Need urgent help with EDD eligibility question - any direct phone numbers?

theres no direct number. everybody gets the same stupid 800 number. u gotta keep calling over and over til u get through. took me 37 tries last month

The 'question concerning eligibility' notification usually means they need to verify something specific about your claim. It could be your work search activities, your availability for work, or something about your previous employment. You don't want to ignore this because they can stop your payments until it's resolved. There are a few strategies for getting through: 1. Call right when they open at 8:00 AM 2. Try calling on Wednesday or Thursday (slightly lower call volumes) 3. Press 1-2-4 at the menu prompts to get to claims specialists faster If you're getting the 'too many callers' message, you need to hang up and immediately redial. Some people get through after 10-15 attempts.

I got same message last month and my benefits stopped for 3 weeks!!!!! EDD is THE WORST agency ever. They make it IMPOSSIBLE to talk to anyone. I spent literal hours redailing and never got thru. Eventually just got a letter in the mail saying I needed to send proof of my job search activities.

I've been through this several times. The 'question concerning eligibility' notification usually requires a phone interview. They should actually send you a letter with the scheduled date and time for the phone interview. Check your UI Online inbox and also watch your physical mail. In my experience, if you wait for the scheduled interview, it can take 2-3 weeks before they contact you. During this time, your payments might be put on hold with a 'pending' status. That's why it's best to try reaching them by phone to possibly resolve it faster. When calling the main number (1-800-300-5616), try this specific sequence: - Call at 8:01 AM exactly - When the automated system answers, press 1 (for English) immediately - Then press 2 (for claim questions) - Then 1 again (for existing claims) If you get the message saying they're too busy, hang up and redial immediately. The key is persistence. I usually get through within 15-20 attempts if I start right at 8:01 AM.

i had this happen and kept calling for 3 days straight couldnt get through. my cousin told me about this service called Claimyr that got me connected to an EDD rep in like 20 minutes. it costs money but was worth it for me cuz i was about to miss rent. they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km you can check it out at claimyr.com - they basically call EDD for you and connect you when they get through. saved me days of frustration

After dealing with EDD for months, I've learned that their 'questions concerning eligibility' can mean many different things. In my case, it was because I reported some part-time income on one certification but didn't properly document it. The problem is that without talking to someone, you won't know what specific issue they're questioning. I've found that calling this number: 1-833-978-2511 sometimes connects you to people who can at least tell you what the issue is, even if they can't fix it. They might transfer you to a claims specialist if needed. It's not exactly a 'direct' number, but I've had better luck with it than the main number.

Honestly I'd just check your UI Online inbox, click on the History tab, and see if there's details about the eligibility question there. Sometimes they tell you exactly what they need and you can upload documents without even calling. If there's nothing specific there, the letter is probably on its way in the mail. EDD moves slow but they usually send something explaining what they need.

Just to follow up on my earlier comment - make sure you continue certifying for benefits even while this eligibility question is being resolved. A lot of people make the mistake of stopping their certifications while waiting, but then they have to go through an even more complicated process to claim those weeks later. Keep certifying on time, and if they determine you're eligible, they'll pay all those weeks at once.

btw if ur eligibility thing is about work search just make sure u have atleast 3 job contacts for each week. they been cracking down on that lately

One last tip that has worked for me: If you're still struggling to get through by phone after a few days, consider contacting your state assembly member's office. They have liaisons who work directly with EDD and can often help resolve issues more quickly. Google "[your county] state assembly member" to find their contact information. Their constituent services can be surprisingly effective for EDD problems.