EDD scheduled phone interview after filing new claim - should I be worried?

its normal now, they started doing this more in 2025. they do random checks on new claims especially if u had a claim b4. i had mine last month and it was basic stuff just confirming ur work history and why u lost ur job again

This is actually part of EDD's new verification process that started this year. They're scheduling interviews for about 40% of new claims, especially if you've had a previous claim within the past 18 months. It doesn't necessarily mean there's anything wrong! They're just verifying your work separation reason and making sure your claim details match up with employer records. The good news is that being able to certify is a positive sign. Make sure you have documentation ready about your last employer, separation reason, and any work you've done since your previous claim ended. The interview usually lasts about 15-20 minutes.

DONT STRESS!! I panicked when I saw this too but its seriously just routine now. The rep told me they're doing this to cut down on fraud from last few years. As long as you have nothing to hide ur totally fine!!

I had this happen in January and TOTALLY freaked out too! But it's just standard now. Here's what they asked me: - Verified my identity (last 4 of SSN, address, etc) - Confirmed my last employer and job title - Asked about my separation reason (I was laid off) - Confirmed I'm able and available for work - Asked what kind of work I'm looking for Super basic stuff that took maybe 10 minutes. My payment came through normally even before the interview happened.

they can flag u for anything u know... if ur previous employer says anything different from what u put on ur application ur in BIG trouble. i had my benefits held for 8 WEEKS bcuz of this!!! make sure ur story matches EXACTLY what ur employer will say

Just went through this last month. The annoying part is actually REACHING them when they call. They only call once at your scheduled time, and if you miss it, you have to go through the nightmare of getting rescheduled. I tried calling back the number they called from and it just goes to the general EDD line with 2+ hour wait times. I discovered Claimyr (claimyr.com) which got me through to an EDD rep in about 15 minutes instead of waiting hours. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km. Totally worth it for getting my interview rescheduled quickly after I missed the first call.

What's most important is to answer their call when it comes. They'll typically call from a blocked number and may try twice within a 15-minute window of your scheduled time. Make sure you're in a quiet place with good reception. Have these ready: 1. Your ID (they may verify identity details) 2. Last day worked at previous job 3. Exact reason for separation (layoff, termination, etc.) 4. Names and dates of any employers since your last claim 5. Documentation of job search efforts If they find no issues, your payments will continue processing normally. The fact that you can already certify is a good sign - they usually only block certification completely if there's a serious issue with your claim.

my payment still procesed before my interview even happend. i think they just do these to check random ppl but still pay u

Thanks everyone for all the responses! This has really calmed my nerves. I'm going to get all my documentation ready and make sure I'm available for the call. It's good to know this is mostly routine now and not specifically because there's a problem with my claim. I'll update after my interview!

Just to add another perspective - I work in HR and deal with unemployment claims regularly. The increase in these verification interviews is definitely real and part of EDD's effort to prevent fraud while also streamlining legitimate claims. From what I've seen, they're particularly common for people who had previous claims or gaps in employment history. The key thing is just being consistent with what you reported on your application. If you were honest about your work history and separation reason, you'll be fine. Good luck with your interview!

I'm in the exact same situation! Just filed a new claim after my previous one expired and got the interview notification too. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful - it sounds like this is just the new normal for 2025. I'm actually relieved to know it's not necessarily a red flag. Going to follow everyone's advice and have all my employment docs ready. Thanks for asking this question, you probably helped a lot of people who are in the same boat!

I had my verification interview about 6 weeks ago and wanted to share what helped me prepare. The rep was actually really friendly and professional - nothing like the horror stories you sometimes hear about EDD! They called right on time (within 5 minutes of my scheduled slot) and the whole thing took about 12 minutes. One tip that really helped: I wrote down all my key dates and info on a piece of paper beforehand - last day worked, employer name, reason for separation, etc. Made it so much easier to answer quickly and confidently instead of scrambling to remember details. Also, don't overthink it! They're not trying to catch you in some trap. They just want to verify you're a real person with a legitimate claim. As long as you're truthful and have your basic employment info ready, you'll be totally fine. My payments continued normally throughout the whole process.

