Like 10 percent of Californians, I’m unemployed. Unlike millions of other Californians, I’ve yet to receive a check yet. To get the ball rolling, I’ve been calling the California EDD office. After a couple of months of no success, I finally got through to a live person. Yippee/Sarcasm. For kicks, let’s look at the hoops I had to jump through because one piece of paper had a misprint, after the jump.
This is the problem. Because the first woman I spoke to, let’s call her CA Worker #1, was so impatient and not sure of her answers to me, I called two different phone numbers to clear up my paper work problems. They give me two different answers and two different addresses to send in my paperwork. W…T…F? The bureaucracy in this state is so GD frustrating.
Exhibit A – Acceptable Documents for Identity Verification
Look at the picture above and tell me that you see two tables, because that’s what I see. Now this is the quote from the text above the boxes: “You must provide proof of identity. Please provide one document from the ‘Photo Identification’ table and one (or more) of the documents from the ‘Other Identity Documents’ table below.” Remember, there are two tables and they want one from each table.
I already sent in my CA driver’s license and my W-2 form, last month. One from each table. Done… so I thought. But no check, no update.
I learn from CA Worker #1 that I need four forms. Yes four. CA Worker #1 tells me I also need a utility bill and yet another form of ID, like, say… my driver’s license? Which I already sent in? Yeah. Except that she’s dead wrong. I need my annual statement from the Social Security Administration. No, my social security card does not work. I get the mailing address from her and I’m off to make another call because I just don’t trust this woman.
Moving on to CA Worker #2. He is much more informative and polite, but again, I feel like my chain is being yanked. He tells me I need only three of those documents. Are you shitting me? And he gives me an entirely different address to send my forms.
I find out from CA Worker #2 that if your driver’s license address doesn’t match your current address, you need to send in your utility bill. It doesn’t matter if your W-2 has your current address–like mine does. Where the hell else would you send your W-2? Nowhere on the instruction form does it say that your driver’s license must have your current address, otherwise you must send in the utility bill.
We wonder why the state has a 40 billion dollar deficit? The amount of paper work that I’ve receive from–and must send to–EDD is ridiculous. The website is a joke. The call center is disorganized and uninformed.
The worst part of this is that these problems could be resolved by one simple step: write clear and complete instructions. That alone would reduce the number of phone calls and appeals that are filed. Wow! One piece of paper caused me–and probably countless others–so much drama. One piece of paper, with incorrect instructions, that is being sent to millions of Californians has got the wrong fucking information on it.
And CA Worker #1 has the nerve to tell me to “read the directions clearly.” I did! Hey California, hire a damned Editor. One piece of paper is probably costing millions of dollars in BS phone calls and letters.
Tags: California, EDD, Rant
I’m going to be speaking with some investigative reporters at the OC Register and LA Times over the next few days. I’m hoping to shed light on this circus. If we can’t get a response, perhaps the media can help.
I’m with Ken. I’ve posted onto 7 on your side and notified channel 2 news, i’ve sent letters to the state senator and to congress. I’m tired of waiting, and calling only to be put off yet again. I called again on Saturday 7/25 and was told that someone would contact me in 15-20 business days! it’s been almost a month since i had my interview and i still know nothing. I’m going down to a local office today because i a girlfried of mine said that someone in the local office can actually get someone on the phone for you.
You are right…for the 1st time around (now that we are in such a mess) Interviews are handled 4 wks after you send paperwork in! I just ran out of my first claim. I don’t know if I qualify for an extension, I should, but don’t know aaaaaaNNNNND I cannot get through that MF phone line. Now I have to wait to seeeeee if I get an extension…I cannot get through…although I have to say to the writer of the bulletin above…I didn’t have your problems, but I feel your pain. I have been on unemployment twice in the last 10 months…the second time around was the worst. This is all a bunch BS…and its a way in keeping us in control and that is not good. I have been in turmoil the entire time, my family…my husband can not get unemployment because he is in the military..and did a tour. Now he has a job driving cross country..this whole ordeal not just us, but the nation has ruined families and their stability to stay together. WE ALL NEED HELP….SOMEONE HELP….I CERTAINLY DON’T KNOW THE WAY…HELP US ALL!!!
