EDD appeal hearing by phone scheduled - need advice for my first unemployment appeal

I had my phone appeal hearing in March, and it went WAY better than I expected! Here's what helped me: 1. Organize all your docs beforehand - employment contract, emails/texts with your boss, paystubs showing reduced hours, any written warnings or performance reviews. Have them ready to reference. 2. Yes, your employer will likely be on the call. The judge speaks to both sides. 3. Write down bullet points of what you want to say, especially dates and specific details about the hour reduction. The judge asked me very specific questions about my work history. 4. Most important - STAY CALM. Answer only what's asked. Don't ramble or get emotional (I struggled with this). 5. When they ask why you left, be very clear that the hour reduction made it impossible to pay your bills. Use specific numbers - "My hours were cut from X to Y, reducing my monthly income by Z%." You don't need a lawyer. The process is designed for people without representation. I won my appeal and got all my backpay about 3 weeks after the hearing.

omg i had my appeal in jan and they made me wait 3 hrs past my appointment time!!! so frustrating. make sure ur phone is charged and ur somewhere quiet. my former boss tried to lie about me getting written up but the judge wasnt having it lol. good luck!!

I work in HR and have represented employers in these hearings. Here's what you need to know: The burden of proof in a voluntary quit case is on YOU, not the employer. You must prove that you had "good cause" to leave - meaning any reasonable person in your situation would have quit. A substantial reduction in hours that significantly reduces income is generally considered good cause. Bring documentation showing: 1. Your original work schedule/hours 2. Evidence of hour reduction (schedules, paystubs) 3. Any communication where you requested more hours 4. Calculations showing how the reduction impacted your ability to meet basic needs You should submit evidence to the Appeals Board at least 24 hours before the hearing. The instructions for submitting should be on your hearing notice - usually fax or email to the specific office handling your case. Address the Administrative Law Judge as "Judge [Last Name]" or "Your Honor." Keep your answers brief and factual. When asked why you left, focus on the economic necessity, not emotional factors.

I had TERRIBLE luck with my phone hearing. Judge sided with employer even though I had proof!! System is rigged i swear.

One thing nobody mentioned - have you tried calling EDD directly to ask about the appeal process? I was confused about my hearing too and wanted to speak with someone, but kept getting the "we're experiencing high call volume" message for DAYS. I finally tried a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me through to an actual EDD rep in about 20 minutes. They have this system that basically calls EDD repeatedly for you then connects you when they get through. Saved me so much frustration! There's a video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km The EDD rep explained exactly what to expect in my hearing and confirmed my evidence had been received. Definitely worth talking to them before your hearing so you feel prepared.

I successfully won my appeal after being denied for a similar reason. Here's what the process was like: The hearing lasted about 45 minutes. The judge called exactly on time. After introductions, the judge explained the process and swore everyone in. My former employer had their HR director and my direct supervisor on the call. The judge asked ME questions first, then my employer, then gave me a chance to respond to their statements. The most important questions were: 1. Why did you leave your job? 2. Did you try to resolve the issue before leaving? 3. How did the reduction in hours affect your finances? I had calculated exactly how much income I lost monthly and explained I couldn't cover my rent. The judge seemed impressed by this specific information. After the hearing, I received the decision by mail about 10 days later. When I won, EDD released all my back payments within a week. One tip: Practice explaining your situation briefly ahead of time so you don't ramble. The judge appreciates concise answers. Feel free to ask any other specific questions!

I had a phone hearing last month & thought I'd share my surprise... my former boss never even called in! The judge waited 10 mins then proceeded with just me. Made things SO much easier. Sometimes employers don't bother showing up, especially smaller companies. If that happens, just answer the judge's questions honestly and you'll probably win.

wait im confused are u appealing a disqualification or a denial?? those are different things!

Update: Just got off my appeal hearing call and wanted to share while it's fresh! The hearing lasted about 50 minutes. My former employer did show up (district manager and HR). The judge was super professional and fair, giving both sides time to speak. I'm SO glad I prepared! Having my paystubs showing the hour reduction and texts asking for more hours ready to reference was crucial. The judge asked very specific questions about dates and amounts. My employer tried claiming I had "attendance issues" but couldn't provide any documentation when the judge asked for it. I stayed calm and stuck to the facts about the reduced hours making it impossible to pay rent. Now I wait for the decision in 7-10 days. Fingers crossed! Thanks everyone for your helpful advice - especially about staying calm and having specific financial impact details ready. Will update when I get the decision!