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
These are good, but I didn’t see the three best suggestions I’ve discovered in my experience.
1) don’t work out of state so you can file ONLINE
2) set your alarm for 7:55am and start calling at 7:59 since the lines are opened at 8
3) listen through the menu and choose mandarin as your language choice but when you get the person, just use your best valley girl impression to say: “oh I must have pressed the wrong button or something? Is this the place that I call when I got laid…
OFF, I meant to say laid off?”
as an actor, I’m a professional on unemployment so don’t hesitate to contact me with any questions.
Hey Andrew!
Thanks for your tips. I’m sure everyone appreciates the advice of a real professional!
Tania
Very nice post. I became unemployed yesterday (not in California, which is apparently a good thing), so I’m starting to read through what others in my situation are saying about it. You’re doing a really good job, here.
1. You have to post a resume on Caljobs but you can choose to make it public or private (I have an aversion to being required to post my private info online). You also have to visit Caljobs at least once every 60 days. Personally, I’ve never found anything good on their job list there but I guess that would vary based on what you are looking for.
2. When I need to contact EDD, I program the 800 contact number (800.300.5616) into a speed dial. Then I program the 2nd group of numbers you need to push (1,3,0) into a 2nd speed dial. Then I just have to keep pushing the 1st SD until I get through, then the 2nd SD.
3. I really wish EDD would STOP printing your social security number on the claim form (I thought that was illegal anyway?). I sent them a couple of complaints on this and of course, they ignored them. The envelopes are so thin, it is easy to shine a flashlight and read a person’s name , addr and SS#.
Maybe Calif. EDD needs a new slogan:
“Helping ID thieves everyday!”
What happens when the company, or in the case, the foundation I worked with is ot of business? Who does EDD call?
Thank you
I need to know on the California continued claim form, question #3, if you only need to highlight the section that states : 3. Did you look for work or mark X below it and have to complete section B also. Anyone know the best way to go about this?
Hey Jerry,
Unless it’s marked “X”, you don’t have to fill out the back portion. However, either way, filling it out won’t hurt. I have done it both ways (in each case it was NOT marked “X”) and either way, I got my check.
Hope that helps!
Tania
I got laid off last month in California so I decided to move to another state since the employment prospects are bleak in California. Will I still get my check? I need to pay rent next week. I sent my form on Monday priority mail from the east coast. I filled in all the bubbles on the form. I am worried that Scantron will mess up reading my form because I went over the bubble. Anyways, I am nervous!
Thank you, thank you! That Vietnamese number and tip just saved my bacon (or my tofu patty, for the vegetarians out there.) I did accept a 6-month gig out of state, so had to phone too complex a case for web-based filing. After hundreds of attempts (as you say) at 7:59 am, I was about to scream. Not only did this woman walk me through their maze for over an hour (which even she seemed to find incomprehensible at times), she was extremely polite and actually wanted to help me. I owe you a debt of gratitude. May the money fairies rain goodies down upon us all.
Andy,
I’m sorry to tell you, but your move will cause you to have to speak to an EDD representative. You will receive a letter with an appointment time that you can expect a phone call to explain your move. You then won’t get paid for the time you took to move, because technically you were not ‘able and available’ to work and to receive a check you have to be able and available to accept work. Hope that helps!
So what happens if CA goes bankrupt in July? From the little research I found, the US Labor Dept. pays close to 90% of EDD’s operations budget, and the funds are transferred through business taxes. So it seems like we *should* be ok, but was wondering if someone could confirm.
Thanks!
I have been getting my forms mailed to me very late – I just got 6 weeks of claim forms all mailed on the same day. I will mail them right back but the oldest claim period will be sent 40 days late – this will certainly result in them denying the claim.
Has EDD started to do this as a strategy for not paying the claims? – I know California will be out of money soon! Anyone else having this problem?
