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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!
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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!
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For anyone still fighting this battle: document everything. Keep records of your call attempts, hold times, and any issues you encounter. File complaints with CFPB, your state representatives, and EDD. This system won't improve unless people make noise about it.
Good advice. I'm definitely filing a complaint. This is about basic access to benefits people have earned.
Already filed mine. Everyone dealing with this should complain officially, not just vent online.
Thanks everyone for all the advice and support. Going to try Claimyr to reach EDD and get direct deposit set up. Lesson learned: avoid the EDD debit card if at all possible. The Money Network customer service situation is completely unacceptable.
I'm in the exact same boat - been trying to reach Money Network for over a week with no luck. The fact that we need our benefits to pay for basic necessities like food and rent, but can't access them because of a broken customer service system, is absolutely infuriating. I'm definitely going to try Claimyr too. It shouldn't cost extra money to reach the agencies that are supposed to help us, but if it works it's better than being stuck in this endless loop. Really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences here - at least we know we're not alone in this mess!
Welcome to the Money Network nightmare club! I went through the exact same thing last month - card stopped working, couldn't reach anyone, felt completely helpless. The Claimyr route is definitely the way to go. I paid the $20, got through to EDD in under 30 minutes, and had direct deposit set up by the end of the call. Best money I ever spent. The rep even mentioned they're getting tons of requests to switch away from the Money Network cards because of these exact issues. You're making the right choice - hang in there!
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To all those having trouble reaching a human at California Unemployment. I just ran across this that gave me a to reach a human. Hope it helps! https://youtu.be/Ize0EkN4HDI
If you miss the scheduled callback from EDD, don't panic! Here's what typically happens: 1) They'll usually try calling 2-3 times within a short window, 2) You might receive a follow-up text or notice about rescheduling, 3) Check your UI Online account for any updates or new appointment options. The key is to respond quickly if you get any rescheduling options. Also, make sure your phone can receive calls from unknown numbers since EDD calls often show up that way. Has anyone else had experience with missed callbacks and successful rescheduling?
@Marilyn Dixon Thank you for this helpful breakdown! I m'actually dealing with this exact situation right now - missed my callback yesterday and I m'worried I ve'lost my chance. Do you know how long EDD typically gives you to reschedule? I ve'been checking my UI Online account obsessively but haven t'seen any new options yet. Also, did you have to go back to the original callback request process or is there usually a faster way to get another appointment? Really appreciate any guidance from someone who s'been through this!
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Glad to hear you took action and applied! That was definitely the right move. One thing to keep in mind - when you do your bi-weekly certifications, make sure you're reporting the severance income in the correct week it's actually paid to you, not spread out over multiple weeks. For example, if you get paid monthly severance, report the full amount in the certification period when you actually receive it. This can affect which weeks show $0 benefits vs reduced benefits. Also, save all your severance documentation in case EDD ever requests proof of the amounts you're reporting. The system can be finicky about income verification later on.
This is really important info about timing the reporting correctly! I didn't realize it mattered which specific week you report the income. My severance comes monthly on the 15th, so I should report the full amount during whichever bi-weekly period that falls in, right? And definitely keeping all the paperwork - learned that lesson the hard way with other government stuff before. Thanks for the heads up about potential verification requests later on.
Just wanted to share my recent experience since it sounds so similar to yours! I was laid off in January with severance through April, and I'm really glad I applied right away like everyone here suggested. The key things that helped me: 1. I kept detailed records of every severance payment (date, amount, pay stub) - EDD actually did request documentation during my claim review 2. During the severance period, I treated the job search like a full-time job since I knew I'd need those work search logs later 3. When my severance ended in April, my EDD payments started automatically the following week with no additional paperwork needed The hardest part was getting $0 from EDD for months while job searching, but having that claim established meant I didn't lose any potential benefit weeks. Also, make sure you understand exactly how your company is paying the severance (weekly, bi-weekly, monthly) so you report it in the right certification periods. Good luck with everything!
This is exactly the kind of detailed experience I was hoping to hear about! Really helpful to know that EDD actually requested your severance documentation during review - I'll make sure to keep everything organized from the start. Quick question though - when you say your EDD payments started "automatically" after severance ended, did you have to do anything special during certification that week, or did you just report $0 severance income and the system figured it out? I'm trying to prepare for what to expect when my severance period ends in June.
@Jasmine Hernandez This timeline is super encouraging! I m'in week 2 of my severance period and honestly feeling pretty anxious about the whole process. When you say you treated job searching like a full-time job, how many applications were you doing per week? I ve'been applying to about 10-15 jobs weekly but wasn t'sure if that was enough to satisfy EDD s'requirements. Also, did you have any issues with employers asking about your availability during the severance period? I m'worried about how to handle that in interviews since technically I m'still employed "until" June even though I m'not working.
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Hey Dylan, I'm going through something similar right now actually. Got my initial approval back in December, been getting paid since January, and just got hit with a second interview notice last week. Mine is scheduled for next Tuesday. From what I've researched and been told by others who've been through this, it's usually because your employer either missed the initial deadline to respond or they're now formally contesting your claim. The fact that you mentioned possible retaliation for reporting safety violations could actually work in your favor - California has pretty strong whistleblower protections. My advice would be to organize everything chronologically before your interview. I made a timeline with dates of when I reported issues to management, when the "performance problems" supposedly started, and when I was terminated. Having that structure really helps you stay focused during the call. One thing I learned from my research is that EDD interviewers are trained to be neutral, so don't take their tone personally if they sound skeptical. They have to ask tough questions to both sides. Just stick to the facts and you should be fine. Keep us posted on how it goes!
