Can't reach California Disability? Claimyr connects you to a live EDD agent in minutes.
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Using Claimyr will:
- Connect you to a human agent at the EDD
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- Call the correct department
- Redial until on hold
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- Give you free callbacks if the EDD drops your call
If I could give 10 stars I would
If I could give 10 stars I would If I could give 10 stars I would Such an amazing service so needed during the times when EDD almost never picks up Claimyr gets me on the phone with EDD every time without fail faster. A much needed service without Claimyr I would have never received the payment I needed to support me during my postpartum recovery. Thank you so much Claimyr!
Really made a difference
Really made a difference, save me time and energy from going to a local office for making the call.
Worth not wasting your time calling for hours.
Was a bit nervous or untrusting at first, but my calls went thru. First time the wait was a bit long but their customer chat line on their page was helpful and put me at ease that I would receive my call. Today my call dropped because of EDD and Claimyr heard my concern on the same chat and another call was made within the hour.
An incredibly helpful service
An incredibly helpful service! Got me connected to a CA EDD agent without major hassle (outside of EDD's agents dropping calls – which Claimyr has free protection for). If you need to file a new claim and can't do it online, pay the $ to Claimyr to get the process started. Absolutely worth it!
Consistent,frustration free, quality Service.
Used this service a couple times now. Before I'd call 200 times in less than a weak frustrated as can be. But using claimyr with a couple hours of waiting i was on the line with an representative or on hold. Dropped a couple times but each reconnected not long after and was mission accomplished, thanks to Claimyr.
IT WORKS!! Not a scam!
I tried for weeks to get thru to EDD PFL program with no luck. I gave this a try thinking it may be a scam. OMG! It worked and They got thru within an hour and my claim is going to finally get paid!! I upgraded to the $60 call. Best $60 spent!
Ask the community...
- DO post questions about your issues.
- DO answer questions and support each other.
- DO post tips & tricks to help folks.
- DO NOT post call problems here - there is a support tab at the top for that :)
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I'm new to this community but currently facing this exact same situation - approaching month 11 on SDI after a complex ankle reconstruction that's had multiple setbacks. This entire thread has been absolutely life-changing in terms of information and support! I wanted to add one more resource that just saved me recently - many county public health departments have "benefits enrollment specialists" who help people navigate transitions between different health insurance and disability programs. I found this out completely by accident when I called about something else, but they assigned me a specialist who knew about local bridge programs I'd never heard of and helped me understand how to maintain health coverage during potential gaps between SDI and other benefits. Also discovered that some union halls (even if you're not currently a member) offer community benefit navigation services, especially building trades and public sector unions. They see disability transitions frequently and often have relationships with attorneys and advocates who specialize in these cases. The collective knowledge in this thread is absolutely incredible. I started reading feeling completely panicked about that 52-week cliff, but now I have a comprehensive action plan and feel like I actually have options. It's both heartening to see this community support and infuriating that we have to piece together this critical information ourselves when it should be readily available through official channels. Thank you to everyone who has shared their experiences and resources. This community has provided more practical help and emotional support than I've gotten anywhere else during this incredibly stressful transition period. You're all amazing!
Welcome to the community, Nora! Your ankle reconstruction complications sound really challenging, and I can definitely relate to the panic about approaching that 52-week deadline. It's incredible how this thread has grown into such a comprehensive resource! The county public health department tip is brilliant - I never would have thought to contact them for benefits navigation, but it makes perfect sense that they'd have specialists who understand the intersection of health coverage and disability programs. That's going on my list of places to call this week. The union hall suggestion is also really smart, especially since they probably see these transition situations regularly and would have established relationships with attorneys and advocates. Even for non-members, it's worth reaching out to see what community services they might offer. I completely echo your sentiment about this thread being life-changing. I came here feeling completely lost and overwhelmed, but now I have more actionable resources and support than I've found anywhere else. It's amazing how much expertise exists in this community, and it really highlights the gap in official support systems. Thanks for adding even more valuable resources to this incredible knowledge base. Reading everyone's experiences has made me feel so much less alone in navigating this broken system. This community truly is a lifeline during one of the most stressful transitions imaginable. Wishing you all the best with your recovery and hoping your transition goes as smoothly as possible!
