How To Finally Reach The Employment Development Department (EDD)

Many people in California cannot reach the Employment Development Department (EDD).

When they phone the Employment Development Department, they wait a long time. They cannot reach a live person, or get disconnected. This is upsetting especially to people who need their disability payments.

The California Employment Development Department processes more than Unemployment Insurance benefit. It also administers California's State Disability Insurance claims (CA SDI). Imagine how frustrating it can be if you are sick, have no income, and you cannot reach anyone to help you.

Other Ways To Connect With California Employment Development Department

If you cannot reach the California Employment Development Department through the phone, try these other methods:

One: Go To A Physical Office

The physical offices are opening up as the pandemic recedes. For example, in San Francisco, the EDD Office at 745 Franklin Street is open to the public. Go to the third floor.

Bring your identifications

If you travel to an EDD office, bring a few forms of identifications with you. For example: driver's license, W-2, pay-stubs, utility bills with your name and address.

These documents can prove your identity. Without proof of identity, the EDD office may not answer your questions.

Sometimes EDD denies or suspends a claim if it cannot confirm the claimant's identity. If you have your identifications with you, you can submit proof of identity right then and there.

Find out when your EDD office is open to the public

Even if an EDD office is open, it may not be open to the public the whole day. Try to find out when they are open. For example, as of July 2022, the EDD office in San Francisco is only open to the public in the morning.

Many people leave comments about their EDD office on the internet. Those comments may include when the EDD office is open to the public. Googling your local EDD is a good way to find these useful comments.

TWO: Contact Your State Representative's Office

California state representatives have helped many constituents connect with EDD. You can find out who represents you at this website.

Many state representatives have liaisons with the EDD. You can contact your representative by calling, emailing, or completing an online form.

If you would like an attorney to represent you and contact your legislator on your behalf, please contact me. Professional presentation of your claim may get your claim approved or reinstated more quickly.

Your Claim Number And Customer Account Number

In order to help you, your state representative will need to locate your claim. They may locate your claim by your claim number, which starts with "DI. " They may also locate your claim by your EDD Customer Account Number (EDD CAN). Your claim number and Customer Account Number can be found notices from the EDD. For example, you can check your Notice of Computation (DE429D).

Below is what DE429D looks like for Mr. Mouse, a hypothetical person. Can you find his EDD CAN and claim number?

Sometimes people don't know their claim number or EDD CAN. Instead, they can give the representative their social security number.

Have Your Information Ready

When you contact your representative, be sure to have your information ready. For example, what is your onset date of disability? When did you stop working? When did you file your claim? Who is your doctor? Who is your employer?

THREE: Access Your Online Account

Last but not least, take advantage of your account on the EDD website. People can access much of their benefit information there. EDD uses the online account to inform you of:

• When your benefits are paid

• If you have to submit a form

• What issues are outstanding (such as worker's comp)

• When your doctor needs to re-certify your disability

Click on the "Inbox" in your account to check correspondence from the EDD.

Check "Claim Activity" as well, it may show what EDD needs from you in order to get your claim approved or reinstated.

Check "Available Forms"

You can resolve many issues by completing EDD's online forms. When you are in your account, click on "Available Forms" to see if you can submit any forms to start or resume your benefit.

See below for what the button looks like in your account:

However, the EDD website is not perfect. It cannot provide all possible services and resolve all issues. Nevertheless, many people have used the online account for their entire benefit period without ever having to phone EDD.

We hope this post is helpful to you. Please subscribe to get more tips on California State Disability!

If you need help with your State Disability claim, please do not hesitate to contact me.