Could you share what your disqualification reason was? The specific reason matters because it affects how the hearing is structured and who has the burden of proof. For misconduct cases, the employer has to prove you committed misconduct. For voluntary quit cases, you have to prove you had good cause to quit. This affects how aggressive you need to be in challenging their evidence.

I went through something very similar last year - employer submitted a bunch of witness statements at the last minute that were clearly coordinated. The good news is that during my phone hearing, the ALJ specifically asked me about each statement and gave me plenty of time to respond. What really helped my case was that I had prepared a simple chart beforehand listing each false claim and the specific evidence that contradicted it. For example, when they claimed I missed a meeting on X date, I could immediately reference the email showing I had requested time off that was approved by HR weeks earlier. The judge seemed to appreciate that I stayed factual and specific rather than just saying "that's not true." I also noticed that when the ALJ asked the employer's witnesses follow-up questions, several of them couldn't provide details beyond what was in their written statements, which made their testimony seem less credible. One thing that worked in my favor - I mentioned early in the hearing that all the negative statements were submitted simultaneously at the deadline, while my evidence had been submitted weeks prior. The judge made a note of that timing. You've got this! Having your documentation organized and staying calm will serve you well. The fact that you prepared so thoroughly ahead of time actually puts you at an advantage.

UPDATE: I finally got through!! Called at exactly 8:01 this morning and managed to speak with someone. The rep confirmed my account was restricted due to inactivity. She was able to reset it, and I can now access UI Online again. Regarding my eligibility as a substitute teacher - she said I CAN apply but will need to provide documentation that I don't have reasonable assurance of work in the fall. I'm getting a letter from my district HR department stating that substitute work is on-call with no guaranteed hours. Thanks everyone for your help! Will update again once I know if my claim is approved or not.

Glad you got through and got your account restored! That's the hardest part honestly. Just a heads up - when you get that letter from HR, make sure it specifically mentions that substitute positions are "on-call" or "as-needed" with no guarantee of hours or assignments for the upcoming school year. EDD looks for very specific language about the lack of reasonable assurance. Also, if you have any documentation showing your substitute work history (like how many days you actually worked last year vs. total school days), that can help demonstrate the uncertainty of the work. Good luck with your claim!

Update: Finally spoke to a representative today using Claimyr after weeks of failed manual attempts. Got my issue resolved and benefits restarted. Honestly should have done this weeks ago instead of torturing myself with endless redialing.

I feel your pain! I've been in the exact same situation - spent countless hours calling EDD trying to speak to a representative with zero success. The system is absolutely broken. After reading through all these comments, I'm convinced that using a service like Claimyr is the only realistic way to actually get through anymore. The fact that so many people are having success with it while manual calling fails repeatedly says everything. At some point you have to stop banging your head against the wall and try a different approach. Hope you get your benefits sorted out soon!

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've been struggling with this same issue for weeks! After reading through all these experiences, it seems like persistence is key. Has anyone had success with the "ask to speak to a supervisor" approach when you get tier 1? I'm wondering if that might be another way to get escalated to tier 2 without having to keep calling back. Also, for those who successfully got through to tier 2, what time of day did you call? I'm trying to figure out if there are better windows when tier 2 reps are more likely to pick up directly.

btw they hangup when their call queues are full not cuz they dont wanna talk to u. system cant handle more than like 300 ppl on hold or somethin

Quick update for anyone following this thread: Starting last month, EDD implemented a new pending review process that automatically flags some certifications for a brief manual review. These typically resolve within 3-5 business days without any action required. However, if your payment history has been consistent and suddenly changes to pending, it's still worth trying to contact them as it could indicate a more specific issue with your claim.