I usually get my check within 5 days of mailing but not this week. Its been a week now since I mailed my form, so I called the EDD Self Help Line and according to their records my form hasn’t even been received yet. Im sure the post office didn’t
lose the letter, it only has to travel 30 miles to West Sacramento. Anybody else having my problem? Any ideas?
Thanks for the advice. It got me through.
I filed in 6/9/09 and mailed a copy of my ID and pay stub a week later. As of 6/25/09 I had heard nothing and started calling. I found this site on Friday.
I started dialing at 7:50 on Monday June 29th, 2009 and got through at about 8:05. I dialed the 12177 number — SLOWLY, which helped — and got through to a very polite, articulate and helpful guy named John. He researched my stuff, determined that everything was in the pipeline and that I’d be getting checks soon. He also rescheduled my phone interview re. training from July to tomorrow. Very nice.
He said they’d been hammered — he said about a month ago they were getting 29,000 calls A DAY. He said things were calming down a bit — which I hope is a good sign for the economy at large.
Thanks again for your advice!
Hey gang, this a great blog but for all the wrong reasons unfortunately…
anyways, I mailed my claim form last monday like I was supposed to, unfortunately I’m moving out of my apartment and I put my new address on the claim form for my check to be sent to. BUT, my apartment fell through and now I need to have them change the address to send it to. I’ve called the automated and they still havent cut a check at all and I of course can’t get a live rep on the line to help me. I’m just worried cause I really need the check but I don’t want to deal with the back and forth. It shouldn’t be that difficult, I just need to know when my check will be cut and what address it will be sent to.
HELP!!
Hi all, I filed my claim at the begininning of May and received my “Notice of Unemployment Award” a few weeks later. I had my phone interview and thought I would receive my check soon… BUT it has been almost 2 months and still NO CHECK! I continue to recveive the “Continued Claim” forms in the mail and complete them and send them back that same day…
The EDD said that the 800# is receiving about 2,000,000 (yes 2 million!) calls per day. No wonder we can’t get through!
Thanks for the the 12117 trick the phone calls are much quicker each time.
Good luck all!!
Well the phone trick didn’t work for me. I sent them an e-mail 8 days ago and still have received no response. I’m extremly frusturated that it takes this long to get an answer from them.
What number are you guys calling? The one I’m calling gets me nowhere with the 12117 trick.
I sent in my completed form with work search record completed and
received a replacement form back requesting me to fill out missing information . The only area that I can see as being a problem is on
the job search record. Under results I put sent resume. Should I have
put something else ? Should I have written no result under the result
column? Yikes!
William,
You should attempt to call the 800 number, file a change of address and email the info to EDD. The change of address will delay your payments and be a cause for a phone interview.
Hope that helps…
William,
Sorry, I meant to say file a change of address w/ USPS.
Jest,
The info you have is correct. The monies EDD pays for unemployment comes from employer taxes which are sent to the federal gov’t and then sent to unemployed workers.
Hope that helps.
I am still waiting for my check as well, its been 10 days and they haven’t even cut it yet. They have a new trick..They will not allow you to speak to a REP, they just have info takers on the phone. ‘”Hi my name is__and I have no records, I am just here to take information down and someone will get back to you in 5 working days.”
Oh the PHone Trick is 1-800-300-5616 and THEN PRESS 130 it works better than 12117
OMG!!! I got through!!!! Thank you Thank you RON for the 130 trick. call and when the lady says welcome dial 130 immediatelly.
EVERYONE TRY THIS!!!
thanks stacey. I actually got a hold of someone at the office. they said “okay we will mail a check to the new address” I think everything is kosher and then 2 hours later I get a call from a blocked number questioning my address change. I have my checks sent out of state to my parents cause they handle my finances. I do live in California and I’m just trying to get my money. The lady on the phone wanted me to prove I’m in California. So I said, I’ll call you from a california landline which I was sitting next to. She said “it could be a cell phone and that doesn’t prove you’re in california”, so i told her whatever it takes I will do it to prove I’m in California. She said they would contact me back. I’m impatiently waiting and very frustrated.
