Just wanted to add that when you file your late appeal, make sure to be very specific about your family emergency and how it prevented you from responding within 30 days. The more detailed documentation you can provide (medical records, death certificates, etc.), the better your chances. Also, don't forget to request a wage investigation at the same time - if your employer did misreport your wages, EDD needs to correct their records regardless of which route you take. You can submit your paystubs directly through the EDD website or bring them to your local EDD office. One more tip: keep copies of EVERYTHING you submit. EDD has been known to lose paperwork, so having duplicates saved you a lot of headaches if you need to resubmit later.

I went through something very similar last year! I was denied in December 2023 for insufficient earnings and didn't appeal until March 2024 due to dealing with my mom's cancer treatment. EDD actually accepted my late appeal after I submitted the DE 1000M form with hospital records and a detailed explanation. A few things that really helped my case: 1) I was very specific about how the family crisis prevented me from handling the appeal (couldn't focus, was at hospital daily, etc.), 2) I included actual documentation (medical records, bills), and 3) I had my paystubs organized to clearly show the wage discrepancy. The hearing officer told me that family medical emergencies are one of the most commonly accepted "good cause" reasons, especially when you have documentation. The whole process took about 2 months from filing the late appeal to getting my benefits, but it was worth it - I ended up getting retroactive payments back to my original claim date. Don't give up! Five months isn't that long in EDD terms, and having your paystubs as proof of the wage error gives you a really strong case. Make sure to emphasize both the family emergency AND the employer's wage reporting mistake in your appeal.

I'm dealing with the same exact issue right now! Been waiting 3+ hours for my callback and starting to lose hope. Reading through all these responses is both comforting (knowing I'm not alone) and terrifying (realizing how broken this system really is). @Charlie Yang your comprehensive list is incredibly helpful - I'm screenshot-ing that for reference! And @CosmicCommander, I'm definitely going to try the multi-channel approach while I wait. One thing I'm wondering - has anyone had success calling first thing Monday morning? I know @Sophia Rodriguez mentioned avoiding Mondays, but I'm thinking maybe right at 8 AM before everyone else starts calling? At this point I'm willing to try anything. The fact that we're all sharing survival strategies for dealing with our own state's unemployment office is just... wow. But grateful for this community keeping each other sane through this nightmare! 🤝

This thread is so helpful and depressing at the same time! 😭 I'm currently on hour 6 of waiting for my callback and honestly starting to wonder if I should just give up for today and try again tomorrow. Reading everyone's experiences, it sounds like the 2+ hour wait you mentioned @876094894ea6 is actually pretty optimistic! Some of y'all have been waiting WAY longer. The inconsistency is what gets me - how can a government system be THIS unreliable? I'm definitely going to try some of the strategies mentioned here. @Charlie Yang your 7-point list is going straight into my notes, and @CosmicCommander I'm opening up the UI Online portal right now to send a message there too while I wait. Has anyone tried calling the main EDD number and just pressing different menu options to see if you can get routed to a less busy department? I'm desperate enough to try anything at this point! 🤞 Stay strong everyone - at least we're all suffering through this together! 💪

I'm going through something similar right now! One thing I learned is to document EVERYTHING - dates you called, who you spoke with, reference numbers, etc. I started keeping a spreadsheet because the reps sometimes give conflicting info. Also, if they determine you do owe money, don't ignore it even if you can't pay right away. They can garnish wages and tax refunds, so it's better to work out a payment plan. The whole process is super stressful but you'll get through it! 🤗

I just went through this exact situation a few months ago! The most important thing is to stay organized and persistent. When you call SDI, have your case number, Social Security number, and the overpayment notice in front of you. If you can't get through on the phone (which is super common), try sending a written appeal or inquiry by mail - sometimes that gets better results. Also, don't be afraid to ask for a supervisor if the first person you talk to isn't helpful. The whole process is frustrating but definitely manageable if you stay on top of it. You've got this! 💪

Just to give you some hope - I won my appeal after waiting about 8 weeks for the hearing. Once the decision was made in my favor, I received all my backpay for the weeks I had been certifying during the wait within 3 business days. It was a huge relief. The judge was very fair and listened carefully to my explanation. As long as you have documentation and tell the truth, you have a good chance, especially for work search related disqualifications which are often misunderstandings.

I'm currently waiting for my appeal hearing date too - filed my appeal about 6 weeks ago and got the acknowledgment letter 3 weeks ago. From what I've learned talking to others who've been through this, the wait times are all over the place right now. Some people get their hearing scheduled within a month, others wait 3+ months. It really depends on which office is handling your case and their current backlog. A few things that have helped me while waiting: I set up a dedicated folder for all EDD paperwork, I'm keeping a detailed log of everything (dates, phone calls, letters received), and I found a local legal aid clinic that offers free consultations for unemployment appeals. Even if you don't need a lawyer, they can review your case and give you tips on what evidence to focus on. The hardest part is the financial stress while waiting. I've had to get creative with side income - selling stuff I don't need, doing odd jobs for neighbors, etc. But everyone I've talked to who had legitimate cases and good documentation ended up winning their appeals. Hang in there!

Good luck with your application! Based on everything shared here, it sounds like you should definitely qualify. I was in a very similar situation last year - worked about 6 months after my benefits ended, got laid off, and was worried I hadn't worked long enough. Turned out I qualified just fine and my new claim processed within about a week of filing online. One thing that helped me was keeping all my pay stubs from the new job, just in case EDD needed proof of wages. Also, when you file online, make sure to answer all the questions about your previous claim accurately - the system will cross-reference everything automatically. Hope it goes smoothly for you! The quarterly wage system is definitely confusing but it sounds like you've got solid advice from everyone here.

I'm in almost the exact same situation! Just got laid off after working for about 4 months since my last UI claim ended. Reading through all these responses is really helpful - I was so confused about the quarterly requirements too. @Lucy Taylor - definitely apply online like everyone's saying. I've been putting it off because I wasn't sure if I'd qualify, but it sounds like if you were making decent wages during 2024, you should be fine. The worst they can do is say no, right? Also wanted to add - make sure you have your Social Security card and ID ready when you apply online. I remember from my last claim that the system asks for those right away. Good luck with your application!