Stuck trying to contact EDD about FMLA paperwork - need working phone numbers

FMLA is handled by ur employer not EDD!! EDD handles the SDI (state disability) part if ur taking paid leave. Those r 2 totally different things. You need to talk to ur HR department for FMLA paperwork.

You're getting confused between FMLA and SDI, which is understandable because they often overlap. FMLA is job protection handled by your employer, while State Disability Insurance (SDI) provides wage replacement and is handled by EDD. For SDI, the best number to call is 1-800-480-3287. Here are some tips for getting through: - Call exactly at 8:00 AM when they open - Try Wednesday or Thursday as those days typically have shorter wait times - Have your claim ID, SSN, and all paperwork ready before calling - Be persistent and keep trying if you get the "too many callers" message Also, have you tried managing your claim online through SDI Online? Many issues can be resolved there without calling.

I spent literally THREE WEEKS trying to get someone on the phone at EDD for my SDI claim!!! It was INFURIATING!!! Every single day "we are experiencing high call volume" then CLICK - disconnected! How is this acceptable in 2025??? The whole system is designed to make us give up!!! I finally got through by calling exactly at 8:00am (not 8:01, exactly 8:00) and selecting option 2, then 4, then 1 in their stupid phone tree. Good luck, the system is BROKEN!!!

Have you tried using Claimyr? It's a service that helps connect you with EDD representatives by navigating their phone system for you. I was in a similar situation with my SDI claim and was about to lose my mind after 2+ weeks of failed calling attempts. Their system calls EDD for you and then connects you once they get through to a representative. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km that shows how it works. Saved me a ton of frustration - I got through to an actual person who fixed my pending SDI claim issue. Their website is claimyr.com if you want to check it out.

my sister had this same problem last month she said the trick is to call right at 8am but not on mondays or fridays those r the worst days everyone calls then try tuesday or thursday and keep calling back if u get the busy message dont give up

I'm actually going through this exact situation right now too! My doctor submitted the medical certification for my SDI claim but it's been "pending review" for almost 3 weeks now. I called that 1-800-480-3287 number about 20 times yesterday, and I FINALLY got through after waiting on hold for 67 minutes (I timed it). The lady told me they're experiencing severe processing delays because of staffing issues and that many medical providers aren't filling out the forms correctly. She said to make sure you have your claim number, the last 4 digits of your SSN, and the exact dates of your leave ready when you call. She was actually really helpful once I got through, so don't give up!

One more important thing to know about SDI claims right now: EDD changed their medical certification requirements in January 2025. Make sure your doctor filled out the new version of the form with the verification code at the bottom. Many claims are getting delayed because healthcare providers are still using the old forms. You can check your SDI Online account to see if there are any issues flagged with your medical certification.

My wife went through this last year when she had surgery. What finally worked for us was contacting our state assembly member's office. They have dedicated EDD liaisons who can cut through the red tape. I was shocked at how quickly they resolved her claim after we spent weeks getting nowhere. Google "[your county] state assembly member" and most have EDD assistance request forms right on their websites. Worth a try if nothing else is working!

I just want to say thanks to everyone who replied to this. I've been having the exact same issue but was too frustrated to even post about it. Going to try some of these suggestions tomorrow morning!

UPDATE: I finally got through! Used Claimyr this morning after trying the regular number for two hours with no luck. Was connected to an EDD rep in about 25 minutes. Turns out my doctor used the old form (just like someone here warned about!) and that's why my claim was stuck. They're sending a new form to my doctor's office today. Thank you all so much for the help and suggestions - this community saved my sanity!

So glad you got through @Emma Thompson! This thread has been incredibly helpful - I've been dealing with a similar SDI claim issue for my maternity leave and had no idea about the new form requirements. Just checked my SDI Online account and sure enough, there's a flag about medical certification issues. Going to call my doctor's office first thing tomorrow to make sure they have the updated form. It's frustrating that EDD doesn't proactively notify people about these issues, but at least now I know what to look for. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and tips!

Just wanted to add another tip that helped me when I was stuck in EDD phone hell - if you're calling the 1-800-480-3287 number and getting the "too many callers" message, try calling the main EDD number (1-800-300-5616) instead and navigating to SDI from there. Sometimes one line is busier than the other. Also, I found that calling around 11:30 AM on Wednesdays worked better for me than the 8:00 AM rush when everyone is trying to call at opening time. The wait was still long (about 45 minutes) but at least I got through instead of getting disconnected. Hope this helps someone else avoid the weeks of frustration I went through!

I've been following this thread closely as I'm dealing with a very similar situation - my SDI claim has been pending for 6 weeks now after taking leave for a family member's cancer treatment. Reading through everyone's experiences, it sounds like the new medical certification form issue is affecting a lot of people. I just logged into SDI Online and found the same flag about medical certification problems that others mentioned. For anyone still struggling to get through by phone, I wanted to share that I had success yesterday using a combination of tips from this thread: I called the alternate number (1-800-300-5616) that @GalacticGladiator mentioned at exactly 11:15 AM on a Thursday, and got through after a 52-minute hold. The rep confirmed my doctor had used the old form and is sending the updated one directly to their office. One thing she mentioned that I hadn't seen discussed here - if your claim involves caring for a family member (rather than your own medical condition), make sure the medical certification specifically indicates that you're needed to provide care. Apparently many doctors just fill out the patient's medical information but don't explicitly state that family care is required, which can cause additional delays. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences here - this community support made all the difference in understanding what was actually happening with my claim!

I'm dealing with a similar SDI claim situation and this thread has been incredibly eye-opening! I've been stuck in "pending" status for about 4 weeks now and had no idea about the new medical certification form requirements that changed in January. After reading through everyone's experiences, I just checked my SDI Online account and found the same medical certification flag that others mentioned. I'm planning to try the alternate number approach tomorrow (1-800-300-5616) around 11:30 AM like @GalacticGladiator suggested, since the 8:00 AM rush hasn't been working for me either. It's so frustrating that EDD doesn't proactively notify us about these form issues, but I'm grateful this community exists to help each other navigate these problems. One question for those who successfully got through - when you spoke with the EDD rep, were they able to tell you immediately what the specific issue was with your claim, or did you have to provide certain information first to get them to look into it? I want to make sure I'm prepared with everything they might need when I finally get connected. Thanks again to everyone who shared their experiences and tips here - this has been more helpful than any official EDD resource I've found!