EDD accused me of false information - help with upcoming interview call?

same thing hapnd to me last month. dont panik till u know whats up. its usualy something small like dates not matching up or they confused ur work history. my issue was i put down wrong employer phone # by accident

This is actually pretty common and doesn't necessarily mean they're accusing you of intentional fraud. Most likely there's a discrepancy between the information you provided and what your employer reported. When you have your phone interview: 1. Have all your employment records ready (final paystubs, termination letter, etc.) 2. Be prepared to explain your work history in detail 3. Answer questions honestly - don't try to guess what they're looking for 4. Take notes during the call 5. Ask for clarification if you don't understand a question Remember that the EDD interviewer is trying to gather facts, not necessarily build a case against you. Stay calm and professional.

Dont even bother preparing LOL. EDD IS A JOKE!!! I had THREE "interviews" scheduled and they NEVER CALLED for any of them. Just kept rescheduling. Wasted SIX WEEKS of my time sitting by the phone for nothing. When they finally called my "false info" was that they thought I was working while collecting. I WASNT!!! Just their system messing up as usual.

I'm an employment attorney (though I can't offer specific legal advice here). These interviews are called eligibility determinations, and they happen for many reasons. The most common 'false information' flags in the system are: - Discrepancies between your stated reason for separation and your employer's report - Income reporting differences - Availability for work questions (if you stated limitations) - Work search requirement compliance Prepare for all possibilities since they likely won't tell you the specific issue beforehand. Be honest but concise in your answers. If they determine you made an unintentional mistake, the penalty is usually just repaying any overpayment. Intentional misrepresentation carries more significant penalties including disqualification periods.

If you need to actually reach EDD before your interview to get more info, good luck with that... I spent THREE DAYS trying to get through on their phone lines last month. Busy signals and disconnections constantly. Finally I used Claimyr (claimyr.com) and got through to a rep in about 20 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km The EDD rep was able to tell me exactly what the issue was with my claim before my interview, which gave me time to gather the right documentation. Totally worth it to be prepared rather than shocked during the actual interview.

I went through exactly this in March. My advice: don't overthink it! Mine turned out to be that I had accidentally put down that I started my last job in 2024 instead of 2023 (typo on my part). The interviewer was actually very nice about it, just verified the correct information, and that was that. No penalties or anything. Make sure you're by your phone at the scheduled time, though they called me 45 minutes after the scheduled time. Have your claim paperwork in front of you, but honestly, they'll just tell you what the issue is and ask for clarification.

Everyone saying 'dont worry its just a formality' has CLEARLY never had EDD mess up their claim totally. They can disqualify you for WEEKS for the smallest thing and good luck appealing. The system is designed to deny benefits. Trust me I know!!!

Quick update question: Has your UI Online account status changed at all? Sometimes you can see what the issue is by checking your claim history and looking for any weeks that have changed from paid to pending, or if there's a flag on specific certification questions. This might give you a clue about what they're concerned with.

If its about your reason for separation make sure you and your employer are saying the same thing! My boss told EDD I quit but I was actually laid off and it caused a whole investigation that took forever to resolve.

After your interview, they'll make a determination within about 7-10 days. If it's resolved in your favor, any pending payments will be released all at once. If they determine against you, you'll get a notice explaining why and how to appeal. The appeal process is actually pretty straightforward - just a written statement explaining why you disagree with their determination. Just take it step by step.

Hey Kayla, I went through something similar about 6 months ago and I totally understand the anxiety! In my case, it turned out to be a mismatch between the last day I worked and what I reported as my separation date. I had worked a half day on Friday but put Thursday as my last day because that's when I got the official notice. One thing that really helped me was creating a simple timeline with exact dates - last day worked, when I received notice, when benefits started, etc. Also gather any emails or documents from your employer about the layoff. The interviewer asked me very specific questions about dates and having everything written down in front of me made me feel much more confident. The whole process took about 2 weeks from interview to resolution, and they just had me clarify the correct dates. No penalties or anything scary. Try to stay calm - from what I've seen in this community, most of these turn out to be simple clerical issues rather than actual fraud accusations. You've got this!

I just wanted to add that if you're still feeling overwhelmed, it might help to write down a few key talking points before the interview. When I was in a similar situation, I found that having bullet points about my job loss, my work search efforts, and any potential dates that might be confusing really helped me stay focused during the call. Also, don't be afraid to ask the interviewer to repeat a question if you didn't understand it clearly. They'd rather have you ask for clarification than guess at what they're looking for. I made that mistake in my first EDD call and it just created more confusion. One last thing - make sure you're in a quiet place with good phone reception when they call. Mine was initially scheduled as a video call but they ended up just doing it over the phone, so don't stress about that part. You're going to do great!

