EDD Appeals backlog - 8 months waiting with no hearing date

Unfortunately, the appeals backlog has gotten much worse in 2025. I filed my appeal last December and just had my hearing last month - so about 10 months of waiting. The judge told me they're processing appeals from about 9-12 months ago right now. The system is completely overwhelmed since the economic downturn earlier this year. Your best bet is to call the Appeals Division directly at 1-800-300-5616 (not the regular EDD number) and ask for a status update on your case. Sometimes they can tell you approximately which month of appeals they're currently scheduling.

they told me 12-14 weeks back in july when i filed mine... now its november and still nothing lol guess they were lying

I know how frustrating this is! I waited 9 months for my hearing date last year, and what helped me was contacting my state assembly member's office. They have EDD liaisons who can sometimes get information or nudge things along. It didn't speed up my hearing dramatically, but at least I got a firm date about 3 weeks after I reached out to them. In the meantime, you should double-check that all your appeal documentation is complete and properly submitted. Make sure to keep a copy of EVERYTHING. When you finally get your hearing, be super prepared with all your evidence organized chronologically. The judge appreciated that I had everything ready to go, and I won my appeal despite my employer fighting it hard.

just give up man, edd is a joke. i waited 11 months for my appeal and then the judge sided with my employer anyway even though they were clearly lying. total waste of time

After waiting for 6 months for my appeal hearing I was about to lose my mind!!! I couldn't get through to anyone at EDD ever. Someone in another forum told me about Claimyr.com and it ACTUALLY WORKED. They connected me to an EDD rep in about 20 minutes when I'd been trying for days on my own. The rep couldn't speed up my hearing but at least gave me a real update on my case status and confirmed they had all my documents. You can see how it works in their video demo: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km - seriously made things so much less stressful just to talk to an actual human at EDD.

EDD Appeals Administrative Law Judge here (not representing EDD officially, just providing information): The current wait time for appeals is indeed 8-10 months in most cases. This is not normal historically, but it is the current reality. The Appeals Board is severely understaffed and the current caseload is unprecedented. A few points that might help: 1. Make sure your contact information is up-to-date with both EDD and the Appeals Board (these are separate systems). 2. If you've moved or changed phone numbers since filing your appeal, call the Appeals office directly to update your info. 3. Continue to certify for benefits while waiting for your appeal if you're eligible. If you win your appeal, you can receive backpay for weeks properly certified. 4. As mentioned, contacting your state representative can sometimes help, though they can't drastically change the timeline. 5. Ensure all your documentation is submitted to the Appeals Board, not just to EDD. When you do get your hearing notice, you'll typically have 2-3 weeks notice before the hearing date. Be prepared and organized - this significantly increases your chances of success.

I was in the exact same situation last year with my appeal. After waiting 7 months with no date, I started calling every single week on Monday morning at exactly 8:00 AM when they open. It took about 3 weeks of this strategy, but I finally got through to someone who actually looked up my case. Turns out there was a paperwork issue where they needed additional documentation that they never notified me about! Once I provided that, I got a hearing date within 3 weeks. One thing that really helped me win my appeal was getting written statements from two former coworkers who were laid off at the same time. The judge specifically mentioned this corroborating evidence in his decision. If you know anyone who can support your claim that it was a layoff, get their statements in writing ASAP. Don't give up! The system is incredibly frustrating but persistence does eventually pay off.

anyone know if u have to attend these hearings in person or can u do it over the phone? cant take more time off from my new job

One thing that hasn't been mentioned yet - make sure you're checking both your online EDD portal AND your physical mail. Some appeal notices only come through mail, not electronically. I almost missed my hearing because I was only checking my online account. Also, if your hearing is scheduled by phone, they'll call exactly at the appointed time, and if you miss that call, it can be very difficult to get rescheduled. I'd recommend taking the entire day off work for your hearing date once you get it.