Thanks to the EDD, I am slowly losing my mind
Haunted by phones
Ahh, my first week of unemployment. Pure (ignorant) bliss. Still delighted to discover I was eligible for free money from the government, I boasted about filing for unemployment insurance benefits. I reveled in its simplicity. I daydreamed about receiving my checks in the mail. Well, I’m sad to report that those daydreams have now turned into one un-ending bureaucratic nightmare. Blog therapy may not be enough to cure the spiral of madness I now find myself in.
It all started out so innocently, so…effortlessly. I opened my claim online in less than an hour. Within days, I received my first worksheet (in case you are lucky enough to still have a job, this is a form you have to fill out every two weeks before getting your check). I happily ticked the boxes and sent it back.
But shortly afterwards, the cracks began to show. I got a letter saying my worksheet was “incomplete or incorrect”. I was sent a replacement form and asked to fill it out. I did so, under John’s wise, watchful eye (mind you, he had already received his first check at this point, so I trusted his judgment). He identified what he thought was the problem. Phew, I thought. Glad I got that one sorted out.
But within a week of sending in my replacement form, I received a two-line letter from the EDD saying my second form had also been “incomplete or incorrect” – still no hint as to the nature of my error. I was instructed to call their 1-800 number “immediately”. I had missed my opportunity to fill out any new worksheets. My future livelihood now depended on the efficacy of a toll free government service number. Things were not looking good.
Bear in mind I have now been unemployed for over two months, and have yet to receive my first check. My measly severance cannot carry me through. Funds are dwindling. Mom and dad are on speed dial. And too many San Francisco establishments are cash only.
Now, I understand that the unemployment offices are overloaded with patrons at this time. I don’t expect to be able to get through to someone on my first, second or third try. I’m a reasonably intelligent person, familiar with the notion of a bottleneck. So after calling the toll free number repeatedly, to no avail, I decided to attempt an in-person visit. I googled my nearest “unemployment office”. Nothing like a good old-fashioned face-to-face meeting to straighten out a silly misunderstanding!
Where is this fantasy "unemployment office"?
I had imagined long lines of disgruntled layoffees, people taking numbers, angry mobs, apathetic and/or defensive civil servants – SIGNS OF LIFE.
Instead, I found a shy receptionist (bless her heart), a couple overzealous security guards and room full of phones. There were a few desperate looking jobseekers sprinkled throughout this multi-purpose government office, but for the most part, it was empty. The receptionist informed me that there was no one I could speak to face-to-face about my issue. That this particular office did not house any unemployment insurance representatives or advisers – I am told there are no such offices in the city of San Francisco. This was simply a job center. They could, however, offer me my pick of telephones designated for calling the 1-800 number. I started laughing maniacally. Are you friggin KIDDING ME? A room full of phones? Believe it or not, I have a phone at home. Two in fact! Why would I drive to this office, pay for parking, and sign in to use a public (read: bacteria infested) telephone? I can do this just as well from my couch, while I watch Tyra and eat a gallon of ice cream in my onesie. No antiseptic necessary.
But being the curious person that I am, I decided to check out this telephone facility. After passing through two security guards and being forced to throw away my coffee (NO COFFEE NEAR THE PHONES), I was given the low down on efficient phone usage. It went something like this:
Officer: “Push English and it dials the number. If it says ‘thank you’, hang up and try again. You have not gotten through. If it says ‘welcome’, you have gotten through. Dial 12117 to quickly navigate through the menu and you might just speak to someone.”
Me: (not sure whether to laugh or cry) “I see. And what are my chances of success?”
Officer: (points to the pages of signatures on his clipboard) “Out of all these people who came in today, maybe 4 or 5 got through. They put in some serious time.”
Me: “Christ almighty. They don’t make it easy, do they.”
I begin to lose all hope. I try really hard not to take it out on this nice man, who, of course, is just doing his job.
Me: “But why come in here and call when I can call from home? I don’t understand this set-up – a room full of phones to dial the same useless automated service I have been cursing for weeks?”
Officer: “Well, every once in a while, someone ACTUALLY gets through. Then everyone waits nearby and when that person is done with their call, they hand the phone over to someone else.”
