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.

One last thing - once your claim is approved, certifying is much smoother now. The UI Online portal got a major update in 2024 and it's actually functional now (shocking, I know!). You can even use the mobile app for certifications which is WAY easier than the old system. Just make sure notifications are enabled so you don't miss your certification dates.

Just wanted to add that if you're in tech like me, make sure to look into the California Training Benefits (CTB) program while you're on unemployment. I used it during my claim last year to get AWS certifications which definitely helped me land interviews faster. You can get approved for up to 104 weeks of training benefits if you're learning skills for a high-demand occupation. The approval process takes a few extra weeks but it's worth it if you want to upskill while job hunting. Plus your weekly benefits continue during approved training so you're not losing money while learning new tech skills.

One more thing to consider: the temp agency's perspective. From EDD's standpoint, your employer is the temp agency, not the specific workplace. During an eligibility interview, EDD will want to know why you couldn't continue working for the temp agency at other assignments. Make sure to clearly document that you requested reassignment and what the agency's response was. This is crucial for your claim.

Just want to add that California Labor Code Section 230 protects employees who quit due to workplace harassment or unsafe conditions. Keep detailed records of every incident - dates, witnesses, what was said/done. Also save any communications with your temp agency about the issues. EDD will look at whether a "reasonable person" would have quit under the same circumstances. The fact that you've already reported it twice and nothing changed actually works in your favor. But definitely try the reassignment route first like others suggested - it shows you made good faith efforts to stay employed.