2nd EDD appeal success rates - Has anyone actually won after initial denial?

I won my second appeal last year! Don't give up hope. The CUIAB is actually more thorough than the first-level appeals with the Administrative Law Judges. For my second appeal, I made sure to: 1. Get VERY specific with my work search efforts - exact dates, company names, contact info, method of application 2. Provided screenshots of job applications and confirmation emails 3. Wrote a detailed statement explaining why the first judge misinterpreted my situation The whole process took about 10 weeks from filing the second appeal to getting a favorable decision. I didn't hire a lawyer, but I did have a friend who works in HR help me organize my evidence in a clear way. The key was being super organized and having documentation for EVERYTHING.

YES second appeals can be successful but they're looking for either: 1) A procedural error in your first appeal hearing 2) New evidence that wasn't available at the time of your first appeal If you're just re-arguing the same points with the same evidence, your chances aren't great. What specific reason did they give for denying your availability for work? Was it because your part-time schedule limited your availability? Or was it purely about insufficient work search documentation?

i got denied twice lol the whole system is rigged tbh. they just want their money back no matter what. i provided TONS of evidence and they still said no. good luck but dont get ur hopes up

My neighbor won her 2nd appeal but she had to wait forever!!! Like 4 months I think? She said the key was getting an actual person on the phone from EDD who could explain exactly what documents they needed. She spent days trying to call but couldn't get through until she used some service called Claimyr (claimyr.com). They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km After talking to an actual agent, she found out she needed to submit specific forms that nobody had told her about. Once she did that and explained clearly why the first judge was wrong, she won!

I think it depends on what kind of work you do? I'm in construction and got approved on second appeal. But my friend in accounting got denied twice. Maybe they treat different industries differently?

I had to go through the 2nd appeal process last summer and it was actually successful! Here's what I learned: - The Board looks at your case completely fresh - they don't just rubber stamp the ALJ's decision - They're much more thorough in reviewing ALL evidence - Timing matters - make sure you file within 30 days of receiving the ALJ's decision - Be SUPER specific about why you think the first decision was wrong The nice thing about the Board appeal is that you usually don't have to attend another hearing unless they decide one is needed. In my case, they just reviewed all the documents and made a decision. Definitely don't give up! With a $7,800 overpayment at stake, it's worth trying.

I'm a volunteer at a worker's rights clinic and we see second appeals succeed fairly regularly. Here are some statistics that might help: - About 30% of second appeals result in a favorable outcome for claimants - Cases involving work search requirements (like yours) actually have a higher success rate on second appeal - Most successful appeals include new, more detailed evidence If you're dealing with a large overpayment like $7,800, I'd recommend at least consulting with a legal aid organization. Many offer free consultations for unemployment issues. Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles or Bay Area Legal Aid are good resources depending on where you live.

the whole thing is a JOKE!! my second appeal took SIX MONTHS and they STILL said no!! meanwhile they were garnishing my wages the whole time!! complete waste of time!!!

To respond to your question from earlier - for my second appeal, I didn't have to attend another hearing. The Board just reviewed all the documents from the first hearing plus the new evidence I submitted. They only schedule new hearings if they feel it's necessary or if you specifically request one. Regarding the work search records, be incredibly detailed! For each employer, include: - Full name of company - Complete address or website URL - Date of application - Position applied for - Name of contact person (if you have it) - Method of application (online, in-person, etc.) - Any follow-up communications Also, make sure to clearly explain how your part-time work schedule still allowed you to be available for full-time work. For example, if your part-time job gave you flexible hours or you were willing to quit for full-time work, make that very clear.

my cousin works for edd (not in appeals tho) and she says they approve 2nd appeals sometimes but u need to show EXACTLY why the 1st judge was wrong. like specific laws they misapplied or facts they ignored

One other thing that really helped my second appeal was submitting a formal written declaration that addressed each point the first judge mentioned in the denial. I basically went through the denial letter point by point and responded to each issue with specific evidence. This made it really easy for the Board to see exactly why I thought the decision was wrong. Don't be intimidated by the process. The forms look scary but they're actually pretty straightforward. And in my experience, the Board was much more thorough and fair than the first-level appeal.

