EDD phone hell - tried 47 times today, any secret tricks to get through?

Call exactly at 8:01am when they open. Don't call right at 8:00 because everyone does that and system crashes. I got through on my 3rd try doing this last week. Also, select the option for employer services first, then when someone answers, explain you need to be transferred to claims. Worked for me!

lol good luck. been trying 4 weeks straight. edd is useless

The best approach is actually to be strategic about WHICH number you call and WHEN. There are multiple EDD phone numbers, and not all are equally busy. For general UI questions: 1-800-300-5616 (this is always the busiest). For technical UI Online help: 1-833-978-2511 (sometimes easier to reach). For employer questions: 1-866-333-4606 (can sometimes transfer you). Timing-wise, mid-week (Tuesday-Thursday) tends to be better than Mondays or Fridays. The sweet spots are 10:30-11:30am and 2:30-3:30pm when call volume typically dips. Also, when your call connects, listen carefully to the prompts. For the main UI line, I've had success with 1→2→4 as my sequence of responses to get to a rep faster. If you need to address pending certifications specifically, make sure to mention that immediately when you reach someone, as they may need to transfer you to a tier 2 specialist.

not sure if this still works but last yr when i was dealing with pending payments i would call right at 12:01pm when all the reps come back from lunch. got thru twice that way

I was in your EXACT situation last month with 4 pending payments and couldn't get through for weeks. I finally used Claimyr service (claimyr.com) and it worked on the first try. They basically call EDD for you and then call you when they have an agent on the line. I was super skeptical but was desperate after trying for so long. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km Totally worth it to finally get my pending payments resolved. The rep I spoke with fixed everything in about 10 minutes once I actually got through.

Have u tried using the Contact EDD function in ur UI Online account? Sometimes they respond to those messages within a few days & can fix pending status without phone call. Worth a shot while ur still trying to get thru by phone.

The EDD phone system is absolutely INFURIATING!!! I spent TWO WHOLE MONTHS trying to get through last year when they disqualified me for supposedly not responding to some interview notice I NEVER RECEIVED. When I finally got through, the rep admitted they sent it to my old address despite me updating my contact info! Here's what finally worked for me: Call the main number (800-300-5616), then immediately press 1, wait for next prompt, press 2, then after next prompt press 4. DON'T press anything else and DON'T select the option to have them call you back - that system is a joke. Stay on hold no matter how long it takes. Also, Thursdays seem to have lower call volume for some reason. And NEVER EVER call on Mondays - that's when everyone who certified over the weekend is calling about their payments.

Just to add to my earlier comment - since you mentioned having 3 pending certifications, there's likely an eligibility issue or identity verification problem that needs addressing. When you do reach a representative, make sure to ask specifically: 1. Is there an eligibility interview scheduled? If so, when? 2. Are there any identity verification issues with your claim? 3. Has your claim been flagged for any reason? This information will help you understand exactly what's holding up your payments. Sometimes representatives can clear simple flags immediately, but other times they'll need to schedule an eligibility interview, which can take 2-3 weeks. If that's the case, ask if they can expedite it due to financial hardship.

Just wanted to update that I called using the 8:01am trick this morning and actually got through! Was on hold for about 35 minutes, but finally spoke with someone who helped resolve my pending payments. They said there was a quarterly review flag on my account that needed manual clearing. All payments should process in the next 24-48 hours. Thanks everyone for the suggestions!