EDD phone system always says 'maximum callers reached' - can't get through for 2 weeks!

OMG same thing happening to me!!! I've been calling for 3 weeks straight and can't get through. It's like they've just shut down their phone lines completely. I actually drove to my local EDD office last week thinking I could talk to someone there, but guess what??? They don't do UI claims in person anymore! The lady at the front desk just told me to keep calling or use the online portal. LIKE I HAVEN'T BEEN TRYING THAT ALREADY?!?!?!

try calling right when they open at 8am thats what i did last month and got thru after only 15 tries

The EDD phone system is completely overwhelmed right now due to a recent system update that's causing login issues for many claimants. Here are some alternatives you can try: 1. Send a secure message through UI Online (if you can access that part without full login) 2. Try calling the technical support line instead of the main line: 1-833-978-2511 3. Contact your state assembly member's office. They have EDD liaisons who can escalate your case 4. For the password reset issue specifically, try using a different email account when requesting the reset link If it's urgent and you need to verify your claim status quickly, your state assembly member's office is actually your best bet. They can typically get a response from EDD within 1-2 business days.

I had the exact same problem last month when my certification got stuck in pending for no reason. Spent days trying to get through on the phones. Finally I used a service called Claimyr that got me through to an actual EDD rep in about 20 minutes. You can check out how it works in their video: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km The website is claimyr.com - basically they keep dialing for you until they get through, then call you when they have an EDD agent on the line. Saved me hours of frustration and the agent was able to fix my account access issues right away.

I'm going through the exact same login nightmare right now! Have you tried using a different browser? That somehow worked for me - I normally use Chrome but when I switched to Firefox, the password reset email finally came through. No idea why but worth a shot. Also, for what it's worth, the EDD tech support line (1-833-978-2511) has slightly better odds than the regular line. It still took me 27 calls over 2 days, but I eventually got through around 3pm on a Tuesday. The regular line is basically impossible.

As someone who worked in customer service adjacent to state systems, I can share that most government phone systems are programmed to only allow a certain number of callers in the queue at once. The problem isn't that they're closed or not answering - it's that the queue fills up within seconds of opening. For the login issues, here's a trick that often works with EDD specifically: try the password reset at unusual hours (like 11pm or 5am) when their system load is lower. The emails often get delayed due to high volume, so requesting it when fewer people are active can help. If you absolutely cannot get through by phone and the password reset isn't working, contacting your state representative is truly the most effective escalation path. They have dedicated EDD liaisons and can often resolve account access issues within 48 hours.

THE WHOLE EDD SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO MAKE US GIVE UP!!!! I'm 100% convinced they make it impossible to contact them on purpose so people just give up trying to get their benefits. I spent 3 MONTHS trying to fix a simple identity verification issue and probably called 500+ times. It's criminal how they treat us!!!!

Quick update on the login issues many are experiencing: EDD confirmed there was a system update on March 15, 2025 that's causing login problems for accounts with certain security settings. They're working on a fix, but in the meantime, they've added additional tech support staff to handle these specific issues. If you call the tech support line (1-833-978-2511), when prompted select Option 1, then Option 2 for "account access problems." This routes you to the specialized team handling these login issues. The wait is still long, but your chances of getting through are better on this specific menu path.

UPDATE: I finally got through! For anyone with the same problem, here's what worked: 1. I used the tech support number (1-833-978-2511) with the menu options that @HelpfulEDDguy suggested 2. Called at exactly 8:00am 3. Still took 14 attempts, but I finally got into the queue around 8:20am 4. Wait time was about 35 minutes The rep said there's a known issue with login credentials after their system update, especially for accounts that were created before 2023. They had to manually reset my access and send a special password reset link to my email. Thank you to everyone who offered suggestions! This community has been so helpful when the official channels were impossible to navigate.