State Of California EDD

i hate their customer service more than anything on earth.

I spoke with a lady named Joan on the phone and she was extremely unhelpful and a terrible listener. She had really bad social skills and no idea how to empathize with what it’s like to lose your job. She called me 5 minutes before their office closed and she expected to finish our interview in that time. Ya right. If I could do it all over again, I would not have even wasted my time applying for unemployment, as they made the situation worse rather than better. Oh well, lesson learned. Just wanted to write this review so maybe someone could learn from my experience:

Brought me to tears!!!
Been trying to reach someone, anyone for weeks on the 800 number to figure out why my husband’s social security number is no longer recognized by the system, and why his benefits stopped after 2 weeks (going on week 4 of non-​payment).
We’ve been through the ringer first with the unexpected lay off, and now this. Our local employment office can not help us until someone on the other end of the 800 number of EDD corrects his social security issue (how does a SS # go bad while the weekly printed sheets you fill out has the correct SS # listed each time?). I call constantly 8am-​12noon but I always get the same result «to many people, try your call later» hour after hour, day after day, week after week.
How can I report the problem if they make it IMPOSSIBLE to get through???
This system is broken and demoralizes the user. This is shameful use of tax payers money to continue running a program that treats people, who work hard and need a little assistance until they can get back on their feet, like animals. I’m not an animal!!!

I hate the fact I am spending my precious time to complain… however — when I have reached this unprecedented pinnacle of disappointment and disgust — with a system that does not communicate within itself (unemployment and disability) — ties itself to a non-​functional organization (CalJobs) I have to do something instead of just sitting here fuming.
The fact that I pay taxes for such a despicable and incompetent state run joke is absurd. If we as taxpayers can’t get any ‘help’ from a help line? Spending hours jumping through hoops that are fictitious at best, as a way to supposedly police the system instead of looking for jobs that we want — should be investigated and management should be prosecuted for wasting our tax payer dollars.

This experience has been horrific. I applied for benefits about 6 – 7 weeks ago and still have yet to receive benefits. They keep sending me forms to fill out regarding wages. They will not calculate my wages even though I have submitted the evidence. One minute they say you have to separate your employers. The next minute they say you have over calculated your wages. If they get off their lazy behinds, they can figure out what I have instead of going back and forth. This would also save them money on sending out these forms as well. This involves money. If they calculate it, it reduces the amount of over payment the benefit seeker receives. They are useless and I do not see how they are still employee. Their call center is only open from 8 – 12 and most times you cannot get through because there are too many people ahead of you. If you do get through, you have to wait about an hour to speak to someone. Very inefficient. Please learn evaluate your customer service and adjust ASAP. This is a service that should help people who have work, especially if military duties/​order require spouse to give up their jobs.

Complete idiots. Love that they average one star. Doesn’t surprise me. They over paid me 432 dollars because some moron can’t do there job. Ghetto and worthless. Uneducated staff and horrible service. #keepbeingstupid.

Waited on hold for almost an hour. Finally talked to someone about resetting my online password. I was asked my social, which i had. Then asked my address, which i had and was wrong. My address on file was for my prior residence from when my son was born a few years ago. Also a place i didn’t live at long. I asked the person to give me a minute so i can look up the address real fast. They said, you don’t know? i explained why, they didn’t care. Told me to call back when i have all my information ready. Gee. thanks.
I think i made the mistake of calling around 3:30 (put me on the line with them at 4:30. which is almost quitting time i take it). Ran into someone that really sounded like they didn’t care about helping.
Which is weird, because i called the online help line.

Another Gov’t Failure!
Can never get a hold of these mystery people because every time you call, the recorded message lets you know too many callers are on hold and CLICK…
Must be nice to have a job where nobody can call you, no email address exists, and you get to give half ass service and never get fired!
3 weeks now and no payment made to my gf after she and her Dr filed everything early and correctly… Yeah no worries EDD… NONE of us have bills to pay or anything… don’t sweat it!
Hats off to our gov’t for creating another sub standard place for people to TRY and get a hold of… I sure wish I could turn my back on everyone and still have my job.
No wonder other countries laugh at us.

I have read all the reviews and believe me it is all true. The EDD is designed to give you nothing but a hard time when you are trying to collect your benefits. First of all trying to reach them is near impossible, then when you reach someone they give you the wrong information, they do not disclose the correct benefits you are entitled to. The workers are RUDE put you on hold then the call is lost leaving you having to try and get through to an impossible call line once again. The information that EDD mails home to you does NOT disclose all the benefits you are entitled to leaving you assuming that you are not eligible until you have enough sense to call them finding out that you ARE ENTITLED AFTER ALL. Something needs to be revamped with this system. The workers/​system is NOT SYMPATHETIC to your needs. It is a broken down system that is designed to intimidate you into not receiving what you are entitled to. You work hard and when you need these benefits the system should be designed to be customer supportive of your needs.

