EDD appeal decision taking forever - hearing was 6 weeks ago with no update
I'm seriously stressing out about my husband's EDD appeal situation. He had his phone hearing with the administrative law judge back on December 13th (like 6 weeks ago!!) and we still haven't heard ANYTHING about the decision. The judge seemed pretty fair during the hearing and said we'd get something in the mail 'soon' but it's been well over a month now. We're completely in limbo about whether he'll get the $7,800 in benefits they denied him due to a so-called voluntary quit (it wasn't - his hours were cut to almost nothing so he had to find something else). Has anyone gone through the appeal process recently? How long did it take to get your decision letter? I check the mailbox obsessively every day and it's driving me crazy not knowing if we'll ever see that money.
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Alfredo Lugo
EDD appeal decisions typically take 4-8 weeks after the hearing to arrive, so you're still within the normal timeframe. In my experience helping claimants navigate appeals, the administrative law judges have quite heavy caseloads in 2025, so 6 weeks isn't unusual. One thing to note: check your UI Online account as well as your mail. Sometimes the decision is posted there before the physical letter arrives. The decision should include detailed reasoning behind why they ruled the way they did regarding the voluntary quit determination.
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Gianna Scott
•Thank you! That makes me feel a little better. I didn't even think to check his UI Online account - going to do that right now. Do you know if they also send an email notification when they update the account? I'm just worried we'll miss something important.
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Sydney Torres
I went thru an appeal last month and it took exactly 7 weeks to get the letter. The waiting was SO STRESSFUL. I was checking my mailbox 3x a day lol. My case was also for voluntary quit (i was actually laid off but my employer lied). The judge rulled in my favor and i got all my back pay like 10 days after the letter came. Hang in there!!!!!
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Gianna Scott
•Oh wow, that gives me hope! Did they backdate all the payments from when you first applied? And did you have to do anything special to get the payments released after winning?
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Kaitlyn Jenkins
My brother waited almost 3 months for his appeal decision last year! The EDD system is completely broken. They make us wait forever while bills pile up, then they wonder why people get desperate. I've heard some people have had luck calling the appeals board directly (not the regular EDD number) to check on status. Might be worth a try if you have another week or two with no letter.
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Gianna Scott
•3 months?! That's insane! Do you happen to have the number for the appeals board? I've only been calling the main EDD line and I can never get through anyway.
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Caleb Bell
hav u tryed calling edd to ask about stutus?? sometimes they can tell u on phone if decision made even if letter not arrived yet
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Gianna Scott
•I've tried calling at least 15 times in the past two weeks but always get the "we're experiencing higher than normal call volume" message and then it hangs up on me. So frustrating!
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Danielle Campbell
If you're having trouble getting through to EDD on the phone (and who isn't?), I'd recommend trying Claimyr. They helped me connect with an EDD rep in about 20 minutes after weeks of trying on my own. It was worth it to finally get answers about my appeal status. Check out their video demo at https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km and their website is claimyr.com. The service basically holds your place in line and calls you when an agent is available.
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Rhett Bowman
•Does this actually work? Seems sketchy tbh
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Danielle Campbell
•It's legit. I was skeptical too but I was desperate after trying for 3 weeks to get through. They don't take your EDD info or anything like that - they just help you get past the phone tree issues.
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Abigail Patel
CALL YOUR STATE REPRESENTATIVE'S OFFICE!!! This worked for me when I was waiting 2+ months for an appeal decision. Their office has connections at EDD and can often get things moving. Don't sit around waiting - be proactive!
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Gianna Scott
•That's a good idea I hadn't thought of! Did you just call your local assembly member?
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Abigail Patel
•Yes! I called my assembly member's district office. They have staff specifically assigned to help constituents with EDD issues. They asked me to fill out an authorization form allowing them to inquire about my case, and they got back to me within a week.
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Alfredo Lugo
Just to add some perspective - the official guideline is that appeal decisions should be issued within 75 days (around 10-11 weeks) of the appeal filing date (not the hearing date). So while it feels like forever, you're still within the normal processing window. The California Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board is currently working through a backlog, so many decisions are taking closer to the full 75 days.
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Kaitlyn Jenkins
•That's ridiculous though! People are waiting MONTHS to find out if they can pay their rent or buy food. The system is designed to wear people down so they give up. I'm so sick of EDD's incompetence!
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Gianna Scott
UPDATE: We got the decision letter today!! The judge ruled in our favor! I'm so relieved I could cry. The letter says the previous determination is reversed and my husband is eligible for benefits. It explains that his reduction in hours constituted a constructive discharge (basically forced quit) which qualifies for benefits. Thank you everyone for helping me stay sane during the wait! Now I just hope the payments come through quickly.
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Sydney Torres
•CONGRATS!!! So happy for u!!! For me the payments came within 10 days after my decision letter, so hopefully yours come quick too!
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