EDD Appeals Hearing in 3 days - moved out of state & need proof for PUA gig worker claim

I had a PUA appeal last year and can offer some tips. First, call EDD *immediately* to request the hearing be conducted by phone. Given your relocation, they should accommodate this. For evidence, you need documentation of the following: 1) Your gig employment (the 1099s you mentioned) 2) School closure documentation - get a letter/email from your children's school confirming virtual learning dates 3) Medical documentation for your high-risk parent - a letter from their doctor stating they were high-risk for COVID complications (no specific diagnosis needed) 4) A written statement explaining why you qualified under PUA guidelines The judge will primarily want to verify you were actually a gig worker and had valid COVID-related reasons for not working. Be very specific about dates in your testimony.

omg ur stressing for no reason lol. my roomate had this same thing happen. just call and tell them u moved! they'll reschedule the hearing. they cant expect u to teleport back to cali in 3 days haha

Having gone through an EDD appeal myself, I can tell you that getting through to someone at EDD quickly is your top priority. If you're struggling to reach them (which is likely), try using Claimyr (claimyr.com). They help you bypass the EDD phone maze and get connected to an actual agent. There's a video demo here: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km I was skeptical at first but it saved me hours of redial hell. They got me through to EDD in about 20 minutes when I had been trying for days on my own. In your situation with the hearing so close, I wouldn't waste time trying to call directly.

THEY ARE DOING THIS TO EVERYONE WHO HAD PUA!!! Its a MASSIVE WITCH HUNT to try to claw back money from people who actually needed it!!! I got the same stupid hearing notice and they disqualified me even though I had LEGITIMATE reasons not to work. The system is RIGGED against us!!! They made the PUA rules impossible to follow on purpose just to take the money back now. Get ready to fight because they're going to try to say you owe them EVERYTHING BACK with penalties!!!

PUA appeals are tricky but not impossible to win. I've been through this exact situation. For your kids' virtual learning, check if the school district has an official notice on their website about COVID closures during that period - print that as evidence. For your high-risk parent, a current doctor's letter should work if it mentions their condition existed during 2020-2021. For the hearing itself: be organized, be honest, and don't ramble. Have your documents numbered and ready to reference. When they ask questions, answer directly without going off-topic. Take notes during the hearing. And yes, you can ABSOLUTELY attend by phone. Call the number on your hearing notice immediately to arrange this. If you can't get through, keep calling or try contacting the Appeals Board directly (not regular EDD).

my cousin did his hearing on zoom last yr. he was nervous but judge was actually nice. they mostly just asked him questions bout why he couldnt work n stuff. he won his case n didnt have to pay anything back. just be honest n ull be fine

One more important thing - make sure to request all the documents EDD is using against you before the hearing. This is called your "case file" and you have a right to see it. Ask for this when you call to arrange the phone hearing. You need to know what you're defending against. Also, PUA had specific eligibility criteria. Your situation sounds like it would fall under the "primary caregiver for children whose school closed due to COVID" and possibly "unable to reach workplace due to COVID quarantine advice for vulnerable household member." Make sure to specifically use these terms during your hearing. Hearings typically last 30-60 minutes, but be prepared for up to 2 hours just in case.

Has anyone ever gotten a favorable judgment when unable to provide proof of kids' virtual school? Our district was so chaotic during covid that I never saved any of those emails...

Make sure to be crystal clear about the timeline. The judge will want specific dates when: - You were actively working as a gig driver before COVID - When you stopped due to school closures/vulnerable parent - Any periods you worked partially - When you returned to work I'd create a simple one-page timeline with these dates and events to reference during your hearing. Keep it fact-based and concise. Regarding your parent, medical privacy laws prevent EDD from demanding detailed medical records. A doctor's letter stating "Patient X has condition(s) that made them high-risk for COVID complications during 2020-2021" should suffice.

wait, I'm confused about something... i thought PUA was only for ppl who lost work directly bc of covid? did school closures actually count as a valid reason?

I went through a similar PUA appeal last year after moving states - here's what saved me: 1. Call EDD Appeals Board directly at (916) 653-0293 instead of the regular EDD number. They handle hearing logistics and are usually easier to reach. 2. For your gig work proof, if you have the platform's app still installed, try to screenshot your driver profile/history. Some platforms keep records longer than others. 3. Don't panic about "perfect" documentation. I won my case with: my 1099, a simple letter from my kid's school district (I called their main office and they emailed me a standard COVID closure confirmation), and my own written statement explaining the timeline. 4. During the hearing, stick to the facts and don't over-explain. The judge asked me maybe 6-7 questions total, mostly about dates and my work situation. The key is proving you were legitimately working before COVID and had valid reasons to stop. Your situation with both childcare needs AND a high-risk household member actually strengthens your case since you had multiple qualifying reasons. You've got this!