OMG 130 works use it yeah
Yes… the 130 does work. BUT guyz..make sure that you make copies of your claim b4 u mail them. I got a notice yesterday instead of my check saying that they’ve set up a phone interview for 07-20. The “prepared” questions I received on the back of the notice has all these questions about training. That’s when I fig I should try the 130 trick, besides no $. The lady on the phone was very helpful. She asked if I marked anything on my last claim regarding training..I said no. She was confused, that’s bad. She also told me that they WILL hold my benefits until the interview is complete. If I “pass.” I don’t know where the hell they got info that I was in any kind of training ! Just not true. SO BE CAREFUL !!
Is there a way to find out if they received my continued claim form?
I mailed my last one on 6/15 and still haven’t got the check. I called the self-check line 866-333-4606 since last week and every day it says the check was last accessed the day before. I finally talked to RPS today (thanks to press 130 phone trick) but the lady said that they never received my last claim. Should I talk to RPS every time after I mail the form?
Hi Everybody!
I have made dozens of calls and haven’t been able to speak to a REP..Are you experiencing this? When you get through, do you talk to the info taker or are you able to speak to a Bona Fide Rep who will answer you questions? I am frustrated because they refuse to give me a REP to ask questions. They immediately hand me over to the info taker and then the info taker will claim ignorance. I was supposed to get my check last week and they wont even respond to my calls or my emails. I’m glad that everybody is getting through with the 130 trick…I found it 2 days ago online and thought I would pass it on to you.
I have been waiting for my check since 5/09/09 and the following checks. I have had to send in 2 lost check forms and here is it July 1, 2009 and nothing. I get all the other correspondence they send but not the checks. I am thinking they really are not sending them and saying they are. The last recorded message said they sent/processed the check on June 16, 2009. I am at my wits end and do not know what to do.
I actually got to a person at EDD! Thank you for the information – I called 800-300-5616 and hit 130 as soon as I heard “Welcome…” It bypassed the recorded message and put me into a queue. The system reported a wait time (then) of 5 minutes. This was this morning, 7/1 at 8:15am. 5 minutes later I was transfered to an actual EDD person! Thank you very much for posting this information!
130 worked for me! But I didn’t get much info.
This was my first attempt using the methods abover. I called them this morning 10 times starting at 7:59am and got through at 8:43am. The dialing 1,3,0 right after the welcome message is what did it for me. I hope this helps any of you that are having this problem. It is quite frustrating getting a hold of someone there. It’s been almost a month and a half and I don’t have not one check from them.
Thank You ! These tricks of the trade do work ! I used the ” 1-2-1-1-7 ” Right at WELCOME….was able to get thru in less then 5 minutes….and the Customer Service person was most helpful…..Thanks!
Imagine if the media spent 10% of the time discussing the EDD fiascos and what constructively is being done as they do reporting on the pop star/s and funerals. Imagine. Welcome to America.
I was laid off on Monday 6/19 and for the heck googled “State of CA EDD can’t get through by phone” which led me to this thread. After trying 60 times a day since Monday, I tried the Mandarin line today and got through immediately and spoke to a very nice rep. Thanks for the advice. I’m sure I’ll be looking back here as the frustration continues.
