EDD PFL interrupted by wrongful termination - how to prepare for appeal hearing?

First, take a deep breath!!! The appeal judge is NOT there to trick you or make it hard. They jsut want to hear the facts. I went thru this exact thing last yr when my company fired me during my pregnancy disability leave. Here's what helped me win: 1. Write down everything that happened with DATES!!!! when you started PFL, when fired, any convos u remember 2. Just answer the questions directly - don't ramble or get emotional (i know its hard!!!) 3. Explain that you have no access to ur email/evidence because they locked u out 4. Focus on your good work history - 8 yrs is a LONG time to suddenly have "performance issues" Also very impt - the judge will likely ask if you received warnings before termination. If u didn't, make that SUPER clear!!! Good luck tommorrow!!!

I won my EDD appeal after being terminated during my baby bonding period. The key is understanding that in California, the burden of proof is on the employer to demonstrate misconduct. This is a specific legal term that means willful disregard for the employer's interests - not just poor performance. Prepare by: 1. Documenting your 8-year history with dates of positive reviews or promotions 2. Noting any awards or recognition you received 3. Explaining clearly that you received no formal warnings prior to termination 4. Detailing the timeline of your PFL claim and when termination occurred relative to it The judge will likely ask for your side of the story first, then question the employer. Remain factual and professional. Since your termination occurred during protected leave, mention that specifically but without making legal conclusions. Good luck with your hearing. The system can work as it should when the facts are presented clearly.

Omg I've been there!!! It's so crazy how these companies think they can get away with this stuff! My company tried to say I "abandoned my position" when I was literally on APPROVED baby bonding leave lol. Like I had the approval email and everything. Don't worry about crying btw, my hearing I totally cried and the judge was actually really nice about it. Just apologized and kept going. They know this is your livelihood!

Just went through this in January! I was denied initially too. The hearing is stressful but not as bad as you think. My advice - don't badmouth your company even if they deserve it! Just state facts and timeline. When I had my hearing, I answered only what was asked and didn't volunteer extra info that might confuse things. Make sure you mention: - You were on approved PFL baby bonding leave - You had no performance issues communicated before leave - You had 8 years of service (that's huge!) And stay calm! I know it's hard with a baby and no money coming in. Judges know the law and know that firing someone during/right after protected leave looks suspicious. Fingers crossed for you!

I ran into a similar nightmare trying to reach EDD about my wrongful termination during maternity leave. I kept calling for WEEKS and couldn't get through. Finally I used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to reach an actual human at EDD and it was a game changer for my appeal prep. They connected me within about 25 mins when I'd been trying for days on my own. The agent walked me through exactly what documents I'd need for the hearing and how to request evidence from my former employer. She even noted in my file that I'd been locked out of my company email so the judge would know I had limited access to evidence. Check out their video demo: https://youtu.be/DOLxZQb92wM?si=6N1iCQ3a8Cdb2Ay5 Might be worth connecting with EDD before your hearing tomorrow just to make sure you're fully prepared!

UPDATE?????? How did it go?????

Regarding the EDD debit card - it doesn't always arrive automatically after a decision reversal. Since you mentioned you're seeing weeks show as paid online but haven't received your card: 1. The card is issued by Bank of America, not directly by EDD 2. If this is your first time receiving benefits, a new card should be automatically issued within 7-10 business days of your first payment posting 3. However, after appeals, sometimes this process needs manual intervention I would recommend calling Bank of America EDD Debit Card customer service directly at 1-866-692-9374 to check on status. You'll need your EDD Customer Account Number and personal information to verify your identity. If they don't show a card in process, then contact EDD to ensure they've properly processed your account for payment distribution. The retroactive payments won't do much good if you can't access them!

So happy for you!!! There's nothing better than that feeling when you finally WIN against a company that tried to screw you over during the most vulnerable time of your life. Enjoy your baby without all that stress hanging over you! 👶💕