Employment Development Department
Reviews and Complaints

I reopened a claim that had a few weeks remaining as soon as the stay at home order was announced in my county on 3/17 with no issue except they made me serve a waiting period because apparently when I first opened that claim last year they did not so the one time I did speak to a rep I was informed that it did not apply to the waiver even though I served it during and directly as a result of covid-19 order. The main reason for this complaint is that after completing the existing claim on 4/12 I was Instructed that I would have to file a new claim so I did that and soon got a message that my account preferences had been changed specifically my address so on checking everything was the same so no need to respond as directed in that message next I get an award notice showing a new claim starting and ending dates with zero qualifying contributions which is not correct so I began trying every way that I can find to contact them email phone etc a few days after on 4/24 I received a letter requesting identifying document because they were unable to verify my identity which completely puzzled me since no sonner did I receive my last payment message that I immediately opened a new claim why was it that they new who I was on my last claim but not on my new with the same information so anyway the letter said I had ten days from the mailing date to get the documents back to them well according to the date on the letter they mailed it to me on 4/17 which would make Monday 4/27 my deadline which made it impossible since I didn't receive it until fri the 24 so I sent it out the very next day by certified mail so I can get conformation which says it was received on 4/28 in the meantime I was able to get thru to a rep on 4/27 who told me that they don't always get mailed out on the date they say leaving me to feel it would be fine she also said they have ten days to respond and of coarse here we are almost a month after they received it still no response and absolutely no answers to my emails also while I had her on the phone I asked her why I was not offered an extension as part of the cares act so I wouldn't have to open a new claim and she told me I'm better off with a new claim which made no sense to me especially looking back as of now I am around 5 weeks with no benefits I was forced to cash out an ira that I just started right before covid I will be going back to work on 5/26 but the damage has been done.
Any help or direction that can help move my claim along is much appreciated thank you

Michael P

I applied on 3/27/2020 for unemployment benefits and sent in my application via mail because their computer system crashed due to COVID-19. I waited 3 weeks and never received a response I then went online and sent 2 emails asking where we are at with my application and benefits and keep in mind I have not worked in three weeks. They never responded to my emails and I would spend literally hours on the phone trying to speak to someone with no success. I then tried the online portal again and I was able to open up an old claim and waited 2 weeks for the first letter saying that I reapplied on April 12 but what happened to the original application of 3/27/2020 then I waited again and on May 2nd I see online the two weeks were disqualified! I did not receive no letter no email and all of my inquiries were still not answered. It is May 6th and I am on the phone again for hours trying to talk to someone and I am not getting through. I am very desperate for assistance and really upset so I am looking for a way to lodge a complaint against the EDD they are so incompetent and they are dealing with peoples livelihoods and it is absurd that I have to be experiencing what I am experiencing on top of COVID-19 Pandemic. Please help! My email is [protected]@aol.com
Felipe Ayala [protected]

I would like for an agent to contact me for an interview to resolve this matter and process my claim for the original date filed and I have a copy of the mailed in application that has the application number on the first page and date. Thank you.

I suffer from PTSD. It's very hard to get on the phone wait for 45 mins to an hour to get someone on the phone only to be toyed with and lied to. EDD has no compassion for anyone. I don't know how much more I can take or how I'm going to live. I applied in January 2020 before COVID19 and still no payment. I started recording my calls with them as proof of their treatment. I filed an appeal and won. Still no check. I don't even want to live anymore EDD has damaged me forever.