I sent in my claim form late so they schedules a interview…a month went by and the interview date finally arrived it was ment to be from 1-3pm THEY NEVER CALLED. What the heck am i suppose to do now?
I’m in the same boat.
Somewhat similar, I got that form.
But lucky I was able to get through and solve some of the ambiguity before I sent it in.
And note the EDD person admitted that that form was ambiguous!
Jesus.H.Christ!, How an intelligent person couldn’t make the form more confusing then that is. How incompetent can a person be that writes these things?
Now same thing happen to me. Apparently there was a small mistake in my former employer’s office (they moved). I finally got through (odds are less then 20 to 1) and found this issue out and corrected the address.
But they did nothing.
Now here it is July 29, 30min past my interview and no one has called!
And note this interview was scheduled a month ago. I’ve had to wait a month with ZERO paychecks. And for such a little problem.
They should have at least kept the checks coming until this minor investigation happens.
I am going to sue the state personally, and, or, lets make a class action lawsuit so we get compensated not only for all the back checks owed to us, but for a lot of emotional stress, and the government’s negligence.
I’m hoping that the people above come back to check this page, because i finally found a way to get some resolution. Evidently, there are only 6 Employment Development offices in California, because they have centralized everything. I went into the Oakland office yesterday. Put my name on a list, and about 30 minutes later, my name was called and a gentleman called direct to the EDD claims office. I had to wait an additional 10 minutes, but was finally able to talk to someone, and I confirmed today, that my check is on its way.
CECILIA: YOU WILL NEED TO GO TO EDD’S WEBSITE, AND FILE A NEW CLAIM. YOU WILL ALSO NEED TO GO TO THE SECTION OF THE EDD WEBSITE THAT ALLOWS YOU TO CONTACT THEM VIA EMAIL. AND THEN THERE IS A DROP DOWN INDICATING YOUR CLAIM IS EXPIRING. COMPLETE THAT INFORMATION VIA EMAIL AS WELL. THIS INFORMATION WAS GIVEN TO ME BY AN EDD EMPLOYEE.
IF YOU CAN’T GO TO AN EDD OFFICE, I WAS TOLD BY THE EDD REP, THAT YOU CAN ALWAYS CONTACT THE CAL WORKS OFFICE IN YOUR AREA, AND THEY USUALLY HAVE A WAY OF CONTACTING EDD DIRECT. HOPE THIS MAKES SENSE. BEST OF LUCK.
Well it’s been 1 1/2 months and i still haven’t recieved my check. I was getting on time every 2 weeks. I got the call 2day while i was on the way to an interview, i pulled over (car was still running) and a fucking pig rolled up on me and told me to shut the phone off. I didn’t even have the phone up to my ear and missed the call altogether. This happened in Simi Valley. I’m now going to my lawyer’s office and filing a suit against the police department for unlawful reasons of harassment for a phone call when i was pulled over….now i think the fucking EDD should hire motherfuckers to answer the god damn phonecalls instead of a fucking recording…what do u say???
Go into your local congressmans office and ask for help. I did for my short term disability problems and they helped me through the whole process.
Jerry lewis had his assistant call me after to see that everything was good.
Thanks.. Congressman, Jerry Lewis
Me too! I had one delay already because I didnt’ have a driver’s license, but I had a passport. (I was born in the US.)
They scheduled me for a phone interview, and they NEVER called me!
I actually called them and got through.
They insisted to me on the phone that an employer can’t hire me without a driver’s license as a form of ID.
I said, “I have a passport! I have a passport! I dont’ have to have a driver’s license to get hired. But my wallet got stolen, and I am getting a replacement next week.” The woman confirmed I had a DMV appt and decided to go ahead with my OLD driver’s license number. She said a passport was not a good form of ID for them.
HELLO???? A US passport is NOT a good form of ID to prove you can be hired for a job in California??
Anyway, I got four weeks worth of unemployment ending five weeks ago.
At that point in time, they sent me a letter saying I needed another phone interview. The earliest they could schedule me was FIVE WEEKS AWAY!
So five weeks with no unemployment.
I have no idea why.
I was sick for a week and put that on the form for one week – that I didn’t look for work becuase I was sick. I think this triggered all of this. I should have just freaking lied.
Sigh.
