EDD phone nightmare - need working number that doesn't hang up after 3 hours
I'm at my breaking point with EDD's phone system. I've been trying to reach someone for TWO WEEKS about my claim status showing 'pending' with no explanation. Every time I call the main number (1-800-300-5616), I get the same recorded message about 'high call volume' and then it hangs up! When I finally got through once last Thursday, I waited for 3.5 hours and the call disconnected right when an agent was supposed to pick up. I've tried calling at different times (early morning, lunch, late afternoon) and different days, but it's impossible to reach anyone. My rent is due next week and I haven't received any payments since filing 6 weeks ago. My claim status just shows 'pending' with no explanation or alerts. Does ANYONE have a direct number that actually works? A specific extension? Or some trick to get through? I'm totally desperate at this point and can't afford to keep wasting hours on failed calls.
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Mateo Hernandez
Omg i feel you!! Same exact thing happened 2 me last month. Calling is usless, i tried for 3 weeks and never talked to anyone. Kept getting that stupid 'we're experiencing higher than normal call volume' message. Sometimes i got through the menu and waited 2+ hours only to get hung up on. I was literally crying everyday!!!
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NebulaNova
•It's so frustrating! Did you ever get through? What finally worked for you? I'm afraid my claim is going to be stuck forever in this pending status.
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Aisha Khan
The trick is to call right when they open at 8:00 AM, but not the main number. Try the technical support line at 1-833-978-2511 instead. When the automated system asks, press 1 for English, then 1, 2, 4 in that sequence. Sometimes they can transfer you to a claim specialist. It's still hit-or-miss, but I've had better luck with this approach than the main line.
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NebulaNova
•Thank you!! Will try this first thing tomorrow morning. Do I need to have any specific information ready when they answer? My customer account number or anything?
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Ethan Taylor
hey i was in the same boat last month! Tried calling 843 times (yes I counted) over 3 weeks and nothing. Then someone told me about Claimyr and it actually worked! They basically call EDD for you and then connect you when they get through to an agent. Saved me like 10+ hours of redial hell. Check out their demo video: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km and website is claimyr.com
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Yuki Ito
•Is that even legit? Sounds sketchy to have some random service calling EDD on your behalf. Did you actually have success with them?
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Ethan Taylor
•Yeah it worked for me! I was skeptical too but I was desperate after weeks of not getting through. They don't actually talk to EDD for you - they just connect you when they get through the phone queue. Then you talk directly to the EDD rep yourself.
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Carmen Lopez
The whole EDD phone system is DESIGNED TO FAIL. It's not a bug, it's a feature!!! They WANT to make it impossible to talk to a human so fewer people get benefits. That's why they hang up instead of having a proper queue system like literally any other call center in America. I've been fighting with them for 3 months over my disqualification and every single time I try to call it's the same garbage. This system is BROKEN BY DESIGN.
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AstroAdventurer
•this is so true lol. my friend works for a diff state agency and says EDD is famous for being the most dysfunctional dept in CA gov
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Andre Dupont
Call the UI automated self-service line at 1-866-333-4606 first, then select your language, then enter your SSN and EDD Customer Account Number. If you get through, there's an option to file a callback request that puts you in the queue. I had a callback within 48 hours this way. But before trying to call again, you should check your UI Online account carefully. Go to History, then Transactions to see if there's any flags or issues listed that might explain the pending status. Sometimes there are eligibility issues that need documentation but the notices get lost in the mail.
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NebulaNova
•Thank you so much! I tried looking in Transactions but don't see any flags or notices. The only thing I can see is that my claim is pending, but no explanation why. I'll try the callback option right now!
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Ethan Taylor
lol guys i literally spent 2 weeks trying every trick in this thread before i gave up. the 1-866 number hangs up too and the callback option doesn't work half the time. the 8am trick only works if u start dialing at exactly 7:59:50 and even then it's like winning the lottery
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Carmen Lopez
•EXACTLY. It's all smoke and mirrors. I've tried every "special trick" and extension combination people post about and NONE of it works reliably. The system is fundamentally broken and understaffed.
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Aisha Khan
Another important thing: while you're trying to get through on the phone, make sure you're still certifying for benefits every two weeks on time. Even if your claim is pending, don't miss your certification dates. Many people focus so much on calling that they miss certification and that creates a whole new problem that can further delay payments.
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NebulaNova
•Yes, I've been certifying every two weeks on time! That's what's so frustrating - I've done everything correctly, certified on time, answered all questions honestly, and still stuck in pending with no explanation and no way to talk to anyone.
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Andre Dupont
Update for anyone still following: I called the technical support line that someone suggested above (1-833-978-2511) at exactly 8:00 AM this morning, went through the prompts, and after a 45-minute wait, I got through to a representative! They were able to see that my identity verification was flagged for a manual review, which was causing the pending status. The representative expedited the review, and they said my payments should be processed within 3-5 business days. For anyone else stuck in pending status - sometimes it's an identity verification issue that needs manual intervention. Keep trying the phone numbers early in the morning!
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NebulaNova
•OMG THANK YOU for the update! I'm going to try this exactly as you described tomorrow morning. So happy you got through and got it resolved! Gives me hope!
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Mateo Hernandez
•congrats!! thats awesome news! gonna try this number tomorrow too!
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