With all that has been said here regarding what we as claimants have endured with the EDD I must say perhaps it is time that the media (such as they are) bring this to the attention of the public. But, I would also like to go several steps further; for one there are at least 4 other states that allow their claimants to use the on line process to complete their bi weekly forms. Second, they also are using the direct deposit method of payment to claimants, thus eliminating the antiquated process of completing and mailing a form. By the way, can anyone find a post office that is open for mail processing on Sunday? For the most part, the last processing day is Saturday if you go to one of the main processing offices in the Bay Area. Third, it seems that the EDD only process our claims from Monday night/Tuesday to Saturday morning. Fourth and most importantly, why is it that the public was not made aware of the closing of these offices, and implementation of this “automated phone system”. I know that using the internet to contact the office is at best an exercise in futility, 2 to 8 business days’ means that you’re a week to two weeks from contact with someone, and they may not even provide you with the information that you need. Fifth, whatever happened to our elected representative (oh wait, that’s right, they can’t even get together on a budget let alone a system that would work for those who are unemployed). All of the suggestions that I have read her, I will be using to get through to the EDD, for like many of you, I just had something very interesting happen. I had some information changed, and it wasn’t by me. On 6/30/09 everything was okay; on 7/1/09 this information was different. Funny, at the same time that the state didn’t have a budget, you don’t think that …. No, they wouldn’t do that, nor would they? Any way, I’ll be calling them the first of the week to find out what’s going on … and this is a good place to at least vent and exchange ideas … thanks …
Why is it that the state is having problems paying out Unemployment Insurance claims when they have no problem paying out welfare benefits? Who do you think deserves the money more? This is why California is in such trouble. They tax the living daylights out of those who work so that we have to struggle as much as those who don’t. This causes the people who actually work to leave the state. Guess what you are losing revenue because people are moving. I have held a job ever since I was seventeen and have never been out of work this long and finally when I need what I have been paying into for over a decade I can’t get it because the EDD department is making up lies saying I filled out forms wrong.
It has been more than a month since last time i got my check.
So it took me 2 weeks to talk to someone and finally Edd rep sent me an affidavit for a lost check. I did submit it right away. It has been more than a week and no mail. I am 3 checks behind (Since i didnt get the forms that come with a check) I have aged at least 5 years past 4 weeks. I have received checks on time with no problem for first 6 months. This was supposed to be my first extension pay (which they sent me a letter that i qualify) I am very pessimistic (and broke) at this point. It seems like if one thing goes wrong with EDD, there will not be a happy ending.
Let’s do an experiment; compare and contrast the news coverage for pop “stars” funeral with that of the EDD disgrace/incompetence . Where’s CNN, local access, newspapers, “politicians”, tv news, see if the EDD is mentioned (how many #) versus pop “stars”. That is why this country is a sinking ship, the common man is long forgotten, even though we pay taxes left, right, and centre.
See where America’s focus is; and what media outlets really care about. It’s citizens or a pop “star”, hence, why the EDD continues to disappoint and is shameful in its conduct.
I just got off the phone with an EDD representative for a telephone interview. I knew I mailed the form a little late, but apparently I also forgot to check the box that said I was available to work on the continued claim form. He was friendly, but talked so fast I didn’t fully understand what he said.
Even though I mentioned a good reason (emergency operation for family member) I had for turning in the form late, I think he actually said ‘I am deducting those two weeks…’ or something like that and lowered my total amount by that much. I had six thousand something left and now have five thousand something left. I thought if anything, they would simply disallow those two weeks and keep the total amount of money available.
Has anyone else had this experience?
I am literally pulling my hair out! I had a phone interview on June 18th and was told I would receive either checks or a denial letter in 7-10 days, it’s been 18 days now and still no word, what really sucks is the 10 days I spent waiting without a check until I received the phone interview setup letter. So all told it has been 28 days without any checks, but they still had time to send me junk mail about signing up for COBRA benefits which doesn’t apply to me at all! I swear I have aged like 5 years in the last month with the stress of finding a new job, keeping my power on and facing the possibility of losing my apartment now!
Thanks for the tip, the 130 trick worked. You have to get lucky though. It is luck of the draw whether or not an “information taker” or a customer service representative takes the call.
After I finally spoke to a customer service representative they were no more helpful than the “information taker”.
Me: “Hi, I filed my claim 15 days ago and haven’t received my check. I received a letter about a phone interview, is that–”
Her: “That’s why you don’t have your check sir.”
Me: “They suspended my benefits?”
