5 weeks ago after the online system kept timing out on me. It's so nerve-wracking not knowing what's happening with your claim. Reading through everyone's experiences here is really reassuring though - sounds like 3-5 weeks is pretty standard for mail processing. I've been checking my UI Online account daily but nothing shows up yet. @Xan Dae I'm so glad you got confirmation that your application is in the system! That gives me hope. I think I'll try calling tomorrow morning right at 8am like others suggested. Has anyone had luck with the chat feature on the EDD website, or is calling really the only way to get actual information about your claim status?

I'm in week 4 of waiting for my mail application to be processed and this thread has been incredibly helpful! It's so frustrating that the EDD online system is so unreliable that we're forced to mail applications, then have to wait forever. @Xan Dae congratulations on getting through and getting confirmation! That gives me hope. I tried calling yesterday but couldn't get past the busy signal. Going to try the 8am strategy tomorrow. One thing I wanted to add for anyone else waiting - I contacted my state assembly member's office last week and they said they can sometimes help expedite EDD issues if you've been waiting longer than the normal timeframe. They have a constituent services department that works directly with EDD. Might be worth trying if you're past the 5-week mark with no response. Has anyone else tried going through their elected representatives for help with EDD delays?

Just wanted to chime in as someone who went through this exact situation about 6 months ago. I filed by mail after the online system kept crashing during my ID verification, and it took exactly 4 weeks and 2 days to get my first letter from EDD. The waiting was absolutely brutal, especially watching my bank account dwindle down. What really helped me was creating a daily routine to manage the anxiety - I'd check my UI Online account first thing in the morning, then check physical mail in the afternoon, but I forced myself to only do those checks ONCE per day instead of obsessively refreshing/checking. It sounds silly, but it really helped my mental health during the wait. Also want to echo what others have said about the backdating - once you do get approved, you'll receive all the benefits you're entitled to from your initial filing date. The system is frustrating and slow, but it does work eventually. Hang in there!

I'm currently in week 2 of waiting for my mailed application to be processed, and this entire thread has been so incredibly helpful! I ended up having to mail my application because the online system kept giving me error messages during the final submission step - so frustrating that their own technical issues force us into this slower process. Reading everyone's experiences here is really reassuring though. It sounds like 3-5 weeks is pretty standard, and knowing that benefits get backdated takes away some of the panic about "losing" these weeks. @Xan Dae so glad you got confirmation your application is in the system! That's exactly the kind of update I needed to hear. I'm definitely going to try the 8am calling strategy once I hit week 3. For anyone else in the early stages of waiting, I've found it helpful to screenshot all these timeline estimates people have shared - it gives me realistic expectations instead of just stressing about the unknown. Thanks to everyone for sharing your experiences and advice!

I'm currently in week 5 of waiting for my mailed unemployment application to be processed, and this thread has been such a lifesaver! Like many of you, I had to mail my application because the online system kept crashing during submission. The financial stress is definitely real - I've been rationing groceries and had to ask family for help with rent last week. Reading everyone's experiences here has helped me understand that 3-5+ weeks seems to be the norm for mail processing, which is both frustrating and reassuring. I tried the 8am calling strategy that several people mentioned and finally got through yesterday! The rep confirmed my application is in the system and should be processed within the next week or two. She also mentioned that there's currently about a 4-5 week backlog for mailed applications due to staffing issues and the high volume of people who can't complete online applications due to technical problems. For anyone still waiting - hang in there! The system is slow but it does work eventually, and knowing that benefits will be backdated helps ease some of the panic.

I'm in a similar situation - just mailed my application last week after the online system kept freezing during the identity verification step. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly helpful and reassuring! It's frustrating that EDD's own technical issues are forcing so many of us into this slower mail process, but knowing that 3-5 weeks seems to be the standard timeline helps set realistic expectations. @Alice Pierce I'm sorry you're dealing with financial stress while waiting - that's exactly what I'm worried about as my savings dwindle. But it's encouraging that you got confirmation your application is in the system! I'm definitely going to try the 8am calling strategy once I hit the 3-week mark. Thank you to everyone who has shared their timelines and advice - this community has been a lifesaver for understanding what's actually normal vs. what to worry about. The fact that benefits get backdated is such a relief to know!