Simone
I had a similar issue where I sent one of my claims late. Sure enough, everything came to a grinding halt. Finally, after trying for ever on the phone, I sent an email and they responded. I had to send in a letter explaining why the letter I sent was delayed.
Then after 15 days, they adjudicated it, decided against paying me for the weeks that I had delayed in payment and then sent me claims for the rest of the months. So after 4 months, I got claims forms and expect checks for all of them. I am going to appeal for the two weeks they did not pay, just cos.. this is not fair, they are acting like Masters.
I too sent my claim form late. A couple of days ago I received “the letter” informing me that I will be getting the interview in a month’s time. So, I called EDD to find out what can be done. What I got, was them saying they would try to make it happen before a months time. Now I have to stay home up until the original date they gave me, because they gave me no date or time that they could or would call and if I miss the call and they will cancel my claim.
The funny part is that a few days before I received “the letter” I had gone in to the local office to inquire about retraining. Now, because I can’t leave the house, I can’t attend the appointments scheduled in order to have a chance at a scholarship…What a convenient coincidence.
If this whole process takes the maximum time that they have allotted, it could be months before I see another check and that’s if they decide not to cancel my claim. So what am I to do? (Other than write stupid little notes on some forum that I found after google-ing my situation of course.)
Does it actually say somewhere that you cannot send in the claim forms late?
OMFG!!!! Month and a half for an interview and I get 1 check and 6 claim forms. I send them in triple checked for errors and I get a claim form saying I made an error. Meanwhile my disabled parents who I help are facing being homeless. All the while child support services illegally garnishes the 5 dollars out of my savings account I leave in there to cash my checks and I get charged 25 dollar levy fee every two months. The law says they cannot touch the first $3500 in my account, but they are above the law I guess. F$@ck you California and your civil rights violations.
It is insane. I had to move because I could not afford my home anymore due to being on Unemployment. Because I changed my address on a Tuesday they stopped my benefits pending a Telephone interview that they scheduled on a Govenment holiday…Do you think that Interview will happen? They said I moved on a work day so that I will probably not recieve my benefits. I guess that it does not matter that I look for jobs EVERY SINGLE DAY of the week. So now five weeks behind Im broke and my kids are going to start getting hungry. By the time the interview happens it will be 7 weeks. And I do not qualify for food stamps because may award letter says I get paid every week a predetermined amount…GRRRR.So now Im probably going to have to move again because I have no money to pay rent. I guess I just live in the car until someone realizes that I am depending on a very broken system.
Oh that is so frustrating, Lizzy. Yes, during my phone interview they asked me what day I moved, too. I did it over the weekend, so they didn’t cut my benefits. But I didn’t realize it was in danger. There are so many rules to follow, but hang in there. You’ll get your benefits eventually. You just have to jump through the hoops. Good luck!
Dave, I’ve sent in claim forms late before and it just takes longer to get the checks. In the beginning it took me months to finally get my benefits, but they sent all of my checks at one time. Hang in there!
I been getting my checks from my 1st claim. Been ok at best, then they stop & want my to refil e . Now miss out on a week of unemployment , puts me even further behind on my bills. But wait ! I been trying it their way & haven’t gotten thru. F—– MORONS! I’m at the end of my ropes!
So I am so upset, and I do not know what to do…
I am negative in my bank account, passed due in bills, and so stressed beyond any state of healthy being and I don’t know what to do…I emailed them and just received an email back saying that there was a question about my eligibility and they sent me somthing about an interview…which I have yet to receive!! I heard that there is a way to download a form online and send in to keep receiving, but I do not know if this is true. I really need help, there is no one to ask and it seems like when I do ask them…shit gets even worse. 
What do I do?????????
I sent in forms late in my first claim so I had an interview with the office…I explained to them why (I lost forms in move)…they told me I could not receive benefits..so I had to start a new claim to be current (with A LOT OF DRAMA in between)…So I finally got the ball rolling again, filed a new claim with someone on the phone and received my first check..I sent in my paper work over 3 weeks ago and am still waiting for my second check to come.
I’ve been receiving benefits for longer than I’d liked to and didn’t receive my last check although the system said that it was mailed on September 3rd. After 5 days of attempting to speak with a person, I finally called the number dedicated for Vietnamese speakers and this person told me that my check had been cashed. I couldn’t understand what she said in regards to how I can pursue this problem, and when I called back, she hung up on me, presumably because I don’t speak Vietnamese.
