Tips and Tricks: Getting Through to California’s EDD, Sanity in Tact
Back in January, I posted Thanks to the EDD, I’m Slowly Losing My Mind.
It chronicled my infuriating experience with California’s unemployment office. I shared my frustration at not being sent my first unemployment check, two months after filing my claim. I highlighted my disbelief at being told to call a 1-800 number, then spending weeks dialing it… in vain.
And I soon came to realize I wasn’t alone.
Comment after comment, readers shared their own stories. They gave tips and tricks for getting past the automated phone system. They LOL-ed at the preposterousness of the situation (and probably cried quietly to themselves). Six months later, the comments section of that post is still alive and kicking.
So if you find yourself jobless, checkless and at the wrong end of an EDD phone call, we’ve got you covered.
Here’s what we’ve learned from our community since the story went live:
- Keep your resume with CalJobs up to date.
- You did know you needed to post your resume on CalJobs, right?
- Make sure you fill out both columns on the right hand side of the form (some people, I’m told, overlook one of the columns; alright fine, it was me, but the lady on the phone assured me it happens a lot)
- Make photocopies of your claim form, in case you make a mistake on one or in case they stop sending them to you.
- Make sure the check boxes are dark. Form is read by computers.
- There is no unemployment office in California, at least no office that allows you to speak to an adviser face-to-face. All contact is by phone, mail and email. But mostly it’s by Scantron sheets from the late 70s.
- If you’re unlucky enough to have to call them (lost form, problem on form, etc), dial 12117 as soon as you hear “welcome”. Our readers swear by it.
- Still can’t get through? Try the Vietnamese line: 1-800-547-2058. It’s got less traffic than the other lines and the person who picks up will be bilingual, and will have to speak to you in English. I know at least two people who this worked for.
- Calling 223 times in one day is not unusual, and no guarantee you will get through.
- Still can’t get through by phone? Go here, and send them a message. You’ll receive a reference number by email. Keep it!
- They don’t have downloadable bi-weekly claim forms online. That would be too efficient. But you can request to have a new one sent to you. Go here. Click on “select category” >Unemployment Insurance Benefits>Select Topic>Claim Form-Need Replacement Form.
- Stay on top of them like “you’re managing a bunch of kindergartners”
Thanks so much to everyone who has contributed to our forum, sharing tips and generally supporting one another. And if you have any other suggestions or stories, please continue to share them!
Sometimes it’s just a relief to know that other people are going through the same maddening experience. And that if you are losing your mind (as I was), it really is thanks to the EDD.
P.S. For musings not related to unemployment, check out my new blog, Lipstick & Lemonade
royzane
Tell them the form did not get to your mailbox until the day you sent it. And, tell them you tried to contact them at the (800) # over and over and COULD NOT GET THROUGH. Don’t tell them you left the state, they will think this is a vacation.
I once tried to be very honest, and missed mailing my claim form same as you. I traveled to Hawaii with my Mother and was working with her on a Real Estate Project. And, I was seeking work in CA online. We were only gone 3 days, Friday thru Sunday, because I was honest to them. They fined me, stopped my unemployment and claimed I was overpaid. This was back in the early 80s, the first recession.
Just my advice, since I was REALLY Naive, COVER yourself, use caution when explaining, don’t put things in writing.
Well I went through loops today getting to talk to someone in the upper echelons of command with EDD, after I had called the governor’s office 3 times. I haven’t received a check since Jan 7th, I got a claim form, filled it out, got it sent back to me because I didn’t sign it (I did!) and then got 2 claim forms at once because they had to back date. Where am I now?
Its the 4th…check was processed and mailed (or whatever) on the 3rd, but right now on the 4th we have NO food, NO diapers, and my wife and I haven’t eaten in 2 days so that our son will have food. All I got from EDD, everyone there I talked to, was leave a message and a rep will get back to you in 3 to 5 days (really….how long can a 19 month old go without food?). Finally I got someone to flat out tell me I just have to wait until the checks get here because if he processed to cancel them it would take 10 days then another 10 days for a claim to get to me again, then another week or so before I got the check…meaning that after we die the checks would arrive in time for our funeral. So I said screw it, dont cancel the checks, but explain to me what to do. The guy I spoke to said, borrow from someone….everyone I know is unemployed…..no one can loan out.
EDD is so inefficient its not even funny anymore. This recession isn’t new news, why have they not gotten to direct deposit yet? Oh yea, cause of bureaucracy….all that BS. I just hope we can last until those checks get here, I am already so hungry, tired, and drained that I can’t even hold my son.
Redrocks00, claims are open for 52 weeks, but the maximum number of collectible weeks are 26 (6 months). when you run out of the money, then you become eligible for the extensions. someone has to reveiw the claim to make sure no flags will prevent future payments, there are no issues, and determine which extension you qualify for. once that is done (good luck) then you receive new claim forms in the mail for the first extension. somewhere on the EDD web page it explains all the extensions and the dates available. like everyone else now it is wait and see.
Dan above, sorry to hear your story, it breaks my heart. if I were you I would find the nearest food bank. you might also qualify for food stamps. get that kid fed whatever you need to do. the united way may help also.
Dan, There was a post earlier that you can go to the One Stops (job search) Locations. Once you register to use the computers etc. Ask to speak to someone in support services. They sometimes have gift cards for local grocery stores as well as gas cards etc. Can’t hurt to try. Good luck. Hope this helps.
I am heading there for the same reason. No money since January 9. Thank goodness I was frugal from Dec and was able to pay the rent this month. But out of food now.
Thanks so much for this site. I was a month behind on my claim due to (I’m guessing) the usual disgraceful work at post office, the EDD never got my claim form. I call the two phone numbers posted on this site, a 310 and 213 area code and managed to get thru although it was no small task. Thank you very much. Your site was very helpful and my claim is back on track…
For all those who are about to give up, keep at it and try all the suggestions from this site. Good luck,
Marc
I wanted to thank everyone for their postings, and offer another telephone number to call. I too had mailed in a claim form and never received a check. I too called and called the main 800-300-5616 for EDD for weeks and could never get through to anyone. I even sent several emails and never got a response. I called (619) 525-4995 listed above, AND got a live person, however, she said my claim was being handled by a different office and she gave me another number (408) 436-5603. A lady answered the phone, no recording, no need to press 1 for English and resolved my issue in less than 5 minutes. Apparently my claim was flagged so they were sitting on my check pending a telephone interview that I was never advised of. She cleared the flag and released my check, which I received yesterday. I shared the number with a friend and they had the same result. I’m in Northern California, so hopefully this number can help other people too. Good luck and don’t give up!!
I lost my claim form…I’m so upset. I should have made copies like someone suggested above…I could kick myself. Any idea how long it takes to get a new one? I emailed them from this site’s link (thank you) and got a ref #.
Help?
Michelle
EDD is a game, and those who play need to know the rules. That is a job in and of itself. I was laid off 8-2007 and received UI benefits, the maximum. I was grateful for that. I sought work as the forms require. I found temp work. That was my mistake. My colleagues who stay under the radar and travel to Hawaii, drive to San Diego to get Botox shots, play tennis in the mornings would never consider looking for work are still collecting $1,900 a month over two years later. I, on the other hand, receive $60.00 per week because I did some temp work. My advise to all of you collecting UI, is to not even consider work. Between Social Security and UI, my former co-workers are making out just fine. Honestly, I am jealous and feeling very stupid. Know the rules.