EDD phone lines open today? + SDI prompt shortcuts needed
Anyone know if EDD phone lines are open today (President's Day)? Need to talk to someone ASAP about my claim. Also, has anyone figured out the magic sequence of prompts to get through to an SDI rep quickly? Last time I called about my disability claim I was on hold for 2+ hours before I just gave up. Really need to get this sorted this week!
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Mateo Hernandez
EDD offices are CLOSED today for President's Day - it's a federal holiday. You'll have to wait until tomorrow. For SDI specifically, I've had luck calling right when they open at 8:00 am. The prompt sequence that worked for me last month was: Press 1 for English, then 2 for claim questions, then 1 again for SDI claims, then 4 to speak to a representative. Wait times are still brutal though, even with the "right" prompts.
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Nia Jackson
•Ugh that's what I was afraid of 😩 Thanks for the prompt sequence though, I'll try first thing tomorrow morning!
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CosmicCruiser
there open tomorrow regular hours i think 8-12 and 1-5 or something. not sure about disability tho might be different dept
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Aisha Khan
•Actually, SDI and regular unemployment have the same hours (8am-5pm) but they're different departments with different phone numbers. SDI is at 1-800-480-3287 while regular UI is 1-800-300-5616. Make sure you're calling the right one depending on your claim type!
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Ethan Taylor
I was in the same boat last week trying to reach someone about my SDI claim. Felt like I was going crazy with all the automated menus!
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Nia Jackson
•Right?? The automated system is seriously maddening. Did you eventually get through to anyone?
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Yuki Ito
I've had good results using Claimyr to get through to EDD agents. It works for both UI and SDI claims - saved me hours of frustration. They connect you directly to an agent without the endless hold times. Their site is claimyr.com and they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km For SDI specifically, I'd recommend trying to call normal EDD hours but use their service to bypass the wait. Much less stressful than trying to game the phone system yourself.
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Nia Jackson
•Oh wow, never heard of this before. Is it legit? Seems too good to be true honestly. Has anyone else tried it?
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Aisha Khan
•It's legitimate. I was skeptical too but used it a few months ago when I couldn't get through about my disability paperwork issues. They basically use a system that keeps dialing for you until they get through, then call you to connect. Saved me a ton of time and frustration.
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Carmen Lopez
Whats the difference between SDI and reglar unemployment i filed for unemployment but now im wondering if i should have done disability instead??? Im so confused
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Mateo Hernandez
•They're completely different programs. UI (Unemployment Insurance) is for when you lose your job through no fault of your own but are able and available to work. SDI (State Disability Insurance) is for when you can't work temporarily because of a non-work-related illness or injury, pregnancy, or childbirth. You can't collect both at the same time because UI requires you to be able to work, while SDI is specifically for when you can't work. If you're unable to work due to a medical condition, SDI is the appropriate program.
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Andre Dupont
The EDD phone system is GARBAGE. Been dealing with them for months about my claim and every time it's like pulling teeth to get through. I've tried all the "tricks" - calling at 8:01am, calling at 4:55pm, trying different prompts, hanging up and calling again if I get certain messages. None of it works consistently. The system is INTENTIONALLY designed to keep you from reaching a human being. It's absolutely infuriating. And don't get me started on their website that looks like it was built in 1997 and constantly has "scheduled maintenance" exactly when you need to certify.
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Ethan Taylor
•So true! And after waiting forever, sometimes they just disconnect you for no reason! 😡
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Aisha Khan
Since we're talking about SDI specifically - make sure you have your claim number and ID ready when you call. The SDI department typically asks for verification before discussing your claim details. Also, if your question is about medical certification, sometimes reaching out to your doctor to make sure they submitted their portion correctly is faster than waiting on EDD to sort it out. One lesser-known tip: If you're having issues with your claim that you can't resolve by phone, you can actually schedule an in-person appointment at certain EDD offices. These are often easier to get than successfully reaching someone by phone.
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Nia Jackson
•I had no idea you could do in-person appointments! That might actually be easier than dealing with the phone system. Do you know how to schedule those?
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Aisha Khan
•You need to call the main SDI number and specifically request an in-person appointment. Not all offices offer them and they're limited, but worth asking about. You can also check the EDD website for office locations that handle SDI claims since not all of them do.
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