I know this is super stressful, but try to remember that EDD processes thousands of these interviews every month and most of them are resolved without major issues. From what you've described, it sounds like you've been genuinely trying to follow all the rules. One thing I'd suggest is to call your former employer's HR department if possible and ask them what information they provided to EDD about your separation. Sometimes there are simple miscommunications - like they might have reported your last day differently than you did, or there could be confusion about whether you received severance pay that affected your benefit start date. Also, when you're on the call, don't volunteer extra information beyond what they're asking. Answer their specific questions clearly and honestly, but don't ramble or try to over-explain. I made that mistake and ended up confusing the situation more than helping it. You've got a whole community here rooting for you. Keep us posted on how it goes!

Hey Kayla, I went through this exact same thing about 3 months ago and I know how terrifying it feels! In my case, it turned out to be about my work search activities - I had been doing online applications but didn't keep detailed enough records of where I applied. The EDD rep was actually really professional and just walked me through what documentation they needed. A few things that helped me prepare: I made a list of every job I'd applied to with dates, printed out my termination letter and last few paystubs, and wrote down a timeline of exactly when I lost my job vs when I filed my claim. The interview lasted about 15 minutes and was way less intimidating than I expected. The waiting is definitely the worst part, but try not to assume the worst case scenario. Most of these interviews are just to clear up paperwork discrepancies, not to accuse people of fraud. You sound like you've been doing everything right, so just stay honest and prepared. Sending good vibes your way!

I just wanted to chime in with some encouragement - I can tell from your responses that you're being really thorough and proactive about preparing for this interview, which is exactly the right approach! The fact that you're gathering documents, creating timelines, and reaching out to your former employer shows that you're taking this seriously and have nothing to hide. One small thing that helped me during my interview was having a glass of water nearby. It sounds silly, but when you're nervous your mouth can get dry and it's hard to speak clearly. Also, if they ask you a question and you need a moment to think or check your notes, it's totally fine to say "let me just double-check that date for you" rather than guessing. From everything I've read in this thread, it really does sound like most of these situations get resolved pretty quickly once they clear up whatever small discrepancy triggered the review. You've got this, and we're all rooting for you! Please update us after your interview - I know a lot of us would love to hear how it goes.

I went through this exact situation last year and completely understand the panic! In my case, it turned out to be about the dates I reported for my last day of work versus when I actually received my final paycheck. My employer had me work through Friday but didn't process my final pay until the following Tuesday, and EDD flagged the discrepancy. A few practical tips for your interview: - Have your bank statements ready showing your last direct deposit from your employer - Write down the exact sequence of events: last day worked, when you got termination notice, when final pay came through, when you filed your claim - If you had any overlapping employment (like that contract job you mentioned), have those dates crystal clear The interviewer in my case was actually quite understanding once I explained the payroll timing difference. The whole thing was resolved within a week and my pending payments were released. Try to remember that their job is to verify information, not to trip you up. Stay calm, be precise with dates, and don't be afraid to say "let me double-check that" if you're unsure about something. You've got this!

I know everyone's already given you great advice, but I wanted to add one more thing that really helped me when I went through this - bring a pen and paper to take notes during the call! The interviewer told me some specific things I needed to follow up on, and I was so nervous I almost forgot the details afterward. Also, if they do find an issue and ask you to repay anything, don't panic. They usually set up payment plans that are very reasonable. In my case, I had accidentally double-reported some part-time income and owed back about $800, but they let me pay it back over 6 months with no interest or penalties since it was an honest mistake. You sound super prepared and responsible, and from all your responses it's clear you've been trying to do everything correctly. The vast majority of these interviews end up being simple clarifications. Try to get some rest the night before your call - being well-rested will help you think clearly and answer their questions confidently. You've got a whole community here supporting you!

Hey Kayla! I just wanted to add one more reassuring perspective - I had my EDD interview about 2 months ago and was absolutely terrified beforehand, but it ended up being one of the most straightforward government calls I've ever been on. The interviewer introduced herself, explained that they just needed to verify some information, and then asked very specific, factual questions. In my case, the issue was that I had reported my separation reason as "laid off" but my employer had told EDD it was a "workforce reduction" - same thing, just different terminology. The whole call took maybe 12 minutes and she was actually quite nice about it. One thing I wish someone had told me: they might ask you to verify your identity at the beginning with your SSN and birthdate, so have that ready. Also, they may reference specific weeks or dates, so having your original claim paperwork in front of you is super helpful. Reading through all these responses, it sounds like you're incredibly well-prepared. The fact that you care this much about getting it right tells me you're going to be just fine. This community has your back, and we'd love to hear how it goes! Wishing you the best of luck with your interview.