To compound it all, I can’t submit the next two weeks claim, since the form is attached to the check.
Spoke with my CA senator’s office today, hopefully they can help me, otherwise, I’m gonna be in major trouble soon.
Unbelievable!
EDD is a total disgrace and a big joke. California has gone down the drain. Their motto is you are guilty of fraud until proven innocent. I reported income on the claim form and I got flagged and gotta wait 4 weeks for an interview. the person on the phone kept telling me I didn’t report any income yet I did. They use lies and stalling techniques to get you to give up on your claim. I have to be on unemployment because I have kids. In Nevada, Oregon, Washington they give you interviews immediately and detrminations within 3 days.
something has to be done. I am writing the Governator and all the Congressmen I can. If we all start writing to the Congress they will have to do something. Thats what we pay taxes for!
Dude, all EDD forms are purposefully misworded in such a way as to direct people to make a mistake. Then, once the “mistake” is made, the EDD will delay your payments for like 6 months. They are also fond of mysteriously stopping your claim forms and mysteriously not sending your checks, while having no information as to where they went or why they stopped coming. I lost my job in April. Today is September 30th. I have spoken to, written, and e-mailed no less than 6 people, and there is still no check in the mail.
So maybe this is why alot you should not feel bad for dealing drugs. People gotta eat and pay bills. This state just doesn’t give a rats a@@ about what we need to survivee.
I tried to tell my friend that the conditions of unemployment are ridiculous and they dont believe me as to why i have sold everything i own and have been living on 15$ worth of food a week…purchased by selling my clothes and electronics i am just trying to make sure i can get enough protien each day to not get sick. i have no heat, no food, and no check! i applied in june of 2009 and have received all of 3 checks since then yet i have had 4-5 phone interviews.yeah sure these are supposed to be random interviews but how can it be random?…it is just a ploy to keep your benefits so the state can balance its budget on the backs of the unemployed!!!.each interview stops my check!i have never been paid for those back weeks although I was determined eligible. i am about to start selling my blood for food!
This is an outrage. Due to no fault of our own when we need help the most our government has let us down.I am about to become homeless like so many others of us. We need to organize protests in Sacramento and at every unemployment office so we get media attention and move Arnold to do something this is a disgrace and we here in California should not be putting up with it…….Why are we not seeing anything about this in our local press. I have been hearing thousands of stories so get the word out folks and gather a group together and go to your local office and call your local newspaper and radio stations.
senator loni hancock office number 916-651-4009….write letters call everyday!!!!this should be investigated!!! these are our benefits we paid into this system it is supposed to be there when we need it!! i am hungry!! i am cold!!! and i am living with relatives because i already lost my home!!!i have a graduate education and 18yrs of work experience!! i have only been unemployed and applied for the benefit i paid into 2 times in those 18yrs…yet here i am after paying 10s of thousands of dollars into the system without any benefits!!!
Ex-husband unemployed and in arrears for child support..paycheck was being garnished…but now.. i have to rely on EDD to garnish checks and send to SDU..HA! 6 weeks and no check.. I am going to lose MY apartment that I share with my 8 year old because HE lost his job and EDD can’t get it together…..oh, and the ex refuses to pay me anything meanwhile
Hi everyone, sorry to hear all of the bad experiences- I have had some of the same problems and now I am worried, because I am moving from Los Angeles back to San Jose because I can stay with my Aunt. Does anyone have any advice on how to not have my checks stopped because I change my address? I am moving on the weekend so it will not impact my job search (I know to be careful of that!) But is there anything else I can do to be sure my checks don’t stop? Best wishes for everyone in their tough times.
Hi everyone….wow….glad to know we are not alone! My husband lost his job in June…we finally applied for EDD in mid-September we got a letter three days later saying he was excepted stating how much help we were going to get. Then we got the first Form we filled it out including as requested that my husband is working a few hours for no pay on a production. We heard nothing….then we got another Form saying we filled it out wrong so we did it again trying to be honest saying that he was doing something not sitting on his ass eating bon bons!! Now he gets a letter with the phone interview set for the first part of November. BUT still no CHECK? Is this the usual set up? I am still working but we are becoming more and more strapped….any thoughts are appreciated! Good luck everyone!
