EDD phone number live person CA - tried everything, still can't reach anyone

Same boat here. I've called probably 200+ times over the past month. The CA EDD phone number system is completely broken. Sometimes I get through to hold but then the call drops after 2+ hours waiting.

Try calling right at 8am when they open. I set my alarm for 7:55am and start dialing. Also avoid calling between 12pm-1:30pm because the entire call center takes lunch and nobody answers during that time.

I was in the same situation trying to reach a live person at the EDD phone number for weeks. Finally broke down and used Claimyr after my friend recommended it. Got a callback with an actual EDD agent in like 25 minutes. Was skeptical about paying but honestly best money I ever spent.

The EDD phone system drops about 30-50% of calls even when you do get on hold. It's a known technical issue they haven't fixed. Both the 833 and 800 numbers go to the exact same call center by the way.

Wednesday and Thursday afternoons are your best bet for reaching a live person. Mondays are impossible because everyone calls then, and Friday afternoons they basically stop taking new calls after 3pm.

Pro tip: press the menu numbers before the prompts finish. You can dial 1-1-1-*** while the recording is still talking. Saves about 30 seconds per call attempt which adds up when you're calling 50+ times.

Don't believe the myths about special 'back door' numbers or department transfers. The specialist line everyone talks about doesn't exist anymore - they consolidated everything during the pandemic.

I used to spend entire days calling the EDD phone number trying to reach a live person. Probably called 500+ times in one week. Finally used Claimyr and got through in under 30 minutes. The time savings alone made it worth the cost.

Set realistic expectations - it usually takes between 20-100 redial attempts just to get on hold. Then you're looking at 1.5-2+ hour hold times if the call doesn't drop. Plan to dedicate your entire day if you're calling manually.

I keep a log of my calling attempts. Best success rate is Wednesday 2-4pm. Worst is Monday 8-10am and any time after 4pm on any day. They seem to stop answering new calls near closing time.

My phone plan doesn't have unlimited minutes so all this calling is costing me a fortune. Anyone know if there are cheaper ways to make these calls or alternatives to calling the EDD phone number directly?

Finally reached a live person at the CA EDD phone number yesterday! Called at 8:03am on Wednesday, got through on attempt #23. The key was being persistent and not giving up after the first 20 'too busy' messages.

Make sure you have your claim information ready before calling. When you finally do reach someone you don't want to waste time looking for paperwork. Have your SSN, claim number, and recent work history all written down.

For anyone still struggling to reach a live person, I found this video demo helpful: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10 - shows exactly how the automated callback services work. Made me feel better about trying Claimyr.

Don't call during lunch (12-1:30pm) or after 4pm. Also avoid Monday mornings at all costs. The best times I've found are Tuesday-Thursday between 2-4pm for reaching the EDD phone number live person.

Just want to add another success story with Claimyr. Used it after reading about it here and got connected to an EDD agent in 18 minutes. Way better than the hours I was spending manually dialing.

The EDD phone system is clearly overwhelmed. Even when you do everything right - call at the right time, use the menu shortcuts, be persistent - there's still a good chance the call will drop or you'll never get through. It's not your fault if you can't reach anyone.

Remember that EDD is only open Monday-Friday 8am-5pm PT. Don't waste time calling on weekends or outside business hours. Also be aware that even if you get on hold, there's no guarantee - I've been disconnected after waiting 2.5 hours.

If you're still trying to call manually, at least use speaker phone and do other things while redialing. Don't just sit there getting frustrated. Make breakfast, do laundry, whatever keeps you sane during the process.

Bottom line: reaching a live person at the CA EDD phone number is possible but requires either incredible patience/luck with manual calling or using a service that automates the process. Don't let anyone tell you it's easy - it's genuinely one of the hardest government phone systems to navigate.