I went through almost the exact same situation about a year ago! My employer claimed I was terminated for performance issues when I was actually part of a department closure. The appeal process took about 10 weeks, and I did find a job about 3 weeks before my hearing date. Here's what I learned: 1) Keep certifying religiously until you get that new job - missing even one certification can mess up your backpay, 2) When you do find work, report it honestly on your next certification, 3) If you win your appeal (which sounds likely given you have coworkers who can back up the restructuring story), you'll get paid for ALL those weeks you certified while unemployed, even though you're working by then. The backpay came about 5 days after I won my hearing. Also, definitely get those written statements from your coworkers - I had two former colleagues write simple one-paragraph statements confirming we were all laid off together, and the judge referenced them multiple times during the hearing. You're doing everything right, just hang in there!

I'm new to this community but going through something similar right now! My employer also contested my claim saying I was fired for cause when I was actually laid off due to budget cuts. Filed my appeal 4 weeks ago and still waiting. Reading all these responses gives me so much hope - especially hearing that multiple people got their backpay even after finding new jobs. I've been stressing about whether to keep job searching aggressively or wait for the appeal, but it sounds like I should definitely keep applying while maintaining those detailed job search records. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences, this is exactly the kind of real-world advice I needed to hear!

UPDATE: I went through my files from when this happened to me. During my EDD phone interview, they specifically asked: 1. When was the last date you were paid? 2. What reason did the employer give for not paying? 3. Did you make a formal request for your wages in writing? 4. Are you still reporting to work? The interviewer told me that continuing to work without pay actually HURTS your unemployment claim because it suggests you're accepting the situation. She recommended formally requesting payment in writing with a deadline, then stopping work if not paid, THEN filing for unemployment. Just wanted to give you a heads up on what to expect!

I'm going through something similar right now! My restaurant reduced my hours to basically nothing after the holidays and then just stopped scheduling me entirely three weeks ago, but they never officially "fired" me. I filed for unemployment and got approved because EDD considers it a "reduction in hours and wages" due to lack of work. The key thing is how you answer the questions when filing. Don't say you quit - say your hours/wages were reduced through no fault of your own. When they ask if you're still employed, you can say yes but explain that you're receiving zero hours/pay. I had to do the phone interview too and the rep was actually really understanding about the situation. She said this happens all the time where companies try to avoid officially laying people off. Just make sure you have documentation of the missed payroll and any attempts to get answers from your employer. Also, start your job search immediately because you'll need to show you're actively looking for work to keep getting benefits. The good news is there are actually quite a few admin positions posted right now in CA - at least in my area. Don't let this company string you along any longer than necessary!

Thank you all so much for the helpful advice! I'm feeling much more prepared now. I've gathered all my company docs, DE 9 and DE 9C forms, and emails about my client's bankruptcy. I'll make sure to be very clear that I'm not actively seeking clients through my loan-out right now and that I'm looking for W2 employment. I'll also have my salary determination documentation ready just in case. I'm going to try using that Claimyr service to talk to someone at EDD before my interview so I can get any specific questions answered. Will update after my interview next week!

I went through a similar situation with my loan-out LLC about 6 months ago. One thing I wish someone had told me beforehand is that they'll likely ask about your business bank account activity. Make sure you can explain any recent deposits or transactions, even if they're unrelated to work (like transferring personal funds or closing costs). They want to see that there's genuinely no business income coming in. Also, if you have any business licenses or permits, be ready to explain their status - mine were still active even though I wasn't working, and I had to clarify that keeping them current doesn't mean I'm actively doing business. The interviewer was actually pretty understanding once I explained everything clearly. You've got great advice from everyone here - you'll do fine!

Does anyone know if gig work counts as self-employment for DUA? I do Uber and Doordash on the side and idk if I should include that income 🤔

Congrats on the DUA approval! 🎉 Just to add to what others have said - when you submit your self-employment docs, make sure they clearly show your name and the income period. I had to resubmit mine because my bank statements didn't have clear dates. Also, if you're doing gig work like Uber/DoorDash, those definitely count as self-employment income. Keep copies of everything you submit - EDD has a habit of "losing" documents sometimes. Good luck with the process!

One more important tip for your interview: frame your decision to quit in terms of having "no reasonable alternative." EDD looks for whether you exhausted all options before quitting. Mention if you tried to: 1. Request formal accommodations for your diabetes 2. Report the break violations to HR or upper management 3. Request transfer to another department/location 4. Report drug use concerns to someone above your supervisor If your company was small with no HR department, explain that too. The key is showing you didn't quit at the first sign of trouble but tried your best to make the situation work while protecting your health and sobriety.

You definitely have a strong case here! The combination of medical discrimination (refusing diabetes accommodations), illegal workplace drug activity, and timecard manipulation gives you multiple grounds for good cause. A few practical tips for your interview: 1. Lead with your medical condition - emphasize that Type 2 diabetes requires regular meal timing to prevent dangerous blood sugar fluctuations 2. Explain your 4-year sobriety and how the workplace drug use created a genuine threat to your recovery 3. Present your documentation chronologically - show the pattern of you trying to resolve issues before quitting I had a similar situation with my anxiety disorder where my employer wouldn't provide reasonable accommodations. The key was demonstrating I made good faith efforts to work with them first. Since you emailed the owner and have texts with your supervisor, plus medical documentation, you're in a much better position than many claimants. The timecard falsification is particularly damning - that shows willful labor law violations by your employer. Don't downplay that aspect during your interview. Good luck on Tuesday!