I'm going through the exact same thing right now and this thread has been incredibly reassuring! Just received my overpayment notice yesterday for $2,450 after incorrectly reporting part-time hours for several weeks (I was confused about whether to include training hours that weren't paid yet). The background check anxiety has been absolutely consuming me - I have three interviews scheduled next week and was convinced I'd have to somehow explain this situation. Reading all these confirmations from people who've actually been through employment screening, especially the HR professional's input, is such a massive weight off my shoulders. Based on everyone's experiences shared here, it sounds like I should expect somewhere around 10-16 penalty weeks, which honestly feels manageable knowing they only apply to future UI claims if needed. I was imagining much worse scenarios! I'm calling EDD first thing Monday morning to set up a repayment plan. It's clear from everyone's advice that being proactive is absolutely crucial, and it sounds like they're reasonable about working out payment terms as long as you reach out quickly. Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their experiences - it's amazing how much less alone and stressed I feel knowing that other people have successfully navigated this exact situation. This community support means everything when you're dealing with something this overwhelming!

I'm currently going through this exact same situation and this entire thread has been absolutely invaluable! Just received my overpayment notice three days ago for $2,800 after making mistakes reporting my part-time retail hours during certification (I was confused about whether to include orientation shifts that were unpaid). The stress about background checks has been completely overwhelming - I'm in the middle of interviewing for a few positions and was having nightmares about having to explain this to potential employers. Reading all these real experiences from people who've actually gone through employment screening, plus the confirmation from the HR professional, has literally saved my sanity. From what everyone's shared, it looks like I should expect roughly 10-20 penalty weeks for my overpayment amount, which actually seems much more manageable than the catastrophic scenarios I was imagining. Knowing these only affect future UI claims makes it feel less scary. I'm calling EDD tomorrow morning to set up a repayment plan - it's crystal clear from everyone's advice that being proactive is absolutely essential. Sounds like they're pretty reasonable about payment amounts as long as you reach out quickly and show you want to make things right. Thank you so much to everyone who shared their experiences here. This community support has been a lifeline during what's honestly been one of the most stressful weeks of my life. It's incredible how much better I feel knowing that other people have successfully gotten through this exact situation!

This is such valuable information! I've been dealing with random "card declined" messages at different stores over the past few weeks and never thought it could be fraud alerts. I always assumed it was just the store's card reader having issues. After reading this thread, I'm wondering if my card has been getting temporarily frozen and unfrozen without me realizing it. I'm going to call Money Network tomorrow to ask about my account activity and see if there have been any fraud alerts. Thanks @GalacticGuardian for posting about this - you probably saved a lot of people from similar panic situations!

This is exactly why I always keep the Money Network customer service number saved in my phone now! I learned the hard way after my card got frozen during a grocery shopping trip and I had no way to pay. One tip that worked for me when calling their support line - if you get stuck in the automated system, try saying "representative" or "agent" repeatedly instead of just pressing 0. Sometimes their voice recognition will transfer you faster than the number options. Also, if anyone is still having trouble reaching them, try calling early in the morning (like 7-8 AM) - the wait times are usually much shorter then.

I'm going through this exact same situation right now and feeling so overwhelmed! I missed my EDD appeal hearing last week because I never got the notice either - just like you, I only received the acknowledgment letter but nothing with the actual date and time. It's such a relief to read all these responses and know this happens to other people too. I called the Appeals office yesterday after reading the advice here and they confirmed I can file a Request to Reopen. The representative was actually pretty helpful and said not receiving the hearing notice is definitely considered "good cause" for missing the hearing. She told me to be very detailed in my written explanation about never receiving the notice. My overpayment is $6,800 and I've been losing sleep over it just like you. But seeing all the success stories in this thread gives me hope! It sounds like if we act quickly and document everything properly, we have a real chance at getting new hearings. Hang in there - you're not alone in this mess! 💙

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this stress! I went through almost the exact same situation about 4 months ago - missed my hearing because EDD sent the notice to my previous address even though I had updated my info with them twice. The panic is real, but you're absolutely taking the right steps. A few things that helped me get through the Request to Reopen process: 1. I wrote a very detailed timeline in my request - when I filed the original appeal, when I expected to receive the hearing notice, when I realized I missed it, etc. Be specific with dates. 2. I included screenshots from my UI Online account showing my correct address was on file, plus confirmation emails from when I updated it. 3. The judge who reviewed my reopening request actually called me directly to ask a few questions, which was nerve-wracking but showed they were taking it seriously. My new hearing was scheduled about 7 weeks later, and I ended up winning the appeal completely - no overpayment required! The administrative law judge said mail delivery issues with EDD notices are unfortunately very common and she sees these cases regularly. The waiting period is absolutely brutal when you're worried about thousands of dollars, but try to use that time productively to prepare your case. You're going to get through this! Keep fighting - don't let them intimidate you into just paying when you may not owe anything at all.

