I went through this exact same situation last year and won my appeal! Here's what really helped me beyond what others have mentioned: 1. Create a simple timeline document showing your employment dates, major events, and termination. This helped me stay focused during questioning. 2. If you have any coworkers who witnessed your termination conversation or know about the budget cuts, ask them to write a brief statement confirming what they heard/knew. Even if they can't attend the hearing, their written statements can be submitted as evidence. 3. Check your email for ANY communication from HR or management about company layoffs, budget issues, or restructuring around the time you were let go. Sometimes there are company-wide emails that support your case. 4. Bring a copy of your unemployment application and any correspondence with EDD so you can reference what you originally submitted vs. what they're claiming you didn't provide. The fact that you have that text from your manager about budget cuts is HUGE - that's contemporaneous evidence that supports your case. You've got this! The judges want to see that you're being honest and that you qualify for benefits. Stay calm, be organized, and stick to the facts.

I just wanted to add something that helped me during my appeal hearing - bring a simple one-page summary of your case that you can reference if you get nervous. I wrote down the key facts: employment dates, reason for termination, and what evidence I had to support each point. Also, if your hearing is by phone or video, test your connection beforehand and have a backup plan. My original hearing got delayed because of technical issues on EDD's end, which added to the stress. One thing that surprised me was that the judge asked about my efforts to find new work since being terminated. Even though your denial was about work history, they might still ask about job search activities, so be prepared to briefly mention what you've been doing to look for work. The judges I've dealt with (I had to appeal twice for different issues) were actually pretty fair and patient. They're not trying to trick you - they just need to verify the facts. You sound well-prepared with all the advice from everyone here. Good luck!

something else i forgot to mention, u can actually use the money network app on ur phone to check if money was deposited before the card even arrives. u just cant access it till u get the physical card. the app is actually pretty good, way better than the old BofA one.

Just wanted to add that if you're really tight on timing with bills, you might want to ask your landlord or utility companies if they can give you a few extra days. Many are understanding about EDD delays, especially since this Money Network card transition has been causing confusion for a lot of people. I had to do this last year and most were pretty reasonable about it. Also, once you do get the card, you can use it like a debit card at ATMs or stores if you need cash immediately while waiting for bank transfers to process.

That's excellent advice! I'll definitely request documentation of every conversation. I'm feeling much more hopeful now that I have a concrete plan of action.

Just wanted to chime in as someone who went through a very similar situation. I was laid off from my retail job in April 2023 but couldn't successfully file until July due to constant website crashes and phone system failures. Lost about $6,200 in benefits during those months. What ultimately worked for me was a combination of what others have mentioned here. I used a service similar to Claimyr to actually get through to EDD, then specifically requested a Tier 2 specialist. The key was having all my documentation ready - pay stubs, termination letter, and a detailed timeline of every attempt I made to file. The breakthrough came when I found out about the EDD Ombudsman's office. They're separate from regular EDD customer service and have more authority to resolve complex issues. You can reach them at 1-800-300-5616. They actually investigated my case and overturned the original denial. It took about 4 months total from when I contacted the Ombudsman to receiving my backdated benefits, but I got every penny I was owed. Don't give up - the system is broken but there are still ways to fight it successfully. Document everything and be persistent!

To all those having trouble reaching a human at California Unemployment. I just ran across this video that gave me a shortcut to reach a human. Hope it helps! https://youtu.be/Ize0EkN4HDI

I went through the Bank of America identity verification process last month. You'll need to bring your physical ID (driver's license or state ID) and Social Security card. They'll ask you to verify personal information like your address, phone number, and some questions about your EDD claim. The whole process took about 15-20 minutes. Make sure to bring any EDD correspondence you've received too - it can help speed things up. Good luck!

I'll definitely include a waiver request with my appeals. My current job pays significantly less than I was making before unemployment, and I'm still catching up on bills from that period. Really hoping I can get this resolved without having to pay back money I don't have. Thank you for all your expert advice!

This is such a stressful situation but you're definitely not alone! I went through something similar in 2023 with 3 overpayment notices that made no sense. Here's what I learned: First, document EVERYTHING - take photos of when you received each notice (including the postmark dates). The appeal deadline is based on when you received them, not the date printed on the notice. Definitely try to get through to EDD by phone before filing appeals if possible. Sometimes these batch notices are system glitches. I've heard good things about using services like Claimyr to actually reach a human - might be worth it given the amount you're dealing with. If you do need to appeal, make sure to request your complete Payment Activity Detail report from EDD. This shows exactly what they have on record for your wage reporting vs what you actually reported. Any discrepancies there will be your smoking gun evidence. Also consider requesting a hardship waiver along with your appeals - even if some overpayment is legitimate, you might qualify for forgiveness based on financial hardship. The key is showing you reported everything in good faith. Don't let them intimidate you into just paying. $7,800 is a lot of money and if you reported correctly, you shouldn't owe it!