What time does EDD phone lines open - need to call first thing Monday

Thanks! So you actually start dialing before 8am? Does it just give you a closed message until exactly 8?

Yep, you'll get a closed message but keep hitting redial. Right at 8am sharp it switches over and you want to be first in line.

200 times?? That's insane. There has to be a better way than spending entire days just trying to get through to them.

Tell me about it. I'm about ready to try one of those auto-dialer services I keep seeing mentioned. At this point anything is better than manually redialing all day.

Is that legit? I'm getting desperate here and don't want to get scammed but manual calling clearly isn't working.

Totally legit. Check out claimyr.com - they have a demo video at https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10 that shows exactly how it works. Way better than wasting entire days calling yourself.

Just looked this up and the reviews are actually really good. Might have to bite the bullet and try it.

Seriously? They all take lunch at the same time? That's ridiculous but explains why I could never get through around noon.

This is accurate. I work in a call center and can confirm most government offices do synchronized lunch breaks. Save yourself the frustration and don't call 12-1:30.

Wait exactly 70 seconds? How did you figure out that timing?

Trial and error over dozens of calls. If you press too early it doesn't register, too late and you waste time listening to prompts you don't need.

I just press the buttons before the prompts finish talking. Usually works and definitely faster than waiting.

This is so true. Mondays are a nightmare. I once called 150 times on a Monday and never even got the hold message.

Exactly! Mid-week is definitely better. Less desperate people flooding the lines.

Thank you for clarifying this! I was alternating between both numbers thinking it would help my odds.

Nope, complete waste of time. Stick with one number and keep redialing. The 800 number is slightly easier to remember.

This happened to me twice! I was on hold for over 2 hours each time and then just got a dial tone. Their phone system is completely broken.

This is exactly why I switched to Claimyr. No more dropped calls or wasted hold time. They handle all that and just call you when an agent is ready.

47 times in 2.5 hours is actually pretty good volume. Some days I can only get through the menu 20 times before giving up.

At what point do we just accept that manual calling isn't realistic anymore? I'm seriously considering the auto-dialer option.

That's actually a really good point. I can't afford to spend work hours calling EDD repeatedly. The callback option makes way more sense.

Exactly. For $20 you avoid burning vacation days or sick time just to reach EDD. Total no-brainer for working people.

I noticed this too! After 4pm you just get busy signals no matter how many times you call. Must be when they stop taking new calls to clear the queue.

Government offices always do this. They stop taking new calls 30-60 minutes before closing to handle existing queue. Pretty standard practice.

Good strategy. I do something similar but give it 2 minutes max. Any longer and you're just wasting time that could be used for more attempts.

Exactly. It's all about maximizing your attempts per hour. The more you can dial, the better your odds of getting through.

Which service did you use? I'm getting ready to try the same thing because manual calling is clearly not working.

Used Claimyr. Super easy - just go to their website, pay the fee, and wait for them to call you back when they reach an agent. Way less stressful than doing it yourself.

Never thought about it that way but you're absolutely right. Even if you don't work hourly, your time has value.

Plus the stress factor. I was getting anxiety attacks from all the failed calling attempts. The peace of mind alone was worth the $20.

Good point. I made this mistake on Martin Luther King Day and spent an hour wondering why I kept getting the closed message.

Yeah, they should make the holiday schedule more obvious on their website. Easy mistake to make when you're desperate to get through.

Congrats! How long were you on hold once you got through the menu?

About 1 hour and 45 minutes. Not as bad as I expected but still a huge chunk of the day gone. At least the call didn't drop like so many others have experienced.

You're one of the lucky ones. I've been on hold for 2+ hours twice and both calls dropped. That's when I decided manual calling wasn't worth it anymore.

Thank you! I was wondering about those other numbers I keep seeing in forums. Good to know they're not worth trying.

Yeah, there used to be some alternate lines pre-pandemic but they've all been consolidated. The two main numbers are your only real options for manual calling.

Also keep a charger handy! I've had to plug in mid-call multiple times during long hold sessions.

Good point. I now treat EDD calling like a major phone event - charger ready, comfortable spot to sit, snacks nearby. It's basically a part-time job at this point.

This thread has convinced me. Placing my Claimyr order now. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - saved me weeks of frustration.

Smart choice. I wish I had done it sooner instead of wasting so much time and energy on manual calling. Good luck getting your issue resolved!