The interviewer was beyond rude! He wasnt comprehending what I was stating, confusing himself. Instead of telling me simplify what I'm saying he proceeded to say remarks like
"I speak to women every day so I know how to understand them"
"Your being hysterical, I wont transfer you to a supervisor, no one will help you"
After making me cry he said "only people who did something wrong get that upset and crazy"

I was beyond upset, this employee believes he can speak to women correctly. 99% of those women are just pretending to be nice and kiss [censored] because hes deciding whether we get paid or not. I was upset because I gave my all to that company and to be accused of steal and assaulting someone was absurd. Toward the end he became somewhat understanding after I dumbed it down for him to comprehend. He stated more than likely I'll receive it if I'm telling the truth, other wise I'll be getting a call back if I did something crazy. I know for a fact I wont get a call back so i will never hear from this employee again but what they said to me will stick with me forever. They allow their associates to bullying, harass, powertrip, their customers to get them to kiss [censored] to them. I read 175 reviews on the edd on Yelp over 110 were 1 star reviews stating how bad their employees are yet no changes are made. I worked customer service, I took accountability for all bad interactions I've had with upset customers we were scored and reviewed weekly this was a hardware store that did this yet the state has lower standards than home depot sad pathetic. Its unbelievable how bad they treat their customers but it's ever worse that they still continue and allow this behavior. They have behaviors of psychopath, they get off on putting other down and having power over our lives

Today (1/7/2020) I had a representative call regarding a claim filed by an employee. In the course of my career I have been on a number of these calls and have never had a state employee be so hostile on the call. In today's environment with all the training that companies do to promote positive culture, I would expect the same from EDD employee's performing claim review. The represenative as agreesive and hostile the entire time and his feelings about the case were made know by his tone from the first sentance spoken. Weather you agree or disagree with the case should never so obvious in the conversation. When I explained to Luis that he was being agressive his tone immediately changed, but then said I was standoff-ish. If I had not been cut off everytime I spoke, maybe the conversation would have went differently.
My complant is not about the determination, which I'm 100% positive on what his will be, but about the way he spoke in such a demeaning manner. My hope is that your employee's have continuing education so that other people don't have this same expeirence. I don't want to post his phone number (in case this is a public form) as I am still repectful of others even if they are not respectful of me, but would be happy to give it to you if requested. While we all use previous expierence to help guide us, it does not mean that your opinion is the only meaning behind something. Some people are truly nice and do not have alterior motive, that is a worrisome way to view the world.
I am unbeliveably upset over this call, any person at any time loosing a job is a live changing event. As a state representative you are the mediator of an event and not a participant in the event. Again, my request is that employee's are trained to not e hostile or demeaning or overtly show their opinion. This representative acted like he was personally terminated from the job and kept referencing his duties as if they were the same. From a psych perspective when you keep referencing yourself, you have violated patient-therapy boundary lines.

I filed for UIB by 08/11/19, setup installment agreement for a over payment recently ruled on my favor by EDD Court by 08/12/19 with first payment by 09/03/19 of USD 25.00, and by 08/27/19 when I was expecting my award of USD 450.00 I got only USD 337.50 after a 25% deduction, like a wage garnishment from someone dishonest or commit fraud, what isn't my case.

I called their wage garnishment team, and Joe handled my case throwing on my face without provide a valid comment saying I had 5 cases of over payment on past and even mentioned the years 2002, 2003, 2006, 2008, and 2019... For the records, all paid off on timely manner like the one I setup by 08/12/19.

So, what I do now? Today is 09/03/19, due date of USD 25.00 for the over payment, but EDD already took USD 112.50 by 08/27/19 like a wage garnishment without a notice, by the way...

I submitted my claim benefits for the week of July 28th 2019 and in the second question "was there any reason why you couldn't work other than injury" I put I couldn't because of a job interview in a place 2 hours away from my apartment.
The phone call interview took place three to four weeks after I submitted that claim. The first question I got asked was to confirm what I wrote on the claim. Then the lady ask me what my occupation was.
My first response was that I was unemployed, since at the time I was still without a job. Her reply was "We know that, we are the unemployed department, what's your occupation?" I thought at that point she meant what I do all day as an unemployed person. So I said I do household chores. She the proceeded to ask "How much experience you have on that ocupation?"
I was confused to the extreme so I paused to think. "Does she mean when I started doing chores? Like for the first time or recently?" I've done chores my whole live I told her but I was not getting paid for it and it was not a job. She ignored that and said "Well how long how you being do it that for?" I snapped and said my whole live and she ask me to give her an exact number. I repeated to her it was not a job. So she asked again what occupation was. I was still more confused and you could tell by my tone of voice. She kept asking the same questions. I thought I might answer with what I studied in college since I was starting to panic and said artist. She immediately said okay we'll filed this and the EDD will send you a response soon and hung up on me.
Still wondering what she meant by occupation and why she didn't care to explained when I was clearly confused. She talked way to fast and was hard to understand what she said. Didn't caught anything she said when I answered the phone, so I didn't got her name. And the last part is what I understood because I couldn't understand that either. I mean if I'm not unemployed what's my occupation when I don't have a job? She didn't even asked the questions I got on the notification letter they sent me.
Overall she was very unhelpful and the reason why I may loose my benefits again. First time was with another phone interview where another lady assumed things that weren't true.