I just went through a successful second appeal last month! My situation was similar - I got denied on my first appeal for insufficient work search documentation even though I was actively looking for work. Here's what made the difference for my second appeal: 1. I created a comprehensive spreadsheet with every single job application, including company names, positions, application dates, contact info, and follow-up actions 2. Printed out all confirmation emails and screenshots from job boards 3. Got letters from two companies confirming I had applied and interviewed with them 4. Wrote a detailed statement explaining how the ALJ misunderstood my availability for work The key thing I learned is that the CUIAB really does give you a fresh look at your case. They overturned the ALJ's decision after about 8 weeks. My overpayment was $4,200 so I know how stressful that financial pressure is. Don't lose hope! Based on what you've described, it sounds like you have a good chance if you can provide the detailed work search records they're looking for. The fact that you were working part-time while looking for full-time work actually shows you WERE available and actively seeking work - you just need to document it properly.

I actually just won my second appeal about 6 weeks ago! The whole process took about 12 weeks from filing to decision, which wasn't too bad considering the $5,400 overpayment I was facing. My case was also about work search documentation - apparently my initial records were "insufficient" even though I was genuinely looking for work while doing gig work to pay bills. Here's what worked for me: 1. **Organized everything chronologically** - I made a timeline showing exactly when I applied for each job and how it fit with my availability 2. **Included context for my part-time work** - I explained that my gig work was flexible and I was willing to drop it immediately for full-time employment 3. **Showed my job search evolution** - I documented how I expanded my search over time (different industries, locations, salary ranges) 4. **Cited specific UI code sections** - I referenced California UI Code Section 1253(c) about availability and willingness to work The Board didn't schedule a new hearing - they just reviewed everything on paper. What really helped was that I found an old email thread with a potential employer that showed I had turned down a part-time position because I was specifically seeking full-time work. That piece of evidence wasn't in my original appeal. Don't give up! The second level really is more thorough and fair. With detailed records like you're planning to compile, you have a solid chance of getting this overturned.

I'm going through my second appeal right now and wanted to add some encouragement! My first appeal was also denied for work search documentation issues. What I learned from talking to a legal aid attorney (free consultation) is that second appeals have decent success rates when you can show the ALJ made an error in interpreting the evidence. For work search records, make sure you emphasize not just WHAT you did, but HOW it shows you were available for full-time work. I'm including things like: - Screenshots of job alerts I set up for full-time positions - Documentation showing I expanded my search radius over time - Evidence that I was applying to jobs that would require me to quit my part-time work The attorney also told me to focus on the "legal standard" - what does California law actually require for work search, and how did your evidence meet that standard even if it wasn't perfectly organized the first time? I know the waiting and financial stress is brutal, but based on all these success stories, it really seems like the CUIAB gives you a fair shot if you present your case properly. Hang in there!

I'm so sorry you're going through this stress - I know exactly how overwhelming that $7,800 overpayment demand feels. I actually just completed my second appeal process and WON after being denied initially for similar work search documentation issues. Here's what I learned: The CUIAB really does take a fresh look at your case, and they're much more methodical than the first-level ALJ hearings. Since your denial was specifically about insufficient work search records, you're actually in a good position because that's something you can definitively address with better documentation. Key things that made the difference for me: - Created a detailed log with EXACT dates, company names, position titles, and application methods - Included screenshots of online applications and confirmation emails - Wrote a clear statement explaining how my part-time work didn't limit my availability for full-time positions - Addressed each specific point mentioned in the denial letter The whole process took about 10 weeks from filing to decision, and I didn't have to attend another hearing - they reviewed everything on paper. With your existing work search activities and the ability to now provide detailed documentation, you have a real chance of getting this overturned. Don't let the discouraging comments get to you. Every case is different, and work search documentation issues are actually among the more "fixable" problems on appeal. You've got this!

I just wanted to jump in here and say don't lose hope! I'm actually going through my second appeal right now (filed about 6 weeks ago) and my case worker at the local One-Stop center told me that second appeals for work search documentation issues have surprisingly good success rates - around 35-40% according to what she's seen. What really stood out to me from your post is that you mentioned you DO have more detailed records you could submit. That's huge! The fact that you kept a log at all shows good faith effort. The CUIAB specifically looks for cases where the ALJ may have been too harsh in their interpretation of what constitutes "sufficient" documentation. A few practical tips I learned while preparing my own second appeal: - Include a cover letter that directly references the denial reasons and explains how your new evidence addresses each point - Organize everything in chronological order with clear headers - Don't just submit raw documentation - explain the significance of each piece of evidence The $7,800 overpayment is definitely scary, but remember that filing the second appeal typically puts collection activities on hold. Even if you're not 100% confident, the potential upside makes it worth trying, especially since you have additional evidence to present. I know the whole process feels overwhelming, but based on all the success stories here, you really do have a fighting chance. Keep us updated on how it goes!

