How to bypass EDD's 'too busy' message and actually talk to a real person?

same here its crazy! been calling for 2 weeks an nuthin. i think they just dont pick up calls anymore tbh

Unfortunately, there's no "secret" number - they all go through the same call routing system. However, there ARE some strategies that can help: 1. Call exactly at 8:00am when they open (set an alarm for 7:58) 2. If you get the "too many callers" message, hang up and IMMEDIATELY redial 3. Keep doing this for about 20-30 minutes if needed 4. Try on Wednesday or Thursday - slightly lower call volumes in my experience 5. When you do get through, ask for a Tier 2 specialist right away Also, have you checked your UI Online account for any notices or alerts? Sometimes they'll request additional information through your portal rather than calling you.

EDD is LITERALLY the WORST government agency!!! I had to call 76 TIMES in one day before I got through last month. Even then, the first person couldn't help me and transferred me to a "specialist" and I got disconnected. Had to start all over again the next day. The whole system is DESIGNED to make us give up!!!

I was having the same issue trying to reach someone about my eligibility interview reschedule. What finally worked for me was using Claimyr (claimyr.com). They have a system that basically keeps dialing for you until they get through, then they call you and connect you with EDD. Saved me days of frustration. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km Once I got through to an actual person, they were able to fix my claim status in about 10 minutes. The weird thing is that there wasn't anything actually wrong with my claim - it just needed someone to manually review it.

Here's another approach that sometimes works: instead of calling the main UI number, try calling the technical support line (1-855-327-7057). They're officially only supposed to help with website issues, but sometimes they can see what's going on with your claim and transfer you directly to a claims specialist, bypassing the main queue. Also, make sure you're calling from the exact phone number listed on your claim. Their system will sometimes prioritize calls from numbers they recognize as belonging to claimants. For your specific situation with transitioning from disability back to UI, you might actually need to talk to the SDI department first to make sure they properly closed your disability claim before UI can process the new one. Those departments don't always communicate well with each other.

i got thru once by pressin different numbers like saying i was an employer lol but then they just transfered me anyway and i got the busy message again so idk if that even helps

Just checking back - any luck getting through to EDD? The disability transition to UI can be tricky because it involves multiple departments, as mentioned above. If you're still having trouble, try contacting your state assembly member's office. They often have dedicated EDD liaisons who can help push claims through.

Wow, this thread is so helpful! I'm dealing with a similar situation - my claim has been stuck for over a month and I've been getting nowhere with the phone system. @Emma Thompson so glad you finally got through and got it resolved! I'm definitely going to try that Claimyr service since the manual calling approach has been driving me insane. Also going to check if there's any issue with my previous disability claim that might be causing the holdup. Thanks everyone for sharing all these strategies - it's reassuring to know I'm not the only one dealing with this nightmare!

Just wanted to add another tip that worked for me last month - if you have a smartphone, try calling from different numbers (like a friend's phone or Google Voice number). Sometimes their system seems to temporarily "blacklist" numbers that call too frequently. I was stuck in the busy message loop for days, then borrowed my roommate's phone and got through on the third try. Also, don't give up if you get disconnected during the hold - that happened to me twice but I kept trying and eventually got a super helpful rep who walked me through everything. The whole system is frustrating but there are real people on the other end who do want to help once you can reach them!

This thread is incredibly helpful! I'm new to dealing with EDD and honestly had no idea it would be this difficult just to speak with someone. I've been trying to reach them about my initial claim application that's been pending for almost two weeks now. Reading through everyone's experiences, it sounds like the phone system is basically designed to make you give up - which is so frustrating when you really need help! I'm going to try the early morning redial strategy first since I don't want to pay for a service if I don't have to, but it's good to know about options like Claimyr as a backup. Also really appreciate the tip about checking if there are any cross-department issues that might be causing delays. Has anyone had success with the live chat feature on their website, or is that just as impossible to access as the phone lines?

