guys i just got off the phone with edd after using that claimyr thing. they fixed my pending issue in like 10 minutes! cant believe i waited so long to try it

I've been stuck in this limbo since I filed AUGUST 23. It's impossible to get a hold of anyone, even though I've try several times a day, every day. In the meantime my credit has been trashed because I can't pay CC bills and I've had to borrow money to feed my kids. Now my FMLA is up and I have to consider going back to work even though my husband needs care, because I never heard a thing, and I need to survive. This broken process is shameful, and dangerous

I've been through a very similar EDD overpayment hearing for COVID-era benefits and want to echo what everyone else has said - your brother absolutely has grounds to challenge this based on the notice timing alone. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is that he should also prepare a brief statement about his financial situation during 2020 and why he needed the UI benefits. Judges often consider the human impact, especially for COVID cases. Also, if his employer has any records of the closure (like company-wide emails announcing the shutdown due to health orders), those are incredibly powerful pieces of evidence since they prove the decision to stop working wasn't his. The fact that his San Jose office was completely shut down by government mandate puts him in a strong position. I'd also suggest he mention early in the hearing that he's willing to work with EDD on any legitimate overpayment issues but wants to ensure due process is followed. This shows good faith while still asserting his rights. The judges I've encountered really appreciate when people approach these hearings with that kind of cooperative but firm attitude. Hang in there - with all the documentation and preparation advice from this thread, he's going to be well-prepared for Wednesday!

Wow, what a situation! I'm really glad your brother has you advocating for him. I've been reading through all this advice and it's incredible how helpful this community is. One small thing I wanted to add - when your brother calls EDD tomorrow morning about the notice timing, make sure he gets the name and employee ID of whoever he speaks with, plus asks them to document the conversation in his case file. Sometimes having that paper trail of who acknowledged the procedural issue can be helpful if it comes up again later. Also, I know everyone's mentioned staying calm during the hearing, but I wanted to emphasize that if he feels overwhelmed at any point, it's totally okay to ask the judge for a moment to collect his thoughts or refer to his notes. The judges expect people to be nervous and are usually patient about that. Your brother is lucky to have someone like you helping him through this mess. The fact that you're both being so thorough with preparation really shows good faith, and that matters a lot in these hearings. Best of luck on Wednesday - you've got this!

Just wanted to follow up - how did things work out with your transition from UI to SDI? Were you able to submit your claim online?

I'm going through something similar right now - just found out I need shoulder surgery next month and I'm currently on unemployment. This thread has been incredibly helpful! Quick question though - if I know my surgery date in advance (it's scheduled for April 15th), should I wait until after the surgery to file the SDI claim, or can I file it beforehand with the future surgery date? I want to minimize any gap in benefits but also don't want to mess up the timing.

Update: I spoke with my workers' comp attorney again and got more details. The settlement is primarily for permanent disability and future medical costs, not for lost wages during any specific time period. She said I should be fine continuing to certify for UI as long as I'm able to work and looking for work, but I need to report the settlement when I receive it. I'm going to try contacting EDD directly to confirm this information. Thanks everyone for your help!

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - waiting on my WC settlement while on UI. One thing I learned is that you should definitely get the settlement agreement in writing that specifies exactly what each portion covers (permanent disability vs lost wages vs medical). This documentation will be crucial when reporting to EDD. Also, don't wait until you receive the money to contact EDD - call them as soon as you have the settlement details so they can flag your account and avoid any automatic overpayment notices. The earlier you're proactive about it, the smoother the process usually goes.

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this nightmare - EDD's timing and communication issues are absolutely infuriating! The fact that they disqualified you literally ONE DAY after you mailed the documents they requested is just cruel. I went through something similar with my workers' comp claim that transitioned to SDI. Here's what worked for me: Call back and ask to speak with a "disability determination specialist" specifically - not just regular customer service. When you get one, explain the exact timeline: you called on the 14th and 15th, were told to mail docs, sent them priority mail on the 15th, then got disqualified on the 16th. Ask them to put detailed notes in your file about this timeline discrepancy. Also, since you have that priority mail tracking, that's PROOF you sent everything when they told you to. Make sure to give them that tracking number - it shows you acted in good faith and their system failed you, not the other way around. The assembly member route really does work in California. I contacted mine through their website and got a response within 2 days. They have dedicated staff who deal with EDD issues all the time because this stuff happens constantly. Definitely file the appeal as backup, but given that your documents are already in their system and you have proof of when you sent them, there's a good chance this gets resolved without needing the full appeal process. Keep us posted on what happens with the claim specialist review!

I'm really sorry you're going through this - the EDD system seems to have some serious timing issues that hurt people when they're most vulnerable. The fact that they disqualified you just one day after you mailed the documents they specifically requested is absolutely ridiculous. From reading through all the responses here, it sounds like you're getting some really solid advice. The key things that stand out to me are: 1) You have proof you sent everything when they asked (that priority mail tracking), 2) EDD confirmed your documents arrived and are just waiting to be processed, and 3) Multiple people have had success getting these types of administrative errors fixed by speaking with the right people. I'd definitely recommend doing both the phone approach (asking specifically for a disability determination specialist) AND contacting your assembly member's office at the same time. Don't put all your eggs in one basket - use every avenue available since you're dealing with a time-sensitive financial situation. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet - if you end up getting this resolved and receiving back pay, make sure to ask about interest or penalty payments if there were any delays in processing that weren't your fault. California sometimes provides additional compensation when their administrative errors cause financial hardship. Hang in there, and please keep updating us on how this goes. Your situation is unfortunately common enough that other people will probably benefit from hearing how it gets resolved!