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Yes I won the appeal but it took 11 weeks to get a hearing date and then another 3 weeks to get the judge's decision. The whole time I wasn't receiving any benefits. It was a nightmare. Just make sure you document EVERYTHING.
I went through something very similar last year! My advice: when you certify, definitely select "voluntarily quit" but use the explanation box to write something like "Quit retail job on [date] to accept office position with [company name]. New employer delayed start date from [original date] to January 15, 2025 due to budget constraints." The key is being upfront about everything. EDD will likely schedule an eligibility interview, but having documentation of your job offer and the delay notice will work in your favor. I had my interview about 3 weeks after my first certification and was approved because I could prove I quit for legitimate employment that fell through due to circumstances beyond my control. One tip: start your job search now and keep records of where you apply. EDD likes to see you're actively looking for work during the gap. Good luck!
Thank you all for the detailed information! I'm going to call EDD tomorrow to confirm all of this and make sure I understand the process correctly. Sounds like I need to: 1. Continue UI until the baby arrives 2. Apply for PFL once the baby is born using the DE 2501F form 3. Be prepared with birth documentation 4. Understand that my UI claim timeline doesn't extend 5. Plan for a possible gap when transitioning back to UI after PFL ends It's definitely more complicated than I expected, but I'm grateful to know that the option exists.
Good luck getting through to EDD by phone! If you spend hours calling with no success, definitely check out the Claimyr option I mentioned. Worth every penny when you're dealing with time-sensitive benefit transitions like this.
Just wanted to add one more thing that might be helpful - when you do apply for PFL, make sure to keep copies of everything you submit. I've seen cases where EDD "loses" documentation and people have to resubmit, which can delay payments. Also, if your wife has complications during delivery or needs extended recovery time, you might be able to get additional PFL weeks beyond the standard bonding period. The maximum is usually 8 weeks for bonding, but medical care for a family member can extend that. Document everything and don't be afraid to ask questions when you call. Congrats on the upcoming baby!
I'm going through something similar right now - filed my appeal about 3 weeks ago and still waiting. Reading everyone's timelines here is both helpful and nerve-wracking! It sounds like 4-11 weeks is pretty typical which is a huge range. I've been keeping track of my certification weeks like others suggested, and I'm also documenting everything just in case. The financial stress is real - I had to ask family for help with groceries last week. Has anyone tried contacting their local assembly member's office for help? I heard they sometimes have constituent services that can help with EDD issues, but not sure if it actually speeds things up or just gives you better info on status.
I actually did contact my assembly member's office when I was stuck in EDD limbo for months last year! Their constituent services team was surprisingly helpful - they can't speed up the appeals process itself, but they can often get more detailed status updates than what you'd get from calling EDD directly. They also helped me understand exactly what stage my case was at and what to expect next. It took about a week for them to get back to me with information, but it was way more useful than the generic responses from EDD phone reps. Definitely worth trying if you're feeling stuck - just go to your assembly member's website and look for "constituent services" or "help with state agencies." Hope things move faster for both of us! The financial stress is absolutely brutal during this waiting period.
I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - got disqualified 3 weeks ago and filed my appeal immediately. The waiting is absolutely killing me financially. Based on what everyone's shared here, it sounds like I need to brace myself for at least another month or two before seeing any resolution. I've been certifying every two weeks like suggested, but I'm worried about my rent situation too. Has anyone had success with getting expedited processing for appeals due to financial hardship? I know EDD has some provisions for urgent cases but not sure if that applies to appeals. Also wondering if there's a way to check the status of your appeal online or if you have to call every time? The uncertainty is almost worse than the financial stress at this point.
I don't think there's an expedited process for appeals due to financial hardship unfortunately - the appeals board operates independently from EDD and has to follow their standard procedures. For checking status online, there isn't really a way to track appeal progress through UI Online. You basically have to call, but based on what others shared here about Claimyr or contacting assembly member offices, those might be better options than trying to get through EDD's regular phone lines. I'm in week 4 of waiting for my appeal hearing to be scheduled and the uncertainty is definitely the worst part. At least knowing it typically takes 4-8 weeks total gives us some kind of timeline to plan around, even though every case is different.
So frustrating that you had to jump through hoops just to get a basic explanation! I'm in a similar boat - got laid off from my marketing job two weeks ago and my benefit amount seems way too low compared to what I was making. Reading through all these comments, it sounds like the base period calculation is probably the culprit for me too. I had a few months of lower earnings last year when I switched jobs. Really wish EDD would make this process more transparent instead of forcing people to spend days trying to reach someone just to understand how their own benefits were calculated. Thanks for sharing your update though - gives me hope I can eventually get through too!
I totally agree - the whole system is so unnecessarily opaque! I just went through this same runaround and it's ridiculous that we have to become detectives just to understand our own benefits. The base period thing really catches people off guard because it's not intuitive at all. When you do finally get through (and you will!), ask them to walk you through exactly which quarters they used and what wages they have on record. Sometimes there are errors in their system where employers didn't report wages correctly. Also, if you had any W-2s that showed higher earnings during your base period than what EDD has on file, bring that up - they can sometimes make adjustments. Good luck getting through to them!
I'm dealing with something similar right now! Filed my claim three weeks ago and my weekly benefit is only $240, which seems really low based on my previous job's salary. After reading through all these comments, I'm pretty sure it's the base period issue everyone's talking about. I had a period of unemployment about 8 months ago where I was doing some freelance work that paid much less than my regular job. It's so confusing that they don't use your most recent earnings - seems like that would give a much more accurate picture of what you actually need to cover your expenses. I've been putting off calling because I know how impossible it is to get through, but seeing that Owen finally connected gives me some motivation to try the 8am trick. Really wish EDD would just send a clear breakdown with the award letter explaining exactly how they calculated everything instead of making us all play detective!
I'm in the exact same situation! Just filed my claim last week and got my award letter yesterday - only $195/week which is nowhere near what I need to cover my basic expenses. I had no idea about the base period calculation until reading through this thread. I was making decent money at my last job but had a few months of part-time retail work about a year ago that must be dragging down my benefit amount. It's so frustrating that they use this outdated system instead of just looking at your most recent salary. I'm definitely going to try the 8am calling trick tomorrow - fingers crossed I can get through like Owen did. Thanks for sharing your experience, it's helpful to know I'm not the only one confused by all this!
Grace Johnson
Just wanted to update everyone - my claim status FINALLY changed today! Exactly 12 business days after I received the CUIAB decision. All my weeks switched from disqualified to paid, and my payment is pending in the system. Such a relief! Thanks for all your advice and support through this stressful process.
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Cassandra Moon
•Yayyy!!! So happy for you!! 🙌 It's such a good feeling when it finally gets resolved!
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Nora Brooks
•Great news! Make sure to keep certifying on time going forward. Glad it worked out for you.
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Gabriel Ruiz
Congratulations on getting your favorable decision and finally seeing the update! Your timeline matches what most people experience - that 10-14 business day window seems pretty standard. This is really encouraging for others who might be going through the same stressful waiting period after winning their appeals. Did you get the full back pay amount you were expecting, or were there any surprises when the payments processed?
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