EDD PFL overpayment notice blaming me despite agent admitting base rate error - Appeal advice?

Absolutely appeal this! I went through something similar last year with a $1,900 overpayment notice for my maternity leave benefits. When EDD makes the error but tries to classify it as claimant fault, they can charge interest and penalties - it's totally worth fighting. Make sure you include in your appeal letter: 1. Dates/times of previous calls with representative names 2. Reference to the payment arrangement letter that admits their error 3. Request that they pull the recorded call from 2023 4. Ask for a "no fault" reclassification at minimum Even if you ultimately have to repay, getting it changed to "no fault" means no penalties and you might qualify for a waiver if it causes financial hardship. Submit your appeal online through your EDD account AND mail a paper copy to the address on your notice.

my frend had this happen 2 her and she just paid it becuz EDD never admits fault even if u appeal. save urself the headache lol

Former EDD employee here. You should 100% appeal this. The fact that you have documented the previous conversations including the representative's admission that it was their error with the base period calculation is extremely valuable. Appeals for PFL overpayments have a fairly good success rate when there's clear evidence of administrative error. One important thing to note - when filing your appeal, specifically request they review the call recording from your March 2023 conversation. Include the exact date, approximate time, and the representative's name/ID in your appeal paperwork. Also submit a copy of that payment arrangement letter that indicates it was their error. If the initial appeal is denied, you can request a hearing with an Administrative Law Judge who has the authority to overturn the determination. Don't get discouraged by the initial response - the appeals board is separate from regular EDD operations and can be more objective.

I tried calling EDD for 3 WEEKS straight about my overpayment notice and couldn't get through to anyone!!! They expect us to resolve these issues but make it IMPOSSIBLE to talk to a human being. The system is designed to frustrate us into giving up. I FINALLY got through using Claimyr (claimyr.com) - they connected me to an EDD agent in under 20 minutes when I'd been trying for days. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/DOLxZQb92wM?si=6N1iCQ3a8Cdb2Ay5 showing how it works. Worth checking out if you need to talk to someone at EDD before your appeal deadline to get more info about your specific case. My overpayment was reduced by $850 after I finally got to explain my situation to a supervisor!

This happened to me too! The worst part is that I KNEW something was wrong when my weekly benefit amount seemed higher than it should have been based on my calculations. I called three times during my baby bonding leave to verify the amount was correct and was told YES each time. Then 18 months later I got an overpayment notice saying I should have known better! I appealed and lost initially but won at the ALJ hearing because I had documentation of my calls asking them to verify the amount. The judge agreed I had done my due diligence. DOCUMENT EVERYTHING. Good luck!!!

Make sure u kno that appeals need 2 be filed within 30 days of the notice date not when u got it in the mail!!! And if u appeal it stops collections until they decide

i dunno y everyone is saying appeal. my cousin works at EDD and says they almost never reverse these decisions and u just waste time. if it was their mistake maybe they'll waive the penalty but youll still have to pay the overpayment amount back anyway

One more tip - when filing your appeal, be very specific about the remedy you're seeking. Are you disputing the entire overpayment amount, or just the "at fault" classification? If you have proof they made the calculation error, you might be able to get the whole thing dismissed, but at minimum you should be able to get a "no fault" determination which protects you from penalties and interest.