EDD Disqualification Appeal Process - Step by Step Help Needed

omg the EXACT same thing happened to me last month!! my boss fired me but EDD said i quit?? makes NO sense. I sent in my appeal with a 2-page letter explaining EVERYTHING and attached emails from HR confirming i was laid off. still waiting to hear back tho, its been like 3 weeks ugh

I successfully appealed a disqualification last year. Here's what you need to do: 1. Fill out the DE 1000M completely, paying special attention to Section B where you explain WHY you disagree with the determination. 2. Be specific but concise - explain that you were laid off due to budget cuts, not a voluntary quit. 3. Attach copies (NOT originals) of any documentation: layoff notice, emails from manager, severance paperwork, etc. 4. Make copies of EVERYTHING before sending. 5. Send via certified mail so you have proof of receipt. After you submit, you'll eventually get a hearing date. This is usually by phone these days. Prepare your testimony and have all your documents ready during the hearing. The judge will ask questions and let you present your case.

No, at the appeal hearing you'll be talking to an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ), not the same EDD worker who made the initial determination. The judge is independent and will review your case from scratch. Usually the employer representative will also be on the call. One thing to note - KEEP CERTIFYING FOR BENEFITS during your appeal process! If you win, they'll pay you for those weeks, but only if you've been certifying regularly.

Unfortunately if you stopped certifying, you might lose those weeks. You can try explaining at your hearing that you didn't know you needed to continue certifying, but it's at the judge's discretion whether they'll allow retroactive certification.

i appeald mine 4 months ago still havent got a hearing lol good luck with edd there so backed up

I was in your exact situation earlier this year. Had a disqualification for supposedly quitting when I was actually laid off. The appeals process took forever because I couldn't get through to anyone at EDD to check on my appeal status. After weeks of trying to call and constantly getting the "we're experiencing high call volume" message, I found this service called Claimyr that got me through to an EDD rep in about 25 minutes. They basically keep dialing for you and alert you when they get through. Saved me hours of frustration. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km and their site is claimyr.com Once I got through to EDD, I found out my appeal was actually scheduled but they had sent the notice to my old address. Was able to get everything sorted and eventually won my appeal.

Yeah it definitely worked for me. I was skeptical too but after trying to get through for weeks on my own I was desperate. Got connected to an EDD rep who was actually helpful and fixed my address in their system so I'd receive my hearing notice.

Everyone keeps talking about documentation but dont forget WITNESSES. If any coworkers saw you get laid off or heard manager talk about budget cuts, get their contact info!! The judge actually called my former team lead during my hearing and her testimony was what won my case!!!

just my 2 cents but i think DETAILED is better than brief on the appeal form...i wrote a whole page explaining my situation and won my appeal. rather give too much info than too little!

One more important thing: prepare for your hearing by writing down key points you want to make. During mine, I got nervous and almost forgot to mention an important email that proved my case. Also, the judge will ask if you've received the appeal packet before the hearing - make sure you review it thoroughly as it contains the evidence EDD is using against you. And remember, the burden of proof is on the employer to show you quit voluntarily. If they don't show up to the hearing (which happens often), your chances of winning increase significantly.

My appeal took 7 weeks from filing to hearing date in 2025, but I've heard it can be anywhere from 4-12 weeks depending on backlog. The decision usually comes about 1-2 weeks after hearing. One tip nobody mentioned: if you win, don't expect payment right away. Mine took another 10 days to process after the favorable decision letter arrived.

I went through this exact same process 6 months ago and won my appeal! Here's what I wish someone had told me from the start: 1. **Timeline matters** - you only have 30 days from the date on your disqualification notice to file your appeal, so don't delay. 2. **BE VERY SPECIFIC** on the DE 1000M form. Don't just write "I was laid off" - write something like "I was notified on [date] by my supervisor [name] that my position was being eliminated due to company budget cuts. I did not resign or quit voluntarily." 3. **Organize your evidence** - create a simple timeline of events with supporting documents for each point. This will help both with your written appeal and the hearing. 4. **Practice your story** - you'll need to clearly explain what happened during the hearing. Practice telling your story in a logical order without getting emotional (even though it's frustrating!). The good news is that if you truly were laid off and have documentation, these cases are usually winnable. The key is being thorough and organized. You've got this! Let me know if you need help organizing your timeline or have other questions.

I just went through this nightmare last year and want to share a few things that really helped me win my case: **Documentation is EVERYTHING** - I collected every piece of paper I could find: my layoff notice, the email chain about budget cuts, even my final paycheck stub that showed "layoff" instead of "termination." The more official documents you have, the stronger your case. **Don't assume EDD has your employment records** - they often don't have the full picture and rely heavily on what your former employer reported. This is why YOUR evidence is so crucial. **Write a cover letter with your appeal** - I included a one-page summary explaining exactly what happened, referencing the attached documents. Something like "As evidenced by the attached layoff notice dated X, email from manager dated Y, etc., I was involuntarily separated due to company budget constraints, not voluntary resignation." **Keep detailed records going forward** - document every interaction with EDD, keep copies of everything you send them, and note dates/times of phone calls. The whole process took about 2 months for me but was 100% worth it. Once I got to the hearing and presented my evidence, the judge overturned the decision within a week. Stay organized and persistent - you can definitely win this if you were truly laid off!