EDD online application rejecting employer's P.O. Box address - need help!
Hey everyone, I'm having trouble filing for unemployment online. The system keeps rejecting my application because my last employer's address is a P.O. Box. It's telling me to call in, but I can't get through on the phone. Has anyone else dealt with this? Any advice on how to get this sorted out?
25 comments

Amara Okafor
Ugh, I had the same issue! It's so frustrating when the online system can't handle simple things like P.O. Boxes. I ended up having to call in and wait on hold for hours. Good luck!
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CaptainAwesome
Hours on hold? That's insane! There's gotta be a better way 😤
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Yuki Tanaka
I feel ya. The whole system is a joke. I've been trying to get through for weeks now.
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Amara Okafor
Tell me about it! I thought technology was supposed to make things easier, not harder 🙄
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Esmeralda Gómez
I found a way to get someone on the phone! I used this site's (claimyr.com) calling tool that dials the phone menu, stays on hold, waits for a live agent to pick up, then sends the call to my phone. It does cost $20, but it works. Here's a video explaining it: https://youtu.be/Ize0EkN4HDI
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Klaus Schmidt
Sounds too good to be true. Is this legit?
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Esmeralda Gómez
Yeah, it's totally legit! I was skeptical at first too, but it saved me hours of frustration. Worth every penny imo.
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Aisha Patel
How long did it take for them to call you back?
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Esmeralda Gómez
It took about 2 hours for me, but I've heard it can vary. Still way better than trying to call yourself!
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LilMama23
Here's what you need to do: 1. Prepare all your info beforehand, including your last employer's PHYSICAL address (not the P.O. Box). 2. Try calling right when they open or just before they close. Those are usually the least busy times. 3. If you can't get through, keep trying. It's annoying, but persistence pays off. 4. When you finally reach someone, explain the P.O. Box issue calmly and ask them to update the address in the system. 5. Make sure to get a confirmation number or email for the changes they make. Hope this helps! The system is a pain, but hang in there.
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Liam Murphy
AuthorThank you so much for the detailed advice! I'll definitely try calling at those times. Do you know if there's a way to find out the physical address if I only have the P.O. Box?
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LilMama23
You could try looking up the company online or checking your old pay stubs. If all else fails, you might need to contact your former employer directly. Good luck!
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Dmitri Volkov
lol welcome to the wonderful world of bureaucracy 🤡 where nothing makes sense and everything is designed to make you pull your hair out
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Gabrielle Dubois
Have you tried reaching out to your former employer? Maybe they can provide you with a physical address to use instead of the P.O. Box. Worth a shot!
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Liam Murphy
AuthorThat's a good idea, I'll give it a try. Thanks!
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Tyrone Johnson
I swear, the unemployment system is stuck in the stone age. How hard is it to update their software to accept P.O. Boxes? 🤦♂️
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Ingrid Larsson
Probly cuz they're using some ancient COBOL program from the 80s lmao
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Carlos Mendoza
For real tho. My grandma's typewriter is more advanced than their systems 💀
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Zainab Mahmoud
Pro tip: If you cant get thru on the main line, try calling one of the foreign language lines and then ask to be transfered to an English-speaking rep. Sometimes those lines have shorter wait times.
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Ava Williams
Wow, that's actually pretty clever. I'm gonna try this next time!
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Samantha Johnson
I actually had this exact same problem a few months ago! What worked for me was going to the local EDD office in person. I know it's a hassle, but they were able to manually process my application and override the P.O. Box issue on the spot. Took about 2 hours total including the wait, but way better than being stuck in phone hell. If you decide to go that route, make sure to bring all your documents - ID, Social Security card, pay stubs, etc. They're pretty thorough but efficient once you get to talk to someone face-to-face.
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Joy Olmedo
I went through this exact same frustration a couple months back! The P.O. Box rejection drove me crazy. What finally worked for me was calling the EDD technical support line (not the regular claims line) at 1-800-300-5616. They have a separate queue for online application issues and the wait times are usually shorter. When I explained the P.O. Box problem, they were able to manually flag my application so I could complete it online with a note about the address issue. It took about 20 minutes on hold versus the hours I spent trying the main number. Definitely worth trying before doing the in-person route! Make sure you have your SSN and all employer info ready when you call.
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Ravi Kapoor
This is such a helpful tip! I had no idea there was a separate technical support line for online application issues. That makes so much sense - they probably deal with these P.O. Box problems all day long. Definitely going to try this number first before the other options. Thanks for sharing the specific number and your experience! 🙏
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Lindsey Fry
Just want to chime in as someone who's been lurking here for a while but finally created an account because this P.O. Box issue is driving me absolutely insane! I've been stuck on this same problem for over a week now. The system keeps telling me to call, but every time I try the main line it's either busy or I get disconnected after waiting forever. Reading through everyone's suggestions here gives me hope though! I'm definitely going to try Joy's technical support line tip first - that 1-800-300-5616 number sounds like it could be a game changer. If that doesn't work, I might bite the bullet and try that claimyr service Esmeralda mentioned, even though paying $20 feels frustrating when this should just work in the first place. Thanks to everyone who's shared their experiences and solutions. It's so reassuring to know I'm not the only one dealing with this ridiculous system glitch. Hopefully between all these different approaches, we can all get through this P.O. Box nightmare! 🤞
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Dominique Adams
Welcome to the club! 😅 I totally feel your frustration - I was in the exact same boat just a few weeks ago. That technical support line Joy shared is definitely worth trying first since it seems way more targeted for these kinds of system issues. And honestly, even though $20 for that claimyr service seems annoying, if it saves you hours of being on hold it might be worth it. I ended up spending way more than that on stress-eating while trying to get through the regular line! Keep us posted on what works for you - we're all rooting for each other here! 💪
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