Frustrated with EDD phone lines - Can I visit an office in person instead?

EDD offices are called America's Job Centers of California (AJCC), but most services are by appointment only now. Walk-ins are very limited and you might wait all day without being seen. I visited the Indio office last month and it was packed with people in the same situation. Before going in person, have you tried contacting them through UI Online? There's a 'Contact Us' section where you can send a message about your specific claim issue. They usually respond within 5-7 days in my experience.

i went to the one in san bernardino last yr it was a WASTE OF TIME!!!! they just gave me flyers and told me to call the same number i was already trying lol

I was in your exact situation in January. The AJCC offices can help with general unemployment services but they often can't access or fix specific claim issues - those have to be handled by the UI specialists who work at the call center. What worked for me was using Claimyr to get through to an EDD representative. Their system helps you skip the call queue. It actually works - I was connected to EDD within 25 minutes after weeks of trying on my own. Their website is claimyr.com and they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km Once I got through, the representative was able to fix my pending payments issue right away. Worth checking out if you're desperate.

AJCC locations aren't fully staffed with EDD claim specialists anymore. They mostly help with job search and resume stuff. I think they can sometimes help with simple UI Online account access issues but not with actual claim problems like eligibility or payments. Anyway in Riverside County there's one in Indio and one in Hemet I think. Look up "AJCC Riverside County" for the addresses. Bring ID and all your claim paperwork but seriously don't get your hopes up that they'll fix anything.

Try contacting your state assembly member or state senator's office! They have caseworkers who can submit an inquiry to EDD on your behalf. That's how I finally got my claim unstuck after 8 weeks of pending. Google "find my california representative" to see who represents your area.

I actually used Claimyr a few weeks ago after seeing it recommended here. It did work for getting through to an EDD rep - took about 30 minutes instead of never lol. The rep was able to see that my claim had an eligibility interview flag that was holding up payment. She couldn't remove it, but at least I knew what was happening. The assembly member suggestion is good too. Different strategies work for different claim issues.

One more thing - before you go to an AJCC office or use any service, make sure you're clear on exactly what issue you need help with. Is your claim pending? Is it disqualified? Are you trying to file a new claim? Each problem has different solutions. For a pending claim that's been stuck for 6+ weeks, that usually means either: 1. An eligibility interview is needed (you'd see this scheduled in UI Online) 2. Identity verification issue (check for any messages about ID.me) 3. Wage verification problem 4. Former employer contested your claim Knowing the specific issue will help you explain it better to whoever you reach.

I just went thru this nightmare scenario. After months of trying I finally got my claim fixed. What worked for me: 1. Called exactly at 8:01am (not 8:00 - the system is still booting up) 2. Used the 2511 number NOT the 5616 number 3. Press 1, then wait for all prompts, then press 24 TOOK ME 14 TRIES over 3 days but I finally got thru. Then had to wait 2.5 hrs on hold but the rep fixed my pending payments in 10 minutes once I got someone. Don't waste time going to AJCC unless you've completely exhausted phone and assembly member options.

I feel your pain - I went through the exact same thing last year when my claim was stuck on pending for 2 months. Here's what I learned: The AJCC offices in Riverside County (there's one in Riverside, Indio, and Hemet) can help with basic stuff like resetting passwords or navigating UI Online, but they can't fix pending claims. You'll waste a whole day just to be told to call the same number. What actually worked for me was a combination approach: 1. I contacted my assembly member's office (took about a week to get a response but they submitted an inquiry) 2. While waiting, I kept trying the phone at exactly 8:01 AM using the 833-978-2511 number, then asking to be transferred to claims The key is being persistent but also having multiple strategies going at once. Don't put all your eggs in one basket - try the assembly member route AND keep calling. For documentation, have your Social Security card, ID, and any termination paperwork from your employer ready. But honestly, save yourself the gas money and frustration of going to an office in person. Phone + assembly member is your best bet. Good luck - I know how stressful this is when rent is due!

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - my claim has been pending for 4 weeks and I'm getting nowhere with the phone system. Reading through all these responses is really helpful, especially the suggestion about contacting your assembly member. I had no idea that was even an option! For anyone else struggling with this, I found that the EDD website has a "Contact EDD" form under the "Ask EDD" section that's supposed to be for technical issues with UI Online, but some people have had luck using it for claim questions too. It's worth a shot while you're waiting for other methods to work. Also, if you do decide to try an AJCC office, call them first to ask about their current walk-in policies. Some locations have specific days/times for unemployment-related help, and it varies by location. The Riverside office told me they only do walk-ins on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9-11 AM, but that might have changed. Stay strong everyone - this system is broken but people do eventually get through!

