Can't reach California Unemployment? 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
- Skip the long phone menu
- Call the correct department
- Redial until on hold
- Forward a call to your phone with reduced hold time
- 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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Hey, everyone. We're sorry for inconvenience with update. Update is done and now Claimyr is available to use again. Claimyr is faster and easier way to connect to EDD. I paid 3 times and used multiple times and got my backpay. If you need to speak with edd, use $5 discount code below and you only pay $14.99 $5 discount to copy and paste. (10 free calls) https://join.claimyr.com/49a083
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Just wanted to jump in here as someone new to this community. I'm currently dealing with my own EDD situation - been waiting 3 months for my claim to be processed after being laid off from my retail job. Reading through all these experiences is both reassuring and terrifying! It's crazy that so many of us are going through the same struggle with the system. I'm definitely going to try some of the strategies mentioned here, especially the Monday 8 AM calling tip and reaching out to my assemblyperson's office. Has anyone had success with the EDD customer service chat feature, or is calling still the best option? Also curious if anyone knows whether weekends are completely pointless to try calling or if there's any skeleton crew working then. Thanks to everyone sharing their experiences - it really helps to know we're not alone in this mess! 🙏
Welcome to the community, Kelsey! I'm new here too and going through a similar situation - just hit the 2 month mark waiting on my claim. From what I've been reading in this thread, calling seems to be way more effective than the chat feature. Most people are saying the chat either doesn't connect you to the right department or just gives you generic responses. The Monday 8 AM strategy that Hattie mentioned sounds promising! As for weekends, I've heard they have very limited staff so probably not worth the frustration. I'm planning to start documenting everything like others have suggested and maybe try that assemblyperson contact after I hit the 3 month mark like you. It's definitely overwhelming but seeing all these success stories gives me hope that persistence really does work. We've got this! 💪
Hey everyone! New member here and honestly feeling a bit overwhelmed reading through all these experiences. I just got laid off last week from my job at a marketing agency and I'm dreading having to deal with the EDD system based on what I'm seeing here. Already tried calling a few times and just get the busy signal or hang up message. This thread is both helpful and terrifying at the same time! 😅 I'm definitely taking notes on all the strategies being shared - the Monday 8 AM tip, keeping detailed logs, and reaching out to assemblyperson offices. It's insane that we have to become experts in gaming the system just to get the benefits we're entitled to. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences and tips. Hopefully I can avoid some of the worst pitfalls with the knowledge from this community. Fingers crossed my claim goes smoother than what some of you have experienced! 🤞
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I'm in a similar situation - got approved 2 weeks ago and still waiting for my card! Reading through all these responses is both reassuring and terrifying lol. The USPS Informed Delivery tip is genius, definitely signing up for that today. Has anyone tried contacting their local EDD office directly about card delays, or is Bank of America the only option once the payment is issued? Really hoping mine shows up soon because like the OP, I've got bills piling up!
Hey! I'm also new to this whole EDD process and waiting for my card - got approved about 10 days ago. From what I've gathered reading through everyone's experiences, it seems like Bank of America handles all the card stuff once EDD processes the payment, so contacting your local EDD office probably won't help with card delivery times. The Informed Delivery tip really is smart - just signed up myself after seeing it mentioned! Fingers crossed both our cards show up soon. This waiting game is brutal when you've got rent and bills due!
@Serene Snow From my experience, once EDD issues the payment, it s'all handled by Bank of America - the local EDD offices can t'really help with card delivery timing. But if you re'at the 2-week mark, it might be worth calling BofA customer service the (number should be on the EDD website to) at least confirm the card was mailed and get the date it was sent out. That way you ll'know if you need to start the replacement process. Also, if you haven t'already, definitely check your UI Online account to make sure your mailing address is 100% correct - I ve'heard of people having delays because of small address discrepancies. Hang in there, the waiting really is the worst part!
I'm going through the exact same thing right now! Got approved about 9 days ago and have been obsessively checking my mailbox every day. It's such a stressful waiting game when you really need the money. Reading through all these experiences is actually really helpful - sounds like 7-10 business days is pretty normal, so I'm trying to stay patient. The USPS Informed Delivery suggestion is brilliant, definitely signing up for that right now! Also good to know about the BofA app for managing the card once it arrives. Hopefully both our cards show up soon - this whole process has been way more complicated than I expected for something so essential!
I totally feel you on the obsessive mailbox checking! I'm on day 6 since my payments showed as "paid" and doing the exact same thing. It's reassuring to see that most people are getting their cards within that 7-10 business day window. I just set up the USPS Informed Delivery too after seeing it recommended so many times in this thread - what a game changer that will be for my anxiety! Question for anyone who's been through this: once you get the card and activate it, how long did it actually take to transfer money to your personal bank account? I'm trying to plan out my bill payments and want to know if there are any other delays I should expect.
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Once you get your card, I strongly recommend setting up the Money Network mobile app. It makes managing your unemployment funds much easier. You can check your balance, see payment history, and even set up alerts when new payments are deposited. Also important - you can switch to direct deposit for future payments once you have card access, which is much faster than waiting for the card to be reloaded every certification period.
That's great advice, thanks! I'll definitely set up the app and switch to direct deposit as soon as possible. Really appreciate everyone's help here!