I'm new to this community and currently at 7 months on SDI after a traumatic brain injury from a car accident. Reading through this entire thread has been absolutely overwhelming but in the best possible way - I had no idea there were so many resources and options available! One thing I wanted to add that might help others: I just discovered that many Area Agencies on Aging (as someone mentioned earlier) also have partnerships with local food banks and community organizations that offer specific support for people transitioning between disability benefits. My case worker there connected me with a "disability transition pantry" that provides not just food assistance but also helps with utility bills and transportation costs during benefit gaps. Also found out that some community mental health centers have specialized "benefits counselors" who understand the psychological impact of navigating these transitions and can provide both emotional support AND practical guidance about benefit systems. The stress of approaching that 52-week cliff while trying to recover from a brain injury has been incredibly difficult, and having someone who understands both the medical and bureaucratic sides has been a game-changer. The amount of knowledge sharing in this thread is absolutely incredible. It's given me actual hope instead of just terror about what happens at 52 weeks. Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to share their experiences and resources - this community is providing more support and practical information than I've gotten from any official source. You're all truly helping people navigate what feels like an impossible system during some of the most vulnerable times in their lives. This thread should honestly be required reading for anyone approaching their SDI limit!
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I've been through this exact situation! Was stuck in identity verification hell for 8 weeks last year. A few things that finally helped me break through: 1) Contact your state assemblyperson's constituent services office - they have direct contacts at EDD and can escalate your case, 2) Make sure you submitted the DE 1326C form (Identity Verification form) - this is often the missing piece that keeps cases stuck, 3) Try calling the SDI Technical Support line at 1-800-480-3287 early in the morning (like 8:01 AM) - better chance of getting through. Also, while you wait, look into your county's General Relief program and local food banks for emergency assistance. The financial stress while waiting is brutal, especially when you're already dealing with medical issues. Keep certifying every two weeks no matter what - you'll get all the back pay once it's resolved. Don't give up, the system is broken but you will eventually get through it!
This is incredibly helpful advice! I'm definitely going to try calling that technical support line first thing tomorrow morning. I had no idea about the DE 1326C form until someone mentioned it earlier - seems like EDD doesn't make it very clear that this form is required. It's so reassuring to hear from people who actually made it through this nightmare. The whole system really does seem broken when so many of us are stuck in the same verification limbo for months. Thank you for taking the time to share all these specific steps and phone numbers - it gives me a concrete plan to follow instead of just waiting helplessly.
I went through this identity verification nightmare last year and it was absolutely maddening! What finally worked for me was submitting a complaint through the California Department of Insurance (they oversee SDI) - not just EDD. You can file it online and they actually have authority to push EDD to resolve cases faster. Also, document EVERYTHING - dates you called, who you spoke with, confirmation numbers for document uploads. When you do get through to someone, ask them to add detailed notes to your case file about what's missing or what the hold-up is. And yes, definitely contact your state rep's office - mine got my case resolved in 2 weeks after I'd been waiting 2 months. The stress of not knowing when you'll get paid while dealing with medical issues is just cruel. Hang in there, you WILL get through this and they WILL pay you back for all the weeks once it's sorted out!
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Has anyone tried reaching out to them on social media? Sometimes companies respond faster when you call them out publicly.
I tweeted at them last week. Radio silence. 🦗
I've seen some people get responses on Facebook, might be worth a shot
I'm in the exact same boat - been waiting since Tuesday for my callback and nothing! It's beyond frustrating when you're dealing with a disability and need these benefits to survive. I've tried calling directly multiple times but just get stuck in an endless hold loop. Reading through all these comments, it sounds like this is a widespread issue and not just us being unlucky. Really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences and tips here - at least we know we're not alone in this mess. Going to try some of the suggestions like calling early morning and checking my spam folder. Fingers crossed something works soon! 🤞
I'm so sorry you're going through this too! It's awful that people with disabilities have to jump through these hoops just to get the support we've paid into. I've been dealing with the same runaround - it's like they don't understand that we can't just wait indefinitely when we're already struggling. Have you tried the early morning calling strategy that @Abigail bergen mentioned? I m'planning to set an alarm and call right when they open tomorrow. We shouldn t'have to work this hard for our own benefits, but here we are. Hang in there! 💪
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This is such a frustrating but apparently common issue! I'm new to dealing with EDD disability claims and seeing all these similar experiences is both reassuring and concerning. It sounds like the consensus is that there's probably an old claim lingering in their system that didn't get properly closed out. I'm definitely going to try the early morning calling strategy - seems like 8 AM sharp is the magic time. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and specific steps to resolve this. It's really helpful to know what to ask for when I finally get through to someone. Fingers crossed I can get this sorted out quickly! 🤞
