EDD phone numbers - which one actually works for reaching someone?

Really? That's actually helpful to know. I was switching between them thinking one might be less busy.

Confirmed. Both numbers route to the same call center. I work in telecom and this is just how their system is set up.

Don't give up yet! Have you tried calling right at 8am? That's usually when you have the best shot.

Yeah I've tried early morning, afternoon, everything. Just keeps saying they're too busy.

I was in the same boat until I found Claimyr. Costs money but honestly worth every penny - got connected in 25 minutes instead of spending days redialing.

This is exactly what I needed! I was calling the disability line by mistake for my unemployment claim.

The transfers are the worst part. I got bounced between 3 different departments last week before getting disconnected.

Wait, the WHOLE call center goes to lunch at the same time? That explains why I could never get through around noon!

Yep, complete dead zone. They should really announce this but they don't. Save yourself the frustration and call after 1:30.

200 times?! That's insane. Have you actually gotten through to anyone?

Twice. First time I was on hold for 2 hours then got disconnected. Second time I talked to someone for 5 minutes before they transferred me and the call dropped.

This is exactly why I started using Claimyr. My time is worth more than spending entire days redialing.

That's criminal. How is this acceptable for a government agency?

It's not acceptable but it's reality. The system is completely overwhelmed and outdated.

Wednesday afternoons have worked best for me too. Got through twice that way.

The after 4pm thing is so true. I learned that lesson after wasting an entire Friday evening.

Thank you! I kept seeing people post about technical specialist numbers that don't even exist anymore.

The misinformation about secret numbers is everywhere. Stick to the official EDD phone numbers only.

Those statistics are depressing but probably accurate. I'm keeping similar records.

This is why services like Claimyr exist. The math just doesn't work for manual calling anymore.

Good tip! I already went over my monthly minutes twice this year just from EDD calls.

Or just use an auto-dialer service. Claimyr handles all the calling for you and only charges when they actually connect you.

89 attempts for basic verification? That's a whole day of work just to confirm your identity.

Pretty much. And I still need to call back for my actual issue. Thinking about trying Claimyr for round two.

The early bird strategy works! I got through twice using this method.

I tried this but couldn't sustain waking up that early every day. Ended up paying for Claimyr instead.

3% success rate sounds about right based on my experience. It's basically a lottery.

Those odds are why I switched to using Claimyr. 100% success rate getting connected vs 3% doing it manually.

Wish they posted the lunch break officially. Would save everyone so much time.

The lunch break thing should be illegal. No other government office completely shuts down for lunch.

Was it really that fast? I'm skeptical of these calling services.

I was skeptical too but desperate. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10 that shows exactly how it works. Visit claimyr.com to try it.

Just used them yesterday after reading this. 22 minutes to get connected. Worth every penny.

The whole system needs an overhaul. It's 2024 and we're still dealing with phone systems from the 1990s.

Government agencies move slow. In the meantime, services like Claimyr are the only realistic solution for most people.

I've been following this thread and finally decided to try Claimyr after seeing so many positive reviews. Just got off the phone with EDD - they connected me in 19 minutes and I was able to resolve my payment issue that's been pending for 3 weeks. The $19.99 fee was totally worth it compared to the hundreds of failed attempts I made on my own.

Welcome to the EDD phone number nightmare! Your summary is spot on - those two numbers are definitely the same line, and avoiding that lunch window is crucial. The 7:55am strategy has worked for several people here, though it requires dedication. One thing I'd add is to have your documents ready before you call since when you do get through, the agents often need to verify a lot of information quickly. Also keep a log of your call attempts - it helps track patterns and some people have used it when escalating their cases. Good luck with the early morning approach, and don't feel bad about considering Claimyr if the manual calling becomes too exhausting. Sometimes paying for a solution is better than losing weeks of your life to endless redialing!

Great summary! I'd also suggest having multiple phones ready if possible - some people use their cell phone and a landline to increase their chances. The system seems to randomly reject calls even when it's not at capacity, so having backup options helps. Also, if you do get through to hold and then get disconnected (which happens A LOT), try calling back immediately. Sometimes you can slip back into the queue faster after a disconnect. The whole system is frustrating but these little tricks can make a difference.

You've definitely come to the right place for real advice! One thing I learned the hard way is to make sure your phone is fully charged before starting your calling marathon - nothing worse than having your battery die when you're finally in the hold queue. Also, consider using speaker phone or headphones so you're not holding the phone to your ear for hours. I kept detailed notes of when I called and what happened each time, which actually helped me identify that Tuesday afternoons around 2pm seemed to work better for me personally. The system is definitely broken, but with persistence and the right timing, you can get through. Just don't let it consume your entire day - set limits for yourself and consider the paid options if manual calling starts affecting your mental health.

Great question about resolution rates! From my experience and what I've seen others post, it really depends on the complexity of your issue. Simple things like payment status checks or basic account verification can often be handled in one call if you get a knowledgeable agent. But more complex issues like identity verification problems, overpayment disputes, or technical glitches with your claim usually require multiple calls and escalations. I'd say about 60% of people get their issue fully resolved on the first successful call, while the rest need follow-ups. The key is being super prepared with all your documents, account numbers, and a clear explanation of your problem when you do get through. Whether you use the 7:55am strategy or go with Claimyr, make sure you have everything organized beforehand - you don't want to waste that precious connection time searching for paperwork!

