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I quit my retail management position in April 2025 (toxic workplace, was having panic attacks). Filed for unemployment right away, but EDD sent me a disqualification notice in May saying I quit without good cause. I immediately filed an appeal online and got confirmation they received it May 12th. It's now mid-September and I STILL haven't received any court date for my hearing! The appeal confirmation letter said 6-8 weeks, but it's been over 16 weeks now. Called EDD twice but all they say is "it's in process" and "be patient" - not helpful when my savings are almost gone! Has anyone gone through the appeal process recently? How long did your appeal hearing take to get scheduled after quitting? Is 4+ months normal or should I be doing something else to speed this up?
Finally got my claim reopened in February after winning my appeal (took 3 months!)... I certified yesterday but I'm super confused about the payment timeline. When I called EDD last week, I actually got through to someone who said I wouldn't need another eligibility interview since I already went through the appeal process. I completed my bi-weekly certification yesterday (Sunday) and I'm wondering - will the payment hit my Money Network card tomorrow? Or does it still go through some kind of review process first? I've got rent due Friday and I'm stressing out!!! This is the first time I've certified since the appeal was approved.
Another important thing to remember is to keep certifying for benefits every two weeks, even if one payment is pending. Missing a certification can create more problems with your claim. And make sure all your work search activities are properly documented for each week you certify.
I'm freaking out about our upcoming EDD appeal hearing that's scheduled for next month. Our situation is that EDD is listed as the 'defendant' not my previous employer which I find really confusing. The weird part is that an EDD rep actually admitted to me they made a mistake when reviewing my case, but now I'm worried they'll just stick together and deny everything. I tried to prepare by watching their tutorial video, but it shows people meeting in person with the judge while our hearing will be over the telephone. Does anyone know if the process is different for phone hearings? Are there specific things I should prepare? Also, since English isn't my first language, I really want my husband to help me during the call to make sure I understand everything correctly. Is this allowed or do I need to request this in advance? I've been unemployed for 3 months now and this appeal is for about $5,800 in benefits they initially approved then said I wasn't eligible for. Any advice or resources would be SUPER appreciated!
my cosin had a appeal and the EDD ladie lied about EVERYTHING!!! so be carful and make sure u record the call if u can!!!
Important correction here - you CANNOT legally record the hearing without permission from the judge and all parties. The hearing is already being recorded officially. Attempting to make your own recording without permission could actually hurt your case. Instead, take detailed notes during the hearing.
When I had my phone hearing last year, I kept getting interrupted and couldn't finish explaining my situation. The EDD rep kept talking over me, and I got flustered. So here's my advice: 1. Practice explaining your case BRIEFLY - like a 2-minute summary 2. When the judge asks if you have questions for the EDD rep, ALWAYS ask something - this is your chance to point out contradictions 3. If you get cut off, politely say "Excuse me, I wasn't finished with my explanation" 4. DEFINITELY have your spouse help you 5. If you win, be prepared for EDD to still take 3-4 weeks to process your payments Oh and DO NOT hang up until the judge officially closes the hearing! Sometimes they pause to review documents, and it might seem like it's over, but it's not.
My employer just relocated to Nevada with barely any notice and my last official workday was May 15th. My manager promised they'd continue to pay me through the end of June (same salary, same payment schedule) as a goodwill gesture since the move was so sudden. I'm sitting here with no job, but expecting more paychecks for the next 6 weeks. I'm confused about when I should file for unemployment with EDD. If I apply now while still receiving these promised payments, will my claim get rejected? Should I wait until all the promised money comes through before filing? I don't want to mess up my claim or be accused of fraud, but I also don't want to delay benefits once those final checks stop coming. Any advice would be super appreciated!
dont forget u gotta be looking for work too!!! they ask u every time u certify if u looked for jobs. u need at least 3 job contacts per week I think...or maybe its 5 now? anybody know??
The current work search requirement is to conduct a reasonable search for work each week. While EDD doesn't specify an exact number of job applications, they recommend keeping a detailed record of your job search activities. This includes applications submitted, networking events, job fairs attended, etc. You might be asked to provide this information if they conduct an eligibility determination interview.
Update: I just applied for unemployment following everyone's advice here! I listed May 15th as my last day worked, and I'll report my continuing payments during certification. I also emailed my boss asking for written confirmation of our payment arrangement through June. Thank you all so much for helping clear this up - I feel much more confident now about handling this correctly.
I'm in a weird situation and hoping someone's dealt with this before. My benefit year runs from 08/15/2024 - 08/14/2025, but I just exhausted all my benefits even though there's still 4 months left in my benefit year. The twist is I got a notification with a NEW EDDCAN number saying I might qualify for benefits based on a different employer I worked for part-time during awards season (I'm in the entertainment industry). When I try to file online using this new EDDCAN, the system won't let me since my current benefit year isn't over yet. Has anyone successfully filed a new claim or reopened one BEFORE their benefit year ended? The online system is basically saying "nope, can't do it" but the notification suggests otherwise. I desperately need to get this sorted as I literally can't make rent next month if this doesn't work out. Is there a specific number I should call or approach I should take? The regular EDD line is completely useless.
did u try going to the actual EDD office in person? sometimes thats the only way to get this stuff fixed when the online system doesnt work and u cant get thru on phone
I didn't even know that was an option! Is that something people can just do? Walk into an EDD office and get help with claims?
Most EDD offices don't handle UI claims in person anymore - they primarily deal with job search assistance now. For UI claims, you generally need to call. The exceptions are some of the America's Job Centers of California (AJCC) locations that have dedicated UI representatives, but these are limited and often require appointments.
UPDATE: I finally got through using the Technical Support number that was suggested! The tech support person transferred me to a claims specialist who knew exactly what to do. They confirmed I qualify for a subsequent claim based on my awards season work. The weekly benefit amount is lower ($247 vs my previous $450), but it's definitely better than nothing! They had to process it manually since the online system can't handle this situation. My new claim is being backdated to when my benefits exhausted, so I should get those weeks paid once everything processes. Thanks everyone for the help and specific advice - especially the technical support number and the exact terminology to use. That made all the difference!
Isabella Santos
Just want to add one important tip: while you're waiting for your appeal hearing, you must continue to certify for benefits every two weeks even though you won't receive payments until (and if) you win your appeal. If you stop certifying, you could lose eligibility for those weeks permanently even if you win your appeal later. Many people don't realize this and it causes them to lose potential back payments.
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Emma Thompson
AuthorThank you for this reminder! I have been certifying every two weeks even though it feels pointless right now. Glad to know I'm doing the right thing.
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Malik Davis
btw when u finally get ur hearing dont stress too much. just be super honest bout why u quit. like explain the panic attacks and how they were caused by the job. dont try to make stuff up or exaggerate cuz the judges can tell. they hear these cases all day everyday. just be real and bring ur docs.
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Emma Thompson
AuthorThanks for the advice! I'm definitely planning to just be straightforward about everything. I've got emails to HR about the situation before I quit and notes from my doctor, so hopefully that's enough documentation.
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