The State of California provides financial support to people who are unable to work due to medical reasons, pregnancy, or caring for a sick family member or bonding with a new child. This is administered by the Employment Development Department (EDD) through its Disability Insurance (SDI) and Paid Family Leave (PFL) programs.

The EDD is responsible for the processing and payment of SDI and PFL insurance claims. Claimants can contact the EDD through various channels including the EDD website, mail, and over the phone. The SDI and PFL programs help replace wages lost due to a non-work-related illness, injury, pregnancy, or caring for a seriously ill family member or bonding with a new child. Claimants can complete the claim process online or request a paper claim form.

To contact the EDD, one can use the following general toll-free numbers: English (800) 300-5616, Spanish (800) 326-8937, Cantonese (800) 547-3506, Mandarin (866) 303-0706, Vietnamese (800) 547-2058, TTY (800) 815-9387. The department is operational Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm (PST), excluding state holidays. Customers with hearing or speech impairments can contact the TTY number.

For questions related to SDI, one can call 1-800-480-3287 for automated services, or 1-866-658-8846 for speak directly to an SDI representative. Representatives are available from Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. For PFL concerns, one can call 1-877-238-4373, available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

In addition, new parents can file a claim for PFL benefits for bonding with a new born, adopted, or foster child. Claims must be filed no later than 41 days from the date the family leave begins. The amount of PFL benefits received is approximately 60% to 70% of earnings, depending on the claimant’s income.

To streamline communication, claimants ought to have all their personal and employment details at hand when attempting to contact the EDD. This includes social security number, California driver license number, last employer information, and last date worked and the reason one is no longer working.

For those struggling with how to get a hold of edd customer service, there are various online platforms that offer aid. One such platform is eddcaller.com, which provides numerous tips and tricks on how to get through to EDD faster, avoiding the often lengthy wait times. Additionally, the tips provided range from optimal call times to specific codes that can be entered to fast-track users to a live agent, saving time and ensuring you get the assistance you need.