So glad you got through and got it resolved! This thread is going to be super helpful for other people dealing with the same nightmare. I've been putting off calling EDD about my own pending issue for weeks because I dreaded the phone system, but seeing all these specific strategies gives me hope. Going to try the 8:01am trick with the 833 number tomorrow morning. Thanks everyone for sharing what actually worked!

This whole thread is a goldmine of actual working solutions! I've been lurking here for weeks reading about everyone's EDD struggles, and seeing Andre's success story plus all the specific tactics that actually worked gives me so much hope. I'm dealing with a similar pending claim situation (6 weeks now, ugh) and have been too intimidated to even try calling after hearing horror stories about the phone system. But reading through all these comments, especially the former EDD employee's insider tips and the exact timing strategies, I'm finally ready to tackle this tomorrow morning. Going to set my alarm for 7:55am and try the 833 number with the "payment issue" routing. Wish me luck! And thank you to everyone who shared their experiences - this is exactly the kind of real-world advice that actually helps people navigate this broken system.

Anybody else think its weird that we can order a pizza, book a flight, and do our taxes online but we cant get basic help from the government without jumping through 1000 hoops? 🤔

I feel you on this struggle! After dealing with the same nightmare for weeks, here's what finally worked for me: I started calling the technical support line (1-800-300-5616) instead of the main number. They can sometimes transfer you directly to claims or at least give you better info on system status. Also, try calling on Wednesdays or Thursdays - seems like Mondays and Fridays are absolute chaos. Keep a log of when you call and what happens, it might help if you need to escalate later. Don't give up, you'll get through eventually! 💪

Not sure if this helps, but I had a similar issue with my SDI claim. I ended up having to fax (yes, fax in 2023 🙄) a signed letter explaining my situation along with copies of my ID. Took forever, but they eventually sorted it out.

I went through this exact same nightmare a few months ago! Here's what finally worked for me: I had to submit a paper form (DE 8714) that you can download from the EDD website. You fill it out with your SSN, old email, new email, and include a copy of your ID. Then mail it to their Sacramento office. It took about 2-3 weeks to process, but they eventually updated my email and sent me a confirmation letter. Way slower than online, but it's the official way to change your email when you can't access the old one. Hope this helps!

nice!! told u it would work out. the card takes like a week fyi

A whole week?? Ugh this process is so slow 😭

UPDATE: It worked!!! I used Claimyr this morning and got connected to an EDD rep after only waiting about 10 minutes! The agent confirmed what some of you suggested - reporting those part-time hours triggered an eligibility review but there was a system error that didn't notify me or schedule the interview. She cleared the flag on my account and I'm now able to certify online again! She also processed my pending certifications from the paper forms I'd sent in. Thank you all for your help and suggestions!

That's amazing news Miguel! Thanks for coming back to update us - it really helps to know what actually worked. I'm dealing with a similar issue where my online certification suddenly stopped working after I reported some freelance income. Going to try Claimyr today based on your success. It's so frustrating that EDD's system has these glitches but doesn't properly notify us what's happening. At least now I know there's hope of getting it fixed quickly with the right approach!