Thanks Michael, this is really reassuring to hear from someone in the exact same situation! The timeline idea is brilliant - I'm definitely going to put together a chronological breakdown of everything that happened. It's good to know about the interviewer neutrality too, because I was worried they'd already be biased against me since my employer is contesting. I'm curious - when you got your second interview notice, did it give you any hint about what your employer claimed, or was it just as vague as mine? And did your payments continue or did they pause them right away? I'm still getting paid as of this week but worried that might change after Thursday's interview. Definitely will keep everyone posted on how it goes. Good luck with your interview on Tuesday too!
@Michael Green That timeline approach sounds really smart! I m'definitely going to organize everything chronologically like you suggested. Quick question - when you mentioned researching this, did you find any specific resources that were helpful? I m'trying to understand my rights better, especially around the whistleblower protection aspect since that seems like it could be key to my case. Also wondering if you ve'heard anything about how long these second determinations typically take? I know @Ava Garcia mentioned 7-10 days earlier, but curious if that timeframe changes when it s a'contested claim versus just a routine review.
I went through this exact scenario about 8 months ago and it's definitely nerve-wracking! In my case, my employer waited almost the full 30 days before contesting my claim. What happened was they initially didn't respond to EDD's inquiry, so I got approved and started receiving benefits. Then they came back later claiming I was fired for violating company policy (which was bogus - I was actually let go during a "restructuring" that conveniently happened right after I complained about wage theft). The second interview lasted about 45 minutes and the interviewer asked very detailed questions about the specific incidents my employer cited. The key thing that saved me was having documentation - I had kept screenshots of text messages from my supervisor and emails showing I had followed proper procedures. One thing to be prepared for: they might ask you the same questions from your first interview but in different ways to see if your story stays consistent. Don't let this rattle you - just tell the truth the same way you did before. My benefits were paused for about 3 weeks while they made their determination, but I kept certifying and eventually got all the back pay. The determination letter was pretty detailed about why they ruled in my favor, citing the evidence I provided and noting inconsistencies in my employer's timeline. You've got this! The fact that you have documentation about the safety violations you reported is huge. Make sure to emphasize the timeline - when you reported the issues versus when the "performance problems" allegedly started.
This is incredibly helpful Quinn, thank you! The 45-minute timeline gives me a better idea of what to expect, and knowing that they might ask similar questions in different ways is really valuable preparation advice. I'm definitely going to make sure I review my first interview answers so I stay consistent. Your point about the documentation being key is reassuring since I do have those emails and texts. I'm curious - when you mentioned they cited inconsistencies in your employer's timeline, was that something you actively pointed out during the interview or did EDD figure that out on their own when they compared both sides? Also, did the interviewer give you any indication during the call about how they were leaning, or was it pretty neutral throughout? I'm trying to manage my expectations for Thursday and not read too much into their tone or questions.
Isaiah Thompson
Just want to add another resource that helped me when I was dealing with EDD appeals last year - your local State Assembly member's district office can sometimes expedite things faster than you'd expect. I know Joshua mentioned they said it could take weeks, but if you emphasize that you're facing imminent eviction/hardship, they often have a direct line to EDD supervisors. Also, for anyone reading this thread in the future: DOCUMENT EVERYTHING. Keep a log of every call you make, every voicemail you leave, every email you send. Include dates, times, and any reference numbers. If your case gets escalated or if there are issues with your hearing, having that paper trail can be crucial. The system is definitely broken, but persistence does pay off. I ended up winning my appeal after they initially said I was "fired for cause" when I was actually laid off due to budget cuts. The ALJ saw right through their BS once I had all my documentation organized properly.
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Oliver Becker
•This is such good advice about documenting everything! I wish I had known to keep a detailed log from the beginning - I've been making calls and leaving voicemails for weeks but didn't write down half the details. Starting that documentation trail now though. The point about emphasizing imminent hardship to the Assembly office is really smart too. I think I was too polite when I first contacted them. When you're literally about to lose housing, that should get priority treatment. Going to follow up with them tomorrow and be more direct about the urgency. It's encouraging to hear you won your appeal even with a "fired for cause" situation - that seems like it would be even harder to overturn than voluntary quit vs layoff. Gives me hope that the ALJs really do look at the evidence objectively rather than just rubber-stamping EDD's initial decisions.
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Zoe Alexopoulos
This entire thread is incredibly helpful - I'm saving it for reference! Just wanted to add that if you're dealing with appeals, make sure to also request your complete claim file from EDD (form DE 8714). Sometimes there are notes or documents in your file that contradict what they told you during the interview, and having that full record can be crucial evidence for your hearing. Also, for anyone struggling with the phone system - I've found that calling on Tuesdays and Wednesdays between 8:30-9:00am tends to have slightly better success rates than other days. Mondays and Fridays are usually impossible. The fact that Joshua's hearing was scheduled but no notice was sent is unfortunately becoming more common. I work in legal aid and we're seeing this happen to clients regularly - they're clearly overwhelmed and behind on their administrative tasks. Always assume your hearing might be scheduled even if you haven't gotten official notice yet.
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Zara Shah
•Thank you for mentioning the DE 8714 form - I had no idea I could request my complete claim file! That could be really important since during my eligibility interview, the EDD rep seemed to have different information than what I told them initially. If there are contradictory notes in there, that could definitely help my case. The Tuesday/Wednesday morning timing tip is great too. I've been randomly calling different days but having a more strategic approach makes sense. It's honestly terrifying that the missing hearing notices are becoming a regular thing. Like, how is that even legal? People could lose their appeals just because of EDD's administrative failures. There should be some kind of accountability when they mess up their own process like that. This whole thread has been a lifesaver - I feel like I actually have a plan now instead of just desperately calling random numbers and hoping for the best. Really appreciate everyone sharing their real experiences instead of just the official "contact your local office" non-help that's everywhere else online.
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