Need EDD phone number to reach ACTUAL human representative - tired of automated system!
I'm at my wits end trying to get through to a real person at EDD about my claim! I've been certifying for 6 weeks and my payments keep switching from pending to disqualified with no explanation. The automated system is USELESS and just keeps transferring me in circles. I've tried calling at exactly 8:01am, at 10am, after lunch, right before they close - nothing works! Either I get the 'too many callers' message or I'm on hold for 2+ hours until it disconnects. Does anyone know a direct number to reach an actual EDD representative who can look at my claim and tell me what's going on? I'm about to miss my car payment and I'm freaking out!
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Ahooker-Equator
There isn't a magical direct line unfortunately. The main EDD number (1-800-300-5616) is really your best bet, but timing is everything. I've had the best luck calling on Wednesdays around 1:30pm - for some reason that seemed to be when call volume dropped a bit. Make sure you're selecting the right options in the menu too - sometimes choosing Spanish then switching to English when an agent answers works (they don't mind).
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Abigail bergen
•Thanks for the tip about Wednesday afternoon! I'll definitely try that tomorrow. Have you had success with the Spanish option thing recently? I heard they caught on to that trick and now route Spanish calls to Spanish-only agents.
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Anderson Prospero
i callled like 57 times in one day b4 i got thru lol just keep hittin redial
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Abigail bergen
•OMG 57 times?! That's insane but I'm desperate enough to try it. My redial finger is ready!
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Tyrone Hill
When my account got flagged for verification last month, I was in the exact same boat. Couldn't get through for TWO WEEKS straight! I was ready to drive to Sacramento and camp outside EDD headquarters! The automated system is designed to frustrate us, I swear.
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Toot-n-Mighty
•THE SYSTEM IS RIGGED AGAINST US!!! They WANT us to give up so they don't have to pay!!! I've been fighting with these people since JANUARY and still no resolution to my appeal!!
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Lena Kowalski
After trying for weeks to get through the regular channels, I finally used Claimyr to connect with an EDD agent. It cost money but honestly saved my sanity. They basically call EDD for you using some tech that gets past the busy signals, then connect you when they reach an agent. Fixed my disqualification issue in one call. Their site is claimyr.com and they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km
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Abigail bergen
•I've been hesitant to try services like that, but at this point I'm desperate. Did they explain why your payments were disqualified? That's the main thing I need to know about mine.
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Lena Kowalski
•Yes, that's exactly what happened! Got connected to a tier 2 specialist who explained there was an eligibility flag on my account from my employer response. She removed it on the spot and my payments went from disqualified to paid within 48 hours. Best money I've spent in months.
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DeShawn Washington
Have you tried contacting your local state assembly member's office? They have EDD liaisons who can sometimes escalate issues. I was stuck in pending for 8 weeks, called my assembly member, and had it resolved in 5 days. Just Google "[your city] state assembly member" and their office should have a constituent services contact form.
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Abigail bergen
•I never thought of contacting my assembly member! That's a great idea. I'll try the other suggestions first since they might be faster, but I'll definitely keep this as a backup plan. Thanks!
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Mei-Ling Chen
Let me clarify some things about contacting EDD, since there's a bit of misinformation in this thread. The main UI claims line (1-800-300-5616) is staffed Monday-Friday 8am-5pm. If your issue is specifically about payments that switched from pending to disqualified, you likely need a tier 2 specialist. When you call, use these exact prompts to reach the right department: Press 1 for English, then 2 for claim questions, then 1 for existing claim. At this point, you need to explicitly say you need to speak with a tier 2 specialist about a disqualification issue. The first-level representatives can't help with disqualification statuses but can transfer you. Also, if your disqualification is related to an eligibility interview, ask if there's an interview scheduled. If so, prepare documentation showing your eligibility based on whatever issue they've flagged (either job separation or availability for work).
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Abigail bergen
•Thank you so much for these specific instructions! I didn't know about the tier 2 specialist distinction. I just checked my UI Online account again and I see there is actually an eligibility interview scheduled for next week. I didn't notice that before because I was only looking at the payment status page. Should I still try to call before the interview?
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Mei-Ling Chen
•If you already have an interview scheduled, it's best to prepare for that rather than trying to bypass it by phone. The interview is your opportunity to address whatever eligibility issue has been flagged. Check your UI Online inbox for any notices about what documentation you should have ready. Common issues include proof of right to work, reason for job separation, or availability for work. Having your documentation organized and ready will make the interview go much more smoothly.
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Abigail bergen
UPDATE: I tried calling this morning using the exact prompts that @profile1 suggested, and after 12 attempts I finally got through! The tier 2 specialist explained that my employer contested my claim saying I quit (which is NOT true - I was laid off). They've scheduled a phone interview for next week to resolve it. Thank you everyone for your suggestions! If the interview doesn't fix things, I'll try the assembly member route or Claimyr. Will post another update after my interview.
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