I went through the appeals process about 6 months ago and won my case! Similar to your situation, my employer claimed I voluntarily quit when they actually forced me out by making unreasonable schedule changes and cutting my hours drastically. Here's my experience and advice: **Preparation was key:** I spent hours organizing all my documentation - pay stubs, emails, text messages, anything that showed the timeline of what happened. Having everything organized chronologically made a huge difference during the hearing. **The hearing itself:** It was conducted over the phone and lasted about 40 minutes. The Administrative Law Judge was fair and asked detailed questions to both sides. My former employer's HR representative tried to stick to their story, but when the judge asked for specifics, they couldn't provide documentation to back up their claims. **What worked in my favor:** - Clear documentation showing the change in working conditions - Evidence that I tried to work with the situation before leaving - Staying factual and professional throughout the hearing - Explaining how a reasonable person would have responded in my situation For your case specifically, the reduction from 40 hours to 12 hours is a slam dunk for constructive discharge. Make sure to emphasize the financial impossibility of surviving on 70% less income. If you have any evidence showing you tried to make it work or asked for more hours, that's golden. You don't necessarily need a lawyer for this type of case if you have good documentation and can present your story clearly. I represented myself and it worked out fine. The whole process from hearing to decision took about 3 weeks. Hang in there - you've got a strong case!

I went through the EDD appeals process in December and won my case! I was in almost the exact same situation - employer claimed I quit when they actually cut my hours from 35 to 8 per week. Here's what really helped me prepare: **Documentation is everything:** I gathered pay stubs showing the hour reduction, screenshots of my work schedule changes, and text messages where I asked my supervisor about getting more hours. The judge specifically asked about my attempts to address the situation with my employer first. **Practice your timeline:** I wrote out a simple chronology - when I was hired, what my original hours were, when they got cut, what I did to try to fix it, and when I finally had to leave. Having this clear narrative really helped during the hearing. **The hearing itself:** It was less intimidating than I expected. The judge asked me to explain what happened, then asked my employer questions. When they claimed the hour reduction was "temporary," the judge asked them to specify how long and what the plan was to restore hours. They couldn't give a clear answer, which really helped my case. Your situation with 40 hours dropping to 12 is even more dramatic than mine was. That's a 70% reduction in income - no reasonable person could be expected to survive on that. Make sure to emphasize the financial impact and that you tried to work with them before leaving. The whole process took about a month from hearing to decision, but getting that approval letter made all the stress worth it. You've got a strong case - stay organized and confident!

I just want to say CONGRATS on the new job!!! The relief of getting off unemployment is HUGE. I remember when I finally found work after 8 months on UI back in 2023, it was like a weight lifted off my shoulders. Even though my benefits were helping, the constant stress of certifications and worrying about mistakes was awful. Having a steady paycheck again is the BEST feeling!

Congrats on the new job! Just wanted to add - if you end up in a situation where you need to reactivate your claim later (hopefully not!), make sure you know exactly when your benefit year expires. I made the mistake of waiting too long to file a new claim after my benefit year ended, thinking I could just restart the old one. Had to go through the whole application process again. Your benefit year date should be visible in your UI Online account if you ever need to check it.

Quick question - has anyone had luck getting their interview moved up? I'm in a similar sitch and really need to get this sorted ASAP.

Hey @Anastasia Kuznetsov! I just went through this process a few weeks ago. For rescheduling, you can try calling the number on your letter - sometimes they have cancellations and can move you up, but it's hit or miss. As for prep, definitely have these ready: • Your termination paperwork or resignation letter • Last few pay stubs • Any documentation about severance/final pay • List of job applications you've submitted (with dates and company names) • Bank statements if you have any side income They asked me about why I left my job, if I was available to work, and what steps I'm taking to find employment. The interviewer was actually pretty nice - not as scary as I expected! Just be honest and don't overthink it. You've got this! 💪

Just wanted to update everyone - I successfully got switched to paper checks! I followed @Sophia Nguyen's advice exactly: downloaded the DE 5113 form, filled it out completely, and both mailed AND faxed it to EDD. I also wrote "PAPER CHECK REQUEST" in big letters at the top like @Andre Laurent suggested. Called 3 business days later and got through to a rep who confirmed they received both copies and processed my request immediately. My first paper check arrived exactly 8 days after certification - right in the middle of the 7-10 day window they quoted. For anyone else considering this route: yes, it takes longer than the card, but the peace of mind is totally worth it. No frozen accounts, no activation issues, no transfer fees - just a reliable check in my mailbox that I can deposit at my own bank. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and practical tips. This community is incredibly helpful! 🙏

I'm going through the exact same situation right now! Just filed my claim last week and was shocked that there's no obvious way to select paper checks in the UI Online portal. After reading through all these responses, I'm convinced that submitting the DE 5113 form is the way to go. One question for those who've successfully made the switch: how long after submitting the form did it take before EDD confirmed the change was processed? I'm worried about timing this right so my first payment doesn't get stuck in limbo between the card system and paper check system. Also, has anyone had success requesting paper checks if you already have an old Money Network card from a previous claim? I'm wondering if having that card on file makes the process more complicated. Thanks for all the detailed advice in this thread - you've all saved me hours of frustration trying to figure this out on my own!

I went through this exact situation about 6 months ago and totally understand your stress! The good news is that second-level appeals to CUIAB have a pretty low success rate for employers, especially when the ALJ made strong factual findings like yours did. The board is really just looking for legal errors in how the judge applied unemployment law, not re-evaluating whether they like the employer's story better. The phrase "inconsistent and unpersuasive" is actually really powerful language that shows the judge carefully evaluated credibility - that's exactly the kind of factual determination the board rarely overturns. My employer also appealed after I won my initial hearing (they claimed "misconduct" with zero documentation), and the board upheld my case after about 10 weeks. Definitely keep certifying every two weeks - that's what you're supposed to do during the appeal process. I was worried about overpayment too, but even in the unlikely event the decision gets reversed, you can request a hardship waiver. Most of these second appeals are honestly just employers trying to avoid higher UI tax rates rather than having real legal merit. You've already cleared the biggest hurdle by winning the first hearing with such strong language from the judge. The waiting is brutal, but try to stay focused on job searching and remember that the statistics are very much in your favor. You've got this!

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this additional stress after already winning your first appeal! I went through something very similar about a year ago when my employer appealed to CUIAB after I won my initial hearing. The anxiety is absolutely brutal, but I want to share what I learned that might help ease your mind a bit. The CUIAB board has a much higher standard for overturning ALJ decisions - they're specifically looking for legal errors in how unemployment law was applied, not just disagreeing with the outcome. The fact that your judge used such strong language calling their evidence "inconsistent and unpersuasive" is actually a really good sign. That's the kind of credibility finding that carries serious weight with the board. In my case, the employer claimed I was terminated for "performance issues" but had zero documentation to back it up (sound familiar?). The board upheld the ALJ decision after about 11 weeks, basically saying the judge properly evaluated the evidence and applied the law correctly. Definitely keep certifying and collecting benefits during this process - that's exactly what you're supposed to do. I was terrified about potential overpayment too, but my case worker assured me that's the correct procedure. Even in the unlikely event something gets reversed, hardship waivers are available. Most of these second appeals are honestly just employers trying to avoid higher UI tax rates rather than having real legal grounds. You've already won the hardest battle - try to stay focused on your husband's job search and remember that the odds are very much in your favor. Hang in there!