On Wednesday, April 18, 2012, I got through to EDD CA using one of the tricks I found online.
Here are the steps I took. I hope they work for you like they did for me:
Call EDD on their Vietnamese line at (800) 547-2058.
As soon as you here ANY WORDS spoken (you would normally hear "Welcome to the Employment Development Department...") DIAL "1 - 2 - 1 - 1 - 7".
Wait for the message to finish in Vietnamese. Next, you will hopefully hear it switch to their "on-hold" music and someone will pick up soon. The person I talked to answered in English and was very helpful in getting me the answers I needed.
If this process worked for you too, please post a comment about what happened hereor the button below.
The latest message from EDD CA says, "The US Department of Labor has determined that California no longer meets the threshold to file and pay Fed-Ed extension benefits for weeks of Unemployment after May 12, 2012. If you are currently collecting benefits on a Fed-Ed extension, you may be eligible for those benefits for weeks of Unemployment prior to May 12, 2012, but not for weeks of Unemployment that end after May 12, 2012.
Even if you are still unemployed or have a balance remaining on your Fed-Ed extension. Notices will be mailed to all unemployed individuals currently collecting Fed-Ed benefits. The end of the Fed-Ed extension program does not mean the end of extended benefits. The first four tiers of Federal extension benefits can continue to be filed until the deadline date of December 23, 2012.
If you are currently running out of benefits on your regular UI claim or one of the extensions, and you have additional extended benefits available, the department will automatically file the next appropriate extension claim for you. You will receive a notice along with the first 2-week continued claim form to complete and return to receive your payments. For a breakdown of the filing deadlines from Federal extension benefits and a potential total maximum weeks of Unemployment benefits available in California, please visit the EDD website at www.edd.ca.gov. "
