UPDATE : It looks like they've changed the system a little... I no longer have the "good luck" I used to have with dialing 130# after the recorded msg. says "welcome." It seems like THE best way... and really, the ONLY way, to get through to someone, is to start dialing them at 7:59 in the morning, and hope and pray you are one of the first people to get through that day, because if you wait just 10 minutes, till 8:10 am, THERE IS NO WAY IN HELL YOU ARE GETTING THROUGH, PERIOD. (I swear I feel like I'm trying to win a damn radio contest when I'm dialing and redialing, only I'd ptobably have an easier time winning backstage passes to see U2 on Live 105 than getting through to EDD).
You will go through all the trouble of pressing buttons and entering your social security number (about a 4 minute process), only to get a recorded msg. that says:"Due to the number of callers waiting to speak to a representative, we are unable to assist you at this time. Please try again later." They're totally maxed out after just ten minutes and you can call all day till you're blue in the face, but consider yourself S.O.L.
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This is going to sound totally insane, but I am now going to share with you what is almost the only way to get through on the EDD line (800-300-5616). Ready? OK here goes:
You have to wait till you hear the recorded message, "Welcome to the Employment Development Department..." (there are two messages: one starts with "thank you" which you'll hear like 9 times out of 10, and the other starts with "welcome." You have to wait for the one that says "welcome." I know it's totally insane and makes no sense whatsoever but that's the way it is). The second you hear the word "welcome" you need to hit "130#" and that will take you to a representative. You will likely get a recorded message that says something like, Due to the number of callers, we are unable to answer your call at this time. Please try again later."
Repeat 10-20 times, until you get through to someone.
People, believe it or not, this is the FAST way to do it. Trust me. I actually had to go into an EDD OFFICE to get this inside information because I couldn't get through to someone AT ALL before I knew this.
I know most people want to give just one lowly star for EDD but I have to say, I gotta give at LEAST 3 stars because as frustrating as the system is, it has been a huge relief to me, in this horrible economy, to at least have SOME money coming in, after I got laid off. Can you imagine what we would do without unemployment? When my employer first laid me off I would have been FREAKING out but I said "Am I eligible for Unemployment?" And she said "of course," and all was good with the world. Yes, it's still a rough economy, and I've had to borrow money and clip coupons like crazy but I'm extremely grateful to EDD and Obama for helping me to survive as long as I have. read more