Can I still get EDD benefits I qualified for in 2020 but never received after hearing?

Unfortunately, there's a strict timeline for appealing EDD decisions - typically 30 days from the date on your determination notice. If your hearing was back in 2020 and you didn't file another appeal right after, it's likely too late now. The fact that you had a hearing means you already went through part of the appeals process. Did you ever receive a written decision notice after the hearing explaining the specific reason for denial?

same thing happned to me!!! EDD is such a mess. they told me i qualified then took it back. i never got a penny either and had to move back in with my parents. the system is RIGGED against us regular people.

I worked for EDD as a contractor during the pandemic. What likely happened is that when they reviewed your claim during the hearing, they found that you didn't have sufficient wages in your base period to qualify for regular UI. Since they already denied you for regular UI, and the judge upheld that decision, you would have needed to specifically apply for PUA afterward (which was for people who didn't qualify for regular UI). At this point, all pandemic unemployment programs have ended and the deadline for retroactive PUA claims was October 6, 2021. If you never received written notice explaining WHY you were denied specifically, you could try contacting your state representative's office. They sometimes can help with very old EDD issues, but honestly, it's a long shot after almost 5 years.

Have you tried calling EDD directly to ask about your old claim? Getting through to them on the phone is still super frustrating, but I've had good luck using Claimyr (claimyr.com). They basically call EDD for you and connect you when they get through. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km Even though it's been years, an EDD rep might be able to look up your old claim and tell you exactly what happened. They might also know if there's any special exception process for pandemic claims where there was confusion.

im confused why did they say u qualified for regular unemployement but then had a judge say you dont? did u report all your earnings correctly? they can deny u if they think you lied about something

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but you're almost certainly past the deadlines for any kind of appeal or retroactive payment. EDD had special provisions during COVID, but all those programs ended years ago. The judge's decision at your hearing is considered final unless appealed to the California Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board within 30 days. Your best bet now would be to contact your state assembly member or state senator's office. They have staff dedicated to helping constituents with EDD problems, and occasionally they can work miracles even with old cases if there was a clear administrative error. Don't get your hopes up too high, but it's worth a try if you're willing to be persistent.

Yes, gather everything you have - original determination letter, any communication about the hearing, the judge's decision, and your claim number if you have it. Also write out a clear timeline of events. The more documentation you have, the better they can try to help you. Good luck!

this whole pandemic unemployment thing was a DISASTER from start to finish!!! my cousin went through something similar and never saw a dime while people who didn't even qualify were getting thousands!!! 😡😡😡

I'm going through something similar right now with a 2020 claim that got stuck in appeals hell. One thing that might be worth trying - if you can find that paperwork from the hearing, look for anything mentioning "overpayment" or "fraud." Sometimes EDD flags accounts for review years later, and if there's no fraud flag on your old claim, it might actually help your case with the assembly member's office. Also, when you contact them, emphasize that you never received ANY payments despite the initial qualification - that's different from people who got paid and then had to pay it back. The fact that you got zero dollars while being jerked around might work in your favor. Don't give up completely until you've exhausted the political route!

I'm dealing with a somewhat similar situation from 2020 - it's honestly shocking how many people got caught up in EDD's confusing processes during the pandemic. One thing I wanted to mention that might be worth exploring: if you can track down that original determination letter that said you qualified for regular UI, compare it closely with the judge's decision about "insufficient wage credits." Sometimes there are clerical errors or the judge was looking at a different base period than what was originally used. Also, since you mentioned your manager told you to apply and your restaurant closed, make sure you have any documentation about the business closure. During the pandemic, some people who initially didn't qualify for regular UI became eligible for PUA specifically because their workplace closed due to COVID. The timing and reason for your job loss might be important factors that weren't properly considered. The assembly member route is definitely your best shot at this point, but having all your documentation organized and understanding exactly what went wrong will make their job easier. Don't let EDD's bureaucratic mess discourage you from trying - you deserve answers about what happened to your claim.