I just went through this exact same thing in February! Like everyone else said, it's totally normal now - they're doing way more verification interviews in 2025. Mine was scheduled about 5 days after I filed my new claim, and I was freaking out too because I'd never had one before. The interview was honestly super straightforward. The rep called exactly at my scheduled time (make sure your phone isn't on silent!), verified my identity, asked about my last job and why I'm not working there anymore, and confirmed I'm actively looking for work. The whole thing took maybe 8 minutes. What really helped me was having my last paystub handy and writing down the exact dates I worked at my previous job. They didn't ask for anything crazy complicated - just basic verification stuff. My payments processed normally the whole time, even before the interview happened. Don't stress about it! It sounds scary when you first see it scheduled, but it's really just a routine check now. You'll do great!

Had the same experience in January - filed a new claim after my previous one expired and immediately saw the interview scheduled. I was convinced something was wrong with my application! But like everyone here said, it's just their new standard process for 2025. The interview was actually pretty pleasant - the rep was patient and just went through basic verification questions. What really helped me was logging into my UI Online account beforehand and having all my claim details pulled up on my computer screen during the call. Made it super easy to reference dates and employer info when they asked. One thing I'll add that might help - they asked me specifically about any work I'd done between when my previous claim ended and when I filed the new one, even if it was just a few days of temp work. So definitely be ready to explain any employment gaps or short-term work during that period. Overall though, nothing to worry about at all!

I'm scheduled for one of these interviews next week too and was getting really anxious about it! Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly helpful. It's such a relief to know this is just standard procedure now and not a sign that something's wrong with my claim. I love all the practical tips everyone shared - especially writing down key dates/info beforehand and having the UI Online account pulled up during the call. Those are things I definitely wouldn't have thought of on my own. One question for those who've been through this: did they give you any heads up about how long the call might take, or did you just have to keep your schedule open? I have a job interview later that same day and I'm trying to figure out timing. Thanks again everyone for sharing your experiences - this thread is going to help so many people!

This is such a helpful thread! I'm actually a newer community member here but I've been dealing with EDD for a while now. I went through this same verification interview process about 3 months ago when I filed my claim and can confirm everything everyone is saying - it's totally routine now and nothing to panic about. What I found really helpful was that the EDD rep actually explained to me during the call that they started doing these interviews more frequently in 2025 as part of their fraud prevention efforts, but also to help legitimate claimants get through the system faster by catching any issues early. She said they're scheduling them for roughly 30-40% of new claims now, especially for people who've had previous claims. The whole experience was way less stressful than I expected. The rep was professional and friendly, and it really did feel more like a verification call than an interrogation. My payments continued processing normally throughout the whole thing. For anyone else going through this - all the advice here is spot on. Have your employment info ready, answer their call promptly, and just be honest about your work history. You'll be totally fine!

I'm going through the exact same thing right now! Filed my new claim last week after my previous one expired and saw the interview notification pop up in my UI Online account. I was totally freaking out at first because I'd never seen this before, but after reading through everyone's responses here I feel SO much better about it. It's really reassuring to know this is just standard procedure now in 2025 and not a red flag. I love all the practical tips everyone shared - definitely going to write down all my key employment info beforehand and have my UI Online account pulled up during the call. The fact that most people's interviews only took 8-15 minutes and the reps were actually friendly is such a relief! Thanks for starting this thread - I'm sure it's helping tons of people who are in the same situation. I'll try to remember to update after my interview too in case it helps others. Good luck with yours!

I'm a new member here but wanted to share my recent experience since it might help others! I just went through one of these verification interviews two weeks ago after filing a new claim. Like everyone else, I was initially worried when I saw it scheduled, but it turned out to be completely routine. The rep called exactly on time and was very professional. They asked standard questions: verified my identity, confirmed my last employer and separation reason, asked about my availability for work, and checked if I'd done any work since my last claim ended. The whole call took about 11 minutes. One thing that really helped me was having a quiet space with good phone reception - I made sure to be somewhere with strong cell signal about 10 minutes before the scheduled time. Also, I kept a notepad handy to jot down any important info they mentioned during the call. My payments processed normally throughout the entire process. The rep even mentioned that these interviews are now standard for most people filing new claims, especially if you've had unemployment benefits before. It's definitely not a sign that anything is wrong with your application! Hope this helps ease some anxiety for others going through the same thing. The community advice here has been spot-on from my experience!