EDD Appeals Hearing by Phone - How to Prepare and What to Expect?

I went through an appeal hearing last month for a similar issue. Here's what you should expect: 1. It IS like a court proceeding. There will be an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) who conducts the hearing. 2. The EDD will have a representative present who argues their case for your disqualification. 3. You'll be sworn in and testifying under oath. 4. Prepare ALL documentation that proves you conducted your work searches - emails to employers, confirmation emails, screenshots of applications, a list of contacts with dates, etc. 5. The hearing usually lasts 30-45 minutes but can go longer. My best advice: Be extremely organized with your documentation. Write out a timeline of events. Practice explaining your situation clearly and concisely. The judge doesn't want a rambling story - they want facts. Also, don't interrupt the judge or EDD rep when they're speaking. Good luck!

i had 1 of these last yr. it was WAY less formal than i thought it would b. judge was actually pretty nice. but definitely have ur docs ready!!! they asked me specific dates of when i applied to jobs & i blanked on some. DON'T DO THAT lol

After multiple attempts trying to get through to EDD to ask questions about my appeal, I found this service called Claimyr that got me connected to an actual EDD representative in less than 20 minutes. They basically call EDD for you and then call you when they get through. I was able to ask all my questions about the appeal process and what documentation I needed. Saved me days of frustration. Their site is claimyr.com and they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km Definitely recommend it if you need to speak with EDD before your hearing to clarify anything.

I recommend sending ALL your documentation to the Appeals Board at least 7 days before your hearing. While you can present evidence during the hearing, judges prefer to review materials beforehand. You'll be at a disadvantage if you wait. Also, if your disqualification was specifically about inadequate work search activities, focus on proving: • The specific number of job contacts you made each week • Details of each contact (company name, position, date, method of contact) • Any responses you received • How you tracked your search activities The judge will likely ask you about your job search methods and frequency. Be prepared to explain your understanding of the work search requirements and how you complied with them. If you can demonstrate a good-faith effort to maintain records but perhaps misunderstood exactly what documentation was required, you have a better chance. Lastly, be respectful and professional throughout the hearing, even if the EDD representative says something you disagree with. You'll have your chance to respond.

DONT GET UR HOPES UP!!!! EDD ALWAYS SIDES WITH EMPLOYERS!!! I presented ALL my documentation, had EVERYTHING in order, and still lost because the "judge" had clearly made up their mind before we even started. The whole appeal process is a JOKE designed to make you think you have a chance. Complete waste of my time!!!!!

Hey there, I had my appeal hearing about 6 weeks ago for a similar issue. One thing nobody mentioned yet - be ready for delays. My hearing was scheduled for 2pm but didn't actually start until almost 3pm. Make sure you're somewhere quiet where you can talk freely for at least 2 hours just in case. Also, the judge asked me very specific questions about each job application I mentioned, including things like: - The exact job title I applied for - Name of the hiring manager if I knew it - What qualifications I had for that specific position - Whether I followed up after applying I wasn't prepared for that level of detail and definitely stumbled on some answers. I'd recommend making detailed notes about each job application so you can quickly reference them during the call. In my case, I won the appeal because I could prove I made the minimum number of job contacts each week, even though my documentation wasn't perfect.

does anyone know if these hearings are recorded? im so nervus about mine next month im afraid ill say something wrong

Just wanted to thank everyone for all this great advice! I feel much more prepared now. I've started organizing all my job search records and creating a timeline like suggested. I'm also going to try calling EDD using that Claimyr service to get clarity on a few things before the hearing. One last question - does anyone know if I should dress up even though it's a phone hearing? Sounds silly but I want to take this seriously!

I had my EDD appeal hearing about 4 months ago and won! Here are a few additional tips that really helped me: 1. **Test your phone setup beforehand** - Make sure you have good reception and consider using a landline if possible. Cell phone drops during the hearing can hurt your case. 2. **Prepare an opening statement** - Write out 2-3 sentences summarizing why you believe the disqualification was wrong. The judge will ask you to explain your position right at the start. 3. **Keep water nearby** - These hearings can be longer than expected and talking for 45+ minutes straight can make your voice hoarse. 4. **Don't admit fault unnecessarily** - Focus on what you DID do for your job search rather than apologizing for what you didn't document properly. Frame it as "I completed my required job searches but may not have understood the documentation requirements." 5. **Write down the judge's name** - They'll introduce themselves at the beginning. Using their name when addressing them shows respect. The fact that you're preparing this early puts you ahead of most people. You've got this! The judges really do listen to the evidence, despite what some people say. Just be honest, organized, and professional.