This representative didn't even let me get a word in; he hung up on me without asking if I had any further questions to ask him.

Stated that if I lived with my parents then he assumes that they can be financially responsible for me (WHEN THEY THEMSELVES GOT LAID OFF). So absurd! I'm 26, and struggling to find a full time position. I've applied to over 60 jobs, and only 4 have called to interview me (part time positions). He stated, "we'll isn't a part-time position better than none?" Obviously it is, but not enough to sustain myself with bills and payments/rent.

Then he said "well you can work part time and we could help you with any remaining help you needed." Yeah, well no informed me of this, if that's the case, then OF COURSE I would accept. Then he said "but, you may not qualify now. Someone will contact you in the next followin days because this changed your status." *then hangs up

I've been without a paycheck for 2 months. . . This is ridiculous.

Hello,
I have reached out several times via phone and email and have yet to hear back from the office. I filed a claim back in august 2018 but did not receive benefits. It was not until april 2019 that I re opened my claim and started receiving benefits. However, my benefit year is about to end but I have only claimed 15 of the 26 weeks. I am still actively looking for work but I have not heard back as to what I need to do in order to make sure I don't lose my benefits.

Below is my notice saying that the office has recieved my messages
Date: 07/15/2019
To: DESTINY K BREITKREUTZ

Question Topic: Filed a Claim, No Response
Question: Hi I am reaching out again about #C3122463. I emailed and have called over 20 times and have yet to speak to someone. I messaged on July 7th and have not heard anything back. Please have someone respond to #C31224631inquire

Thank you for submitting a question. Your reference number is #C31305982. You will receive a response in your UI Online Inbox in 5-7 days.

Thank you,

Employment Development Department
State of California

Everytime you call they put you on hold and when they answer the phone they pretend not to hear you then they hang up right away. This guy Jay he said his name was today didnt even want to talk finally told me his name then hung up like an idiot it actually sounded like I was being called back by a wrong number not a state agency how phatetic that these fools have a job.

Unprofessional, late, and rude!

The rep called thirty to fourth minutes late and had the worst attitude like I was the reason for her calling late. Now that we established that I have irritated her with answering my phone, she needs to know who all is in my home. All she wanted to talk about is who is in my home, where are they at. Since she was late I was sitting in front of a welfare case worker. Already they are uncomfortable with how bad she wants to know where my kids are, I already gave her names, sex, and ages. Which the people sitting with me are wondering why am I answering her questions. She asked how do I take care of my children because "she doesn't want me to ever apply again." I told her I have never received before so what is she talking about. She asked where my children went to school since my advisors were uncomfortable they told me to not tell her the correct location. Once a slot opens up at oakland unified school district you are in, so why did she say that she didn't want me to do this because "how will you take care of your children?" immediately they told me not to tell her the exact location because is she cps or unemployment?! So I said I received daycare, really the are at a oakland cdc slot and I was willing to prove the date I got in and had the meeting on grand st, I was just now willing to give that to her. She said you have no daycare so you can't take care of your kids... Again they are in oakland unified school district. If the call was really recorded they can hear me say carl b munck. I corrected her mis-information twice, which later I was advised by someone else that I answered several illegal questions. I know this is true because I have tried to contact the edd several time immediately after the call that day and all I got was an email stating "please give us your contact information and someone will get back to you." that day was december 19th — — today is december 29th. Every time you call, like today at 8:01. "due to call volume we are unable to take your call." I believe she was trained to treat people that way. Once she said I wasn't eligible because I worked this job before and why didn't I claim in between the times this year. She acted as if I didn't give that information and at the end of the call I knew I was disqualified because she said I did wrong. So she left me trying to figure out why did she make me feel fraudulent - I didn't do anything wrong. They will never contact or acknowledge, and i'm pretty sure if they do I bet no one has access to that "recorded call." I was advised that once someone already decided you are not qualified do not answer her personal questions. So I learned if you leave a job and go back, then later for whatever reason you no longer work for them - automatically you are disqualified, because when you were on break with that employer you have to claim unemployment. Even when you didn't need to, you won't be able to when you do need to.

