EDD appeal hearing scheduled - what questions to prepare for?

I went through this last year and was terrified too! Here's what happened: The judge (technically an Administrative Law Judge) will ask about your work history, why you filed for benefits, and specifically about whatever caused the disqualification. In my case, they claimed I didn't report some income, which wasn't true. Make sure you have these ready: 1. Your Notice of Determination letter that explains why you were disqualified 2. Any proof that contradicts their reason for disqualification 3. Pay stubs, termination letter, or anything related to your last job 4. A timeline of events written out so you don't get confused Stay calm and just tell the truth. My hearing lasted about 30 minutes. The judge was actually pretty nice and just wanted the facts. I won my appeal and got backpay for all the weeks I missed. Good luck!

omg i haaaate those hearings!!! i had 2 go thru one last yr & totally bombed it cuz i wasnt ready!! they ask u all this detailed stuff about ur last job & when u worked & how much u made & its SO STRESSFUL!! make sure u have ALL ur paperwork with u!

I help people prepare for EDD appeals regularly. Here's what you need to know: 1. The ALJ (Administrative Law Judge) will swear you in - this is under oath 2. Your hearing will focus specifically on the "false statement" allegation 3. The judge will ask when, where and how you made your initial claim 4. They'll review any certifications that EDD claims contain false information 5. You'll need to explain why the information you provided was accurate Bring documentation that supports your case - emails, texts, letters from employers, pay stubs, etc. Organize them chronologically and make notes about what each document proves. Practice explaining your situation clearly. Write down important dates and events so you don't get confused during questioning. You don't necessarily need a lawyer, but if your case is complex or there's a lot of money at stake, it might be worth it. Many legal aid organizations offer free assistance with EDD appeals. Remember to be respectful, stick to facts, and don't interrupt the judge. Good preparation makes a huge difference.

Submit everything ahead of time if possible. The judge will appreciate having the documentation before the hearing. It gives them time to review it and makes the whole process smoother. If you can't submit ahead, at least have everything organized and ready. Also, you're allowed to have witnesses. If there's anyone who can corroborate your story about the timing of that freelance work, having them available for testimony could help your case.

My brother went through this and the judge was HORRIBLE to him. Kept interrupting and acting like he was lying about everything. The whole system is rigged against us regular people. They just want reasons to deny benefits we paid into. Good luck but don't expect fairness!!

hey i use to work at edd (not an appeal officer tho) but i can tell u that they mostly just want to see if your story stays consistent. they compare what u say at the hearing with what u told the edd interviewer and what u put on your application. if things dont match up, that looks suspicious. so review what youve submitted before and stick to the exact same story if its the truth

One thing I forgot to mention - they're going to call you at the number you provided, and if you miss the call, you basically forfeit your appeal. I almost missed mine because they called from a blocked number! Make sure you answer ANY call around your scheduled time, even if it shows as unknown or blocked.

If you're still struggling to reach EDD before your hearing to get clarification or documents, try Claimyr.com - it helped me get through to an EDD rep when I was preparing for my appeal. They have a service that connects you with an EDD representative much faster than calling directly. Saved me hours of frustration. They have a video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km I was able to get information about exactly why I was disqualified, which helped me prepare the right documents for my hearing.

i forgot 2 mention i LOST my appeal cuz i didnt have the right paperwork!! make sure u have EVERYTHING!! & yes they ask sooooo many questions about dates & times & stuff!!

Also, during the hearing: 1. Take notes if the employer or their representative makes statements you disagree with 2. Wait until it's your turn to respond - interrupting looks bad 3. Address all questions to the judge, not to the employer 4. If you don't understand a question, ask for clarification 5. If you don't know an answer, say so rather than guessing 6. Be brief and factual in your responses The most common mistake people make is getting emotional or argumentative. The judge isn't interested in how unfair the situation feels - they want specific facts that prove your case. At the end, you'll typically get a chance to make a brief closing statement. Use this to summarize the key points that support your position.

Thank you all so much for this advice! I feel much more prepared now. I'm going to: 1. Gather all my documentation showing when I did that freelance work 2. Create a timeline of events 3. Try to submit documents ahead of time 4. Prepare notes so I don't get confused about dates 5. Practice explaining my situation clearly 6. Make sure I answer my phone even if it's from unknown numbers I'll update this thread after my hearing to let you know how it went. Fingers crossed!

They just want to trip you up so they can deny your claim!!! Always remember that!!! They don't care about your situation AT ALL!!!

1 more thing... bring water! my hearing went on for like an hour and i got so nervous my mouth was totally dry. nobody tells u the practical stuff lol

I've been through three EDD appeal hearings over the years, and here's something nobody mentioned yet - they record everything! The judge will tell you at the beginning that it's being recorded for the official record. Don't let this make you more nervous, but do remember that everything you say could be reviewed later if there are further appeals. Also, if you have any documents that contradict what EDD is claiming, make copies and organize them by date. I use sticky notes to mark the important parts so I can find them quickly during the hearing. One last tip: if the EDD representative makes a statement during the hearing that you know is incorrect, write it down immediately so you can address it when it's your turn to speak. Don't interrupt, but definitely make note of any factual errors they present to the judge. You sound well-prepared already - that's half the battle! The fact that you have documentation showing the freelance work was done before you filed should really help your case.

I just went through my EDD appeal hearing last month and won! One thing that really helped me was creating a simple one-page summary with bullet points of the key facts in chronological order. During the hearing, I could glance at it to stay on track without sounding like I was reading from a script. Since your case involves freelance work timing, make sure you can clearly explain the exact dates you did the work versus when you filed your claim. The judge will want to understand the timeline precisely. I'd suggest having a calendar or timeline visual ready - even just for your own reference during the phone call. Also, don't worry too much about being nervous. The judges deal with nervous claimants all day and they understand this is stressful. Just speak slowly and clearly, and if you need a moment to find a document or collect your thoughts, it's totally fine to say "Can I have just a moment to reference my documentation?" The fact that you have emails showing the work dates puts you in a really good position. Make sure those emails are easily accessible during your call!

I've been helping people with EDD appeals for several years, and your preparation sounds excellent! One crucial thing I always tell people: practice saying your key facts out loud before the hearing. When you're nervous, it's easy to stumble over dates or get your timeline confused, even when you know it perfectly on paper. Since your case involves freelance work done BEFORE filing, here's what the judge will likely focus on: - Exact dates you performed the work vs. when you filed your claim - Whether this work should have been reported (it shouldn't if it was before filing) - Why EDD thinks you made a "false statement" about it Make sure you can clearly articulate: "I completed freelance work in [specific month/year], received payment on [date], and filed my unemployment claim on [later date]. This work was completed entirely before I filed my claim, so there was no requirement to report it on my initial application." Also, double-check your state's rules about pre-claim work reporting - in most cases, work done before filing doesn't need to be reported unless it affects your base period wages. Having this regulation reference handy could be helpful. You've got this! Being this prepared already puts you ahead of most people who go into these hearings.