How to Contact the Employment Development Department
If you’re having trouble speaking with someone at the Employment Development Department—often called the EDD—or have not had any progress made on an issue you’re having, there are a few different ways you can contact the EDD. If you have received a Notice of Determination or Notice of Overpayment, you should file an appeal to request an independent judge to review the EDD’s decision. You can find our instructions on how to appeal in our fact sheet Appeal a Notice of Determination or Notice of Overpayment: How To Protect Your Unemployment Insurance Benefits.
Call The EDD
For general issues, the main way to contact the EDD is still their Unemployment Customer Service number. You can find an up-to-date number at the EDD website.
Despite the difficulty many people have getting in contact with an actual person at the EDD, this is still the primary means to contact the department if you have a problem.
Get Help from a State Representative or Senator
Your local state representative’s office may be able to help you with a problem you are having with your claim. Find which office to contact, enter your address, and the site will give you the names of the state representatives and links to their websites.
You should call or reach out to the representative’s District Office. Many of these representatives provide specific services for assisting with agencies like the EDD. Look for tabs or links that say things like “EDD Assistance Request” or “Get Help with Government Agencies,” and follow the instructions to contact their office.
Ask a Question in the Online Portal
If you have an online account with EDD, you can ask some questions on the “Contact” tab of the account. Start by logging in at https://myedd.edd.ca.gov/, then click “UI Online” and then “Register or Manage an Existing Claim.” Afterward, you should be able to click “Contact” on the upper-right hand corner of the page.
Use AskEdd
You can find answers to some common questions at https://askedd.edd.ca.gov/s/. You can also send messages to the EDD about some issues through this site.
Send a Letter by Mail
If you are still struggling to get a response, send a letter to the EDD. Send the letter to the address on the top of one of the notices you have received from the EDD. Make sure to include your birth date, your mailing address, your phone number, and your social security number or your EDD account number.
Find an “America’s Job Center of California” Location
If you are still dealing with employment or benefits-related problems and the EDD is unreachable or unable to help you, you should find an “America’s Job Center of California” office to assist you. These offices are meant to be a one-stop shop for workforce services and provide a range of no-cost employment and training services for workers.
