California Unemployment
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EDD appeal filed 4 months ago still no hearing date - normal wait time?
I submitted my appeal paperwork after being disqualified back in March (over 4 months ago now). I got the confirmation letter that they received my appeal about a week later, but since then I've heard absolutely NOTHING. The appeal branch number just goes to voicemail that's always full. Is this normal for 2025? How much longer should I expect to wait before I get a hearing date? I'm starting to panic because my savings are almost gone and I really need this resolved. Has anyone else experienced such a long wait time for their appeal hearing to be scheduled?
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EDD says I'm ineligible after workplace injury and reduced hours - only working 16hrs/week now
I'm completely lost about what's happening with my claim. I've been working at a warehouse for about 10 months when I injured my back lifting boxes. Filed a workers' comp claim, and my doctor restricted me to light duty. My employer couldn't accommodate all my restrictions, so they cut my hours from 40 to just 16 hours per week. That's a HUGE pay cut for me! So I applied for partial unemployment benefits to help cover the difference, but EDD just sent me a notice saying I'm "ineligible for benefits." No explanation why! Doesn't partial unemployment exist for exactly this situation? I've lost over half my income through no fault of my own. Has anyone dealt with this before? Do I need to appeal or is there something specific I should be telling EDD about my situation? I'm falling behind on rent already...
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UPDATE: I finally got through to EDD this morning! The agent explained that because my claim involves both workers' comp AND unemployment, they need special documentation. Apparently, my application was flagged because I checked "Yes" for "Are you receiving or expecting to receive workers' compensation?" The agent helped me submit the additional documentation they need (doctor's work status report, employer letter confirming reduced hours, etc.) They're sending my claim for "special review" by a different department that handles these hybrid cases. The agent said it could take 10-14 days but should be resolved. She also said I shouldn't need a formal appeal if I provide all the documentation they requested. Thanks everyone for your advice and support! Will update when I hear back.
That's great news! The "special review" process is exactly what you need in this situation. Make sure you follow up if you don't hear back within the 14 days. Sometimes these complex claims need a gentle nudge to keep moving through the system.
Just be careful because even after my claim was "approved" through special review, my first payment got stuck in pending for almost 3 weeks!! Had to call AGAIN to get them to release it. They're sooooo disorganized it's insane. Make sure you're checking your UI Online account daily!
Thanks for the heads up! I'll definitely keep checking my account daily and follow up if I don't see movement.
Finally got EDD appeal hearing date - 4-month wait in San Diego area!
After what felt like an eternity, I FINALLY got my EDD appeal hearing scheduled! Just wanted to share my timeline with anyone else going through this nightmare. I filed my appeal in early May 2025 after being disqualified for supposedly 'refusing suitable work' (which is totally not what happened - my former employer completely misrepresented the situation). I checked my mail obsessively every day for months, and LAST NIGHT I finally received notice that my hearing is set for mid-September. That's over 4 months of waiting in the San Diego area! Has anyone else experienced such a long wait time? I'm both relieved to finally have a date and stressed about preparing properly. Any advice for the hearing itself would be super appreciated!
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San Diego resident here too. The CUIAB (California Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board) is absolutely swamped right now. I had a hearing in February that took 4.5 months to schedule. The system is especially backed up in our area because they had staff shortages at the San Diego office and were redirecting some cases to Sacramento for a while, which created extra delays. My advice is to continue certifying for benefits each week even while waiting for your appeal. If you win, you'll get all the back pay for those weeks. If you stop certifying, you won't be eligible for those weeks even if you win your appeal.
Thank you for that tip! I've been certifying each week but always answering "yes" to the question about being disqualified, since technically I am. Should I be doing something different?
You're doing it correctly. Just keep certifying and answering truthfully. The system will keep your weeks in pending status, but if you win the appeal, they'll all get processed at once. One other thing - if your hearing is by phone (many still are), make sure you're in a quiet place with good reception and have all your documents laid out in front of you. I was so nervous during mine that I forgot to mention some important details.
when i had my appeal last year, my employer didn't even show up!! still got my benefits after like 3 weeks from hearing date. sometimes these companys know there lying and dont want to get caught in there lies lol
This is actually quite common. About 30-40% of employers don't attend appeal hearings. However, don't count on this happening - the judge will still review any statements or evidence the employer submitted previously. Always prepare as if they will attend and contest everything.