PUTTING ALL THE PIECES TOGETHER, DET. COLUMBO STYLE.
1) If you go to the EDD web site to send them one of those funky site generated emails, you will notice one of the questions they want you to answer is how much your weekly benefit is. Did you ever wonder why they would ask such a question? Since the EDD is expected to go $1.6B in debt this year, the EDD is perfecting a form of financial triage. The EDD cannot stall, delay and fumble every claim, so they reserve this treatment for those claiming maximum benefits. Life is pretty smooth for those claiming less than $300/week.
2) For those claiming the max, EDD service is super slow-motion. The paperwork you send the EDD must be completed in a fair and reasonable time. You are expected to notify the EDD if you work situation changes, also, in a fair and reasonable manner. But the EDD would never apply the same fair and reasonable standards to themselves. You are expected to figure out they are barring your claim because they invent last minute requirements of trivial paperwork. How are you to figure out they are not honoring your claim? Well, you never get a check, which causes you to complain. After they receive your complaint, they wait the maximum number of days before they respond. When they do respond, they tell you to wait for them to send their envelope in the mail. And so it goes on and on.
3) They use other stall techniques too. For no particular reason, they will cease sending your mail-in forms. Plan on appealing a bad decision? You’ll wait 45 days for the appeal and, after the appeal, you’ll wait another 45 days for their decision, which contains one poorly crafted original sentence of about 5 words.
I think this is a bunch of bullshit, Geraldo! I believe this is cause for a good old fashioned class-action law suit. Let’s talk.
Walter, life isn’t smooth for people who claim under $300/week. I’m one of those people, and I’ve had nothing but problems with EDD. My checks suddenly stopped and I’m scheduled for an interview a month away because I was stupid enough to tell the truth about a job that I sometimes work for. My regular job in education laid me off and that’s why I claimed unemployment. The “sometimes” job was never intended to be full time. It ends up being a washout in pay when I use up the money for gas to get to the locations they send me to. I don’t have money or time leftover to look for a real job that also won’t take out my back. I tried calling the EDD several times to ask questions about the “sometimes” job, but have never gotten through. So I quit because I was told the “sometimes” job was going to try to screw up my EDD. They did anyway. Now I have no money to pay my bills and an interview date a month away. In the meantime, my phone will be cut off so how will employers contact me? I’ll lose all my stuff in storage, and I already have had to sleep in my car…if I lose that too…
I’ve gotten up early in the mornings and tried calling the EDD to talk to someone about questions I had when I first applied. I’ve continually tried calling early mornings and throughout the day between job searches. I have never gotten through. This is frustrating to the MAX!
Also, their forms are really stupid when it comes to recording work searches. I send out between 1 and 15 resumes a day. Then I go on CALjobs and monster and search and send. How do you account for that on their forms?
GRR!
Call 1-800-300-5616 There will be 2 different Messages that answer one says “Thank you for calling EDD” with a high pitched voice, dont bother just hang up. The other says “Welcome to EDD” this is the one you want, keep calling til you get this greeting then dial in 12117 and you will get an Agent to speak to you sometimes you have to rty more then once but you will get through. 2nd piece of advice If one Agent is unwilling to help you, “CALL BACK” and dont let them off the line unless they resolve your issue. If they say their gonna cut you a check call this number everyday 1-866-333-4606 and dont wait more then 3 days. If they dont call them back and make sure they take care of you. Always be POLITE and dont let them hear you sweat. Goodluck
No life isn’t smooth for People getting under 300 a week. My son gets 117.00 a week. (who can live off that??) His claim started 5/09/09, he didn’t get a check until 8/24/09! That was after he wrote a nasty letter. He had a phone interview on 6/17/09…(6 weeks after the claim started) the guy for the phone interview was rudwe, cut him off and mid sentence and said “so do you even want a job?” My son said YES I do, why would you ask that. HE said well our interview is over you will hear from us soon. He called and called after the 10 day wait and could never get anyone on the line! It is crazy! I feel for everyone on here! What a bunch of crap you have to go through! And you are already feeling bad enough!
