EDD phone tree cheat sheet needed - impossible to reach a live agent

The main EDD number is still 1-800-300-5616. When you call, I've had the most success with: Press 1 for English, then 2 for claim questions, then 4 for existing claims. BUT honestly those prompts just put you in the general queue anyway. The trick isn't the prompts - it's WHEN you call. Try exactly at 8:01am (not 8:00 - their system gets flooded) or 4:01pm when staff might be finishing up with other calls.

it doesnt matter wat prompts u use tbh they all go to same queue. iv been on hold 6 hrs before!!!! tried 6 days strait last month b4 i gave up

After weeks of not getting through on my own, I finally used Claimyr (claimyr.com) and got connected to an EDD rep within 20 minutes. Costs money but they guarantee a callback. They basically keep auto-dialing the EDD for you using all the right prompt combinations. I was skeptical but it worked! You can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km My pending payments got released the same day after the rep removed whatever flag was on my account. Sometimes you just need to talk to a tier 2 specialist directly.

The phone system is designed to be frustrating, unfortunately. Here's what you need to know: 1. There are two tiers of EDD representatives - Tier 1 can only help with basic issues. Tier 2 can actually fix problems. If your claim is pending for 6+ weeks, you need a Tier 2. 2. When you call 1-800-300-5616, the prompt sequence that has worked best recently is: 1 (English) → 1 (file/manage claim) → 3 (payments) → 4 (speak to representative) 3. Call volume is lowest on Thursdays for some reason 4. Alternative number is the technical support line: 1-833-978-2511, but they'll just transfer you to the main queue anyway 5. If your claim is stuck in pending that long, it probably needs manual review. Keep detailed notes of who you speak to and what they say each time. This is a systematic problem with EDD - it's not just you!

I had same issue last month and what I did was call my local assemblymember's office. They have dedicated EDD liaisons who can help with stuck claims! Google "[your county] state assembly member" and call their constituent services. They resolved my 8-week pending claim in 5 days!

I got thru yesterday finally!!! The trick is to call EXACTLY at 8:12am. Not 8:10 or 8:15. Exactly 8:12am. Something about shift changes or something. The recording still said high call volume but I waited anyway and got a person after 40 mins. Its still a nightmare but better than nothing

my cousin said u can press # like 25 times during the recording and it bypasses the queue but i tried and it didnt work lol

UPDATE: I finally got through!!! Used the 1-1-3-4 prompt sequence that @helpfulEDDguy suggested, called at 8:03am, and after a 67-minute hold (ugh) spoke to someone who could actually help. They said my identity verification had a "discrepancy" but they fixed it and released all my pending payments! Should hit my account in 24-48 hours. Thanks everyone for the suggestions. For anyone else dealing with this nightmare, persistence is key. And definitely try the assembly member route if you can't get through after a week of trying.

So glad you got through @Amina! Your experience with the identity verification discrepancy is super helpful for others to know about. That seems to be a really common issue that causes long pending periods. For anyone else still struggling - I'd definitely second the assembly member suggestion. I used to work for a state senator's office and we had a dedicated EDD caseworker who could escalate issues directly. It's not just about making phone calls - they have internal systems and contacts that regular folks don't have access to. Don't feel bad about using constituent services - that's literally what they're there for! Also want to add that if you do get through to EDD and they can't help you, specifically ask to be transferred to a "tier 2 specialist" or "claims specialist." Don't just hang up and start over - make them escalate you within the same call if possible.

As someone who went through this exact nightmare last year, I feel for you! One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is the EDD callback feature - if you can actually get into the phone queue (even if the wait time is insane), there's sometimes an option to request a callback instead of staying on hold. You keep your place in line but can hang up and they'll call you back when it's your turn. Also, I found that Wednesday mornings around 10:30am had surprisingly lower call volumes - I think it's because most people try the "rush the phones at opening" strategy on Mondays. And definitely document EVERYTHING - dates you called, how long you waited, who you spoke to, what they said. If you end up needing to escalate through your assembly member or even file a complaint, having that paper trail is super helpful. The whole system is broken but you'll get through it eventually!

I've been fighting with EDD for 4 months and finally found something that worked consistently - the "2-1-1-0" method. Call 1-800-300-5616, press 2 for employers/existing claims, then 1 for claim info, then 1 again, then 0 to speak to someone. This seems to route you to a different queue that's less clogged. Also try the disability insurance number at 1-800-480-3287 - they can sometimes help with regular UI claims if there's a medical component or if you need to switch between claim types. Got through in 15 minutes last week when the main line was impossible. One more tip: if you have a smartphone, use the speakerphone and do other stuff while you wait. I've learned to just accept that it's going to be a 1-3 hour ordeal and plan accordingly. Set aside a whole morning, have snacks ready, charge your phone. The mental preparation helps as much as the phone tricks!

Just wanted to add another resource that helped me when I was stuck in EDD hell for 2 months - the EDD subreddit (r/Edd) has a daily thread where people share real-time updates on wait times and which numbers are working. Sometimes folks will post "just got through on main line after 45 min wait" or "disability line is dead today, don't bother." Also, if you're really desperate and have tried everything else, some people have had luck physically going to their local One-Stop Career Center. They can't directly access EDD systems but they have dedicated phones for claimants and sometimes the staff there know tricks or have contacts. It's a long shot but when you're facing eviction, every option is worth trying. The system is absolutely broken and it shouldn't be this hard to get help when people are struggling financially. Hang in there everyone - persistence really does pay off eventually, even though it's exhausting.

Wow, this thread is a goldmine of information! I've been dealing with a similar situation - my claim has been pending for 5 weeks and I was getting nowhere with the standard phone strategies. Reading through everyone's experiences, I'm going to try a multi-pronged approach: first the 8:12am timing that @Javier mentioned, then if that doesn't work, I'll contact my assembly member's office like @Malik suggested. The insight from @Connor about assembly offices having dedicated EDD caseworkers with special access is incredibly valuable - I had no idea that resource even existed! Also planning to check out that EDD subreddit for real-time updates on wait times. It's frustrating that we have to become phone system hackers just to access benefits we're entitled to, but at least there's a community of people sharing strategies. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and solutions. This kind of peer support is what gets people through these bureaucratic nightmares. Will report back if I have success!