The EDD does NOT exist to help you; instead, its minions will do anything and everything they can to place obstacles in your path, disqualify you, and delay/​avoid paying you your benefits. It’s institutional pieces of dung like the EDD that cause people to view government with such cynicism and hostility. Everything you need to understand this agency can be learned simply by viewing Terry Gilliam’s cinematic masterpiece «Brazil.»

All the taxes I pay to these incompetent morons and nothing to show for except claims that are never answered and getting hung up on when I try to call. Forget the website, that thing is a black hole.

Talking to these incompetent people trying to get your money is like being on welfare. With some operators you can not even get a word in they are too busy cutting you off. Dam I wish I would hit the lotto, I would fire every last one of them and then deny their unemployment. File an appeal b**ch!!!

I wish there was something lower than a 1 star. I feel sorry for you if you are disabled! I have had to email each time for a check and when I complained they decided to «look into» my husbands claim! If they worked for a REAL business they would all be fired (for just cause)!

If your Hispanic and speak Spanish hit the Spanish button that’s how we got threw. It took a while for them to answer, but, at least they didn’t click on me and I had to keep calling back.

6 weeks since I last worked and still no disability payment! Mortgage, credit and car payments would all be late if not for the generosity of my mom and brother helping me out until i get paid! Evidently, my ss # was incorrectly inputed. But really 6 weeks?! They have no problem making sure they get their money from my paycheck every month! Absolutely, a poorly run organization for the people of california.

Disgusting !!
What a horrid place. first and for most I work and pay taxes. I’m not some junky relying on the state to pay my way .
I went in to file for disability because I am Pregnant and have to take time off work. Obviously the money I have paid into taxes I have every right to access .
I’m a mother with 3 kids and I basically just called in to ask a question. And the lastly on the phone was so rude. And my claim has been pending for over 3 weeks !! What if mothers relied on this money until they got back to work. Thank goodness I can tap into my savings until you guys get your crap together. Ridiculous .
Try hiring people with decent communication skills.

Terrible service, I’m in active labor trying to get ahold of edd & no one cares to help & staff is rude & redirecting techniques are horrible

Despicable that no one picks up a phone at this agency and their hours of operation to speak to a live person is from 8am-​12pm only! When you call the recording says they «have higher call volume than they can handle, goodbye.»
A true reflection on the state of California –absolute broke– down systems with no light at the end of the tunnel … Only more neglect.
Very shameful.
not to mention I was only on unemployment for 1 week and cant get through to alert them that now I am being audited for that one approved week. …. oh California, you dissapoint me on so many levels.

Where do I begin:
Well voluntarily quit by job for a good reason, was looking for work while on verge to quitting (they were going out of business, but its a long story). So in February, I filed for unemployment. Was denied and was not even sent a letter to when a phone interview was. Well, I called, on and on for 2 months. Then in the beginning of May, I FINALLY got through. To my demise, my last employer apparently never reported my wages to EDD, EVER! The man i spoke with on the phone said when he typed in my social security number, no wages came up. When I asked what could I do if this was the case that they never reported my wage, he said «not much» and that I couldn’t get any benefits. HE WAS WRONG!!!
Called the Labor board on May 20^th and asked if I could still collect unemployment, they said yes and that I would have to fill out a form that came with my claims letter. Well, mine didn’t come with one so i just wrote them a business letter, a copy my claims statement, projected earnings report, a copy of last years w-​2 to show proof I worked. Less than a week later, I got all the papers to fill out for my backpay and found out I was getting unemployment ! I can finally pay my bills !
Please, if you ever think the information you have been given by a phone operator was wrong, either ask for a supervisor or write them a letter. They record all phone calls and can go back and listen to them if they need to clarify. Also, if you are having issues with an employer, call the labor board and ask them, they are very helpful. When you cant get through to them, try sending in a letter explaining your situation and copies of your documents if you are denied for wrongful reason.
I don’t have any kids and luckily I don’t live on my own, so bills are split, but i cant imagine going through what I went through if I had all those responsibilities. It was a nightmare trying to get through and when I did, I was so disappointed. I really hope what happened to me doesn’t happen to anyone else.

If you are currently collecting unemployment insurance benefits, disability insurance benefits or have a question for EDD, do not come here.
I have talked to people that have driven hundreds of miles thinking their issues can be resolved at a magical building near the Capitol. This is a fantasy that you created in your head. Email EDD or call them.
Believe me. Please.