Denied EDD claim - going through the appeal process - need advice!

I appealed a disqualification last year and won. Here's what worked for me: 1. File your appeal IMMEDIATELY - don't wait the full 30 days 2. In your appeal letter, clearly explain why you believe your situation qualifies as "constructive discharge" (basically forced resignation) 3. Gather evidence of your hours being cut - pay stubs, schedules, any emails about reduced hours 4. If you have any texts/emails showing you asked for more hours before quitting, include those 5. Document any financial hardship the reduced hours caused The hearing itself was over the phone with an Administrative Law Judge. It was pretty formal but not like a courtroom drama. My employer didn't even show up to contest it (which helped). The whole process took about 8 weeks from appeal to decision. Good luck!

i got denied 2 they said i was fired for misconduct but i wasnt!!! the hearing was scary ngl judge asked me a bunch of questions and my old boss was there saying all kinds of lies about me. make sure u have PROOF of everything dont just say stuff u need evidence

I successfully appealed my disqualification. The key is understanding that in California, a significant reduction in hours (over 20%) can qualify as "good cause" to quit if it creates substantial hardship. This is called "constructive discharge" as mentioned above. For your appeal hearing: - Dress professionally and be respectful - Stick to facts, not emotions - Clearly explain the financial impact (bring budget documents if possible) - Have documentation of your previous schedule vs. reduced hours - Bring any evidence showing you attempted to resolve the issue before quitting The judge will likely ask very specific questions about dates, times, conversations, etc. Be prepared with a timeline of events. Good luck!

The EDD is DESIGNED to deny people!! They automatically say no hoping you'll just give up and go away. Appeal appeal appeal!! They count on most people not fighting back. I've been through TWO appeals and won both times.

As someone who's helped many clients with EDD appeals, here's my advice for your specific situation: Your case comes down to proving "constructive discharge" - meaning your employer essentially forced you to quit by making working conditions intolerable (in this case, by drastically reducing your hours). For the appeal: 1. Submit the appeal form (DE 1000M) ASAP 2. Include a detailed statement explaining EXACTLY why you had to quit - focus on the financial impossibility of continuing 3. Calculate the percentage reduction in hours and resulting income loss 4. Document any attempts to resolve the situation before quitting 5. Bring copies of EVERYTHING to the hearing (pay stubs, schedules, communications) The ALJ (Administrative Law Judge) will examine whether a reasonable person in your situation would have felt compelled to quit. Be prepared to answer detailed questions about your financial obligations and why the reduced hours created genuine hardship. Appeals typically take 6-10 weeks to schedule, and you'll receive your hearing notice in the mail with the date/time. Continue certifying for benefits while waiting for your appeal!

I got denied too last month and I'm still trying to figure out how to reach someone at EDD to explain my situation before my appeal. Been calling for DAYS and can't get through to anyone. So frustrating!!!

Just wanted to update everyone - I submitted my appeal yesterday with all the documentation you all suggested! Included my work schedules showing the hour reduction, texts with my manager where I begged for more hours, and a detailed explanation of why I couldn't financially survive on the reduced schedule. Now I guess I just wait for the hearing date? Should I be doing anything else while I wait?

my cousin had the same thing happen she won her appeal by showing her bills and proving she couldnt survive on the reduced hours. good luck!!!!

One final piece of advice: during your hearing, if the ALJ asks if you would have remained employed had your hours not been reduced, make sure to clearly state YES. This is crucial because it establishes that the reduction in hours was the sole reason for your separation, not that you simply wanted to leave the job. The legal standard they're looking at is whether a reasonable person in your situation would have felt compelled to quit. The significant reduction in hours (going from 38 to 12) should qualify as good cause, but you need to articulate clearly how this made it impossible to meet your basic financial obligations. Also, if you haven't already, calculate exactly what percentage reduction in pay this represented. A 68% reduction in hours will make a strong impression on the judge.

I went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago - hour reduction from full-time to part-time and EDD initially denied my claim saying I "voluntarily quit." I won my appeal and here's what really helped me: The magic phrase you want to use is "constructive discharge due to substantial change in working conditions." When they cut your hours from 38 to 12, that's a 68% reduction which is WAY beyond what's considered reasonable. For your hearing preparation: - Create a simple chart showing your before/after hours and pay - List your monthly expenses to show the financial impossibility - Bring any documentation showing you tried to get more hours before quitting - Practice explaining calmly why a reasonable person couldn't survive on 12 hours/week The hearing was actually less scary than I expected. The judge asked straightforward questions about the timeline and my financial situation. My former employer didn't even show up. The whole thing took maybe 20 minutes over the phone. One tip: when they ask if you looked for other work before quitting, be honest about your efforts but emphasize that you hoped the hour reduction was temporary and tried to make it work first. You've got a strong case with that significant of an hour reduction! Keep us posted on how it goes.

I'm new to this community but going through a similar situation right now. My employer reduced my hours from 40 to 15 per week and when I filed for unemployment, they're claiming I "abandoned my job" because I stopped showing up after two weeks of the reduced schedule. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful - I had no idea about the "constructive discharge" concept or that a 20%+ reduction could qualify as good cause. I'm definitely going to appeal my denial. Quick question for those who've been through this - how long after filing the appeal did you get your hearing date? I'm worried about how long I'll be without any income while waiting for the process to play out. Also, did anyone here use any legal aid services or did you all handle the appeals yourselves? Thank you all for sharing your experiences - it's giving me hope that I can fight this successfully!