Denied EDD benefits - can I appeal dismissal due to childcare crisis?

YES, definitely appeal! You have what sounds like a good case for "good cause." EDD typically considers childcare emergencies as potentially valid reasons for missing work, especially if you tried to make arrangements and communicated with your employer. File your appeal within 30 days of the date on your disqualification notice. The form is called "Appeal Form (DE 1000M)." Make sure you clearly explain that your absence wasn't voluntary - you had a childcare emergency beyond your control. Include any documentation you have about: - Your sister moving suddenly - Daycare quotes showing the costs - Any texts/emails with your employer explaining the situation - Court documents about the child support situation During the appeal hearing, focus on how you did everything possible to maintain your job but faced an impossible situation due to childcare breakdown and financial hardship.

I had a similar situation last year and WON my appeal. The key is to show that you had "good cause" for your absences and that you made reasonable efforts to preserve your job. Here's what worked for me: 1) Request your employment records through HR to see if they noted your explanations 2) Submit a detailed timeline of events showing how suddenly your childcare fell through 3) Emphasize any attempts you made to find alternative arrangements 4) During the hearing, be very specific about costs ($1800/mo is clearly prohibitive on most salaries) Most EDD judges are understanding of legitimate childcare emergencies, especially with the current daycare shortage in California. Stay calm during the hearing and stick to the facts about why you had no reasonable alternative.

my sister got denied 2 and she got approved after appeal they alwys deny people the first time its like there system I swear they hope u just give up and not appeal

When I had problems with EDD and needed to talk to someone, I used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) and it actually worked to get me connected to an EDD rep. You know how impossible it is to get through on those phone lines normally - I spent DAYS trying. Claimyr bypassed all that waiting and had an EDD agent call ME. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km In your case, might be worth connecting with an actual person at EDD before your appeal to understand exactly what you need to submit. The rep I spoke with explained things that weren't clear from the website.

THEY ALWAYS DO THIS!!! The EDD automatically denies ppl for any separation that isn't a straight layoff. The appeal process is DESIGNED to weed out people who don't have the time/energy to fight back. I've been thru 3 appeals over the years (won them all) and it's INFURIATING how they treat people. The "voluntary quit" rules are so messed up. They don't recognize that childcare emergencies ARE REAL EMERGENCIES. Like what were you supposed to do?? Leave your CHILD ALONE?? The system is broken and biased against parents!!! And btw the judges are hit or miss. Some are reasonable humans who understand life happens. Others act like robots who've never faced a real problem. DOCUMENT EVERYTHING and be ready to fight!!!

this happened to my cousin too. she missed work bcuz her babysitter quit and she got fired. she first got denied but then she went to the appeal hearing and told them that she had no childcare options and was a single mom. they approved her benefits after that. just be honest about your situation and bring any proof you have about the daycare costs and your ex not paying child support.

One important thing regarding appeals - you should continue to certify for benefits while your appeal is pending! Many people don't realize this. Even though you're currently disqualified, if you win your appeal, EDD will only pay you for weeks you properly certified for. Go to your UI Online account and keep certifying every two weeks. Answer truthfully but don't add any unnecessary comments in the text fields. If you win your appeal, you'll get backpay for all those weeks. If you lose, you simply won't get paid, but you haven't lost anything by continuing to certify.

i know someone how works at edd and they said they have to deny u for missing work even if u had good reason but then the appeal people can approve u if u had no choice

For your appeal hearing, prepare a one-page outline of your main points. The judges appreciate concise, organized presentations. Make sure to specifically address: 1. The sudden nature of your childcare loss (your sister moving) 2. The prohibitive cost of alternative care ($1800+/month) 3. Your attempts to work with your employer to find a solution 4. The fact that your absence wasn't misconduct but a legitimate family emergency Make copies of all your evidence for the judge. Speak clearly and don't interrupt. Appeals usually take about 30-45 minutes, and you'll likely get a decision by mail within 2-3 weeks after the hearing.

i got dinied benefets becase i got fired for being late but it was only like 5 times in 2 months. the intrvewer didnt even care about my car problemz. idk if appeels even work lol

I went through a very similar situation about 6 months ago and won my appeal! My daycare closed suddenly due to COVID issues and I had to miss work while scrambling to find new care. Initial denial, but the appeal judge was very understanding. A few things that really helped my case: - I had documentation showing I immediately started looking for alternative childcare (emails, calls to daycares, etc.) - I could prove the financial impossibility of the available options on my salary - I showed I communicated proactively with my employer about the emergency The judge specifically said that "good cause" includes situations where you have no reasonable alternative to missing work. A parent can't abandon their child - that's not a realistic option. One tip: if your employer has an employee handbook, get a copy. Sometimes they have policies about emergency leave or accommodations that they didn't follow properly in your case. That can strengthen your appeal. You've got this! The appeal process is definitely worth it, especially with the documentation you mentioned having.

I'm in a very similar boat right now - just filed my appeal last week after getting denied for "voluntary quit" when I had to leave my job due to my elderly mother's sudden health crisis requiring full-time care. The initial EDD interview felt like they had already made up their mind before I even explained my situation. From what I've researched and heard from others, childcare emergencies are actually one of the stronger "good cause" arguments for appeals. The fact that you have documentation about daycare costs and your attempts to work with your employer puts you in a much better position than many people who appeal. One thing I learned - make sure you emphasize during the hearing that this wasn't a choice between work and convenience, but between work and your child's safety/wellbeing. No reasonable person expects a parent to leave a toddler unsupervised, and the system recognizes this (even if the initial reviewers don't always seem to). Also, if you haven't already, try to get a letter or statement from your sister confirming the sudden nature of her move and how little notice she gave you. Having third-party confirmation of the timeline can really help establish that this was truly an emergency situation beyond your control. Keep us posted on how it goes - stories like yours and the successful appeals others have shared here give hope to those of us fighting similar battles with the system.

I'm so glad you're getting encouragement from everyone here - it really does sound like you have a strong case for appeal! I wanted to add one more thing that might help: when you're preparing your documentation, try to create a clear timeline showing the progression from when your sister told you she was moving to when you were terminated. Something like: - Date sister gave notice she was moving - Dates you contacted daycares/babysitters - Dates you informed your employer about the situation - Dates of the absences that led to termination Having everything laid out chronologically really helps show that you were being proactive and responsible throughout the crisis, not just missing work without good reason. It demonstrates that this was a genuine emergency that unfolded quickly, not poor planning on your part. Also, if you have any text messages or emails from that time period showing your stress about the situation or your efforts to find solutions, include those too. They add a human element that can help the judge understand the impossible position you were in. You've got so much support here and it sounds like you're taking all the right steps. Don't let the system intimidate you - you deserve those benefits!

I work for a nonprofit that helps people navigate benefit appeals and I see cases like yours regularly. You definitely have grounds for a successful appeal! The key phrase you want to emphasize is "compelling personal circumstances" - which is exactly what a sudden childcare crisis represents. A few strategic points for your appeal: 1. Frame this as an emergency beyond your control, not a lifestyle choice 2. Highlight that $1800/month for daycare would likely exceed your take-home pay from that job 3. Show that abandoning your child wasn't a legal or safe option 4. Document your good faith efforts to preserve employment despite the crisis I'd also recommend calling 211 (the community resource hotline) to ask about free/low-cost legal clinics that help with unemployment appeals. Some areas have volunteer attorneys who specialize in these cases and can coach you through the hearing process. Your situation is exactly why the "good cause" exception exists. Don't let the initial denial discourage you - the appeal process has different reviewers who are typically more thorough in considering individual circumstances. Stay strong and fight this!