I feel your pain - went through the exact same thing a few months ago! The system is absolutely broken. What finally worked for me was calling the 1-833-978-2511 number (the main UI line) but using a specific sequence: press 1 for English, then 1 for UI, then 2 for existing claims, then 4 for claim questions. Don't press anything else after that - just wait through their whole spiel about high call volume. Sometimes they'll actually put you in a queue instead of hanging up. I had to try this about 15 times over two days but eventually got through to someone who could see that my disability claim was blocking my UI claim from processing. The whole call took 45 minutes but they fixed everything on the spot. Also definitely try calling right at 8am - I set multiple alarms and started dialing at 7:59:30. The phone lines seem to have the best chance of getting through in that first 10-15 minute window. Hang in there, it's incredibly frustrating but you will eventually get through!

This is such a valuable thread! I'm dealing with a similar situation - my claim has been pending for over three weeks and I was starting to think I was doing something wrong with the phone system. Reading everyone's experiences makes me realize it's just a completely broken system that's designed to discourage us from getting help. I'm going to try the exact button sequence that @Toot-n-Mighty shared (1-1-2-4 then wait) starting tomorrow morning at exactly 8am. If that doesn't work after a few days, I'll definitely look into Claimyr since multiple people here have had success with it. It's so frustrating that we have to jump through all these hoops just to get basic assistance, but I'm really grateful for this community sharing real strategies that actually work. Has anyone tried reaching out through social media like Twitter? Sometimes companies respond faster to public complaints, though I'm not sure if that works with government agencies like EDD.

I'm currently going through this exact same nightmare! Been trying to reach EDD for over two weeks about my claim that's been stuck in "pending" status. The phone system is absolutely maddening - I've tried calling dozens of times at different hours and always get that "too busy" message with immediate hangup. Reading through all these strategies gives me hope though! I'm definitely going to try the 1-1-2-4 button sequence at exactly 8am tomorrow, and if that doesn't work after a few attempts, I'll look into Claimyr. It's ridiculous that we need to use third-party services or jump through so many hoops just to talk to someone about our own benefits, but at this point I'm willing to try anything. The rent isn't going to pay itself! Thank you everyone for sharing what actually works - this community is a lifesaver when the official system completely fails us.

Just wanted to share another strategy that worked for me last week! I was stuck in the same endless loop of busy signals for almost a month. What finally got me through was calling the Spanish language line (1-800-326-0404) even though I speak English. When you get through to a Spanish-speaking rep, you can ask to be transferred to an English-speaking agent and they'll usually do it without making you go back through the main queue system. I felt a bit awkward about it, but I was desperate and it actually worked - got connected to someone who resolved my disability-to-UI transition issue in about 15 minutes. The rep even mentioned that the Spanish line typically has shorter wait times because fewer people think to try it. Obviously only do this if you're truly stuck and have exhausted other options, but it might be worth considering as another backup strategy. Hope this helps someone else avoid the weeks of frustration I went through!

This entire thread is incredibly eye-opening! I've been struggling with EDD for about a week now and was starting to think I was just doing something wrong. Reading everyone's experiences makes it clear that the system is genuinely broken and we're all having to become creative problem-solvers just to access our own benefits. I'm bookmarking all these strategies - the 8am sharp calling with the 1-1-2-4 sequence, Claimyr as a backup, the Spanish line workaround, even the Twitter approach. It's both reassuring and infuriating to know I'm not alone in this. The disability-to-UI transition issue seems to be a huge blind spot in their system based on how many people here have dealt with it. Thank you all for sharing what actually works - this community knowledge is worth more than any official EDD help page! Going to start my calling marathon tomorrow morning armed with all these tips.

Just found this thread after dealing with the same EDD nightmare for the past two weeks! My UI claim has been stuck in "pending review" since I transitioned from state disability, and I was starting to lose hope. Reading through everyone's experiences and solutions has been incredibly helpful - it's both frustrating and reassuring to know this is such a widespread issue. I'm definitely going to try the 8AM sharp strategy with the 1-1-2-4 button sequence first thing tomorrow morning. If that doesn't work after a few attempts, I'll look into Claimyr since so many people here have had success with it. The tip about the disability claim potentially blocking the UI claim is huge - I had no idea that could be the issue! Thank you all for sharing real strategies that actually work. This community support means everything when the official system completely fails us.