To answer your earlier question about the burden of proof: While the employer does have the burden of proving misconduct at the hearing, the initial determination is often made based primarily on the employer's statement during the claims process. That's why approximately 60% of misconduct disqualifications are overturned on appeal. Regarding contacting your former employer - I generally advise against it during the appeal process. Any conversations could potentially be used against you. Instead, focus on preparing your evidence and timeline for the hearing. Also, while waiting for your appeal, look into whether you qualify for other assistance programs like CalFresh (food stamps) or emergency rental assistance through your county's social services department. These can help bridge the gap while your unemployment appeal is pending.

I went through almost the exact same situation in 2023! Got terminated for "performance issues" but had documentation showing my work met standards. The key things that helped me win my appeal: 1. Organize all your evidence chronologically - those supervisor approval emails are GOLD 2. Write a simple 1-page summary of events with dates for the judge 3. Don't just focus on proving you did good work - focus on proving you didn't willfully violate company policy or deliberately harm the employer's interests My hearing was scheduled about 6 weeks after filing the appeal. The judge was very professional and asked specific questions about the approval process, whether I knew the work was allegedly substandard, and if I had any training on the requirements. Having those emails showing supervisor approval before submission was exactly what won my case. One tip: when they schedule your hearing, you'll get a notice with instructions on how to request documents from your employer. Do this! Sometimes employers submit additional "evidence" at the last minute, and you have the right to see it beforehand. Stay strong - the system is designed to be discouraging, but you have solid evidence. Just make sure you keep certifying every two weeks even though you're getting $0 right now!

I'm telling you, it's a conspiracy to keep us poor and desperate. They make it so hard on purpose so people just give up. Stay strong and keep fighting!

I've been through this exact same situation! The waiting game is absolutely brutal. One thing that worked for me was creating a new email address specifically for unemployment correspondence and then updating my contact info through the online portal. Sometimes their system gets glitchy with certain email providers. Also, try checking if there's a "secure messages" section in your online account - sometimes they send notifications there instead of email. I know it's frustrating, but don't give up! The squeaky wheel gets the grease, so keep being persistent with calls and emails. You've got this! 💪

ok ya thats fair... i just meant dont put unnecessary restrictions that could hurt ur claim. like dont say u can only work 9-5 monday-friday if ur actually more flexible

Just wanted to add something I learned the hard way - when you're working reduced hours and applying for partial unemployment, make sure you understand the "earnings allowance" concept. EDD allows you to earn up to a certain amount each week before it affects your benefits (it's usually around $25-30). Anything you earn above that gets deducted from your weekly benefit payment dollar for dollar. So if your weekly benefit amount is $300 and you earn $150 that week, you'd get $150 from EDD ($300 minus the $150 you earned, but you keep the earnings allowance). It's actually explained pretty clearly once you get approved, but I wish I had understood this math before applying. Also, keep ALL your pay stubs - EDD sometimes asks for verification of earnings during audits, even months later.

Thank you everyone for all the helpful advice! We're going to have him apply this weekend and make sure he: - Reports that he's still attached to his employer - Keeps detailed records of all hours worked and pay - Asks his employer about the DE 2063 form - Sets up his UI Online account right away - Stays on top of certification dates I'll definitely let him know about Claimyr too in case we run into trouble reaching EDD. Really appreciate all your experiences and tips!

One thing I didn't see mentioned - make sure your partner understands that with partial unemployment, he'll still need to report being "able and available" for full-time work each week when certifying. This means if his current employer offers him more hours during any given week, he needs to accept them or it could affect his benefits. Also, the weather-related slowdown in construction is pretty common and EDD understands this pattern, so that should work in his favor. Just be patient with the initial processing time - it can take 2-4 weeks for the first payment even when everything goes smoothly.

Just to follow up on what everyone's saying - one important detail: make sure you continue to certify EVERY two weeks, even when you know you'll get $0 because of your earnings. If you stop certifying, your claim could go inactive and that creates a different set of problems. The system is designed to handle temporary work - that's why they ask about your earnings each week when you certify. And remember, if your benefit year is still active when your temp job ends (benefit years last for 12 months from the claim filing date), you can just resume certifying normally.

I've been through this exact situation twice in the past year, and here's what I learned: The key is being proactive with EDD communication. When you start your temp job, definitely continue certifying every two weeks and report all your earnings accurately. You'll get $0 payments during those weeks, but your claim stays active. What really helped me was calling EDD (I used the callback service someone mentioned - it's a lifesaver) and specifically telling them it's temporary work with a known end date. They made a note in my file, and when the job ended, I just resumed normal certification without any issues. The "new claim filing notice" you mentioned is normal - it's just their system checking if you might qualify for a higher benefit amount based on recent earnings. For most temp jobs, you won't have earned enough to actually establish a new claim, so you'll just continue with your existing one. One tip: Save any documentation about the temporary nature of your job (offer letter, contract, etc.) just in case you need it later. Better to have it and not need it than the other way around. Good luck with your new position!