I went through this exact same nightmare in December - stuck on pending for 7 weeks with rent piling up. Here's what finally worked for me: Skip the AJCC offices entirely. I wasted two full days at different locations and they literally just handed me printouts of the same phone numbers I already had. Complete waste of time and gas money. What actually got results: 1. **Assembly member route is GOLD** - I contacted Assemblymember Jose Medina's office (he covers parts of Riverside County) and they had my claim moving within 8 business days. They have direct lines to EDD that we don't. Look up your specific rep and fill out their constituent services form. 2. **Early morning phone strategy** - 7:59 AM sharp, call 833-978-2511. The second it hits 8:00 AM, start dialing. I had better luck on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Press 1-2-4 when you get through the prompts. 3. **Document everything** - Keep a log of every call attempt, every email sent, dates and times. This helped when I finally got through to show I'd been trying for weeks. The pending status with no explanation usually means there's a flag on your account that only a Tier 2 specialist can see and fix. Don't let them transfer you to a general info rep - insist on claims department. You're not alone in this - the system is completely broken but people do get through eventually. Focus on the assembly member route first since rent is due soon. Good luck!

I went through this exact situation in February and it was absolutely maddening! After 5 weeks of pending status with no explanation, here's what finally worked: **Skip the AJCC offices** - I drove to the one in Hemet and waited 4 hours just to be told they couldn't access my claim details. Total waste of time. **What actually got results:** 1. **Assembly member contact** - This was the game changer. I filled out the constituent services request form on my assembly member's website and they submitted an inquiry to EDD on my behalf. Got a response within 6 business days. 2. **Claimyr service** - I was skeptical at first but it actually works. Got connected to an EDD rep in 20 minutes after literally months of failed phone attempts. The rep found that my claim had a wage verification hold that wasn't showing up anywhere in UI Online. 3. **Multiple approaches simultaneously** - Don't wait for one method to work before trying another. I had my assembly member inquiry going while also using Claimyr and continuing to try calling on my own. The key insight I learned: most "pending" claims that show no obvious issues in UI Online have hidden flags that only EDD specialists can see. You NEED to talk to someone who can actually access your account details. Document everything, stay persistent, and don't let anyone tell you to "just keep waiting." Your rent won't wait and neither should you! Good luck - you'll get through this!

I've been lurking in this community for weeks dealing with my own EDD nightmare, and reading through all these responses gives me so much hope! I'm also in Riverside County with a claim stuck on pending for 5 weeks now. The assembly member strategy seems to be the most consistently successful approach based on everyone's experiences. I just looked up my representative and they have a really detailed constituent services form specifically for EDD issues - I had no idea this was even an option before reading this thread. One thing I wanted to add for anyone else reading this: I've noticed that the EDD phone system seems to have better connection rates on weekdays vs weekends, and Tuesday-Thursday seem to be the sweet spot that multiple people have mentioned. Also, if you're using a cell phone, make sure you have strong signal before attempting - I wasted so many call attempts with dropped connections. Diego, I really hope one of these strategies works for you quickly! The stress of pending benefits when rent is due is absolutely crushing, but seeing all these success stories proves that persistence does pay off. Keep us updated on which approach works best - this community has been such a lifeline for figuring out how to navigate this broken system.

I've been following this thread closely because I'm dealing with the exact same situation - 4 weeks pending with no explanation and getting nowhere with the phone system. Reading everyone's experiences has been incredibly eye-opening! Based on all the success stories here, I'm convinced the assembly member route is the way to go. I had no idea they could submit direct inquiries to EDD on our behalf - that's such a valuable resource that more people need to know about. One thing I wanted to add from my research today: when you contact your assembly member's office, make sure to include your EDD Customer Account Number, Social Security number, phone number, and a detailed timeline of how long you've been trying to resolve the issue. The more specific information you provide, the stronger case they can make to EDD. Also, for anyone hesitant about the Claimyr service - I was skeptical too, but after weeks of failed phone attempts, paying a small fee to actually get through seems worth it. Time is money when you're unemployed and rent is due. Diego, definitely try multiple approaches at once like others have suggested. Don't wait for one method before starting another. And thank you for starting this thread - the collective wisdom here is going to help so many people navigate this broken system!