I can’t believe what I’m hearing. What might this preposterous scene look like? Grown men hovering around the golden ticket winner, waiting desperately for their turn. The golden ticket winner, upon completion of his call, crying: “Wait! Don’t hang up! SS# 459-99-0787 wants to speak to you too… I’m passing you over now… Byeeee. Muah.”
At this point I have to leave the building before I scream.
Still reeling from the experience, I drove home, determined not to lose all hope. When I got there, I began researching offices outside of San Francisco, where I might get to speak to someone face-to-face. I found one in my hometown of Sunnvyale, just 40 minutes south of here. It looked promising. I was pleased by my own persistence as I dialed their number to confirm which services they offered. But my self satisfaction quickly turned to disappointment.
Lady on the phone: “Nope, sorry. You can’t file a claim here or discuss your claim with anyone. In fact there is no way to speak to a representative in person anywhere in California. You just have to keep trying the 1-800 number. But we DO have a room of telephones you can use.”
MORE PHONES???? At this point, I want to reach into the receiver and punch this lady in the mouth. No wonder losing one’s job and losing one’s mind are so closely intertwined. I am beginning to understand why people throw themselves in front of trains or go on killing sprees.
Always an optimist though (and with an unhealthy dose of persistence), I have now resigned myself to calling the number until I get through (from the comfort of my own couch, of course). It may take days, weeks, months, a lifetime, even – but eventually, I will get through, right? I see no other alternative. I understand the need for a mutli-pronged approach. I plan to write to my local congresswoman. I will also send a detailed letter to the EDD. If needs be, I will hire a lawyer.
But in the meantime, I spend my days dialing the 1-800 number over and over and over again. Every once in a while, I get the ever-so-promising “welcome” message. I navigate through the menu options with a glimmer of hope, and the automated message tells me I am being put through to a representative. I am elated – but only temporarily. In the end, it turns out to be a sick inside joke, orchestrated by the evil robots at the EDD. A subsequent message says “we’re sorry, we can’t take your call at this time. Goodbye” and the robot rudely hangs up on me. So what do I do? I pick up the phone and begin the process again.
I dial the same number repeatedly – each time, hoping for a different result. Isn’t this the very definition of insanity? Consider this my cry for help.
P.S. For musings not related to unemployment, check out my new blog, Lipstick & Lemonade
tania- i was totally entertained by this post. what a fiasco. i wonder why? my experience with the EDD was completely problem free (no, i’m not bragging). keep on keeping on….
Basically the same thing happened to me TWICE.
Here’s one more thing to try. On the UI website there is an email form you can fill out! Of course, they keep this a secret because it is actually the best way to get through without snail mailing. The goal here is not to give you money, it’s to get you to give up so they can keep the money and enforce Prop 2′s chicken-standing-room laws.
Check it out: https://eapply4ui.edd.ca.gov/eddcomm/asp/frmEDDCOMM.aspx
For your dilemma I would select “Unemployment Insurance Benefits” then “Claim Form – EDD asked me to call.”
You can leave them a little note stating why you need to talk to someone, etc. and the theory goes they will call you, send you what form you need, etc. I’ve never had a call back but magically money started coming after i sent a couple emails explaining what was going on.
GOOD LUCK!
EDD is kinda getting hosed across the nation:
http://www.datacenterknowledge.com/archives/2009/01/07/unemployment-claims-crash-state-web-sites/
Ummm………don’t think you should have mentioned killing sprees there. They have monitors for picking up just these signs of instability among the hopeful unemployed, and an entire workforce more than willing to talk to you face to face–just not about your unemployment insurance.
I had a very similar experience with EDD recently. Several kofka esque phone loops that went nowhere. I was awarded benefits. Then denied. Then after several more phone calls that never made it to a human, and then a letter to “whom it may concern,” I finally came up on that government cash just in time for Christmas. If only it covered my rent. SF is damn expensive.
Just be glad you are not unemployed in Gaza.
I hear that, Peter. As a Palestinian-American, I’m very concerned and saddened by the situation there. But that’s for another blog…
I was in the same shoes as you from early September 2009 all the way until Christmas. It does not get any easier, trust me. So it was weird, I wasn’t frustrated and I wasn’t worried at all. It was as if there was something to wait for, and wait I did. Of course, the weekend before Christmas something fell into my lap. A brand new company came along and they are dedicated to helping LOCAL businesses. This was a god send! Now I am helping the economy in my city and getting paid a very decent wage. You should get with me and maybe I can help you out.
