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!

Sounds like your hearing went really well! The fact that your employer couldn't provide documentation when the judge specifically asked for it is a huge red flag for their case. Judges take lack of evidence very seriously, especially when one party is making claims about performance or attendance issues. Your preparation really paid off - having those paystubs and text messages ready to reference shows you took this seriously and came with facts, not just emotions. The specific financial impact details are exactly what judges need to hear to establish "good cause" for leaving. I'm betting you'll get a favorable decision! When you do win (staying positive here!), make sure to follow up with EDD about processing your backpay - sometimes you need to call them to get things moving even after a successful appeal. Keep us posted!

Congratulations on getting through your hearing! It really sounds like you were well-prepared and handled it professionally. The fact that your employer couldn't provide documentation when the judge asked for it is definitely a positive sign for your case. I went through a similar appeal last year (also retail management with hour cuts) and won my case. A few things to keep in mind while you wait: 1. The 7-10 day timeframe is pretty accurate in my experience - I got my decision letter exactly 8 days after my hearing. 2. If you win, don't be surprised if there's a delay in actually receiving your backpay. I had to call EDD twice to get them to process it, but once they did, I received 4 months of back benefits within a week. 3. Keep checking your EDD account online - sometimes the status updates there before you receive the physical letter. Your preparation with the paystubs and text messages was exactly the right approach. Judges appreciate concrete evidence and specific financial details. Really hoping you get that favorable decision! Please update us when you hear - success stories help others going through the same process.

I went through a similar phone appeal hearing last year after my employer claimed I quit voluntarily when they essentially forced me out by cutting my hours drastically. Here are some additional tips that really helped me: **Before the hearing:** - Test your phone connection beforehand! I used a landline instead of my cell to avoid any dropped calls or poor audio quality - Have a notepad ready to jot down notes during the hearing - you might want to reference something your employer says when it's your turn to respond - Prepare a simple timeline of events with dates - when your hours were cut, when you asked for more hours, when you finally had to leave **During the hearing:** - The judge will likely ask your employer to present their case first, then you'll get to respond. Take notes on any inaccuracies in their version - If your employer makes claims without evidence (like yours did with "attendance issues"), the judge will notice. Don't get defensive - just calmly state the facts - Be specific about your financial situation. I calculated exactly how much my monthly income dropped and explained which bills I couldn't cover anymore **After the hearing:** - Don't stress too much about the wait time. I know it's nerve-wracking, but if you presented your case well with documentation like you did, you should be in good shape Your preparation sounds excellent, and the fact that your employer couldn't back up their claims with documentation is definitely a good sign. Wishing you the best outcome!