Impossible to reach EDD by phone - tricks that actually work?

THANK YOU! I'll try that number tomorrow morning. Did they ask why you were calling tech support instead of the regular line?

This actually doesn't work consistently. I tried calling at exactly 8:01am three days in a row and still got the "too many callers" message each time. I think it's just luck at this point.

This sounds promising! Did you have to wait long after using their service? I'm desperate enough to try anything at this point. My ID verification has been stuck for weeks.

I got connected within about 45 minutes, which was amazing considering I'd spent DAYS trying on my own. The EDD agent was able to see exactly why my ID verification was stalled and fixed it during that call. Definitely worth it for the peace of mind alone.

While I understand your frustration, many EDD representatives are overwhelmed with the volume of claims. The system definitely has issues, but individual agents are often trying their best with limited resources. When you do reach someone, try to have all your information ready and be specific about your problem - this usually leads to better outcomes.

These are amazing tips, thank you! I never would have thought to try the employer line. I'll definitely use your strategy tomorrow. Quick question - when you say "ID.me verification escalation" is there a specific phrase I should use when I get an agent?

Just say something like "I'm having an issue with my ID.me verification that's prevented my claim from processing, and I understand there's an ID verification escalation team that might be able to help." Most tier 1 agents know about this team and can transfer you if needed. Make sure you've actually completed the ID.me process first though, otherwise they'll just tell you to do that.

So glad it worked for you! That name mismatch issue is actually really common after marriage or divorce. Glad you got someone who could fix it on the spot!

congrats! hope u get paid soon

This is really helpful info, thank you! I'm going to keep this as a backup plan. My claim seems to be moving now after I finally spoke to someone, but I'll definitely use this approach if I run into problems again.

Thank you so much for sharing this detailed breakdown! I'm new here and have been lurking while dealing with my own EDD nightmare for the past 3 weeks. Your combination approach gives me hope - I've been calling randomly without any strategy. I'm definitely going to try the tech support number on Wednesday afternoon with all my docs ready. Did the rep mention how long the ID verification backlog typically takes once they actually start reviewing it? I'm terrified mine is just sitting in that same queue you mentioned.

@GalaxyGuardian The rep told me that once they actually start reviewing ID verification cases, it usually takes 24-48 hours to complete. The real problem is just getting into that review queue! She said they're processing them in the order they were submitted, but with the backlog it could be anywhere from a few days to 2-3 weeks before someone looks at it. The good news is that once an agent manually flags your case as needing attention (like what happened when I called), it gets bumped up in priority. So definitely try that tech support number approach - even if they can't fix it immediately, they can at least make sure your case isn't just sitting there forgotten!

@GalaxyGuardian The rep told me that once they actually start reviewing an ID verification case, it usually takes 1-3 business days to resolve if there are no major issues. The problem is just getting it out of that initial queue! She said the backlog has been crazy since they implemented stricter verification requirements. One tip she gave me - if you've been waiting more than 3 weeks after submitting your ID.me verification, definitely mention that when you call because there might be a technical glitch preventing your case from moving forward. That's exactly what happened to mine - it was stuck due to some system error, not an actual problem with my documents. Also make sure you have your confirmation number from ID.me handy when you call. Really hoping you get through soon! This whole process is so stressful when you're already dealing with being unemployed. 🤞

@GalaxyGuardian I was in your exact situation! The rep told me that once they actually START reviewing your ID verification, it typically takes 24-48 hours to complete. The problem is just getting it out of that initial queue where cases can sit for weeks untouched. She said mine would be prioritized since I'd been waiting so long, and sure enough I got an email the next day saying it was approved. Definitely try that Wednesday strategy - having a specific plan made all the difference for me. Keep us posted on how it goes!

@GalaxyGuardian I totally understand that anxiety about your case just sitting there! When I finally got through, the agent told me that once they actually start reviewing an ID verification case, it usually takes 2-3 business days to process. The real problem is just getting it pulled from that massive queue in the first place. She said mine had been sitting untouched for 3 weeks, but once she escalated it to the ID team, I got an email confirmation within 24 hours that it was being reviewed. Definitely try that tech support number strategy - having a real person look at your account and see what's actually happening makes all the difference. Good luck! 🤞

@GalaxyGuardian The rep told me that once they actually start reviewing an ID verification case, it typically takes 24-48 hours to resolve if there are no major issues. The problem is just getting it pulled from that backlog queue! She said the 3-week delay in my case was unfortunately pretty typical right now. The good news is that once someone actually looks at it, most ID verification issues are straightforward to fix - like mine was just a photo quality issue that took her 2 minutes to override. Definitely try that tech support number strategy - having a human actually locate your case in their system makes all the difference!

@GalaxyGuardian - when I spoke to the rep, she said once they actually start reviewing ID verification cases, it typically takes 3-5 business days to complete. The real problem is just getting it out of that initial queue where it sits untouched. She mentioned they're processing cases in the order they were submitted, but some get flagged for additional review which adds time. Since you've been waiting 3 weeks like I was, there's a good chance yours is ready to be worked on once you get the right person to look at it. Definitely try that tech support number - and make sure to ask them to check if your case needs to be "escalated" or if it's stuck in a specific queue. Good luck!

@GalaxyGuardian The rep told me that once they actually start reviewing an ID verification case, it usually takes 3-5 business days to process if there are no complications. The real problem is just getting it out of that initial queue where cases can sit for weeks! She said they've been trying to hire more people for the ID verification team but training takes time. Once I got flagged for review, my case moved pretty quickly. Definitely try that tech support number approach - it seems like they have better access to the escalation teams. Keep us posted on how it goes!

@GalaxyGuardian I was in the exact same boat as you! The rep told me that once they actually pull your case from the queue, the ID verification review itself usually takes 1-3 business days. The problem is just getting it assigned to someone. She said the new security protocols require manual review of certain documents that used to be processed automatically. In my case, once she escalated it, I got an email the next day saying my identity was verified and payments started processing 48 hours later. Definitely try that tech support number strategy - it seems to be the most reliable way to reach someone who can actually help rather than just tell you to keep waiting. Good luck and keep us posted on how it goes!

@GalaxyGuardian The rep told me that once they actually start reviewing an ID verification case, it usually takes 3-5 business days to complete. The real problem is just getting it moved from the "waiting to be reviewed" queue into the "actively being processed" queue - that's where the weeks-long delays happen. She said the best thing you can do once you get through is ask them to put a "priority flag" on your case if you're facing financial hardship. Also make sure they give you a reference number for your call so you can follow up if needed. Don't lose hope - if your case has been sitting for 3 weeks like mine was, you're probably due to get picked up soon! Keep trying that tech support number strategy.

Hey @GalaxyGuardian! Welcome to the group - sorry you're dealing with this mess too. When I spoke to the rep, she said once they actually pull your case from the queue, the ID verification review itself usually takes 24-48 hours. The problem is just getting it assigned to someone in the first place. She mentioned they're processing cases in chronological order, so if you've been waiting 3 weeks, you should be getting close to the front of the line. One thing that might help - when you do get through, ask the agent to put a "priority flag" on your case if you're facing any financial hardship. They have some discretion to escalate urgent situations. Also make sure you've completed everything on the ID.me side first, because if there's anything missing there, it just gets kicked back to the end of the queue. Fingers crossed the tech support number works for you! Let us know how it goes.