I'm in a very similar situation - my claim has been pending for 5 weeks with absolutely no explanation in UI Online. Reading through all these responses has given me the first real hope I've had in weeks! The assembly member strategy seems to be the most consistently successful approach based on everyone's experiences here. I had no idea this was even an option! I'm definitely going to look up my representative today and submit their constituent services form. The Claimyr service also sounds promising, even though I hate the idea of paying for something that should be free. But if it actually gets me connected to someone who can see what's wrong with my claim, it might be worth it after weeks of failed phone attempts. One question for those who successfully used the assembly member route - did they ask you to try calling EDD first, or were they willing to submit the inquiry right away? I'm worried they might just tell me to keep trying the phone number like everyone else does. Diego, thank you so much for starting this thread. The collective wisdom here is incredibly valuable for those of us stuck in this broken system. I'll definitely update with my results to help others going through the same thing!

I'm going through the exact same thing right now - 6 weeks pending with zero explanation and I'm about to lose my apartment! Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful though. I had no idea about the assembly member option either. I just looked up my representative and found they have a specific EDD assistance form on their website. I'm filling it out right now with all my details. Also planning to try that early morning calling strategy - 7:59 AM on Tuesday-Thursday seems to be the consensus here. And if that doesn't work quickly, I might have to bite the bullet and try Claimyr even though it feels wrong to pay for something that should be free. This thread is proof that we shouldn't have to become detectives just to get our own unemployment benefits, but at least we can help each other figure out how to beat this broken system. Diego, really hope one of these strategies works for you fast - the stress of pending benefits when you're behind on rent is absolutely brutal. Keep us posted on what works!

I'm in almost the exact same boat - been trying to reach EDD for over a month about my pending claim and getting absolutely nowhere with the phone system. This thread has been incredibly eye-opening though! Based on everyone's experiences, it sounds like the assembly member route is definitely the way to go. I had no idea they could submit direct inquiries to EDD - that's such a valuable resource that should be more widely known. I'm looking up my representative right now. The Claimyr service also sounds promising despite the cost. After reading multiple success stories here, it seems like it might actually be worth paying to get through rather than continuing this endless cycle of failed phone attempts. For what it's worth, I've also had some luck with the "Ask EDD" contact form on their website. It's supposed to be for technical issues but I submitted one about my pending claim status and actually got a response after about 10 days. It was just a generic "we're processing your claim" message, but at least it was acknowledgment. Diego, thank you for starting this discussion - the collective knowledge here is way more helpful than anything I've found on EDD's official resources. Really hoping these strategies work for you and everyone else dealing with this broken system!

I'm dealing with this exact nightmare right now too - 3 weeks of pending status and I've literally tried calling hundreds of times with zero success. The assembly member route sounds like a game changer though! I had absolutely no idea that was even an option. Just wanted to add one thing that might help others - I've been keeping a spreadsheet of all my call attempts (times, days, which numbers I tried) and I noticed I have slightly better luck getting past the initial message on Wednesdays around 8:15-8:30 AM. Still haven't gotten through to an actual person, but at least I don't get the immediate hang-up as often. Also, for anyone considering the AJCC route, I drove by the one in Riverside yesterday and there was literally a line of people outside before they even opened. Definitely confirms what others are saying about it being a waste of time. Thanks everyone for sharing your actual experiences instead of just the usual "keep trying" advice. Finally feels like there might be real solutions here! I'm going to start with my assembly member today and keep everyone posted on how it goes.

I've been dealing with this exact same situation for the past 2 months - pending claim with absolutely no explanation and the phone system is completely useless. Reading through all these responses has given me more hope than I've had in weeks! The assembly member strategy seems to be the most consistently successful approach based on everyone's experiences here. I had no idea this was even an option until reading this thread. I just looked up my representative and they actually have a dedicated EDD assistance page on their website with a detailed form specifically for unemployment issues. I'm also planning to try the early morning calling strategy (7:59 AM on Tuesday-Thursday) while waiting for the assembly member response. The tip about asking specifically for Tier 2 specialists when you do get through is crucial - sounds like the general reps often can't actually see or fix the underlying issues causing claims to get stuck. One thing I wanted to add - I've noticed that my UI Online account shows "last payment issued" from 8 weeks ago even though I've been certifying every two weeks since then. Wondering if others with pending claims are seeing the same thing? It might be another clue about what's going wrong behind the scenes. Diego, thank you so much for starting this thread! The collective knowledge here is incredibly valuable and way more helpful than anything on EDD's official website. Really hoping these strategies work quickly for you with rent coming due. We're all dealing with the same broken system but at least we can help each other navigate it!