EDD appeal decision still pending after 5 weeks - normal wait time?
So I had my EDD appeal hearing 5 weeks ago and still haven't received any decision in my UI Online account. The judge seemed pretty fair during the hearing, and I thought decisions were supposed to come through within 7-14 days? I'm getting anxious checking my account every day and seeing nothing new. I've already found another job (thank goodness), so I'm not desperately waiting for the money, but the uncertainty is stressing me out. I just want this chapter closed, you know? Has anyone gone through the appeals process recently? How long did it take to get your decision after the hearing?
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Natasha Petrova
my appeal took 6 weeks to get a decision so ur still in the normal range. its crazy how they expect us to report everything instantly but they can take forever to make decisions lol
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Oliver Becker
•Thanks for sharing your timeline, that makes me feel a bit better. Did they notify you by mail or just update it in your online account?
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Javier Hernandez
The Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) is supposed to issue a written decision within 30 days after your hearing, but with the backlog of appeals, it's common to see delays of 4-8 weeks. If your appeal was relatively straightforward, you might hear back sooner. Complex cases with multiple witnesses or documentation issues typically take longer. You can try calling the Appeals Division at (800) 300-5616 to check on the status. Just be prepared to wait on hold for a while. The decision will be posted to your UI Online account and also mailed to you.
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Oliver Becker
•Thank you for the detailed explanation. I'll give them another week before I try calling. It was a pretty simple case about availability for work when I had some temporary health issues, so hopefully that means it's more straightforward.
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Emma Davis
I went through an appeal in January and it took exactly 7 weeks to get my decision. I was checking my UI Online account daily and nothing changed, then one day I got a letter in the mail with the decision (I won!). About 3 days AFTER receiving the physical letter, my UI Online account finally updated. So don't just rely on the online system - watch your mailbox too. If you're stressed about it, I'd recommend using Claimyr to connect with an EDD agent and check on your appeal status. I used them when I couldn't get through on the regular line - worth every penny because they got me connected to an actual person at EDD in about 10 minutes. Their site is claimyr.com and they have a demo video here: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km
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LunarLegend
•Wait why would you PAY to talk to EDD??? Thats crazy! Just keep calling. I got through after like 37 tries one day. These services are just taking advantage of desperate people!!
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Malik Jackson
•Not everyone has time to call 37 times in one day. Some of us have kids or jobs or both. I used a similar service when my claim was stuck for 2 months and it saved me so much stress. Sometimes paying for convenience is worth it.
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Isabella Oliveira
The whole EDD system is RIGGED against us!!! I waited 9 weeks for my appeal decision and then they ruled against me even though my employer literally made up reasons to fire me. The judge completely ignored my evidence. Now I'm filing a second level appeal but who knows how long THAT will take. The system is designed to wear you down until you give up.
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Javier Hernandez
•I'm sorry you had a negative experience. Second-level appeals to the California Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board typically take 3-5 months for a decision. Make sure you've clearly outlined why you believe the ALJ made a legal or factual error in your case.
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Ravi Patel
when i got my desision it came in the mail first, then showed up online like 5 days later. weird how they dont update both at same time but whatevr. congrats on finding a new job btw, best way to deal with edd is to not need them lol
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Oliver Becker
•Thanks! Yeah, I'm definitely grateful to be working again. I'll keep an eye on my mailbox then. Appreciate the heads up about the mail coming first.
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Emma Davis
Also, just so you know - when you do get your decision, if it's favorable and you're owed benefits, it can take another 7-10 business days for the payment to process. If you've switched to the new Money Network card, sometimes that takes even longer to receive funds than the old BofA cards did. Just setting expectations so you're not surprised by another wait if you win your appeal.
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Oliver Becker
•That's really helpful to know, thanks for the heads up. I still have my Money Network card from when I was getting payments before, so hopefully that part will go smoothly.
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Natasha Petrova
does anyone know if they back pay interest on the money they owe u? like if they took 6 weeks to decide my appeal and then another 2 weeks to pay me, thats 2 months they kept my money. in any other situation ud get interest right??
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Javier Hernandez
•No, EDD does not pay interest on retroactive unemployment benefits, regardless of how long it takes to process your claim or appeal. The benefits are paid at the rate they would have been during the original eligibility period with no additional compensation for the delay.
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Malik Jackson
When I had my appeal hearing last year, my decision took almost exactly 30 days. My friend who appealed around the same time got hers in 3 weeks. I think it really depends on your specific judge and how complicated your case is. The more documentation and witnesses involved, the longer it seems to take. On a related note, did anyone else notice how their UI Online access seemed to temporarily freeze while waiting for an appeal decision? Mine wouldn't let me certify for benefits during that time, which seemed weird.
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Oliver Becker
•I haven't tried to certify since I started my new job, but that's interesting. Did you have to back-certify after the decision came through?
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Malik Jackson
•Yes! After I won my appeal, I got a message to certify for all the weeks I'd missed. It was a pain filling them all out at once but at least I got the money eventually. Just make sure you're checking both your UI Online inbox AND your regular mail.
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