I went through an EDD appeal hearing about 8 months ago for a work search issue and wanted to add a couple things that really helped me: **Bring a pen and paper** - Take notes during the hearing, especially when the EDD representative is speaking. You can reference these notes when it's your turn to respond to their arguments. **Practice explaining your situation out loud** - I spent time beforehand actually saying my explanation out loud to my mirror. It sounds silly but it helped me speak more clearly and confidently during the actual hearing. **Know the specific work search requirements** - Make sure you understand exactly what the law required (like how many contacts per week) so you can clearly explain how you met those requirements. **Don't be afraid to ask for clarification** - If the judge asks a question you don't understand, it's totally fine to ask them to repeat it or clarify what they're looking for. The judge in my case was actually very patient and seemed genuinely interested in understanding my situation. I think being well-prepared and respectful goes a long way. Good luck with your hearing!

I had my EDD appeal hearing about 2 months ago and it was honestly much less intimidating than I expected! A few things that really helped me prepare: **Create a simple timeline document** - I made a one-page timeline showing exactly when I applied for jobs, what the EDD requirements were during that period, and when I submitted my work search logs. Having everything laid out chronologically really helped me stay organized during questioning. **Practice your "elevator pitch"** - Be ready to explain in 30 seconds or less why you believe the disqualification was wrong. The judge will likely ask this right after you're sworn in. **Have backup documentation** - Even if you think you've sent everything, bring extra copies of confirmation emails, screenshots, etc. I ended up referencing things during the hearing that I hadn't originally planned to discuss. The whole process took about 40 minutes for me, and the judge was very professional and fair. I won my appeal because I could demonstrate that I genuinely made good faith efforts to comply with the work search requirements, even though my record-keeping wasn't perfect. You're already on the right track by preparing early. Stay calm, stick to the facts, and remember that the judge wants to understand your situation - they're not trying to trip you up. You've got this!

I just wanted to add something that helped me tremendously during my appeal hearing last year - **prepare for the "gotcha" questions**. The EDD representative will likely try to poke holes in your job search activities by asking things like: - "Why didn't you follow up on this particular application?" - "How do you explain this gap between applications?" - "What made you think this job was suitable for your qualifications?" Don't let these questions rattle you! Have honest answers ready. In my case, I admitted that I didn't follow up on every single application but explained that I focused my follow-ups on positions that seemed like the best fit, which is a reasonable job search strategy. Also, if you made ANY mistake in your documentation or process, acknowledge it briefly but then immediately pivot to what you DID do correctly. For example: "You're right that I didn't save that particular confirmation email, but as you can see from these other documents, I consistently applied to X number of jobs each week and maintained records of my search activities." The key is showing you made genuine efforts to comply with the requirements, even if your approach wasn't perfect. Good luck - you're going to do great!

I went through an EDD appeal hearing about 5 months ago and won! Reading through all these responses brings back memories - you're getting excellent advice here. One thing I'd add that really helped me was **creating a simple one-page summary sheet** with all my key information: - My case number and hearing details at the top - Total number of job searches I completed each week - Brief explanation of why I believe the disqualification was wrong - List of my strongest pieces of evidence with page numbers Having this summary right in front of me during the call helped me stay focused and confident. When the judge asked specific questions, I could quickly reference my notes without fumbling through papers. Also, don't underestimate the power of a strong closing statement. At the end, the judge will ask if you have anything else to add. I prepared 2-3 sentences summarizing why I deserved benefits and thanking them for their time. It felt like a good way to end on a positive, professional note. The hearing process is definitely nerve-wracking, but you're clearly taking it seriously and preparing well. That alone puts you in a much better position than many claimants. Stay organized, be honest, and trust that the judge will listen to your evidence fairly. You've got this!

