What is the number for unemployment at California EDD?

I've tried that number! It's the one that either disconnects me immediately or puts me on hold for like 2 hours and then drops the call. Is there a specific time of day that's better?

Early morning right when they open at 8am is supposed to be the best bet. I've heard Tuesdays and Wednesdays are slightly less slammed than Mondays.

okay trying tomorrow at 8am sharp, fingers crossed

wait what's the difference between pending and adjudication?? mine says pending too and now im freaking out

Pending usually just means it's being processed, adjudication means there's a specific issue being reviewed - like a question about your eligibility or your former employer contested the claim. They're different statuses but both can look vague on the portal unfortunately.

oh god how do i know which one mine is

If there's an issue they're supposed to send you a notice. Check your UI Online inbox too not just your email.

is this legit?? sounds too good to be true tbh

I thought the same thing but yeah it worked for me. The video explains the whole process if you want to see it before trying anything.

I've seen this mentioned a few times on here. Seems like a lot of people have had good luck with it when the regular EDD number isn't working.

This is literally my experience. I'm not exaggerating when I say I've called 40+ times.

It's genuinely terrible and I don't want to dismiss that frustration at all. The system needs massive investment. But there are strategies that improve your odds - early morning calls, using alternate lines, or third-party callback services.

strategies shouldn't be necessary to access benefits you're legally entitled to but yes fine

I tried the automated system but it just says 'your claim is being processed' and doesn't give any useful details. I need someone to actually look at my account.

Yeah that's the limitation - if there's something actually flagged on your claim the automated system won't tell you what it is. You really do need a live agent in that case.

oh wow i didn't know there were different numbers for different programs. I might have been calling the wrong one this whole time 😭

The DI number mistake is super common. Also note that if you have a PFL claim that's yet another department - SDI Online handles that separately.

This is really helpful, thank you. I've definitely been using the right number (1-800-300-5616) but still can't get through.

This tracks with my experience. Monday mornings are basically impossible. Thursdays have been decent for me.

Trying Thursday at 8am this week, will report back

Wait so employer disputes can cause this kind of pending delay? That might actually be what happened to me - my separation wasn't totally straightforward.

Yeah definitely. If your employer contests or reports the reason for separation differently it goes into a review process. An EDD agent can tell you exactly what's flagged on your account.

How long did it take for Claimyr to connect you with someone?

A few hours for me. Way better than the days I had spent redialing 1-800-300-5616 with nothing to show for it.

Same number for both - 1-800-300-5616. But honestly for a new claim you should start online at UI Online (ui.edd.ca.gov) first. Filing online is way faster and you only need to call if something goes wrong or your claim ends up flagged.

Got it, thank you! I'll file online first and hopefully won't need to call at all.

Filing online first is definitely the right move. Phone should be a last resort or for when you have a specific issue that the portal can't resolve. Good luck with your claim!

I sent a message through UI Online like 5 days ago and haven't heard back yet. Is that normal?

Unfortunately yes. A week to 10 days is pretty typical for written responses through the portal. Keep your claim certifications current in the meantime so you don't lose out on weeks if the claim does get approved.

Oh good point - I've been continuing to certify weekly even in pending status. I read somewhere that you should keep doing that.

Absolutely keep certifying. If your claim gets approved while in pending/adjudication they'll back-pay the weeks you certified for. If you stop certifying you might lose those weeks.

Unfortunately no - California EDD phone lines are M-F 8am to 5pm only. No weekend or evening support for UI claims. This is a huge gap in the system for people who are underemployed rather than fully unemployed.

ugh that's what i was afraid of. guess i have to hope my boss lets me sneak out for a call or something

If you're in that situation a callback service might actually be worth it because you can set it up to call you at a time that works, rather than having to be available for however long the hold takes.

I was in exactly that spot. Claimyr (claimyr.com) got me connected to an actual EDD agent who could see my account and explain the adjudication. Check out the demo video: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10 - it's way less painful than the redial loop.

I literally just watched that video and I'm going to try it. At this point I have nothing to lose.

Adjudication with no explanation is maddening. When you do get through to someone, ask them specifically to read you the adjudication reason code - that will tell you exactly what the issue is and what documentation you might need to provide.

So glad you finally got through! The employer wage reporting lag is a really common cause of adjudication delays that most people don't know about. Good news is it usually resolves itself once the wage data is updated in the system.

I'm glad it worked out but the fact that an employer's administrative failure causes weeks of financial hardship for the claimant is infuriating. You did nothing wrong.

Yeah it's genuinely frustrating that I had to spend weeks of stress over something completely outside my control. But at least now I know I'm not actually disqualified or anything.

This gives me hope. My claim has been pending too and now I'm wondering if it might be something similar. Going to try to get through this week.

For regular UI benefits, yes - you generally need to have earned W2 wages from an employer who paid into the UI system. Self-employment income alone doesn't qualify for regular unemployment insurance in California. Your friend might be thinking of pandemic-era programs that no longer exist. If you have a mix of W2 and self-employment income it gets more complicated and worth calling to ask about.

oh okay yeah I think he was talking about the covid thing. thanks for clarifying

Worth noting if you're newly self-employed after losing a W2 job you might still be eligible for regular UI based on your prior W2 earnings during the base period. Don't assume you're automatically disqualified.

It genuinely haunts me too. That music is the sound of despair.

😭 accurate

Good tip. I made sure to have everything written down before my call and it did make things go faster once I was connected.

what is the EDD Customer Account Number and where do I find it?

It's a 10-digit number that starts with E. You can find it on any correspondence from EDD (letters, notices, etc.) or at the top of your UI Online account page once you log in.

found it! Thank you so much

Great point. America's Job Centers (AJCCs) are genuinely underutilized. They can also help with job search requirement documentation which is relevant once you're receiving benefits.

I didn't know this was an option. Adding it to my list of things to try if the claim resolution doesn't come through in the next week or so.

Yeah, it's not well advertised. The EDD website has a locator tool if you search 'America's Job Center California.

You should certify for those missed weeks as soon as possible. You can certify late through UI Online or by phone. You might get a prompt asking why you're certifying late - just be honest and explain the circumstances. EDD can sometimes backdate or accept late certifications depending on the reason, but the sooner you do it the better.

oh no okay doing this right now thank you

Also worth noting - missing certifications doesn't cancel your underlying claim but it can affect your payment timeline. Getting those certifications in ASAP is the right call.

This summary is really helpful. I wish someone had told me all of this on day one instead of just giving me the number and wishing me luck.

Right? The number is public knowledge. The actual strategy for navigating the system is what forums like this are for.

Can confirm - once I got through (used Claimyr as mentioned above, claimyr.com) the actual agent was super knowledgeable and helpful. It's just the getting through part that's the nightmare.