Just wanted to add another tip that helped me when I had the same lockout issue - if you're calling the technical support line (1-833-978-2511), try calling exactly at 8:00 AM when they open. I set an alarm and called right on the dot, got through in about 15 minutes instead of the usual hour+ wait. The rep told me that password reset lockouts are one of their most common calls, which is pretty sad when you think about it. She also mentioned that if you have to reset your password again in the future, don't just wait 15 minutes - actually close your browser completely, clear cache, then wait the 15 minutes before attempting to log in. Apparently their session management is really fragile. Hope this helps someone avoid the frustration!

I've been helping people with EDD account lockouts for a while now, and I wanted to compile all the best advice from this thread into one place: **Immediate Steps:** 1. Call the technical support line at 1-833-978-2511 (NOT the regular claims line) 2. Best calling times: exactly 8:00 AM or during lunch hours (12-1 PM) 3. Have ready: SSN, account number, and answers to security questions **For Future Password Resets:** - After resetting password, close browser completely and clear cache - Wait exactly 15 minutes before attempting to log in - Use the exact password you created during reset **Why This Happens:** The EDD system treats multiple rapid login attempts (even with correct info) as suspicious activity and triggers an automatic lock. It's a security feature that backfires more often than it helps. The fact that we all have to share these "secret rules" in community forums instead of EDD publishing clear instructions is absolutely frustrating. But at least we can help each other navigate their broken system! Hope everyone gets their accounts unlocked quickly.

Reading through this entire thread has been both heartbreaking and inspiring. Heartbreaking because it's clear how common this practice is - employers lying about layoffs to avoid paying unemployment taxes - and inspiring because of how thoroughly you've prepared to fight back. I went through something similar about 5 years ago when my company "eliminated my position" but told EDD I was fired for attendance issues (completely false - I had perfect attendance). The stress of fighting it while already dealing with job loss and financial pressure was overwhelming. What really struck me about your case is how systematic and thorough you've been in gathering evidence. That job posting you found is absolutely devastating to their argument - I've never seen such clear-cut proof that a company was lying about the reason for separation. Combined with your severance payment, positive performance review, and witness testimony, this feels like one of the strongest cases I've seen on this forum. One thing that helped me during my hearing was remembering that the administrative law judge has seen this exact scenario hundreds of times. They know the difference between legitimate terminations and cost-cutting measures disguised as misconduct claims. Trust in the process and let your evidence speak for itself. You've turned what could have been a devastating denial into a masterclass on how to appeal wrongful unemployment decisions. Win or lose (though I'm confident you'll win), you should be proud of how you've advocated for yourself. Best of luck on Thursday - we're all rooting for you!

I'm so sorry you're going through this stressful situation - it's absolutely infuriating when companies try to pull these kinds of dishonest tactics after years of loyal service. But I have to say, reading through all your updates, you've built an incredibly strong case that should definitely result in a successful appeal. As someone who's been following unemployment law cases for a while, I can tell you that the combination of evidence you've gathered is textbook proof of wrongful denial: • The job posting for identical duties at lower pay is probably the strongest single piece of evidence I've ever seen in one of these cases • Your recent positive performance review directly contradicts any misconduct claims • The severance payment proves this was a layoff, not a termination for cause • Having a witness who heard conversations about cost-saving makes their story even harder to defend The fact that you've been so methodical about documentation shows exactly how workers need to fight back against employers who try to game the system. Companies get away with this because most people don't know how to properly appeal or don't have the energy to fight while dealing with job loss. Your hearing is coming up soon and I'm confident you're going to win decisively. After 30+ years of paying into unemployment insurance, you absolutely deserve these benefits. The administrative judge is going to see right through your employer's attempt to avoid their tax obligations. Keep us posted on how Thursday goes - this thread is going to be such a valuable resource for others facing similar situations!