How to certify for EDD unemployment benefits over the phone - step by step?

The EDD Tele-Cert phone number is 1-866-333-4606. You'll need your Social Security Number, the answers to your certification questions (did you look for work, did you refuse work, were you too sick to work, etc.), and any income you earned during your certification period. The automated system will walk you through everything step by step. Make sure you write down your confirmation number when you're done! That's your proof that you completed the certification.

i did phone cert last month when my wifi was out. it works but takes FOREVER!! like 20 mins of robot voice asking questions. so annoying lol. but it worked fine

Tele-cert is available 24/7, so you can call anytime. But a heads up - the phone system is SUPER outdated and frustrating. It's really easy to mess up your answers because there's no way to go back and fix them. I actually called the wrong certification line once and had to call the main EDD line to sort it out, which took FOREVER. If your phone is working for browsing but just freezing on the EDD site, you could try using a different browser or clearing your cache. Might be easier than dealing with the phone system!

Actually you don't even need to certify by phone - you can also certify by mail! EDD sends out paper certification forms (DE 4581) that you can fill out and mail back. It's the slowest option but might be easier if you're having tech issues. Just be prepared to wait 7-10 days longer for your payment to process. The Tele-Cert system is available 24/7 as others mentioned. Write down all your answers before calling so you don't get confused during the call. The system will ask: - If you looked for work each week - If you refused any work - If you were too sick or injured to work - If you had any income/earnings - If you've started school/training And FYI the phone system has been known to hang up on people randomly, so be prepared to call back if that happens!

You can request paper certification forms by calling the main EDD customer service line at 1-800-300-5616. But honestly, getting through to them is nearly impossible these days. I've had much better luck using Claimyr to connect with EDD agents. It gets you through the phone queue so you can actually speak to someone. I used it when my certification got stuck in pending and the agent fixed it while I was on the phone. Their website is claimyr.com and they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km For your phone certification though, definitely write down all your answers before calling. The system moves quickly and you can't go back to change answers once you've entered them.

Yes, it does work. I was skeptical at first but when I had that issue with my pending payment, I got through to EDD in about 25 minutes instead of spending days redialing. The agent was able to fix my problem right away. They basically navigate the phone tree for you and get you in the callback queue.

Just a heads up - make sure you have good phone reception when you call to certify! My call dropped halfway through once and I had to start ALL over again. So frustrating!

STOP TELLING PEOPLE TO USE TELECERT!!! It's the WORST option! The system frequently has glitches that cause certifications to get stuck in pending for WEEKS. This happened to me TWICE and when I finally got through to an agent, they said it happens all the time with phone certifications. The best option is UI Online (when it works). Second best is the paper form. Telecert should be your LAST RESORT unless you're desperate to certify before the deadline.

To clarify something important - the Tele-Cert system (1-866-333-4606) is different from the regular EDD customer service line (1-800-300-5616). Tele-Cert is ONLY for certifying for benefits, not for resolving claim issues. Also, the Tele-Cert system will ask if you want instructions in English or Spanish at the beginning. Then you'll enter your SSN and follow the prompts. Once you complete both weeks, you'll get a confirmation number - WRITE IT DOWN! That's your proof you certified. And yes, the system is available 24/7, so you can call whenever is convenient for you.

I had to use the phone system back in January when my internet was down and it actually wasn't that bad? I mean yeah it's slow but as long as you have your information ready it works fine. Just make sure you know your work search details for each week before you call.

Just checking back - were you able to certify using the phone system? Hope it worked out for you!