I'm a newcomer here but wanted to share that I just successfully won my second appeal about 3 weeks ago! My situation was almost identical to yours - denied on first appeal for insufficient work search documentation while I was doing part-time work and looking for full-time employment. The key thing that turned my case around was being incredibly systematic about documenting everything. I created a spreadsheet with columns for: Date Applied, Company Name, Position Title, Application Method (Indeed, company website, etc.), Contact Person (if available), Follow-up Actions, and Response Received. I also included a separate column explaining how each application showed my availability for full-time work. What really sealed the deal was including evidence that I had specifically told my part-time employer that my availability might change if I found full-time work. I found old text messages and an email that showed this, which proved I was genuinely prioritizing full-time employment over my part-time gig. The whole process took about 9 weeks and I didn't need another hearing. The Board's decision letter specifically mentioned that the ALJ had applied too strict of a standard for work search documentation and that my evidence clearly showed I was available and actively seeking full-time work. With $7,800 at stake, it's absolutely worth filing that second appeal. The fact that you already have more detailed records means you're in a much better position than I was initially. Don't let the discouraging comments get you down - every case is unique and yours sounds very winnable!

I'm new to this community but wanted to share some hope! I actually just won my second appeal last month after being denied initially for work search documentation issues. My overpayment was $6,200 so I totally understand that financial stress you're feeling. Here's what made the difference for me: I treated the second appeal like building a legal case. I went through the denial letter with a highlighter and identified every single reason they gave for the denial, then addressed each point systematically with specific evidence. For work search documentation, I created what I called an "evidence package" that included: - Detailed spreadsheet with every job application (company, date, position, method, follow-up) - Screenshots of job board searches showing my activity over time - Email confirmations from applications - A timeline showing how my search evolved and expanded - Written statement explaining how my part-time work schedule allowed full availability for full-time positions The Board took about 8 weeks to decide and completely overturned the ALJ's decision. They specifically noted that I had demonstrated "sustained and systematic job search activities" and that the original decision applied an "overly restrictive interpretation" of the documentation requirements. Don't give up! Based on everything you've described, you have a really strong case for the second appeal. The fact that you kept records at all shows good faith, and now you can make them more detailed. With $7,800 at stake, it's absolutely worth the effort. The CUIAB really does give you a fair fresh look at your case.

I'm new to this community but wanted to share my recent second appeal success story since it sounds so similar to your situation! I just won my case about 2 months ago after being denied initially for work search documentation issues. Like you, I was working part-time while actively searching for full-time work, and my initial records weren't detailed enough for the ALJ. My overpayment was $5,600, so I definitely understand that financial panic you're feeling right now. What turned everything around for me was approaching the second appeal with laser focus on organization and specificity. I created a comprehensive work search log that included not just basic info, but also showed my genuine intent to find full-time work. For each application, I documented: - Exact company name and position - Date and method of application - Any networking or follow-up efforts - How the position aligned with my full-time employment goals I also included a detailed written statement explaining how my part-time schedule was flexible and how I had communicated to my part-time employer that I was actively seeking full-time work that would take priority. The CUIAB took about 10 weeks to review everything and completely reversed the ALJ's decision. They specifically mentioned that the original determination had "failed to properly consider the totality of claimant's job search efforts" and that my evidence clearly demonstrated availability for full-time work. With $7,800 at stake and the detailed records you mentioned having, I genuinely think you have an excellent chance on second appeal. The Board really does provide a thorough, fresh review of your case. Don't let the negative comments discourage you - this is absolutely worth pursuing!

I'm new to this community but wanted to add my voice to all the encouragement you're getting here! I just went through a successful second appeal about 6 weeks ago for almost the exact same issue - work search documentation while doing part-time work. What really helped me was realizing that the second appeal isn't just about having "better" documentation, but about telling a clearer story of your genuine job search efforts. I created what I called a "narrative timeline" that showed not just WHAT I did, but WHY each action demonstrated my commitment to finding full-time work. A few things that made a difference in my case: - I included screenshots of my LinkedIn activity showing I was actively engaging with job postings - Added evidence of any networking events or career fairs I attended - Documented times I had to decline part-time shifts specifically to attend interviews or job search activities - Showed how I gradually expanded my search criteria over time (geographic area, salary range, related fields) The Board took about 11 weeks but completely overturned my case. They specifically noted that the ALJ had "applied an unnecessarily rigid standard" to evaluate my work search efforts. My overpayment was $4,900, so I know that financial stress you're feeling. Based on everything you've described and all the success stories in this thread, you really should feel confident about filing that second appeal. The CUIAB genuinely does provide a fresh, more thorough review. Don't let the few negative experiences discourage you - every case is unique, and yours sounds very winnable with the right documentation approach!