EDD phone interview confusion - they gave me a number to call instead of them calling me
I'm really confused about my upcoming EDD phone interview this Thursday. The notice I received has a specific phone number for me to call at my scheduled time, but it's not the regular EDD number I'm familiar with. I always thought EDD representatives call YOU for these eligibility interviews, not the other way around. The paper specifically states I need to call them at this number during my appointment window (10:15-12:15). Has anyone experienced this before? Is this a new procedure they're implementing in 2025 or could this be some kind of mistake? I don't want to miss my interview and have my benefits delayed because I misunderstood the instructions. Thanks in advance for any help!
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Fatima Al-Maktoum
ya this happened to me 2 months ago, its legit. they switched to this new system where u call them instead. make sure u call right at ur start time not at the end of the window or they might not pick up
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Giovanni Rossi
•Thanks for confirming! Did you have to wait on hold for a long time? I'm worried about getting through during the exact start time with how busy their lines usually are.
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Dylan Mitchell
This is the new process EDD implemented in early 2025. Instead of them calling you (which used to result in many missed interviews because people didn't recognize the number and let it go to voicemail), they now have you call into a specific queue reserved for scheduled interviews. The number they provided is legitimate - it's a direct line to their eligibility determination unit. Make sure you: 1. Call exactly at your start time (10:15 in your case) 2. Have your claim ID and social security number ready 3. Be prepared to explain your employment separation situation 4. Have any supporting documents nearby (final paystub, termination letter, etc.) If you call at your designated time, you shouldn't have a long wait. The new system actually works much better than the old one where you'd sit around all day waiting for them to call.
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Giovanni Rossi
•Thank you so much for the detailed explanation! This makes me feel a lot better. I'll definitely have all my documents ready and call right at 10:15.
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Sofia Gutierrez
I had one of these last month and I almost messed up by waiting for them to call ME! Luckily I double-checked the letter about 30 min before my window ended and realized I needed to call THEM. They answered pretty quickly when I finally called the right number.
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Giovanni Rossi
•Oh wow, glad you caught that in time! I'll definitely be calling them rather than waiting around. Thanks for sharing your experience.
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Dmitry Petrov
Make sure to check if the number is actually an EDD number though. There are unfortunately some scams going around. The legitimate EDD interview numbers usually start with specific area codes (usually 916, 925, or 619). If you're worried, you can always call the main EDD number first thing in the morning to verify if the interview number is legitimate. Just be prepared for a long wait time on the regular number.
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Giovanni Rossi
•The number does start with 916, so I think it's legitimate. But you're right, it doesn't hurt to verify. I'll try calling the main EDD line tomorrow morning just to be safe.
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StarSurfer
THIS SYSTEM IS SO BROKEN!!! I had an "interview" last month and called the special number they gave me EXACTLY at my appointment time and guess what? I sat on hold for 45 MINUTES and when someone finally answered they said my case wasn't even in their system yet!!! Had to reschedule and wait ANOTHER 3 WEEKS for benefits. EDD is completely incompetent and they keep changing their procedures without proper notification. Don't expect this to go smoothly!
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Ava Martinez
•The same thing happened to me too! But when I called back the next day, a different agent found my case immediately. I think it depends on which agent answers your call honestly.
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Miguel Castro
If you're having trouble getting through to EDD during your scheduled time, I'd recommend trying Claimyr. It helped me connect with an EDD representative quickly when I had my phone interview issues last month. Basically, they get you through the hold times and directly to an agent. I was skeptical at first but their service works - you can check out their video demo at https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km or visit claimyr.com. For scheduled interviews specifically, they can help if you're having trouble with the line being busy or if you need to verify the number is legitimate.
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Fatima Al-Maktoum
•does this actually work? ive been trying to reach EDD for days
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Zainab Abdulrahman
I went thru this too!!! So confusing why they changed it! I called the number they gave me and it was actually faster than when they used to call me. The interviewer was really nice too, didn't feel like an interrogation like I expected lol
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Giovanni Rossi
•That's reassuring to hear! I've been stressing about this interview, so it's good to know it might not be as intimidating as I'm imagining.
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Dylan Mitchell
One more important tip: If for some reason you can't get through during your scheduled window (technical issues, emergencies, etc.), call the main EDD line as soon as possible afterward and explain the situation. They can usually reschedule you without imposing a penalty or disqualification period if you have a reasonable explanation for missing the interview. Don't wait for them to contact you about a missed interview - be proactive.
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Giovanni Rossi
•Thank you for this additional advice. I'll definitely be proactive if anything goes wrong with the call. I've set multiple reminders so I don't forget to make the call at exactly 10:15.
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Sofia Gutierrez
what questions did they ask during ur interview? im so nervous about mine next week
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Dylan Mitchell
•Typical EDD eligibility interview questions include: - The specific reason your employment ended (layoff, fired, quit, etc.) - Dates of employment and last day worked - If you quit: why you left and what steps you took to resolve issues before quitting - If fired: the specific reason given by employer - Any severance or vacation pay received - Current job search efforts The key is to be honest, specific, and to the point. The interviewer is primarily determining if you meet eligibility requirements under unemployment insurance law.
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Giovanni Rossi
UPDATE: I had my phone interview today and it went well! Called the number at exactly 10:15 as suggested, only waited about 5 minutes before someone answered. The interviewer was professional and the whole thing took about 15 minutes. They mostly verified information about why I was laid off and made sure the dates matched what my employer reported. Thanks everyone for the helpful advice - the new system where we call them actually worked pretty smoothly in my case!
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