~Andrew
I’m in the same boat. Spent hours trying to get through yesterday and decided to go down to local office only to be told by a somewhat helpful man that there were no people anywhere to help me.
I think we just simply hire all the unemployed to answer the phones. They get something to do for a day and we all help eachother 0ut. Either that or hire some Indian call center to answer ” Hello Sir, how can I offer you excellent service Sir”
This is enough to drive anyone insane…
Adam – yes, it sure is maddening. I think I read somewhere that unemployment offices are, indeed, hiring… Possibly not in California though.
Have you managed to get your issue resolved?
I kid you not I had to call 223 times in one day from 8am til noon before I finally got a real person on the phone. What a messed up system.
Well I misplaced my form for this week. I called the 800# which proceeded to tell me that they have too many calls and should try back after 5pm. I called back after 5pm and got a recorded message to call between 8am-5pm?!?!!??!?! I sent an email asking for a replacement form and wonder where it went and when I can get it. Seriously why isnt this whole process online?? It costs the gov $$$ to print and send out forms vs. having it online. This whole process is BROKEN!
Hopefully you can get a response tyhru email. We have not recieved a check since january 17th and have been trying to contact the EDD all this time including email….
Still no response…..and here it is the 13th of february
Ross asks why don’t they have the forms online? This would be too modern of a convenience. The two week claim form itself is outdated. How many states continue to do this? Most require you to file either online or over the phone. I haven’t received my check either and it’s been three weeks. After hearing all these horror stories I pray to the heavens that it comes through soon. *sending out positive vibes to everyone*
As I read through this story I cannot help but feel the same way. I mean, I filled out all forms, conducted my phone interview and I have not heard anything. I call every other day to see if a claim payment has been made thinking that I have been approved for benefits. Still no progress. The automated voice message indicates Wednesdays & Thursdays are the best days to call yet I have received no success. The EDD is overwhelmed with the likes such as myself, seeking financial benefits through taxes paid out of wages we were hard for. I am currently in dyer need to speak to a representative with regards to the status of my claim. Being one who walked away from her former employer w/o a severance makes being unemployed so much more dreadful. There are days I’m ready to cry when I see the red-light as funds start to dwindle. I have no clue as to what else to do but to keep on my finger on the redial button on my phone every 5 minutes praying I’ll get through to a representative.
Tania, its great comfort on my end that we are in this together. I too will be the optimist and venture on good thoughts so as to see if a check will miraculously appear in my mailbox.
Good luck!
I swear every single bit of this blog is true. It is funny because it is so unbelievable and absurd. Last night I actually had a panic attack…Today…50 calls with not one live person reachable….Ridiculous…I also have been waiting for a check from whose claim was sent in 30 days ago.
I am running out of couches to sleep on…I wonder if I can get food stamps…
backing up andrew_will:
I also filled out the email form on the website (after weeks of calling and being unable to get through), and someone called me back within a few days. Bonus points that they actually knew how to process my claim! In theory, anyway.
As it turns out, campaign workers are ineligible to collect unemployment in California. Oh, cruel world.
Hey Great post! I feel your pain. Believe me.
But here’s a tip…Use the phones at the job center. They have an inside line into EDD. You won’t get the initial DENY message at all. You might still get hung up on after you go through the menu but your chances are far better. And if somebody does get through, then you can get on also.
Good Luck!
I am going through the same thing right now. I got the incomplete or incorrect statement in the mail. The call immediately give you a sense of urgency, like they are waiting for your call. They could care less! I get the welcome message only to find no one is here to help you and the notorious hang up! I just imagine those workers laughing their butts off everytime the phone rings! They sit back and enjoy their coffee as we beat our heads against the phone!
I’m actually bawling right now. Your story IS mine. I have no hope…
I did find this:
_ _ _ _ _
WHY CAN’T I GET THROUGH ON THE PHONE?
When our telephone systems receive too many calls the telephone network becomes temporarily overloaded. If that occurs, you will hear a message that states, “We are currently receiving more calls than our system can handle. Please try again later.” This tends to happen between 8 a.m. and 8:30 a.m., and the problem should resolve itself in a few minutes. This is also likely to occur on our busiest days (Mondays, and days after a holiday).
