One of the things that I learned on my quest was how to get in touch with a live person at the unemployment office. Sounds simple, but I can't tell you how many hours I spent dialing the number that I inadvertently committed to memory without ever getting through to live person. Hour after hour my hope and will seemed to be drained from my being as I strove to hear a friendly voice on the other end of the phone. Okay, a little melodramatic but to say the least I was frustrated beyond belief. So here is the secret I uncovered.
Phone number to the California Employment Development Department: (800) 300-5616
Call in on a Land Line, that way you won’t use up your anytime minutes
You will get one of 2 messages:
Welcome to the EDD: enter 130
Thank you for calling EDD: You were knocked out of the queue. Hang up, wait 3 seconds and call back in.
Once you get past the first set of messages, you will hear one of the following 2 more responses.
Estimated wait time…..you are in, wait and someone will pick up
Due to high call volume…..you were knocked out of the queue, hang up and call back in.
The other secret that I learned is that every Workforce Center/ One-Stop Shop has a bat-phone. This sacred device bypasses all the prompts and gets you to an EDD envoy who I have always found to be extremely helpful, friendly, and willing to help you with any question or concern you might have. It’s getting to one that’s the trick. Good luck!