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I went through this exact situation about 8 months ago! EDD levied $340 from my account before I won my appeal for a bogus $2,800 overpayment claim. Here's what worked for me: 1. Submit the DE 800 form immediately (as others mentioned) with certified mail 2. Call the Benefit Overpayment Section specifically - don't waste time with general customer service 3. Keep detailed records of every interaction, including names and dates 4. Follow up every 2-3 weeks by phone to check status The whole process took about 11 weeks for me, which was frustrating but I did get every penny back plus a small amount of interest. One thing that helped speed things up was when I mentioned to the rep that I was considering filing a complaint with the California Labor Commissioner - suddenly they became much more responsive. Also, if you haven't already, document any financial hardship the levy caused you (overdraft fees, missed bill payments, etc.). Sometimes they'll reimburse those costs too, though they don't advertise that fact. Stay persistent - you WILL get your money back!
This is incredibly helpful, thank you! I love that you got interest on top of your refund - I had no idea that was even possible. The tip about mentioning the California Labor Commissioner is brilliant too. It's amazing how mentioning potential complaints suddenly makes government agencies more responsive. I'm definitely going to keep detailed records of everything like you suggested. Did you have to provide specific documentation for the financial hardship reimbursement, or was it pretty straightforward once you mentioned the overdraft fees? This gives me a lot of hope that persistence really does pay off with these cases!
I'm going through something similar right now - EDD levied $450 from my account last month for an alleged overpayment, and my appeal hearing is coming up in two weeks. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly eye-opening about what to expect if I win. One question I have for those who successfully got refunds: did any of you have to deal with EDD trying to claim they couldn't locate your appeal decision in their system? I'm worried about that scenario since so many people mentioned communication issues between different EDD departments. I'm planning to get multiple certified copies of whatever decision comes out of my hearing just in case. Also, has anyone tried submitting the DE 800 form electronically through their online system, or is mail the only reliable way? I know everyone's emphasizing certified mail, but I'm curious if the online option might be faster for tracking purposes. Thanks to everyone sharing their experiences - it's reassuring to know that persistence eventually pays off, even though the process sounds like a nightmare. I'll definitely be following the advice about calling right at 8 AM and asking specifically for the Benefit Overpayment Section if I win my appeal.
Great question about the online DE 800 submission! I actually tried both methods when I was dealing with my refund situation. The online system kept giving me error messages when I tried to upload my appeal decision documents, so I ended up having to mail everything anyway. Stick with certified mail - it's more reliable and gives you that paper trail everyone keeps mentioning. As for EDD claiming they can't find your appeal decision, YES that absolutely happens! I'd definitely get multiple certified copies like you're planning. When I called to follow up, the first rep told me they had no record of my appeal even though it was decided weeks earlier. I had to fax them a copy of the decision and then call back the next day to confirm they received it. It's frustrating but totally normal with their system. Your strategy of being prepared with multiple copies is spot on!
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Hi Keisha! I'm new to this community but unfortunately dealing with a very similar situation - my employer also falsely claimed misconduct when I was clearly laid off due to budget constraints. Reading through this entire thread has been incredibly helpful! I was also terrified about the hearing process, but everyone's experiences here make it sound much more manageable than I expected. The fact that it's usually just a phone call with an informal conversation rather than a formal courtroom setting is really reassuring. One thing that's helped me prepare is organizing all my documentation into a simple folder - emails about budget cuts, any termination paperwork, performance reviews, etc. Having everything in one place makes me feel more prepared and less anxious about the process. From what I've learned here, your case sounds really strong. You have documentation of budget cuts, you filed your appeal promptly, and you know the truth about what happened. Misconduct has a very specific legal definition, and budget-related layoffs absolutely don't qualify. The anxiety is definitely the hardest part, but this community has shown me that when people have the truth and documentation on their side like you do, the appeals process really does work. You've got this! Keep us updated on how it goes.
Welcome to the community, Angelica! It's unfortunate that so many of us are dealing with these false misconduct claims, but it's really helpful to have this supportive group sharing experiences and advice. Your tip about organizing all documentation into one folder is excellent! I've been gathering my emails and paperwork but hadn't thought about putting it all in one organized place. That will definitely help me feel more prepared and less scattered during the hearing. It's so encouraging to hear from multiple people that the appeals process actually works when you have documentation and the truth on your side. Reading everyone's success stories in this thread has really helped calm my anxiety about the whole situation. Thanks for the reassurance about my case being strong - I'm trying to stay positive and focus on preparing thoroughly rather than worrying about things I can't control. This community has been such a lifeline during this stressful time!