Once you have reached our telephone system, and you make the menu selections to speak to a Representative, the system routes your call to the location with the shortest wait time. However, if it appears that your call cannot be answered within 10 minutes because of the number of callers already waiting, you will hear a message advising you to call back later. To avoid this possibility, you may want to call on Wednesday or Thursday, which are our least busy days.
Statewide increased demand for UI services, seasonal fluctuations and holidays contribute to a longer wait time when calling the Department. We understand that your time is valuable and EDD is making every effort to shorten the time you must wait for service.
_ _ _ _ _
Isn’t that incredible?
Girl – you beat me to it. I was prepping a blog of my own to share my unbelievable experiences thus far including being disqualified for admitting that I was visiting my family the weekend and Monday after Christmas. I got laid off on Dec 15 and have still yet to receive a check…and my employer sides WITH me. What a nightmare. Not to mention the number of minutes I’ve used trying to get through. The user above is right. I did have luck twice getting return emails through their “contact” form on the site.
I now await a court decision (yes i had to go to court!) to find out whether I get benefits at all-meanwhile I’ve whittled through a chunk of savings just trying to live and get work in SF. *sigh*
I have read every posting on this page and they are all so very true. I do seasonal road work and have to go through this every year, last year i was approved in December and didn’t get my first check till mid March. When i faxed in my approval i was told it wasn’t done correctly and therefore it did not count and I would not receive any back pay. I too have received the “incomplete or incorrect” latter and am trying to get through on the phone. The only thing that has helped in the past is calling back like 100 times and as soon as you get the “welcome…” press 1243.This does not mean you will get through but this will get you to a live persons’ line. If they aren’t “receiving more calls then their system can handle” this is the best way to get through. After saying all that please keep in mind that for the last 4 business days i’ve called at least 70-100 times a day and haven’t gotten through lately.
OMG – reading this has been so depressing. I filed online in Jan never recieved a claim form, the I e-mailed them and I was sent a claim form and sent it back a few days ago. Should I assume I’m gonna be waiting months to get my check?
Hi Steven,
If you got the claim form and sent it back, you should get your check soon, assuming you didn’t make any errors in filling it out. I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you!
Tania
Yo Same thing happened to me (two screwed up letters) its been a couple months since I have received anything. Was never able to get through.
It sounds like we are all in the same boat. So what now? Do we just keep trying and blogging each other back and forth hoping for a miracle? I do not think that will work! I filed my claim in September of last year, received one check(after about a month of waiting) and then nothing, just a letter saying there was a mistake in my form blah, blah ,blah. What the hell? I am still unemployed and almost flat broke. There’s nothing left to sell! I KNOW THERE IS A WAY TO SOLVE THIS! Please help
I applied online at the EDD website in late January 2009.A week later I got several forms in the mail from the unemployment department.I was finally in their system with hopes of getting my first check. I have a friend who has unemployment and she asked me”did you remember to send them copies of two forms of ID”?.I said I did’nt.So,I mailed those right away-a copy of my social security card and California ID. To my surprise I received a check from them three weeks after I applied.February 20th,2009 i got my check in the mail which was for the week of February 14th,2009.
Now it’s March 4th,2009.No check since February 20th.Aren’t we suppose to get weekly checks???I filled out my weeks on that form they sent me. President Obama’s stimulas plan gives people on unemployment increase of $25 dollars added to our checks a week.When I called EDD ,their voice message mentioned about the stimulas package and the $25 that will be added to our weekly paychecks and will be available soon when the programming is complete,yet gave no date of that completion…..I called EDD today and the recording message changed and said the checks are available now and will be sent out immediaitely. My guess is the checks were delayed so they could be updated with the proper price amount.
I e-mailed EDD a few days ago asking about my check.Before you e-mail them it says “if you want an e-mail response you must put in your social security number in the e-mail you send and if you don’t then we’ll just send you an automated e-mail response’.So, I put in my social security number and still no response from EDD. They also say if you call them to ask where your payment is,it will slow down the proccess of you receiving your payment.How STUPID is THAT for them to say!!!Its slow anyway !!!!
Being unemployed and using EDD for the first time has saddened me so much.EDD is so disorganized and heartless.And the governments letting them get away with it ! It said on my original unemployment form that I have till next January to claim unemployment and they gave me a limit of how much money i can receive. Our taxes pay for these programs and we are treated like dirt and scum.
