Can I reschedule my EDD appeal hearing due to law school class conflict?
Just got my EDD appeal hearing date in the mail and I'm freaking out a bit. The hearing is scheduled right in the middle of my Constitutional Law class, which has a strict attendance policy. I'm in my second year of law school and missing this particular class could really hurt my grade. Has anyone successfully rescheduled an EDD appeal hearing before? What's the process like? Do they generally accommodate academic conflicts or am I going to have to choose between my unemployment benefits and my education? The notice doesn't give much info about rescheduling options.
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Tyrone Hill
Yes, you can definitely request to reschedule your appeal hearing! I had mine rescheduled last month due to a medical appointment. Call the Appeals Office phone number listed on your hearing notice ASAP. Explain your academic conflict and ask for a different time. They're usually accommodating if you have a legitimate reason, and education certainly counts. Just make sure to request the change at least 5-7 days before your scheduled hearing date. The sooner you call, the better your chances of getting a time that works for you.
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Anderson Prospero
•Thank you so much! That's a huge relief. The hearing notice arrived yesterday, so I still have plenty of time to call. Do you know if they typically offer evening or weekend options for hearings? My class schedule is pretty packed this semester.
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Toot-n-Mighty
i had 2 reschedule mine last yr and they were cool about it. just call right away. they might ask for proof of ur class schedule so have that ready
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Anderson Prospero
•That's good to know! I have my official class schedule in my student portal, so I can take a screenshot or download a PDF if they need it. I appreciate the heads up.
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Lena Kowalski
While you can request a reschedule, just understand that they might not accommodate exactly what you want. I work for a legal aid clinic that helps with EDD appeals, and I've seen clients get denied their first choice for rescheduling. The Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) has some discretion here. Be prepared to prioritize your hearing over class if necessary - your financial stability may depend on it. Also, if your school has a legal clinic, they might be able to help you prepare for your appeal, which could improve your chances of winning.
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Anderson Prospero
•Thank you for the honest perspective. You're right that my financial stability is critical right now - law school is expensive and I'm relying on these benefits to help cover rent. I'll check if our school's legal clinic can offer any advice on preparing for the appeal too. That's a great suggestion!
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DeShawn Washington
THE EDD IS A JOKE! I tried to reschedule my hearing TWICE because I was in the hospital and they still marked me as a no-show and denied my claim!!! They don't care about your situation at all. DOCUMENT EVERYTHING and send your request in writing too, not just by phone. They'll pretend the call never happened if it helps them deny you!!!
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Tyrone Hill
•That's unusual and unfortunate. While the system isn't perfect, most Administrative Law Judges are reasonable about rescheduling with proper documentation and advance notice. Following up any phone request with written confirmation (fax or certified mail) is good advice though.
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Mei-Ling Chen
Have you tried calling the EDD appeals office? I spent 3 weeks trying to get through to them about my hearing date and could never get past the automated system. It was beyond frustrating. I finally used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get connected to an actual human at EDD who helped me reschedule. They have a video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km. Saved me hours of redial hell. For something as important as an appeal hearing, it was worth it to actually speak to someone rather than gambling on whether they'd respond to my written request in time.
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Anderson Prospero
•I haven't tried calling yet, but I'm dreading the phone maze. Thanks for the suggestion - I'll check out that service if I can't get through tomorrow. You're right that this is too important to leave to chance.
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Sofía Rodríguez
one thing to watch out for - when they rescedule they sometimes do it by phone insted of in person or the other way around. my hearing got changed from zoom to phone and i didnt realize until they called me! make sure u clarify what type of hearing the new one wil be
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Anderson Prospero
•Wow, I hadn't even thought about that possibility. Thanks for pointing it out! I'll definitely ask about the hearing format when I request the reschedule. I'd assumed it would be over the phone, but I should confirm.
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Aiden O'Connor
Anyone know if they do hearings on Fridays? My sister-in-law had an EDD appeal last month and she said they told her they only do hearings Monday-Thursday. But maybe that was just in her office?
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Lena Kowalski
•This varies by field office and ALJ availability. Some offices do conduct hearings on Fridays, though typically fewer than other weekdays. I've never seen weekend hearings scheduled, however. When you call to reschedule, be prepared with multiple date/time options across different days of the week to increase your chances of finding a suitable time.
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Tyrone Hill
Since you're a law student, I should mention that you can also submit a written statement if absolutely necessary. If rescheduling doesn't work out, you could attend your class and submit a detailed written argument for your appeal. It's not ideal, but it's better than not participating at all. The notice should explain how to submit written evidence/statements. I'd still prioritize attending the hearing in person if possible though - it's much more effective to answer the judge's questions directly.
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Anderson Prospero
•That's an interesting backup option I hadn't considered. I definitely prefer to attend and speak directly with the judge, but it's good to know I could submit something in writing if all else fails. Thank you for pointing this out. I'll review my notice again to find the instructions for written submissions.
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