Welcome to the EDD frustration club! 😅 I just went through this exact same thing a few weeks ago and I can totally relate to that mix of relief and concern when you realize how common this issue is. The good news is that based on everyone's experiences here, it really does seem to be a straightforward fix once you get the right person on the phone. I'd definitely recommend having all your info ready when you call - SSN, driver's license number, and maybe even dates of any previous claims if you remember them. The reps seem to be able to sort it out pretty quickly once they locate the problem. You've got this! 💪
I'm going through this exact same issue right now! Just tried to file my disability claim this morning and got hit with that "driver's license already in use" error. Reading through everyone's experiences here is honestly such a relief - I was starting to panic thinking someone had stolen my identity or something worse. It sounds like this is a known system glitch where old claims don't get properly closed out. I definitely had a brief disability claim back in 2021 that I thought was completely resolved, but it must still be lingering in their system somehow. Going to try the 8 AM calling strategy tomorrow morning and ask them specifically to check for any old claims under my license. Thanks everyone for sharing your stories and solutions - this community is a lifesaver! 🙏
I totally understand that panic feeling when you first see that error! I thought the exact same thing - like someone had stolen my info or there was some major problem with my account. It's such a relief to find out it's actually just a common system glitch with old claims not being properly cleared. Your 2021 claim is probably exactly what's causing the issue - seems like EDD's system has a real problem with properly closing out old files. The 8 AM calling strategy definitely seems to be the way to go based on everyone's success stories here. Make sure to be really specific when you get through about wanting them to check for ANY previous claims, even ones you think are closed. Good luck tomorrow morning - you've totally got this! 🍀
Royal_GM_Mark
Just wanted to jump in as someone who's been dealing with EDD disability claims for my chronic illness - all the advice here is spot on! The 1-800-480-3287 number and early morning calling strategy really are your best bets. I've had success with the 8am sharp approach too. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is that if you do get through but need to call back later for any reason, ask the rep for your "customer service request number" - it's like a reference number that can help speed up future calls since they can see your previous contact history. Also, @Dmitry, I totally feel you on the medication brain fog making everything harder. I started keeping a dedicated notebook just for all my EDD-related info and conversations because I couldn't trust my memory either. The system is definitely frustrating but persistence really does pay off. You've got tons of great advice in this thread now - you're going to get through to them!
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Dmitry Kuznetsov
•Thanks for the tip about asking for a customer service request number! I hadn't heard that one before but it makes total sense to have some kind of reference for future calls. The dedicated EDD notebook idea is brilliant too - I'm definitely going to start one of those since I can barely remember what I had for breakfast these days with this medication. It's so encouraging to hear from someone else managing a chronic illness and dealing with this system. You're right that I've gotten amazing advice in this thread - I feel like I have a real action plan now instead of just randomly dialing numbers and hoping for the best. Time to put all these strategies to work!
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Mateo Perez
This thread is absolutely amazing - thank you everyone for sharing such detailed and practical advice! I've been putting off calling EDD for weeks because I was so intimidated by all the horror stories, but reading through all these specific strategies has given me the confidence to actually tackle it. I'm going to try the mobile app first thing tomorrow morning to check my claim status, then if I need to call I'll use the 8am sharp strategy with the 1-1-2 menu sequence. The brain fog struggle is so real - I'm on a new medication for anxiety that makes me feel like I'm in a constant mental haze, so all the tips about writing everything down, setting up a "calling station," and even having someone else take notes during the call are incredibly helpful. It's such a relief to know I'm not the only one dealing with memory issues while trying to navigate this bureaucratic nightmare. Bookmarking this thread as my EDD survival guide!
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Reginald Blackwell
•I'm so glad this thread has been helpful for you! As someone who's new to this community but dealing with similar challenges, it's amazing how much practical wisdom everyone has shared here. The anxiety medication brain fog is no joke - I completely understand that mental haze feeling. Having a solid game plan definitely makes it feel less overwhelming. The mobile app check first is such a smart approach since it might save you from having to make the dreaded phone call at all. And if you do need to call, you're now armed with all the best strategies from people who've actually succeeded in getting through. Don't let those horror stories psych you out - yes, the system is frustrating, but as everyone here has proven, it IS possible to reach them with the right approach and enough persistence. Good luck with your call tomorrow, and please update us on how it goes! This community seems really supportive and I'm sure others would benefit from hearing about your experience too.
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