Update us after ur appeal!!!! so many of us subs need to know how to beat this stupid system!!!!

I'm also a substitute teacher going through the exact same situation right now! Been subbing for 4 years and this is my first time trying to file for unemployment during summer break. My main district laid me off in June but I still get maybe 2-3 days a month from another smaller district for summer school. EDD denied me too citing the reasonable assurance letter. It's so frustrating because like you said, going from 15-20 days a month to basically nothing is definitely a "lack of work" situation! My rent is due next week and I'm seriously considering picking up retail work just to survive until September. Reading through everyone's responses here is giving me hope though. I'm definitely going to appeal and use the strategies mentioned - especially documenting the huge reduction in available work hours. The fact that some people have actually won these appeals makes me feel like it's worth fighting for. Thanks for posting this - it's good to know we're not alone in dealing with this mess!

Did the judge tell you when you'll get the decision? With my appeal it took like a month to get the paperwork even though they said it would be 10 days. EDD is literally THE WORST with their timelines!!!

I'm so sorry you went through that - it sounds incredibly frustrating and unfair! I haven't had my appeal hearing yet, but I've been lurking in this community for months trying to prepare for mine. Reading everyone's experiences here, it seems like there's such a huge variation in how different judges handle these hearings. One thing I've learned from reading other posts is that some judges focus heavily on the written documentation, so hopefully the evidence you submitted beforehand will carry more weight than you think. The fact that you were following your supervisor's direct instructions sounds like it could be a strong defense against misconduct claims, even if you didn't get to fully explain it. I really hope you get a favorable decision! Please keep us updated when you hear back. And thank you for sharing your experience - it's helping those of us still waiting for our hearings know what we might face.

Thanks everyone for the helpful responses! I'm going to apply for CalFresh today through BenefitsCal.com and make sure I have all my documentation ready. I'll also call EDD to ask about possible extensions using that Claimyr service someone mentioned. Really appreciate all the guidance - navigating these different benefit systems is pretty overwhelming.

Good luck with your CalFresh application! One more thing to keep in mind - if you do get approved for CalFresh before your unemployment runs out, make sure to report to EDD that you're receiving food assistance. It shouldn't affect your UI benefits at all (CalFresh isn't counted as income), but it's better to be transparent about all benefits you're receiving. Also, once you start receiving CalFresh, you'll need to do periodic reviews (usually every 6 months) to maintain your benefits, so keep all your documentation organized. The system can be confusing but you've got this!

I want to clarify something important: When you get your settlement, you'll need documentation showing exactly how it's allocated. Make sure your lawyer provides a breakdown letter that clearly shows what portion is for back wages versus other damages. When you certify for the week you receive the payment, answer "Yes" to the question about receiving income, and select "Other" as the type of income. In the details section, explain it's a legal settlement. Then immediately contact EDD with your documentation. The key is being transparent and proactive. As long as you report it properly and provide documentation, you should avoid penalties even if there's an overpayment that needs to be addressed.

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet - make sure you keep detailed records of everything! Save copies of your settlement agreement, any correspondence with EDD about it, and document all phone calls (date, time, rep name if possible). If there are any issues later, having a paper trail will help resolve them much faster. I learned this the hard way when EDD mixed up my case details and I had to prove what was actually discussed in previous calls. Also, don't stress too much about this - wrongful termination settlements are pretty common and EDD deals with them regularly. As long as you're upfront about it and provide the proper documentation, they'll work with you to sort it out correctly.