Another piece of advice is DO NOT put on the form that you were were unable to work because of illness the agent told me straight up as long as you have your Resume on CalJobs that cosidered looking for work. That little screw up on my part cost me a weeks pay because I was trying to be truthful. Most of all dont give up and dont lose your cool when dealing with these people I have already told you in the post above how to reach EDD so call them as many times as it takes to get what you have worked for.
And here I thought I was the only one who was being victimized by this horrid beast, AKA, the EDD.
To attempt and make some extra income to pay for med insurance (not provided when I was temping) I began trying to sell Tupperware part time on the side, and damned little of that. After I was laid off, I applied for EDD benefits and in an abundance of honesty, indicated I was also trying to sell Tupperware part-time.
Hence my benefits would not commence until I had a phone interview, six weeks later, so that I could be asked this question: Do you sell Tupperware during working hours? I said no, I (attempted) to sell it on weekends, just as I had while I was working.
The first couple claim forms went smoothly. I indicated I had sold $32 of Tupperware on one of the weeks and they deducted $8 from my check, no problem.
On the next week’s form, I indicated I had sold $20 worth of Tupperware. This time, a week later, instead of a check, I got a note: Your form was incomplete. You must re-submit your form and indicate how many hours you worked.
Dumbfounded, I said 2.0 hours, which was my best estimation for placing the order, delivering, phoning the customer, etc., and re-submitted the form. Another week passed: Your form is still incomplete. Phone immediately. As everyone who has been posting here knows, reaching someone at the EDD is akin to reaching the Pope. I think the Pope would be easier. A couple times, I did get a live person, only to be told they could not access my files, they were just taking messages. The “real” people who could actually do something were not available. I never actually reached one of the “real” people. So I emailed saying I was told to call. The message (it no longer says this, by the way) said I would be contacted within 5 days by the method I requested. I emphatically pleaded in my email that I be phoned, not mailed, so that I could provide whatever missing info they needed so much withut further delay.
7 days later (not 5), I received an email response. The email cannot be replied to. All it did was repeat the same inane questions that are on every form, Were you too sick to work? Did you look for work?, etc. To respond, I had to go to the website and start the communication process all over again. I have had my cell phone on and by my side for the last 7 days. I checked the box on the email form saying to call me. I told them to call me and gave my number twice in the body of the message and yet, they still emailed me so that I could not respond that, yes, I was available for work and did not start school and did not turn down any work…I have been unemployed for 2 months and have only received 3 weeks benefits.
From this behavior and the other messages posted here and other places on the web, I cannot help but conclude these State employees have been instructed to obstruct payment to as many claims as possible as often as possible. Something really has to be done. How does creating more homeless people on welfare and/or food stamps help the State make its budget? Yet we are spending $1 billion a month on wars in the Middle East from which we gain nothing but casualties. If anyone is filing that class action, count me in.
Original file date was Sept 2, 2009. I just got a letter in mail telling me that my initial phone interview will be Nov 4, 2009. GET THIS ……… they have my phone number wrong. GET THIS …. the number they have listed is my phone number from 2003 (last time I was on EDD benefits). NOW, I have to start calling them again to get my number corrected or it may take another 60 days to get a phone interview. SHEESH
I went to the EDD office because I was “randomly” chosen to take part in a work education class. Basically, going in shows you’re eligible to work, and you watch a slide show and show your ID, SS card, and your work search record for the past two weeks.
First, the office is chaos. To make a long story short, people in the office really are lost, and I’m talking about the EDD workers. Myself and a few other people were sent to the wrong rooms more than once. When one worker told us to ask for her at a later time, we were told that person wasn’t in that office more than once and sent to other offices. CHAOS!
After that class, I decided to check to see if I could talk to someone about the phone interview I had stated in my previous posting. I waited in one line and then was told to move to another line. Then a man comes to the front of the line I was in and asked to help me, and I said I was told to get out of that line. Finally, the woman I spoke with said she was as close to talking to someone as I would get and that I would need to try to contact the EDD office (which I was standing in) via phone or email to reschedule my interview. I said I didn’t want to reschedule to a later date and that I was trying to clear it up sooner so that I can pay my phone bill. Otherwise, my phone will get cut off before the scheduled interview. “Sorry” was all I got.
Got my check but its no good,has not cleared
Rock, you can contact EDD via email. At the bottom of the edd webiste you will see CONTACT EDD. Click on that and send them email and tell them they have the wrong number. Then they will assign you a number. Take note of that number for your record!. It is proof you sent them email to let them know.
