EDD appeal hearing scheduled - do they call me or do I call them?

The Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) will call YOU at the phone number you provided on your appeal form. Make sure your phone is on and you're in a quiet place about 15 minutes before the scheduled time. The hearing can last anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours depending on case complexity. And yes, your employer typically participates since they contested your claim. Be prepared with any documentation showing you were laid off - any emails, termination notice, etc. that contradict their voluntary quit claim.

THEY WILL CALL YOU!!! And be prepared cuz these EDD judges don't mess around!!! My hearing lasted 2 1/2 hours and my ex-boss was on the line the WHOLE TIME lying about everything!!! Had to fight tooth and nail to prove I didn't do anything wrong. Make SURE you have all your evidence ready and write down notes about dates and important details. And DONT BE LATE - if you miss their call they might just decide against you automatically!!!!

they call u. my hearing was last month only took like 45 min. boss didnt even show up so it was pretty easy lol. just answer their questions honestly and youll be fine

The judge will call you at the scheduled time. I recommend having all your evidence organized and ready to reference. Hearings typically last 45-60 minutes but can go longer for complex cases. Your employer has the right to attend since they're contesting your claim, and they almost always do attend when they've alleged voluntary quit versus layoff. You can submit additional documents before the hearing by following the instructions on your hearing notice. Usually, you need to submit them at least 5 business days before the hearing date and send copies to your employer as well. My advice: practice explaining your separation clearly and concisely. The judge will ask specific questions about your last day, who said what, and any documentation you received. Stay factual and calm even if your employer says things you disagree with.

I went through this exact situation last year! The ALJ will definitely call you - make sure your phone is charged and you're somewhere quiet. My hearing was supposed to be 45 minutes but ended up being almost 2 hours because my former employer brought their HR person AND a company attorney who kept interrupting and trying to twist my words. If you're having trouble getting through to EDD for any questions before your hearing, I highly recommend trying Claimyr (claimyr.com). They helped me connect with an EDD rep to clarify some issues before my hearing. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km For the hearing itself, definitely have all documentation ready that proves you were laid off - emails about restructuring, any written notice, text messages from your manager, etc. The judge will specifically ask about your final day of work and who said what, so be very clear about those details.

my brother had an appeal hearing last summer i think. they called him and his boss was there too. he won tho because his boss couldn't prove he was fired for misconduct or whatever

One more important tip: You can (and should) submit any additional documentation you have before the hearing. On your hearing notice, there should be instructions for how to submit evidence. Typically you need to: 1. Send it to the Appeals Office at least 5 business days before the hearing 2. Also send copies to your employer 3. Keep proof that you sent these documents Those emails about restructuring could be crucial evidence in your favor. Make sure everything is dated and if possible highlight the relevant parts so the judge can easily see the important information.

Good luck! I just went through this last month. So stressful but ended up ok in the end! 🤞

I went through an appeal hearing about 6 months ago and it was less scary than I thought it would be! The ALJ called me exactly at the scheduled time and was actually pretty fair and professional. My hearing lasted about an hour and 15 minutes. One thing that really helped me was creating a simple timeline document with dates and key events that I could reference during the call. When the judge asked specific questions about when things happened, I wasn't scrambling to remember dates. Also, speak clearly and don't be afraid to ask the judge to repeat a question if you didn't hear it properly - they're used to that. Since your employer is claiming you quit voluntarily but you were actually laid off due to restructuring, focus on having evidence that shows the company-wide or department changes that led to your position being eliminated. Any official communications about the restructuring will be gold for your case. You've got this!

Hey Oliver! I had my appeal hearing about 8 months ago and won my case. The ALJ will definitely call you at the scheduled time - make sure you're in a quiet place with good phone reception about 10 minutes early. My hearing lasted about 90 minutes because my employer brought their manager and tried to argue I was fired for cause when I was clearly laid off. Here's what really helped me: I organized all my evidence into folders on my computer so I could quickly pull up any document they referenced. Have your emails about the restructuring ready to go! Also, when the judge asks you to explain what happened, stick to the facts and timeline - don't get emotional even if your employer says frustrating things. The good news is that ALJs are way more reasonable than the initial EDD reviewers. They actually listen to your side of the story. Since you have documentation showing it was restructuring and not a voluntary quit, you should be in good shape. Just be confident and tell the truth!

I just wanted to add that you should also prepare for the possibility that your employer might bring up reasons why they think you quit voluntarily - like maybe they'll say you didn't show up for work after being told about the restructuring or something like that. Have your story straight about exactly what happened on your last day and who told you what. Also, don't worry too much about the legal language or sounding perfect - the ALJ just wants to understand what actually happened. I was so nervous during mine that I stumbled over words, but the judge was patient and asked follow-up questions to clarify. The most important thing is being honest and having those restructuring emails ready to reference. You're going to do great!