I went through something very similar in 2020 and unfortunately never got resolution either. What really helped me understand what happened was requesting my complete claim file from EDD under the California Public Records Act - it's free and shows you every internal note and decision they made. You can request it online or by mail. The file might reveal exactly why the judge overturned your initial qualification and whether there were any procedural errors. Sometimes they use different wage calculations or base periods than what you'd expect. Even though the appeal deadlines have passed, having the complete record could strengthen your case when you contact your assembly member's office. They're much more effective when they can point to specific administrative mistakes rather than just general confusion. Also, if your restaurant closure was COVID-related and documented with the county health department, that's definitely worth mentioning. Some people whose regular UI was denied were later found eligible for PUA retroactively when the closure reason was properly documented. Worth a shot after all this time!

I'm really sorry you're dealing with this - the EDD system was such a nightmare during the pandemic and so many people got caught in these bureaucratic loops. From what you're describing, it sounds like there was a disconnect between your initial automated approval and what happened when a human actually reviewed your case during the hearing. Everyone's given you great advice about contacting your assembly member's office and requesting your complete claim file through the Public Records Act. I'd also suggest when you do contact your assembly member, frame it as "I was initially approved for benefits I never received due to administrative confusion" rather than just "I was denied benefits." The fact that you got an initial approval but then had it overturned without clear explanation could indicate procedural errors that their office might be able to address. One more thing - if you do find that original determination letter, take a photo of it with your phone before you send copies anywhere. These documents have a way of getting lost in government offices, and you'll want to keep your own record of everything. Good luck with gathering your paperwork this weekend!

I'm really glad to see everyone rallying around you with such detailed advice! As someone who's helped other people navigate EDD issues, I want to emphasize one more strategy that might complement everything else you're doing. When you contact your assembly member's office, ask specifically to speak with their "EDD caseworker" or "unemployment specialist" - most offices have staff members who do nothing but EDD cases because they're so common and complex. Also, when you write up your timeline, include the specific dates if you can find them: when you applied, when you got the initial approval, when payments should have started, when the hearing was scheduled, and when the judge made their decision. The more precise you can be about the timeline, the easier it will be for them to track down what went wrong in EDD's system. One last thought - if your restaurant closure was part of the widespread COVID shutdowns in your area, there might have been other employees from your workplace who went through similar experiences. Sometimes assembly member offices can identify patterns of administrative errors that affected multiple people from the same employer, which can strengthen individual cases. Don't give up hope - you deserve answers after all this time!

I went through a very similar experience in 2020-2021 and it took me almost two years to finally get resolution through my assembly member's office. What really made the difference was having EVERYTHING documented when I contacted them - not just the basic paperwork, but also a detailed written account of every phone call, every letter, every interaction with EDD staff. One thing I learned that might apply to your case: EDD sometimes made errors in how they calculated base periods during the initial automated approvals, especially for people who had worked at restaurants or other businesses that reported wages quarterly. The judge might have been looking at a different set of quarters than what EDD originally used to approve you. This kind of computational error is exactly the type of thing assembly offices can sometimes get reversed even years later. Also, don't underestimate the power of social media when dealing with EDD - if you haven't already, try reaching out to them on Twitter (@CA_EDD) with your claim number and a brief summary. Sometimes their social media team can escalate cases that have been stuck for years. It's worth a shot while you're gathering documents for the assembly member route. Keep fighting for what you're owed - $4,750 is serious money and you shouldn't have to eat that loss because of their administrative confusion!

Reading through all these responses, I'm struck by how many people went through similar experiences with EDD during the pandemic - it really shows how broken the system was. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is that you might want to check if your restaurant filed for PPP loans or other pandemic relief programs. Sometimes there's documentation in those filings about exactly when and why the business closed due to COVID, which could be helpful evidence for your case. Also, when you contact your assembly member's office, be prepared for it to take some time - from what I've heard, they're still working through backlogs of EDD cases from the pandemic era. But the fact that you never received ANY payments despite initial approval really does make your case stand out. That's not just a dispute over eligibility - that's a clear administrative failure that should have been caught and corrected. Don't let anyone tell you to "just move on" from this. You were put through bureaucratic hell during one of the most stressful times in recent history, and you deserve answers about what happened to your approved benefits. The money would obviously help, but beyond that, you have a right to understand why the system failed you so badly.