I’ll be calling EDD all day tomorrow till someone answers.It should be quite an experience.Wish me luck.
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I feel bad for most of you here because some of you depend on that weekly check for food and rent.I live with my mom who works part time and she owns her condo.Still,when I had a job i paid most of the bills…and every day I look for work and have had a few interviews,joined employment agencies.It gets very discouraging. I go to the gym daily to keep my spirits up .Also I talk about my feelings to family and friends..my fears and frustrations.
Calling EDD is a pain.They don’t ansxwer the calls.I’ll do what some of you suggested..I’ll keep calling till I get someone LIVE.
I just got through! Five days of on-again/off-again attempts. ADVICE: Dialing 12117 immediately after hearing the “Welcome” word is a must. I had filed for benefits and got 3 checks and then nothing. Turns out I sent in my form TOO EARLY (the one where you fill in the boxes and fill in the back listing where you have looked for a job) and they wouldn not process it!!!! So when I got through, they processed it over the phone. Good luck to everyone!
I just got my e-mail response from EDD. In the e-mail I sent THEM I mentioned how I mailed my February 22nd,2009 claim form on February 22nd.EDD’s e-mail response was…”We did not receive your Claim Form and we will send you a duplicate”.
The crazy thing about that is…EDD wrote that the duplicate claim form they’re sending me is for februay 21st and the last part of February 2008 !!!!!!!!
So,I e-mailed them back saying that they wrote the wrong year.
Am I the only one who mailed them my February 22nd,2009 claim form and was told they did’nt receive it???!! Are they trying to cover their butts? I’m guessing that this new Stimulous Plan which adds $25 to our weekly checks from EDD..mixed up their whole system.I am certain they received my February 22nd claim form..my return address was on it.They’re just all tripping over themselves at EDD not knowing what to do.
By the way ,I read Charles Parker’s posting here and I tried what he said..when you hear the word welcome when you call EDD..Press 12117..there is no one saying Welcome when I call and nothing happens when I press 12117.It just does’nt work !!!!
hahahahaha xD.
To the Poster Named Rueben,
YOU WROTE: “hahahahahahaxD” MOST of us here don’t know WHAT THE HECK you meant ! Very Bizarre !!!!!
We never should’ve elected an austrian dumbass as Governor of California…what’s he doing about our state’s economic problem?! Shaking his big ass head and banging on his wife Skeletor (from He-Man)! EDD is a joke…I’m waiting too…been 3 weeks now..no sign of a check coming…tried to call that 800-5616 number, I don’t think anyone is meant to get thru to a live person there…that number is USELESS!!! Also tried to check up on my check on that automated service…doesn’t work?! I get up to the point where it asks for my zipcode…then it says my zipcode doesn’t match or is incorrect?!?! FUCK EDD!!
I respect the persistence of the callers. What a friggin waste of time to try to contact those people. I do think it’s time we begin organizing a march on the Unemployment Office in Sacramento, or maybe the Governator himself. Maybe a Wednesday, or Thursday when they are not so busy.
Filed Feb 17th, so far I received confirmation of a PIN # that’s it. Going by the other comments, I’m right on schedule for a check in about 2 months from now.
called 800-300-5616 at least another 10 times today…last time I spoke with a live person there was probably around 2 years ago (when I was on UI then)…but with the way California’s unemployment rate is at the current time…I’m sure everyone and their unemployed moms are trying to call and collect. so I thought I’d try calling one of the other languange lines and just ask to be transferred to english during the call (hoping there’d be less callers)…some of those lines like Mandarin are disconnected! yet they still print it in their letters and notices?! And those other language lines are just a recording and at no point will you be allowed to transfer to a live person! retard shit…so I decided to call that Identity Verification line for EDD. I let them know that I have already filed a claim and passed the Identity Verification by sending in a copy of CA I.D., Social Security Annual Statement & etc. sent in my first claim form (2/8-2/22) and wondering where my EDD check is? I also told her that I cannot access the automated Check info line because during info verification, the system says my zipcode is incorrect! (More like EDD has it wrong in their system!) So I verify the zipcode with the lady…EDD fucked up and had my zipcode off by one digit!!! So I ask, how can you be sending me claim forms (to the correct address), but yet send my check to the wrong zipcode?? All she could say was “I’m not in that dept…you have to call them…8003005616…” Seriously… From phone numbers that are no longer in service (printed on their notices), 800 number that stays busy from 8-5, inaccurate data entry skills….EDD needs to get reformed!! So long story short…I have no idea how to get them to correct my zipcode…this lady at the identity verification line said she’d notate my claim (but couldn’t change it)…I sent EDD a message on their website letting them know that the zipcode is wrong (I ordered a duplicate claim form more than a week ago online, that hasn’t even showed up in the mail yet). But I found the claim form that I thought I lost and mailed it in. What is going on?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!!? I am getting claim forms, notices and letters from EDD to my address but my check is being mailed to the right address with wrong zipcode?!? How can this be happening!!!!! FUCK!!! Do they have my address in separately (like fuckin morons)? One where it has the address to mail claim forms to…another to where notices are sent…and another to where the check is sent…THEY should all be the same address moron fucks!! Damn it’s like spoonfeeding fucking little retards! EDD…Eternally Dumbass Dumbfucks!
