EDD phone maze driving me crazy - need to speak with a live agent but keep getting automated claim questions

SAME PROBLEM HERE!!! So frustrating!! I've called 23 times in the past 3 days and either get stuck in the automated loop or get disconnected after waiting 45+ minutes. The system is DESIGNED to prevent you from reaching actual humans. They don't want to help us!!!!

Try this sequence when you call: After the language prompt, press 1, then when it asks why you're calling, press 2 for employer, then 4 for other questions. Sometimes this routes you to a different queue with shorter wait times. Also try calling Tuesday-Thursday as Mondays and Fridays are their busiest days.

i had this same issue last month!!! what worked for me was calling exactly at 8:01 am, not 8 sharp when they open. for some reason the first minute everyone calls but by 8:01 you can sometimes get through. also try the 2511 number instead of the main one sometimes works better

I've been dealing with EDD for years, and reaching them has always been a challenge. The phone system is deliberately confusing. What you need to do is: 1. Call early (between 8:01-8:30am) 2. When asked for your SSN, DON'T enter it - this sometimes routes you differently 3. If prompted about filing a claim, say "no" or press 2 4. If you get the automated message about high call volume, hang up and immediately call back It's basically a numbers game - you might need to call 15-20 times in a row. Also, their call center staffing is higher mid-week (Tuesday-Thursday) than Monday/Friday.

Yes, they can look up your claim with your SSN when you finally reach them. The system just uses it initially to route you, and sometimes avoiding that initial routing helps get to a human faster.

If you're still having trouble getting through to EDD, I'd recommend trying Claimyr. They've developed a system that helps you skip the phone queue and connects you with an EDD representative much faster than calling directly. I was in the same boat as you last month - calling 30+ times with no luck. Claimyr got me through in about 25 minutes. Check out their demo video at https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km or visit claimyr.com. It was honestly worth it to save hours of frustration and getting disconnected.

Yes, they connected me directly to an actual EDD representative who could access my claim information. The service basically keeps calling on your behalf and then connects you once they get through. Saved me so much time and frustration.

I found a weird trick that worked for me... call their employer line instead (the 800-300-5616 option 2). When they realize you're a claimant, they'll usually transfer you rather than making you call back. Waited less than 15 mins last week doing this!

UPDATE: Success!!! Called at 8:03am, used the sequence that @helpful_guidance suggested (1, then 2 for employer, then 4), and got through after about a 35 minute wait. The rep was actually super helpful once I finally reached her. Thank you everyone for your suggestions!

They had put my claim on hold because they needed additional identity verification even though I'd already done ID.me. Turns out they never received the verification from ID.me system (tech glitch), so the rep manually noted it in my account and said my payments should process within 48 hours. Such a relief!

That's awesome that you got it resolved! The ID.me verification issues seem to be a common problem lately. I've been dealing with EDD for months and it's crazy how many technical glitches they have on their end that end up putting our claims on hold. Thanks for sharing all the phone tips in this thread - I'm bookmarking this post because I know I'll need to call them again soon. The fact that you had to jump through all these hoops just to tell them about THEIR system error is ridiculous, but at least you're getting paid now!