To whom it may concern,

I have been collecting benefits from the EDD and was just recently given another extension in December 2012. I have complied with all rules and regulations asked by the EDD and have not had many problems thus far. I never received my last month’s payment for December in the amount of $450.00. I have also not received claim forms for January.

On January 8th 2013 I received a letter titled “Additional Instructions” asking for information of my last date of work and last employer information. I was given a telephone number and website. I have called the EDD over 3, 000 times over a period of one week. I have had no success contacting EDD. I have also written 12 emails with no response. I drove to a career center that the EDD instructed me go to for a past meeting and they too said that the EDD is not answering phone calls and the best thing I can do is to continue to email daily. Finally, I decided to reapply for benefits as a backup plan. No response.

On January 10th 2013 I received a letter titled “Notification of Unemployment Insurance Benefits Eligibility Interview.” The letter states that I would have a phone interview between 10am and 12pm, Pacific Standard Time on my cell phone [protected], on January 17th 2013. I waited next to my cell phone all day from 7am to 5pm. I never received a phone call, missed call or voicemail. Again, I tried contacting the EDD via phone calls, emails, and career centers. I have had no responses.

I write this letter as a final plea for help. Like many other suffering Californians, I lost my job due to lack of work from the recession. I have paid into this program and have always been a strong believer in the EDD. I have a Bachelor’s degree in Film Production and further training in Clinical Psychology. I continually look for work everyday. I depend on these payments until I can get back on my feet again. With no payments in the last month and a half ($2, 700) I have failed to pay my rent and insurance. I currently am being evicted from my home, and have had phone calls that my car will soon be repossessed.

I have never in my life been late on a payment. I ask for help with this matter. I understand that there are many others in my situation asking for help. I understand that the EDD is understaffed for the amount of “clients” it currently has. All I ask for is past due payments and future claim forms and payments.

Respectfully,

Casey Simon

The california EDD system is flawed and is literally NON FUNCTIONAL. I have not received SEVEN WEEKS of unemployment benefits now, and they have sent me no reason, no notification, no information. When I try to call the 1800 number I am given by the website for payment problems, no one EVER answers.
My life is being disrupted, because of this I cannot pay for school, my phone bill, . or to get my bank account out of debt. The EDD should not be allowed to treat people like this, to ruin their lives and not give any justification or help, just a non functioning 800 number that takes you on a loop of automated menus before hanging up on you for "not being able to accept your call at this time".

It looks like Norcal Authorization Center like Socal does not make things clear to the claimants for unemploymant when we have an error on the form they require us to fill out. So they just send it back expecting us to call them, but for some reason we can never get through when we do call and if we send it back hoping its complete this time, it's in faith since there are of no help to resolve whatever the issue at hand. All of these complaints make no difference in their practice from what I've read over the last several years so once again our state can't get it together, and edd is a joke.

I was accusing with Fraud and charged me $450 for Fraud: When you knowingly give false information or withhold information and receive benefits
I have explained thousand of time that this is a fraud I haven';t worked with Company after a few days I left the company and drive 22 hrs to Denver to look for a perminant position
Please call me [protected]