Hi Keisha! I'm new to this community but unfortunately going through a similar situation. My employer also falsely claimed misconduct when I was actually laid off due to company-wide budget cuts - it's incredibly frustrating when they try to avoid paying unemployment benefits this way! Reading through this entire discussion has been so helpful and reassuring. I was also terrified about the hearing process, but everyone's experiences here show that it's much more manageable than I initially thought. The phone format and informal nature of the hearings sounds way less intimidating than a formal courtroom setting. From everything shared here, your case sounds really strong. You have documentation of budget cuts, you filed your appeal quickly, and most importantly - you have the truth on your side. Multiple people in this thread have mentioned that misconduct has a very specific legal definition, and budget-related layoffs absolutely don't meet that standard. One thing that's helped me prepare is writing out a simple timeline of events with key dates - when budget issues started being discussed at the company, when layoffs began, when I was terminated, etc. Having that structure ready makes me feel more organized and confident about explaining my situation clearly. The anxiety is definitely the worst part of this whole process, but this community has shown me that the appeals process really does work when people have documentation and truth like you do. You're not alone in this - we're all rooting for you! Please keep us updated on how everything goes.
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Glad everything worked out for you! This is such a helpful thread - I'm currently waiting for my first payment to be authorized and was getting anxious about the timeline. Seeing that it typically takes 2-3 business days from authorization to deposit really puts my mind at ease. I'll definitely bookmark this for reference when mine hopefully gets authorized soon. Thanks to everyone who shared their real experiences instead of just speculation!
This thread has been so helpful for me too! I just started my claim process last week and was feeling overwhelmed by all the different timelines I was reading about online. It's really reassuring to see actual experiences from people who've gone through this recently. The fact that most people are getting their payments within 2-3 business days after authorization gives me hope that the system isn't as broken as some of the horror stories make it seem. Fingers crossed my certification gets processed soon!
This whole thread is exactly what I needed to see! I'm in week 3 of waiting for my initial claim to be processed and have been so stressed about the timeline. Reading everyone's real experiences - especially that most people get their money within 2-3 business days after authorization - is incredibly reassuring. The EDD website doesn't give clear timelines so having actual community experiences is invaluable. I'm bookmarking this thread for when (hopefully!) my payment gets authorized. Thanks to everyone for sharing their stories instead of just doom and gloom - it really helps us newcomers know what's normal!
I'm so glad this thread is helping you too! I was in the exact same boat - waiting for weeks for my initial claim to process and getting really anxious about all the unknowns. What really helped me was focusing on the fact that most people eventually get their payments, even if the initial processing takes forever. Once you get past that first hurdle of approval, the actual payment timing seems pretty consistent based on everyone's experiences here. Hang in there - week 3 is tough but you're getting closer! Definitely save this thread for reference when your authorization comes through.
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Just wanted to add another data point for anyone searching this issue in the future! I've been on unemployment for about 8 months now and have gone through several holiday delays. Here's what I've learned: Columbus Day, Veterans Day, and Presidents Day seem to cause the longest delays (sometimes pushing deposits to Wednesday), while Memorial Day and Labor Day usually only delay by one day. The key thing is not to panic when you see "paid" status but no deposit - I've NEVER had a payment not come through eventually when it shows paid in UI Online. One more tip: if you're really stressed about timing, you can call your bank's automated line to check for pending deposits. Sometimes the money is there but just hasn't been released to your available balance yet. Hope this helps calm some nerves for people dealing with their first holiday delay!
This is so helpful, thank you for breaking down which holidays cause longer delays! I'm dealing with my first holiday delay right now and had no idea some holidays were worse than others for payment timing. The tip about calling the bank's automated line to check for pending deposits is genius - I never thought to do that. It would definitely help with the anxiety of constantly refreshing the app. Really appreciate you sharing 8 months worth of experience, it's so reassuring to hear that payments always come through eventually when the status shows paid. This community has been incredible for helping me understand how this whole system works!
