EDD appeal hearing by phone - what questions to expect and will backpay be automatic?

I had my appeal hearing back in January. The Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) mostly asked about my work search efforts - how many jobs I applied to each week, what methods I used to apply, and whether I kept records. They also asked why I felt the EDD determination was incorrect. The whole thing took about 30 minutes. As for backpay, if you win, they should automatically process payments for all the weeks you've already certified for. You won't have to re-certify. Just make sure you've been certifying for each week even though you're not getting paid - that's crucial.

i had phone appeal last month. judge was nice but kinda strict. make sure you have ALL ur documents ready! they'll ask for dates and specific job search info

EDD appeals are SUCH a joke. I won my appeal but then had to wait another 6 weeks for the payments to actually hit my Money Network card. When I called to ask about the delay they said "oh we're processing the judge's decision" WHAT IS THERE TO PROCESS??? The judge LITERALLY said I should be paid! The whole system is designed to make you give up. If you win, expect to still have to call them multiple times to actually get your money.

If your hearing is next week you should have already received the appeal packet in the mail with all the evidence EDD will be using against you. Did you get that? Read through EVERYTHING so you know exactly what they're claiming. My hearing lasted 45 minutes and the judge spent most of that time asking me to respond to specific items in the packet. I won btw.

I'm an unemployment consultant who's helped people through many appeals. Here's what to expect: 1. The hearing will start with the judge explaining the process and swearing you in. 2. The judge will identify the issue (in your case, job search requirements). 3. You'll present your case first, then an EDD representative may question you. 4. The judge will ask follow-up questions. 5. You'll have a chance to make a closing statement. Key tips: - Be honest and direct - Have your evidence organized chronologically - Stay calm even if questioned aggressively - Clearly explain why your job search evidence was sufficient but just in the wrong format Regarding backpay: If you win, the judge will issue a written decision within 1-2 weeks. EDD then has about 10-15 days to implement it. Your claim should automatically update with payments for all certified weeks, but sometimes there's a delay. If you don't see payments within 3 weeks of the written decision, you'll need to contact EDD.

my freind just had her appeal and it was super bad. the judge kept interupting her and she couldnt explain her side. she lost her appeal even tho she had proof! it all depends on what judge u get i think

After trying for WEEKS to get information about my appeal process, I finally got through to EDD using Claimyr (claimyr.com). It was so frustrating trying to call on my own - constant busy signals or getting hung up on after waiting. The Claimyr service got me connected to an actual EDD representative in about 25 minutes who explained exactly what to expect in my hearing and confirmed they had all my evidence on file. Check out their demo video if you're curious: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km Might be worth using to get some pre-hearing questions answered if you're nervous. My hearing went well and I did get back pay for all 8 weeks I was waiting, but it took about 3 weeks after the decision for the money to show up.

One more important thing - be sure to dial in 5-10 minutes early for your hearing. They're usually right on schedule and if you miss the call, it's extremely difficult to get reconnected. Also, find a quiet place with good reception. If the judge has trouble hearing you or there are lots of background noises, it can make things more difficult and frustrating for everyone. For your specific situation with the PDF vs JPG format issue, be prepared to show that you did make the required job contacts. The technical format issue shouldn't matter as much as proving you actually performed the work search activities.

The real question is why EDD couldn't just ASK you to resubmit in the correct format instead of denying your benefits and forcing you through this whole appeal mess! It's like they WANT to make things difficult. People are suffering without income while waiting for these ridiculous hearings over technicalities. The whole system needs to be rebuilt from scratch.

I went through a phone appeal in December and it was actually less scary than I expected! The judge was professional and asked straightforward questions. For your situation with the PDF vs JPG issue, make sure you can clearly explain that you DID complete all the required job searches - you just uploaded the proof in the wrong format. Have specific details ready: company names, dates you applied, how you applied (online, email, etc.), and any confirmation numbers or emails you received. The judge will likely ask you to walk through a typical week of job searching activities. Practice explaining your process out loud beforehand so you sound confident. Also, if you still have those PDF files, mention that you can provide them in the correct format immediately if needed. Regarding backpay - yes, if you win they'll process all your past weeks automatically, but like others said, it can take 2-4 weeks to actually see the money. The important thing is that you've been certifying every two weeks even while disqualified. Good luck! Your case sounds pretty straightforward since it's just a formatting issue, not an actual failure to job search.

I had my phone appeal hearing about 6 months ago for a similar documentation issue and wanted to share some specific advice. The judge will likely focus on whether you actually performed the work search activities, not just the format issue. Be ready to provide exact details - I had to give specific company names, job titles I applied for, and dates. One thing that really helped me was having a printed copy of my job search log in front of me during the call so I could quickly reference details when asked. The judge asked me to describe my typical job search process step-by-step, so practice explaining that clearly. For the backpay question - yes, it should be automatic IF you've been certifying every two weeks (which it sounds like you have). Mine took about 18 days after the written decision to hit my account. The key is to keep certifying even during the appeal process, which you're already doing. Don't stress too much - your case sounds very winnable since you actually did the required activities. The PDF vs JPG thing is honestly ridiculous on EDD's part. You've got this!