Her: “Yes sir.”
Me: “But the interview isn’t for a month. I haven’t received a check since the beginning of June.”
Silence…
Me: “I am unemployed and rely on this check to pay bills, rent, etc.”
Silence…
Me: “Is there someone who can help me?”
Her: “No sir. You have to wait.”
Me: “There’s no one I can speak to?”
Her: “No sir.”
Me: “I noticed that on the letter about the interview it said that my claim was sent in late.”
Her: “Yes sir.”
Me: “Well I was out of town for a couple of weeks tending to an ill family member and was unable to send it in any sooner. They suspend benefits if you mail it too late?”
Her: “Yes sir.”
Me: “For two months????”
Her: “They’re very busy sir.”
Me: “Is there an office I can go to?”
Her: “Not in California sir.”
Me: “Thanks a lot.”
Clearly with California’s economy in shambles they’re looking to supsend benefits. Good luck to the rest of you. Make sure you don’t give them any reason to suspend your benefits. If a family member gets ill, stay put.
I just got a letter for “phone interview” but it is still like A MONTH a way .. so is that mean I won’t get any check until all the interview thingy done and clear? .. o my God! .. can I make it any faster? by emailing them????
I got 2 letters. 1 was “notice of claim filed” listing my former employer that I filed a claim regarding. The 2 was “notice of claim award” lisitng the employer before last w/$ amount and max benefit amount. Neither letter listed a telephone interview date. 1 envelope contained a claim form dated for this coming Sunday.
I have called and CALLED starting at 7:58am and on and on, I’ve called all the numbers in all of the languages(even had a standby translator next to me for the spanish line) I CANNOT get through.
Here’s my questions: 1. Why did I get the award letter regarding two employers ago & does the fact that I’ve received an award letter regarding them without a telephone interview date mean I’m elegible & will be getting a check under that emloyer? 2. Why did I only get a claim notice and no interview date regarding the employer I DID file about?
Amy I getting any $$ at this point or are there more hoops about to pop up?
Heh California/bankrupt cesspool is in shambles, the country is in shambles, the EDD is a disgrace, they take every dime from you and when you want assistance from them –good luck!!! yet every news outlet/media source is showcasing a pervert pop “star”. this is NEW?!?!?! the CA EDD situation is news; Where is the outrage?!?!
Does anyone know the phone number to call Calif. EDD from another state? I was told that there was a specific number to use. Thanks so much.
Now I hear that Calif. is issuing IOU’s, I hope not for unemployment.
Thank you for 130 trick. I started calling 8am and got connected in 3 minutes. However, the person answered the phone said she could only take my information down and pass it on to a representative. Oh No!!!!!!! I wasn’t going to give up. I said i didn’t want to do that since i have not received a check for weeks and already left many messages thru their website and thru phone.- as i mentioned in earlier post, my check was lost in mail.
The lady then got my info ,put me on hold and came back with an answer.
She said a check was cut and I should receive it shortly. Well I cannot rest assured till I have the check in my hands but at least the fact that I was able to get some sort of answer was way better than not knowing what is going on.
Based on my experience, I wanted to share that sometimes, human info taker can access the system by talking to someone else there so keep trying and be persistent (in a nice sweet way)
Are there any unemployed lawyers with time on their hands out there? How about a class action lawsuit!! Ther are pretty strong laws on the books regarding any group (I’ll say the EDD and its employees are a group)conspiring to defraud the public. If there was a smoking gun to be found, memo, etc. that directed reps to discourage applicants to save the state money…
Right, dreaming again.
http://www.edd.ca.gov/Unemployment/Where_Is_My_Check.htm
I just found this webpage, it’s probably already posted on this blog, but it helped out with knowing if my continued claim form had been received and if my check had been made out. I had posted earlier about my dilemna, but there is automated phone number to find out whether a check has been made out.
http://www.edd.ca.gov/Unemployment/Where_Is_My_Check.htm