Hey,
I am ready to march on Sacramento. This is criminal what they are doing to people with their incompetence.
What a waste of money…Intsead of solving the problem by hiring more workers or even better a system that actually works. We will waste Millions of dollars paying Verizon off for there crappy automated system. No wonder were going down hill as a society. Were still making stone age mistakes. Perhaps an online report card, not to mention using Direct Deposit to send our checks. IS IT REALLY THAT HARD!!!!
Here is a clip below showing all the money we are forking over.
http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/States-Million-Dollar-Busy-Signal.html
I have been reading this blog for about a couple of weeks. I was having the same problems with EDD and feel horrible that all of us have had to deal with this.
Yesterday I was able to get through – Yes, you read that correct, I was able to get someone on the phone.
Here is the process I followed. First of all, when you call the 800 line, you will hear the normal voice discussing changes, how to apply online, etc.. If you continue to call, you will, at one point, hear a different voice on the recording (much deeper female voice) – THIS is when you type in 12117 (the minute you hear her voice). Now, I did this a few times and it still told me that too many folks were waiting to be helped and I should try back later (this happened about 20 times). Finally, yesterday, I typed in the code and the recording said the wait time would be 7 minutes…………….I just about crapped my pants!!! Sure enough, I was put in touch with someone and they helped me file the extension. Remember, you need to type in the code when you hear the other voice recording, not the peppy female voice, but the deeper one. It will take some serious work, but YOU will get through. Just for those wondering, I started calling at 3:30 yesterday and got through around 4:30. I told the gal how happy I was to get through to her (killing her with kindness) and she said she was happy that her shift ended in 30 minutes anyways and “what can I do for you today?”.
I works folks, just takes time. I know the system is not set up the most optimal way, but I hope you will not lose faith. I know some of you are really struggling and my prayers go out for you.
Same story for me. Got two notices saying I filled out the claim form wrong. Started calling at 8am, read this blog as I recalled and recalled. Finally, around nine, the 12117 trick worked.
What I learned? The claim form is checked by computers so the checked boxes need to be DARK.
I have been calling for weeks! THE 12117 TRICK REALLY WORKS! I AM CURRENTLY ON THE PHONE WITH SOMEONE AND IT ONLY TOOK ONE TRY!
I would have to agree with most of the posts. It’s joke calling California EDD. In the last week I’ve called there number 142 times just to hear one of two stupid recordings that they can’t take my call. Finally, light at the end of the tunnel. I tried that series of numbers listed in another post and it worked! I was put in the “q” to be answered with a wait time of about eight minutes! At that point I would have waited longer, as long as I had a human at the end, in which I did. So my hats off the person who supplied the 12177 series to dial… Try it out! That’s again, once you get past the first recording of “we’re sorry, we are experiencing to many calls…blah, blah, blah…Disconnect. If you call in and get the option for language, your in, the “1″ is to select for English followed by 2177 and should hopefully be put into “q” to have your call answered.
Few days before this, I contacted EDD using there email system and to my surprise, EDD responded to my correction in just under 48 hours… GOOD LUCK to all of us seeking the states help! Cause we know there aren’t any fuckin jobs available! Either over qualified or under… It’s a no win situation… And of course we all could apply at the county’s office for General Relief, but that would amount to about a whopping $80 a month, again another fuckin joke!
