EDD taking forever to process late wage claim - stuck in pending since April

Unfortunately, this is pretty common with EDD right now, especially with wage dispute claims. Their backlog is ridiculous. When your former employer contests your eligibility (which it sounds like they did by saying you voluntarily quit), it triggers an automatic hold until they can conduct an eligibility interview. The current wait time for those interviews is 8-12 weeks in most cases. Since you're approaching the 3-month mark, you should be getting an interview scheduled soon. Make sure all your contact info is updated in UI Online, and check your spam folder regularly for EDD communications. They sometimes mail interview notices only a few days in advance, so keep an eye on your mailbox too.

omg same thing happened 2 me!! my bosses said i quit but i was just taken off schedule after i asked for time off for my sisters wedding. been waiting 10 weeks and nothing from edd yet. this SUCKS

THE EDD SYSTEM IS BROKEN BEYOND REPAIR!!! I waited FOUR AND A HALF MONTHS for my interview last year after my employer lied about firing me. By the time they finally approved my claim, I had already maxed out credit cards and had to move in with my parents at 42 YEARS OLD!!! This is what we get for our tax dollars - a system designed to MAKE US GIVE UP because they hope we'll just go away!!!!

I was in a similar situation a few months ago with a wage dispute claim. After weeks of getting nowhere, I discovered Claimyr (claimyr.com) and it was a game changer. They have a system that helps you get through to an actual EDD representative instead of hitting the wall of "we're experiencing high call volume" messages. They got me connected to an agent in about 20 minutes who was able to expedite my eligibility interview. Check out their demo video to see how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km Once I got through to a real person, they were able to see that my employer had already responded to EDD's inquiry (which I had no way of knowing), and they scheduled my interview for the following week. Worth trying if you're desperate.

I went through this exact situation last year. Few important tips: 1. When you do get your eligibility interview (finally), have ALL documentation ready to prove you didn't voluntarily quit. Text messages, emails from supervisors, screenshots of the schedule, anything showing you weren't actually scheduled. 2. Be prepared to explain exactly what happened in chronological order. The interviewer will interrupt you if they need clarification, but having a timeline prepared helps tremendously. 3. Request a "backdated certification" for all the weeks you've been waiting. Many people don't realize that even after you're approved, you'll need to certify for all those back weeks to get paid for them. 4. If you're truly desperate, contact your state assembly member's office. They have EDD liaisons who can sometimes get things moving, especially in hardship cases where eviction is imminent.

when i had a wage thing it took 14 weeks to get paid but they did backpay everything once approved. hang in there dude

One thing that hasn't been mentioned - make sure you're still certifying for benefits every two weeks even while your claim is pending! I made the mistake of thinking I didn't need to certify until after my interview, and it caused even more delays because they had to backdate all my certifications. Also, when you do get your interview scheduled, be sure to answer your phone even if you don't recognize the number. EDD often calls from blocked or weird numbers, and if you miss the call, it can add weeks more to your wait time. They should send you a notice with a date range for your interview (like "between 8am-12pm on July 15"), but they're notorious for calling outside those times too. Quick question for those who have been through this: Can OP file for retroactive certification now, or do they have to wait until after the eligibility interview?

My cousin had something similar happen with her job at a supermarket and she waited like forever to get her claim figured out but what's weird is my other friend got hers processed in like 3 weeks so I think it depends on if your employer fights it or not but also maybe which office is handling your claim? Like maybe some EDD offices are faster than others? Just a thought.

Update to my previous comment: If you've been certifying regularly and have no income to report, when your claim is finally approved, the payment should process relatively quickly (2-3 business days). Make sure you've set up your payment preference in UI Online (direct deposit or BofA debit card). Also, when your interview finally happens, the EDD representative may ask if you've been looking for work during this time. Make sure you can provide at least 3 job search activities per week. This is a requirement that many people overlook, but it's essential for maintaining eligibility.

Just wanted to update everyone - I FINALLY got my eligibility interview letter in the mail today! Interview is scheduled for next Tuesday. I've been documenting my job search activities all along (thankfully) and have all my evidence ready about the scheduling issue. Thank you all for the advice and support during this frustrating wait. Will update after the interview on how it goes!