EDD payment shows as issued but money missing from Money Network account - 5 days now
So frustrated right now! My EDD claim history shows a payment was issued on April 23 (5 days ago!), but there's absolutely NOTHING in my Money Network account. I've checked the card balance like 20 times a day and still zero. The EDD website clearly shows 'paid' status but the money is nowhere to be found. I've tried calling EDD every morning this week but keep getting the 'we're experiencing high call volume' message and then it hangs up! Has anyone else experienced this delay between EDD payment issuance and funds actually showing up on Money Network? Is there some hidden holding period I don't know about? I've got rent due in 3 days and I'm seriously starting to panic.
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Update us when you get this resolved! It would be helpful to know what the actual issue was so others can learn from your experience. These payment delays seem to be happening more frequently in 2025 than they did last year.
Will do! I'm going to try calling Money Network first thing tomorrow, and if that doesn't work, I'll try the Claimyr service to reach EDD. I'll let everyone know what happens.
UPDATE: Finally got this resolved! Called Money Network first - they confirmed no pending deposits on their end. Used the Claimyr service (it worked exactly like in their demo video) and got through to EDD in about 20 minutes. Turns out there was a "payment review flag" on my account because I had reported some part-time income on my last certification. Even though the payment showed as issued in the system, it was actually on hold! The EDD rep released the payment while I was on the phone and said the money should be on my card within 24-48 hours. What a relief! Thanks everyone for your help.
thanks for the update! gud to hear u got it fixed!!
Classic EDD - "payment issued" but actually on hold with no notification. Glad you got it fixed before rent was due!
EDD appeal hearing for homeschooling parent - need tips for phone judge hearing ASAP
I'm in a total panic about my upcoming EDD appeal hearing. After being on regular UI for 3 months, EDD suddenly disqualified me saying I'm "not available for work" because I homeschool my kids during normal business hours. They want me to repay $4,800! I've waited almost 5 months for this appeal hearing, which is scheduled for next Tuesday over the phone with a judge. Has anyone successfully appealed a disqualification based on homeschooling? What should I prepare? How formal is the phone hearing? Do I need to quote specific EDD regulations? I can absolutely work remotely evenings and weekends but EDD seems to think that doesn't count as being "available for work." Any advice from someone who's been through an appeal hearing would be amazing!
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One more thing - RECORD your hearing!!! California is a two-party consent state but the judge will almost certainly give permission if you ask at the beginning. That way if you need to appeal further you have the exact record of what was said. I wish I had done this with my first hearing.
An update would be really appreciated after your hearing! These homeschooling cases are important precedents for others. Generally, judges are looking for: 1. Evidence you're available for a substantial field of employment (not just 1-2 jobs) 2. Proof your restrictions (evening/weekend work) still leave you available for a significant portion of jobs in your field 3. Confirmation that you haven't declined suitable work If you present your case clearly along these lines focusing on your availability rather than your restrictions, you have a good chance of success. The standard isn't that you must be available for ALL work - just a sufficient portion of the job market.
I absolutely will update! My hearing is Tuesday at 10am. I've been collecting job postings for remote customer service roles with evening/weekend hours to show there's a substantial market for the hours I'm available. Thanks everyone for the advice - I feel so much better prepared now!
Omar Farouk
i had to wait like 4 months for my hearing butt hen they canceled it and rescheduled for 2 monht later! so frustrating!!!
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Emma Wilson
Something else to consider - if your financial situation is truly dire, you might want to look into emergency assistance programs while waiting for your appeal. Many counties have rental assistance, food banks, and utility payment help available. 211 is a good resource to find what's available in your area. The appeal process is definitely taking much longer than it should, but there are resources to help bridge the gap.
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Javier Cruz
AuthorThank you for this suggestion. I've already been using the food bank, but I'll call 211 to see what other assistance might be available. At this point, I need all the help I can get.
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