Here are the locations and actual phone numbers of the EDD call centers:
Los Angeles Call Center
1116 N. Mc Cadden Place, Los Angeles
(323) 993-4705
Oakland Call Center
1225 4th Avenue, Oakland
(510) 622-1286
Orange County Call Center (Buena Park)
7000 Village Drive, Ste 110, Buena Park
(714) 279-7232
Riverside Call Center
1180 Palmyrita Avenue, Riverside
(951) 782-3211
Sacramento Call Center
4305 Auburn Blvd, Sacramento
(916) 574-1711
Also, go to this:
http://ccwro.org/index.php?option=com_docman&Itemid=117
It has ALL of the phone numbers for EDD offices that you will need.
Okay, here is something which appears to have worked: I called and got one of those “I’m answering the phone and taking messages but can’t access your records people”. I asked if she could send me some claim forms for the weeks since the EDD got hung up on my form and she said….YES!!! And she did. And I sent them in… and the recording said they issued a check! Good luck out there everyone.
So my telephone interview was scheduled for Nov. 2nd. I tried using the 1800 numbers on the form to get a hold of someone to notify them that the number was incorrect. NO LUCK! till I saw this forum today! I dialed the number for the Riverside office. Got a hold of someone after a couple tries. They only kept me on hold for about 15 mins. They took down all my information, my new number, and told me that in 10 days i would know wheter i was screwed or not…thanks.
so they cant tell you your actual status. they cant help you alleviate your status. they cant tell you anything until they have processed their inquiry wheter or not you are JOBLESS and seeking work? I am running out of time here. I will be requesting forms for the past coupe weeks…and it will be a large lump sum of money when they are processed. Enough to get me back on my feet for sure.
I guess i’ll join on the fun. I was laid off 9/11, filed with edd on 9/14. I received the letter of approval, with weekly amount, reg’d with CALjobs, and returned form 9/28. Its freakin 11/5 and still no check?! WTF. Of course, calling them is out of the question. I sent an email last week, and i got a letter that said they will be calling me for a phone interview on 11/11. Ok? for what, im already eligible. Like the rest of us unemployed ppl, i am running on empty. I just need that scent of money to get me out of this dismal mindset
I cant stress this enough, The Method below is your best bet in getting things resolved
“Call 1-800-300-5616 There will be 2 different Messages that answer one says “Thank you for calling EDD” with a high pitched voice, dont bother just hang up. The other says “Welcome to EDD” this is the one you want, keep calling til you get this greeting then dial in 12117 and you will get an Agent to speak to you sometimes you have to rty more then once but you will get through. 2nd piece of advice If one Agent is unwilling to help you, “CALL BACK” and dont let them off the line unless they resolve your issue. If they say their gonna cut you a check call this number everyday 1-866-333-4606 and dont wait more then 3 days. If they dont call them back and make sure they take care of you. Always be POLITE and dont let them hear you sweat. Goodluck”
Same I’ve been waited for 2 weeks and my check
haven’t arrive yet. I tried calling Edd but lead me
to dead end.
I too have an APPEALS UNEMPLOYMENT ISSUE IF YOU HAVE WENT THROUGH THIS TOOO OR ARE GOING PLEASE HELP CLOSE TO INSANITY OR SUICIDE.
May 29,2009 the day I was fired from my job and also the same day I applied for unemployment. June 5,2009 got all paperwork from EDD to start process as well as a interview date. I also had to verify my identity. No prob right? WRONG! I sent my information June 12, 2009 and was denied June 26,2009 the same day as my phone interview. So I appealed and it was accepted July 7,2009. I then got a letter September 2,2009 for my Appeals hearing the hearing was September 16,2009. The hearing was all of 5 minutes because I was only proving I was myself. So I got my decision on October 27,2009 and it was in my favor. The paperwork says to call EDD to get benefit information. HERE IS THE FUN PART. I call EDD October 28,2009 I started calling at 9:00am I got through to an agent at 2:30pm ( no lie) she didnt even listen to my question she said give us 10 days and hung up on me. So I go into an EDD job center in Oakland and was able to talk to an agent who got me on the phone with an agent. This was November 4, 2009. She said I should receive back pay no later than November 9, 2009 in the amount of $3,200.00 ( because I owe them $2,700) November 10, 2009 I call back and talk to another rep, this one was a Appeals Specialist he then says I was receiving a larger amount and he was releasing it that day and I would get it in 3 -4 business days. Something told me to give them a call Friday November 13,2009, and was floored by what the agent said. He said I was eligible for benefits, but still needed to have a phone interview and it would take 7 – 10 days for me to get the notice for the interview and then he disconnected. WHAT AM I GOING TO DO NOW? I have looked everywhere for a job, NO ONE IS HIRING I have even tried places like In and Out burger. WHAT DO WE WORK AND PAY INTO? WHERE IS THE MONEY FOR THOSE OF US WHO HAVE WORKED FOR YEARS?