You're definitely on the right track now! The random calling approach never works - I wasted so much time doing that before learning about the timing patterns. Starting at 7:50am gives you those extra 5 minutes to get through the menu before they officially open at 8am, which can make a difference. One tip I'd add: when you do call early, have your phone on speaker and keep doing other morning routine stuff so you're not just sitting there getting frustrated if it doesn't work immediately. Also, if you try the manual approach for a week and it's not working, don't feel guilty about using Claimyr - your time and mental health are valuable too. The system is broken and it's not your fault that normal calling doesn't work anymore. Good luck with your new strategy!

This thread has been a game-changer for me too! I was doing the exact same thing - bouncing between those two numbers thinking it would help. The 150+ failed calls resonates so much - I'm probably around 200+ myself at this point. What really struck me from reading everyone's experiences is how the system seems designed to wear us down rather than actually help us. The fact that so many people are having success with Claimyr (those 18-22 minute connection times sound like a dream compared to weeks of failed attempts) really says something about how broken the manual process has become. I think there's no shame in paying for a solution when the "free" option costs you weeks of your life and mental energy. Your claim being stuck for over a month is exactly why these calling services exist - sometimes the math just works out better to pay $20-30 rather than lose more weeks of potential benefits while endlessly redialing. Thanks for summarizing everything so well - it really helps newcomers understand what they're up against!

Congratulations on finally getting through! Your success story gives me hope that the manual approach can still work with the right strategy. Three days of early morning calling is definitely commitment, but it sounds like it paid off in the end. I'm impressed that once you got connected, the agent was actually able to resolve your issue in just 15 minutes - that's encouraging compared to some of the horror stories about getting transferred around or having calls drop. Your tip about having headphones for the long hold is really practical - I hadn't thought about how uncomfortable it would be holding a phone to your ear for nearly 2 hours. I'm planning to try the 7:55am strategy starting Monday, and I'll definitely follow your advice about having everything organized beforehand. If it doesn't work after a week, I'll probably go the Claimyr route, but it's good to know that persistence with the early morning timing can actually pay off. Thanks for sharing your success and the specific details about what worked!

This is such an encouraging success story! I've been hesitating between trying the manual approach versus just going straight to Claimyr, but your experience shows that the early morning strategy can actually work if you stick with it. Three days is totally reasonable compared to the weeks some people have been trying. The fact that your issue was resolved in just 15 minutes once connected really highlights how the main problem is just getting through their phone system, not necessarily the agents themselves. I'm definitely going to try your approach - the headphones tip is genius since I never thought about how painful it would be to hold a phone for nearly 2 hours. Having all documents ready beforehand makes total sense too. If I don't have success after a week of early morning attempts, at least I'll know I gave the free method a real shot before investing in a calling service. Thanks for taking the time to share the specific details and timeline - it really helps set realistic expectations!

This is exactly the kind of success story I needed to hear! I've been feeling pretty defeated after weeks of failed attempts, but knowing that the 7:55am strategy actually worked for someone gives me renewed motivation to try it properly. Your timeline is really helpful - three days of consistent early morning calling seems totally doable compared to the months some people have been struggling. I love that you included all the practical details like using headphones and having documents ready, because those are the kinds of real-world tips that make the difference between success and frustration. The fact that your actual issue was resolved in just 15 minutes once connected really drives home how the broken phone system is the main barrier, not the agents' ability to help. I'm going to start tomorrow morning at 7:54am with your exact approach. If it doesn't work after a week, at least I'll know I gave it a proper shot before considering Claimyr. Thanks for sharing the hope that manual calling can still work with the right strategy and persistence!

Your success story is so motivating! I've been stuck in the endless calling cycle for over a month and was starting to lose hope that the manual approach could actually work anymore. The fact that you got through in just three days using the 7:55am strategy proves it's still possible with the right timing and persistence. I really appreciate you sharing the specific details - the headphones tip is brilliant since I never considered how uncomfortable a 1.5+ hour hold would be otherwise. Having all documents organized beforehand makes perfect sense too, especially since you only had 15 minutes with the agent to resolve everything. I'm definitely going to try your exact approach starting tomorrow. It's encouraging to know that once you actually reach an agent, they can often resolve issues quickly - it really is just about beating that broken phone system. If the early morning strategy doesn't work for me after a solid week of attempts, at least I'll feel good about trying the free method properly before investing in Claimyr. Thanks for giving those of us still fighting the manual battle some real hope!

Welcome to the community! You've definitely found the right place for real EDD phone advice. I was in the exact same situation a few weeks ago - alternating between those numbers thinking it made a difference, calling during that lunch dead zone, and getting increasingly frustrated with each failed attempt. This thread really is a goldmine of actual working strategies versus the useless generic advice on official sites. Since you're already at 100+ failed attempts over 6 weeks, I'd honestly suggest giving the 7:55am strategy a solid week of attempts (like Anita's approach), but don't feel guilty about considering Claimyr if that doesn't work. At some point the math just doesn't add up - your time and mental health are worth more than the fee, especially when you've got 6 weeks of pending benefits on the line. The fact that so many people here have had 18-22 minute connection times with Claimyr versus weeks/months of failed manual calling really says it all about how broken the system has become. Good luck with whatever approach you choose!

Welcome to the EDD phone number support group! Your experience mirrors what so many of us have gone through - those wasted weeks of random calling really add up. Six weeks pending with 100+ failed attempts is exactly the breaking point where paid services start making financial sense. I did the math on my situation and realized I was losing more in delayed benefits than Claimyr costs. The early morning strategy is definitely worth trying first since it's free and has worked for several people here, but don't torture yourself with it for too long if it's not working. One thing I learned from this thread is that there's no shame in paying for a solution when the "free" system is designed to wear you down. Your mental health and time have value too! Whatever you decide, make sure to have all your documents ready and use headphones if you get through to that hold queue.