I had my EDD appeal hearing about 3 months ago for a work search disqualification and wanted to share what worked for me. Here are some key things that made a difference: **Before the hearing:** - I called EDD using that Claimyr service someone mentioned (totally worth it!) to clarify what specific documentation they needed - Created a detailed spreadsheet of every job I applied to with dates, company names, positions, and method of contact - Practiced explaining my situation in 2-3 clear sentences **During the hearing:** - The judge was actually very fair and patient - not intimidating at all - They asked very specific questions about individual job applications, so having detailed records saved me - The EDD rep tried to argue I didn't meet requirements, but my documentation clearly showed I exceeded the minimum weekly contacts **Key tip:** Focus on demonstrating good faith effort rather than perfect record-keeping. I admitted my documentation wasn't perfect but showed I consistently made genuine efforts to find work and meet requirements. The whole process took about 50 minutes and I won the appeal. The judge said it was clear I made substantial efforts to comply with work search requirements. Don't let the formal process intimidate you - if you did the work searches, just be prepared to prove it with whatever documentation you have. You're already ahead of the game by preparing this thoroughly!

I'm new to this community but currently going through a similar situation - my EDD appeal hearing is scheduled for next week and I've been incredibly anxious about it. Reading through everyone's experiences and advice here has been SO helpful and reassuring! A few quick questions for those who've been through this: 1. For the documentation - I have screenshots from job sites showing my applications, but some are from my phone and the quality isn't great when printed. Should I try to get better copies or will they work? 2. I've seen conflicting info about whether to mail documents ahead of time vs just having them ready during the call. What did most of you do? 3. Did anyone have issues with the EDD representative being particularly aggressive or trying to trip you up? I'm worried about getting flustered if they're confrontational. I really appreciate how supportive everyone is being here. It's scary going through this process but knowing others have successfully navigated it gives me confidence. The timeline and summary sheet ideas are brilliant - definitely going to prepare those this weekend!

I just wanted to jump in and say thank you to everyone who has shared their experiences here! I'm also facing an EDD appeal hearing next month for a work search disqualification and this thread has been incredibly valuable. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet - has anyone dealt with a situation where you DID meet the minimum work search requirements but EDD is saying some of your job contacts weren't "suitable work" for your field? That's what happened in my case. I applied to jobs that were slightly outside my usual industry because I was trying to cast a wide net, but apparently EDD decided some weren't appropriate matches for my background. I'm wondering if anyone has experience with this specific type of challenge and what kind of documentation or arguments worked best? Should I focus on explaining why I thought those positions were reasonable options, or is it better to just emphasize that I exceeded the minimum number of contacts overall? Really appreciate all the detailed advice everyone has shared - the timeline document and summary sheet ideas are definitely going into my prep toolkit!

I went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago and can share some practical tips that really helped me succeed at my hearing: **Most important thing:** Create a detailed job search log if you don't already have one. Even if you didn't keep perfect records originally, go back through your email, browser history, and any job site accounts to reconstruct as much as possible. Include dates, company names, position titles, and how you applied. **Phone hearing specifics:** - Find a quiet location with strong cell service or use a landline - Have all your documents printed and organized in chronological order - Keep a glass of water nearby (you'll be talking a lot!) - Dress professionally even though they can't see you - it helps your mindset **What to expect:** - You'll be sworn in under oath - The judge will ask you to explain your position first - EDD rep will present their case against you - You'll get a chance to respond to their arguments - Judge may ask specific questions about individual job applications **Key strategy:** Don't just defend what you didn't do perfectly - emphasize what you DID do. Frame it as "I made genuine efforts to comply with work search requirements and applied to X jobs per week, consistently exceeding the minimum." The judge in my case was actually very fair and listened carefully to all the evidence. I won because I could demonstrate consistent effort, even though my documentation wasn't perfect. Stay calm, be honest, and stick to the facts. You're going to do great!

As someone who just went through this process last month, I wanted to add a few more practical tips that really made a difference for my hearing: **Create a "cheat sheet" with key dates and numbers** - Write down things like your claim start date, the specific weeks in question, total number of job contacts you made, and your case number. Having these basic facts at your fingertips helps you sound confident and prepared. **Practice your opening statement multiple times** - I rehearsed a 30-second explanation of my situation until I could say it smoothly. When you're nervous, it's easy to ramble, so having a concise version memorized really helps. **Don't be afraid to pause before answering** - If the judge or EDD rep asks a complex question, it's totally fine to say "Let me think about that for a moment" rather than rushing into an answer you're not confident about. **Prepare for the "why didn't you..." questions** - They might ask things like "why didn't you apply to more jobs in your field?" Have honest but positive responses ready that show you were being strategic, not lazy. The hearing was way less scary than I built it up to be in my head. The judge was professional and seemed genuinely interested in understanding my situation. I won my appeal because I could show consistent effort and good faith compliance with the requirements. You're already doing great by preparing this thoroughly - that puts you ahead of most people going into these hearings!