So I keep asking myself, if all these years I’ve paid my taxes and some, and now there’s no money to help me out or many of us for that matter, why the FUCK am I still paying taxes!
My next letter is to the IRS, I will explain that I no longer feel the need to pay taxes and the Government can piss off and figure out there own solution for their payroll. Shit, if it wasn’t for the government milking the clock and stealing money, we wouldn’t be in this situation to begin with… Yeah I’m aware there are a few other factors involved but for the most part, most politicians are milking the clock and only ensuring that there own bank accounts get enlarged. It’s a kill or be killed situation, and we should all start acting accordingly!
I got a called from them last Saturday. I was wondering why they sent me another letter for an interview for that day. I was confused and didn’t know why. The call was so short and asked me if I worked for this company. I said yeah. And he was like how much do you get paid hourly and hours per week. I was like my hours varied and so forth. I asked him, what about the questions you’re suppose to ask me on the letter. He was like you don’t need to answer them. The guy was like a jerk. And for the past few days I was also wondering why I haven’t received my check and it’s been more than a week.
So I told my brother about it. He was like some of them are jerks, they don’t explain what is going on sometimes. Because a year ago when he filed for UI. He got a called from a lady and she said “you have been denied” and just hung up on him. He was like, those f******.
Finally today, it dawn on to me why I hadn’t received my check and why the call. I was really worried. So I went on the website and sent them a message. I called a few times wanting to get some answers and didn’t get through. I was bummed. Will try the 12177 and resolve this issue.
i was receiving my checks OK (after the 2-week wait), but it stopped last week without warning. apparently, i did not update my resume in caljobs so i now have an ominous-sounding phone interview with them.
has anyone else had a similar situation?
I just got a letter saying I need another interview, some bullshit about training school even though I had told them in my other interview that I go to school for Networking and my jobs are connected with my schooling, they told me that was fine and I don’t need training school and they asked me for the name and dates and said I wouldn’t need another interview until Dec of 09 when my school would end (hopefully I would have a job before that) and I guess that was total BS!. I sent them back form thing on the 16th of March, I got one check on the 28th of Feb before that and nothing else. I have been calling all day today and I’ve e-mailed them so we shall see what happens.
EMAIL THEM! I just got a call back, 24 hours later. If they don’t get back to you keep doing it and keep the Ref. Number they give you after the email is sent!
I received a letter (instead of a check) saying that I had a phone interview to ask about why I sent my continued claim in late. I had to wait 3 weeks for this interview , meanwhile I would not receive any more check. I just had the interview today and now I have to wait 10 days for a decision that may not come through for me in the end which would mean a 2 month appeal process! My claim was sent in just a couple of days beyond their 10 day requirement due to the letter being delivered to the wrong address in my building at first. This is crazy!!!!!!
– a step away from homelessness
I suggest everyone start calling, emailing, writing to their local representative: http://www.legislature.ca.gov/port-zipsearch.html
Also, contact ABC News 7 On Your Side:
http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/channel?section=news/7_on_your_side&id=5755500
OMG!!
James… My situation is similar to yours from the sounds of it.
It would mean a great deal to me if you would be kind enough to let us know how your phone interview goes.
How about the rest of you… How did your phone interviews turn out?
I tried for days… weeks even. You have to stay on top of these guys like you’re managing a bunch of kindergartners. Not joking. I did just read on April 1 that they’re expanding employees by 7-800 so newcomers should have a slightly easier time. After the 1kth attempt at the 12117 sequence it worked, which got me to my adjuster’s direct number, which got me to exact reasons besides their anonymous rejection or interview letters which help you zero and will likely just slow down getting paid if anything. Good luck to all!
- Peter
I was receiving my UI checks bi-weekly and it would usually be in my mailbox on Fridays. I started forwarding my mail to a PO Box on 03/31/2009 and of course I didn’t receive my check as of today 04/09/2009. I just sent an email through the EDD website to update my address and currently waiting for them to reply. Is there a better way to do this?
I also sent another email in requesting for a Continued Claim form because I know it has to be mailed on 04/12/2009 and since I haven’t received my check yet, I don’t have the Continued Claim form — is there any way to access this form online?
Just as an FYI — the 1-800 number works after works. Try it before 8 am or after 5 pm to get the status of your check. Mine says it was already issued 04/02/2009 but I’m guessing it’s the post office that’s messing up.