I CANNOT EVEN GET WELFARE BECAUSE THEY SAY I AM GETTING MONEY FROM EDD. NOW WHAT PEOPLE?
I have reached out to our local congress here in OAKLAND NO HELP.
MAYOR NO HELP
GOVERNOR NO HELP
JUST WAITING PLEASE PLS tearing up thinking about this
I feel for all of you. I have experienced the same frustrations with EDD. My original claim expired and was told I had to refile. I had no problems with my claim the first time around. But this time, EDD is being a royal pain in the ass. They scheduled me for an interview about one month after my filing. Had the interview and never heard from them for over 2 weeks. Finally able to get through to someone live at EDD and they told me they were still investigating my claim. WTF! I was told earlier and pretty sure I saw somewhere on EDD letter that they had to make a decision within 10 days of the interview, with whatever info available to them at the time. There theoretically should be no problem with my refiling since its basically a continuation of the previous claim. I am pretty sure EDD is using all these delay tactics because the state is dead ass broke. I sure would like to sue EDD’s ass. Fuck EDD and CA!
I first filed for UI in January, received about a month of benefits (experienced no problems), then discontinued benefits because I found some temp work. That temp work is now over, so I applied to reopen my claim. I had to fax my form in. I did that about 3.5 weeks ago now, and haven’t heard anything back from EDD. Of course there’s no getting through on the phone, so I faxed my application in a second time (because more than 10 days had passed) and I have yet to hear from them! WTF? Should I file again? I’m afraid they didn’t get either of my two claims, but on the other hand, I don’t want to send it a third time because that might screw things up all the more and just adds to their workload. I’m grateful to have some kind of safety net like this, but it’s an indignity to just be shut off from answers and service like this. EDD needs to hire more people. I feel for all of you who have been yanked around so much — being docked a day for moving and whatnot, basically nickeled and dimed when you’re just trying to get by — when uncountable billions (of our money) has been too generously poured into the guzzles of banks. I hate feeling cornered like this.
Thanks Izel Melen (post 45) for your tip. I got through to a live person after only about 20 minutes. Thats a huge improvement from trying ALL DAY yesterday with no success. It turns out that because I moved, they want to interview me. I should have just followed a friends advice and had my former roommate forward all of my edd mail. that way i would have at least still been getting my checks these past 3 weeks. NOTE TO ALL: If you move, DO NOT, I REPEAT, DO NOT notify the edd. I know that sounds stupid but if there is anyway that you can have whatever party at the original address just forward all your edd stuff, DO IT. It may delay the time time it takes to get your subsequent checks by 2-3 days but its much better then waiting 30 days for an interview, then 10 more days for their decision. Before you know it, you’ve gone maybe 2 months without a check-just because you were honest about moving. I had to move because i could no longer afford to pay rent and luckily my grandmother was able to take me in. I had my former roommate forward my latest edd check to my new address (grandma’s house)and like a dumbshit I checked the “new address” box. I say we all file a class-action suit against the state of California. I myself have been paying into unemployment my whole life. every 2 weeks my paystubs would reflect that damn OASDI deduction. For over 11 years they have deducted bi-weekly a grand total of nearly $25,000. Now that i actually need some help i cant even collect a measly $144 a week. BULLSHIT. No wounder why people resort to selling drugs, or stealing, or even working under the table illegally. The government(s) fucks you anyway they can. So my advice: just kill yourself, become a prostitute and/or drug dealer, or BE DISHONEST ON YOUR CLAIM FORMS. Im Done. Sorry.