Just wanted to add another perspective here - I'm currently going through the same thing! My payment was approved 5 days ago and still no card. Reading through all these responses is really helpful though. I called that Money Network number someone mentioned (866-320-8699) and it did confirm my card was mailed 3 days ago, so at least I know it's coming. For anyone else in this situation, that automated line is definitely worth calling just for peace of mind. Hang in there Freya, sounds like we're both in the waiting game together!
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Been following this thread closely as I'm in the same nightmare situation! Just wanted to share what finally worked for me after 3 weeks of failed attempts. I combined several of the strategies mentioned here: called the main line at 8:01am sharp on a Wednesday, selected "file new claim" even though I was calling about existing issues, and kept my SSN and account number ready. Got through in about 90 minutes which felt like a miracle! The rep was able to resolve my pending certification issue that had been stuck for over a month. My advice is to literally try EVERYTHING people have suggested here - different times, different menu options, even the Spanish line transfer trick if you can. Don't give up, there IS a way through this broken system, it just takes persistence and trying multiple approaches.
This gives me so much hope! I've been stuck in pending status for 6 weeks now and was starting to lose faith that I'd ever get through. Reading everyone's success stories here is keeping me motivated to keep trying. I'm going to attempt the Wednesday 8:01am strategy combined with the "file new claim" option tomorrow morning. It's crazy that we have to jump through all these hoops just to speak to someone about our own benefits, but at least this community is sharing what actually works. Thanks to everyone for posting their real experiences instead of just complaining - this thread is like a lifeline for people like us who are drowning in this broken system!
Just wanted to add my experience to this thread since I see so many people struggling with the same issue. I finally got through last week after 18 days of trying every trick in the book! What worked for me was calling the disability line (1-800-480-3287) and explaining that I needed to be transferred to unemployment benefits. The wait was only about 45 minutes compared to the 4+ hours I was spending on the main line. The rep told me that since both departments handle similar types of claims, they can often transfer you directly without having to start over in the queue. She was able to fix my payment delay issue right on the spot. I know it sounds like a weird workaround but honestly at this point we have to get creative with this broken system. Hope this helps someone else get the help they need!
Wow, calling the disability line for a transfer is brilliant! I never would have thought of that approach. I've been banging my head against the wall trying the main line for weeks with zero success. The fact that they can transfer you directly without losing your place in queue is a total game changer. I'm definitely trying this first thing tomorrow morning. Thanks for sharing this creative workaround - it's people like you sharing these insider tips that are literally saving us from going insane dealing with this system!
Lydia Bailey
I hate to be the bearer of more bad news, but I went through this exact same scenario about 8 months ago. Restaurant industry here too - got laid off and burned through my 26 weeks with no extensions available. What really caught me off guard was how quickly those 26 weeks went by. I kept thinking something would come up or that there'd be some kind of emergency extension program, but nope. California really doesn't have anything once regular UI runs out unless the unemployment rate hits specific federal triggers (which it hasn't). The silver lining is that I did manage to find work eventually, though I had to take a significant pay cut and work outside my usual management role. I ended up doing delivery driving and some retail work just to get by and build up wages for a potential future claim. It wasn't ideal, but it kept me afloat. My advice: start applying for CalFresh NOW if you haven't already - the application process can take a few weeks. Also, don't sleep on food banks and local assistance programs. I was too proud to use them at first but honestly they were a lifesaver during the gap between my last UI payment and finding steady work. The job market is rough but hang in there. Sometimes taking something temporary outside your field can actually lead to unexpected opportunities.
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Ava Harris
•Thanks for sharing your experience - it's really helpful to hear from someone who went through the same thing. You're absolutely right about how fast those 26 weeks go by. I keep thinking I have time but it's already almost over. I've been hesitant about taking jobs outside my field because I was hoping something in hospitality management would come up, but you make a good point about delivery or retail work helping build wages for a future claim. I hadn't thought about it that way. I'm definitely going to apply for CalFresh this week - thanks for the heads up about the processing time. Did you find that having those temporary jobs on your record helped when you eventually found something more in your field, or did employers ask about the gap?
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Santiago Martinez
I'm going through something similar right now - my UI benefits are running low and I'm also in the restaurant industry. The job market is absolutely brutal right now. What I've learned from calling EDD (took me forever to get through) is that once your regular 26 weeks or maximum benefit amount is exhausted, that's it. No extensions available unless unemployment rates trigger federal programs, which they haven't. One thing that's helped me is expanding my search beyond just management roles. I've been applying for server positions, bartending, even hotel front desk jobs - anything in hospitality that might lead back to management eventually. The pay isn't what I'm used to but it's better than nothing, and like others mentioned, you need those wages to qualify for a new claim when your benefit year ends. Also definitely apply for CalFresh - I put it off thinking I'd find work soon but wish I'd done it earlier. The process takes time and every bit helps when you're stretching savings. Some counties also have one-time emergency assistance for rent, though the waitlists can be long. It's frustrating because we paid into this system and 26 weeks really isn't enough time in this job market, but we have to work with what we've got. Keep pushing through the applications - something will come up!
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Klaus Schmidt
•That's really good advice about expanding the search beyond management roles. I've been so focused on finding another management position that I hadn't seriously considered going back to server or bartending work, but you're right that it's better than nothing and could lead back to management eventually. Plus like you said, I need those wages for a potential future claim. The hospitality industry connections might help too - sometimes managers get promoted from within or hear about openings at other properties. Thanks for the reality check and encouragement!
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