Trying to talk to a REAL PERSON at EDD - best numbers to call?
I've been trying to reach an actual human at EDD for over a week now. Every time I call, I either get disconnected or stuck in an endless loop of automated menus that never give me the option to speak with someone. My claim has been pending for 3 weeks, and I need to find out if there's anything missing or if they need additional information. Does anyone know the best number to call to reach a real person? Or any tricks to get through the automated system? I've tried calling at 8:01am, 10:30am, and 3:45pm with no luck. This is beyond frustrating, especially when my rent is due next week and I have no income coming in. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
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Nick Kravitz
same boat... tried calling like 20 times yesterday and couldn't get thru AT ALL. the 833 number is useless.
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Samantha Johnson
•Did you try any other numbers? I've heard there's a technical support line that sometimes works better but I can't find it anywhere on their website.
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Hannah White
The best number to reach EDD is 1-800-300-5616. However, it's extremely difficult to get through because of high call volume. Here are some tips that worked for me: 1. Call exactly at 8:00am when they open (not 8:01, literally 8:00:00) 2. If you hear "we're currently receiving more calls than we can answer" - hang up and immediately redial 3. Try on Wednesdays and Thursdays which tend to have slightly lower call volumes 4. Make sure you have your claim number, last employer info, and ID ready before calling It took me about 14 attempts over 3 days, but I finally got through using this method. Be persistent!
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Michael Green
•I tried calling at exactly 8AM for TWO WEEKS and never got through!!! This system is COMPLETELY BROKEN and they don't care at all about people struggling to pay bills. I've tried every number listed on their website and it's all the same garbage automated system that never connects to anyone. I'm so fed up with this!
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Mateo Silva
If ur having trouble with the main number, u can also try the UI technical support line at 1-855-327-7057. Sometimes that one has shorter waits. Just tell them u need to be transferred to a claim specialist when u get through.
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Samantha Johnson
•Thank you! I'll definitely try that number tomorrow morning. Do they have the same hours as the main line?
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Victoria Jones
I was in the exact same situation last month and wasted hours calling with no luck. What finally worked was using Claimyr. It's a service that connects you with an EDD rep without you having to keep calling. They got me through in about 25 minutes when I'd been trying for days on my own. Their website is claimyr.com and they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km It was seriously a lifesaver for getting my pending payments resolved.
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Nick Kravitz
•is this legit? sounds too good to be true tbh
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Victoria Jones
•Yeah it's legit. I was skeptical too but my cousin used it first and told me about it. They basically use tech to keep dialing until they get through, then connect you. Saved me so much frustration.
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Cameron Black
The key is understanding how EDD's phone system works. There are specific times during the day when call volume decreases slightly - typically around 10:30am and 2:15pm. The main line (1-800-300-5616) is open 8am-5pm Monday through Friday. When calling, if you hear "We're currently receiving more calls than we can answer," hang up immediately. If you hear "Your call is important to us," stay on the line as you've entered the queue. Be sure to select options for "existing claim" and then "payment questions" to reach the right department. Different menu selections route you to different agent pools, and some have fewer people waiting. Also check your UI Online account for any message flags that might explain why your payment is pending. Sometimes there's a simple certification issue you can fix yourself without calling.
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Samantha Johnson
•This is incredibly helpful, thank you! I'll try those specific times tomorrow. I checked my UI Online and there aren't any message flags, which is why I'm so confused about why it's stuck in pending.
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Jessica Nguyen
when i called last month i had to press 2-4-1 in the menu to reach someone who could actually help me. idk if they changed it since then but worth a try.
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Michael Green
•They constantly change the menu options! That's part of the problem - by the time someone shares what worked, they've changed everything around. Such a broken system!
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Hannah White
Update question for the original poster - did any of these suggestions work for you? Were you able to get through to EDD?
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Samantha Johnson
•Yes! I finally got through yesterday using the 10:30am timing suggestion and the UI technical support line. It took about 45 minutes on hold, but I finally spoke with someone who fixed my pending status. Apparently there was an identity verification flag on my account that wasn't showing up in UI Online. Should be paid within 24-48 hours now. Thanks everyone for the help!
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