I'm so glad I found this thread! I'm going through the exact same thing right now - certified on Sunday, payment shows 'paid' since Monday, but still no deposit on my EDD debit card as of Thursday morning. I was getting really worried that something went wrong with my claim, but reading everyone's experiences with holiday delays has been such a relief. The explanation about EDD's system vs the ACH banking system really helped me understand what's happening behind the scenes. I had no idea that federal holidays could push deposits back this far! Definitely going to start certifying right at midnight next time and bookmark that Federal Reserve holiday calendar. It's so stressful when you're depending on that money for bills, but this community is amazing for helping newcomers like me figure out how everything works. Fingers crossed my deposit shows up later today!
Grace Lee
Another option to consider - if you're still having trouble reaching EDD by phone, you can also contact your local state assemblymember or senator's office. Most of them have constituent services that can help with EDD issues, and they often have direct lines to EDD that bypass the regular phone system. I had to do this when I was stuck in a similar situation last year. They can't guarantee a specific outcome, but they can often get EDD to actually respond and send you the paperwork you need. Just search "[your city] assemblymember" and look for their constituent services contact info. It's a free service and sometimes works faster than trying to get through the main EDD phone lines. Worth trying while you're also sending your written appeal.
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Mila Walker
•This is really good advice about contacting your assemblymember's office! I didn't know they could help with EDD issues. Just curious - when you contacted them, did you need to provide any specific documentation or just explain your situation? And how long did it typically take for them to get a response from EDD? I'm wondering if this might be faster than waiting on hold for hours trying to get through the regular phone system.
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Jade Lopez
•@Grace Lee When I contacted my assemblymember s'office, I just had to fill out a simple intake form on their website with my basic info name, (address, phone and) a brief description of the EDD issue. I didn t'need any special documentation - they actually helped me figure out what I was missing! They got back to EDD within about 3-4 business days, which was way faster than any other method I tried. The constituent services staff are used to dealing with EDD problems, so they know exactly who to contact there. Definitely worth trying alongside the written appeal - gives you multiple ways to get this resolved quickly.
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Anastasia Fedorov
I went through this exact same nightmare about 6 months ago! The key thing that saved me was sending BOTH a written appeal AND calling every single day until I got through. Here's what worked for me: 1. Send your written appeal to the Sacramento address (P.O. Box 826880, Sacramento, CA 94280-0001) via certified mail so you have proof they received it 2. In your appeal letter, be super clear that you were only notified verbally and NEVER received any written determination 3. Keep calling EDD every morning at 8:01 AM sharp - don't give up after a few tries, literally call back-to-back for hours if needed The thing is, even though you never got the notice, the 30-day appeal clock probably started when they mailed it (or tried to mail it). So time is really critical here. I also discovered that if you can get through to a Tier 2 specialist (not just the first person who answers), they can sometimes expedite getting your determination notice resent or even help process your appeal over the phone. One more tip - when you do get someone on the line, immediately ask for their name and employee ID number and write down the exact time of your call. This documentation saved my butt when there were discrepancies later. Don't let them rush you off the phone without getting concrete next steps and timeframes!
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Yara Khalil
•This is such comprehensive advice - thank you for laying out the step-by-step process! The certified mail tip is brilliant, I hadn't thought about needing proof of delivery. Quick question about getting to a Tier 2 specialist - is there a specific way to request one, or do you just have to ask the first person who answers to transfer you? I'm worried about getting stuck with someone who can't actually help and then having to start the whole calling process over again. Also, when you say call "back-to-back for hours," do you mean literally hanging up and redialing immediately, or waiting a few minutes between attempts?
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Freya Pedersen
•@Anastasia Fedorov To get to a Tier 2 specialist, you usually need to explain that your issue is complex or involves an appeal deadline - the first rep should be able to transfer you if they can t'resolve it themselves. Don t'be afraid to be persistent and say I "need to speak with someone who can help with appeal deadlines if" the first person seems unsure. For the calling strategy, I literally hang up and redial immediately - waiting just wastes time when you re'competing with thousands of other people trying to get through. The phone system resets each call, so there s'no penalty for rapid redialing. I d'set aside a full morning and just keep hitting redial while doing other tasks. Also make sure you re'calling the main UI number 1-800-300-5616 (not) the appeals number initially - you ll'have better luck getting through to someone who can help with the determination notice issue.
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