Need EDD representative phone number that actually works - tried everything

The 800-300-5616 is literally the only unemployment line. There's no secret EDD representative phone number that bypasses the queue. I learned this the hard way after trying every number I found online.

That's so frustrating! I was hoping there was some direct line I was missing.

Same experience here. All those other numbers online are either disconnected or redirect to the main line.

I've been calling since 6am today - 73 attempts so far. The pattern is dial 1, wait exactly 70 seconds, then 1-1-***. Still haven't gotten through to the hold queue once.

Try calling right at 8am sharp. I got through yesterday on my 45th attempt but then the call dropped after 90 minutes on hold.

I'll try that tomorrow. This is becoming a full time job just trying to reach someone.

After 3 weeks of this insanity, I broke down and used Claimyr. Got connected to an EDD rep in 12 minutes. Sometimes you just have to admit when manual calling isn't working.

How much did that cost? I'm getting desperate but money's tight right now.

Worth every penny compared to the hours I was wasting. Check out claimyr.com - they guarantee you reach a human.

The lunch break thing is real - don't waste your time calling between noon and 1:30pm. The entire call center goes dark during that time.

Seriously? They all take lunch at the exact same time? No wonder I could never get through around 12:30.

Yep, learned this after probably 200 wasted calls during lunch hours. They should really post this somewhere.

Monday mornings are the absolute worst. I've had better luck on Wednesday afternoons but you still need to dedicate your whole day to it.

Wednesday worked for me too. Called 67 times starting at 2pm and finally got on hold. Talked to someone after 2 hours and 15 minutes.

Friday afternoons are pointless too. Even if you get through, they can't really help much before the weekend.

PSA: The 833-978-7353 number is the EXACT same line as 800-300-5616. Don't waste time thinking one is better than the other.

Wait really? I've been alternating between them thinking they were different queues!

Common mistake. They route to the same system. Save yourself the confusion and just stick with one.

Has anyone actually gotten through this week? I'm starting to think their phone system is just broken.

Got through Tuesday around 3pm. Took 89 calls to get on hold, then 1 hour 40 minutes hold time. But I did speak to someone.

The system drops about 40% of calls even when you're on hold. It's not broken, just overwhelmed.

For anyone still grinding manual calls - press the menu numbers BEFORE the prompts finish. Can save you 20-30 seconds per attempt.

This actually works! I've been doing 1 immediately, wait about 60 seconds, then rapid fire 1-1-***.

Exactly! Those saved seconds add up when you're making 50+ attempts.

My coworker used some calling service called Claimyr last month. She was bragging about getting through in under 30 minutes while I'm over here dialing for weeks.

I'm so tempted to try that. This manual calling is destroying my productivity at my new job.

There's a demo video at https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10 that shows how it works. Looks legit but I'm still on the fence about paying.

After 4 hours of calling today and zero success, I'm convinced there's no EDD representative phone number that regular people can actually use effectively.

I felt the same way until I realized Wednesday 2-4pm seems to be the sweet spot. Still takes 30-60 attempts though.

The phone system is just not designed for the volume they're getting. It's brutal but persistence eventually pays off.

Quick reminder that EDD is closed after 5pm and on weekends. Don't waste your battery calling outside M-F 8am-5pm.

Learned this the hard way after spending Saturday morning calling an empty building.

Although if you use an automated service they can queue your call 24/7 and call you back during business hours.

The specialist line people keep mentioning doesn't exist anymore. That ended after the pandemic. There's only the main unemployment line now.

Thank you! I wasted 2 days looking for this mythical specialist number.

Yeah all those old forum posts about specialist lines are outdated. Just causes more confusion.

I finally caved and paid for Claimyr yesterday. Got my call back in 22 minutes with an EDD rep already on the line. Honestly should have done this weeks ago instead of torturing myself.

Was it worth the cost? I'm calculating how much my time is worth vs just paying for the service.

100% worth it. I was spending 6+ hours a day calling. This saved my sanity and got my issue resolved same day.

For anyone keeping track - I've made 347 attempts over 8 days. Got on hold 3 times, all 3 calls dropped after 1.5+ hours. This system is completely broken.

Those dropped call stats sound about right. The system just can't handle the load.

At those numbers, paying for a calling service becomes a no-brainer. Your time has to be worth something.

Best times I've found: Wednesday 2-4pm, Thursday 10am-noon. Avoid Mondays completely and don't even try after 4pm any day.

Thursday mornings worked for me too. Got through on attempt #52 and only waited 75 minutes on hold.

Thanks for the specific times. Most people just say 'call early' which isn't very helpful.

Last update on my EDD calling saga - used Claimyr this morning at 9am, got my callback at 9:34am with a live agent. Problem solved in 15 minutes. Should have done this on day 1.

That's amazing. I'm still sitting here on day 12 of manual calling with zero success.

Seriously, save yourself the misery. The peace of mind alone is worth it. Check out claimyr.com if you're tired of this phone nightmare.