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 laughed 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 chimed in to share tips and support. 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
So, after 6 weeks of this and getting through on the Vietnamese line on 3 different occations, I couldn’t get through on Friday 5/4/12… The vietnamese line is no longer working! I called the 800 # 72 times on friday, from 11:20 to 5pm never got thru! I wasn’t going to call today, but someone told me to go to an EDD Career center and use the phone there… I did, and got thru on the 3rd try! AND the lady, who I originally thought was in a bad mood, back dated my claim to my original date that they claim they never received from 6 weeks ago!!! OMG I can breathe now! After 6 weeks of 1800 hell I finally got thru and they didn’t even ask me to fax the paper they originally wanted!
So here’s the deal… The lady at the EDD Career center said that trying to get through on a cell phone is useless… Landline is faster, and their phone is a more direct line and even faster!
Has anyone gotten the letter from EDD about how California no longer qualifies for Fed-Ed extensions and they’re going to end after May 12? Still trying to figure if it’s definite that the end has come to my extension.
My son had been trying to get thru for days, so this morning I got on the web to find out what the problem was. I told him about the enter “12117″ after “welcome” and he got thru on the second try ! AWSOME! I am so glad I don’t live in that messed up state anymore. May 8 2012
The Vietnamese number worked wonderful. Also Yesterday I called 916-654-7401, left a message someone called me back within 4 hours. When you use the Vietnamese number wait for them to answer press 3, then wait for the recording and enter your Social Security Number, wait for the recording to repeat your social security number (you will be able to tell that is what it is doing) then press 1, wait for recording press 0 or just hold. If there are to many calls it will hang up, but usually you get through with in the first 5 times. Good Luck!!!!!
my husband is just starting this very sad process, i googled, “filing california for unemployment tips.” your website showed first!
with the hardship you have experienced and expressed, perhaps it will not be so hard for him –thank you!
i agree, sometimes knowing you are not alone – does help.
thank you for taking the time to help untold numbers of folks, like us, jus starting out on a very scary chapter of our lives – unemployment for the first time.
much happiness and good health to you and those you love,
lisa
After trying all morning and most of my afternoon to get thru using the god forsaken 800# I searched for the nearest office; which is two hours away. Your site also popped up in that search. I tried the Vietnamese number and got thru first time. I used the same prompts as the english line uses, got put on hold for about 20 seconds and I had an actual person on the line to help me and my claim has been filed!
Thank you for the tip to keep me from going absolutely bonkers!