EDD appeal hearing timelines - how long for judge's decision?
Has anyone gone through an EDD appeal hearing recently? I had mine last Thursday (May 7) over the phone with the administrative law judge. It lasted about 45 minutes, and they told me I'd get a decision 'soon' but didn't specify how long. I'm seriously stressing out because I've been disqualified for almost 10 weeks now and my savings are completely drained. The judge seemed understanding of my situation (I was laid off but my employer incorrectly reported that I quit). Just wondering what everyone's experience has been with the timeline after the hearing? Days? Weeks? Months? I check my mailbox obsessively every day hoping for good news.
17 comments
Ravi Gupta
I received my decision exactly 2 weeks after my hearing. The judge said they typically try to issue decisions within 7-14 days, but it can take up to 30 days if they're backlogged. Mine was pretty straightforward though (similar to yours - employer misclassified my layoff as a voluntary quit), so maybe that's why it didn't take the full 30 days. Hope you hear back soon!
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StarStrider
•Thanks for sharing your experience! 2 weeks seems reasonable... I'm on day 6 now and the waiting is killing me. Did you get your decision in the mail or did it also show up in your UI Online account?
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Freya Pedersen
Mine took 8 WEEKS!!! The system is COMPLETELY broken. I called the EDD every single day for weeks and got nowhere. They kept saying "the judge is still reviewing your case" over and over. By the time I finally got my decision (which was in my favor BTW), I had already maxed out 3 credit cards and borrowed money from my parents just to pay rent. Don't count on them being quick!!
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Omar Hassan
•8 weeks? that's insane... i've been waiting 3 weeks after my hearing and was getting worried. guess i should prepare for a longer wait ðŸ˜
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Chloe Anderson
I just went through this in March. My decision took exactly 10 calendar days to arrive in the mail after my hearing. The online account doesn't always update right away with the decision - I got the letter 3 days before anything changed in UI Online. One thing to note: if your decision is favorable, they still have to process the payments which can take another 3-5 business days after the decision letter. If you're really desperate to reach someone about the status, I used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to an EDD rep when I couldn't wait any longer. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km that shows how it works. It's the only way I've been able to get through to a real person at EDD without waiting for hours.
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StarStrider
•This is super helpful information, especially about the payment processing time. I didn't realize there would be another delay even after getting a decision. I'll check out that Claimyr service if I don't hear anything by next week - at this point I just need some answers!
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Diego Vargas
doesnt the law say they have to give u a decision in 30 days?? my friend said theres some rule about that but idk for sure
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Ravi Gupta
•There's no strict 30-day requirement, but the Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board does try to issue decisions within 30 days as their internal goal. However, there's no legal penalty if they take longer. In practice, most decisions come within 2-3 weeks unless there are unusual circumstances or if they're particularly backlogged.
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CosmicCruiser
In my experience, it really depends on how complex your case is and how many witnesses testified. I had a relatively simple case last year where my former employer didn't even show up to the hearing, and I got my decision in just 5 days! But my husband's case was more complicated with multiple witnesses and documentation, and his took about 4 weeks. The judge told him at the end of the hearing that it would likely take "a bit longer than usual" because of the complexity. Did your employer attend the hearing? If they didn't show up, that usually speeds things up. Also, sometimes you can call the Appeals office (not the regular EDD number) and ask for a status update. They won't give you the decision over the phone, but they might tell you if it's been issued yet.
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StarStrider
•Yes, my employer did attend the hearing along with their HR rep. They presented their side, but the judge seemed somewhat skeptical of their evidence. Maybe that's making it take longer? I didn't know I could call the Appeals office directly - I'll try finding that number today. Thanks for the suggestion!
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Anastasia Fedorov
mine took 3 weeks exactly and i was checking mailbox everyday too lol. so stressful waiting!!!
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Chloe Anderson
Quick update - I just remembered that when you receive the decision, be sure to read the ENTIRE document carefully. There are sometimes specific instructions about what happens next depending on the outcome. In my case, I had to certify for all the back weeks before payments would process, which wasn't immediately clear. Also, the decision letter should include information about further appeal rights (to the CUIAB board level) if the decision doesn't go in your favor.
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StarStrider
•That's a really good point about reading the whole document. I'll make sure to do that when it arrives. I've been keeping all my EDD paperwork in a folder to stay organized through this nightmare. I just hope the decision comes soon - this uncertainty is worse than anything.
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Freya Pedersen
Has anyone else noticed that when you win your appeal, they STILL make it difficult to actually get your money??? I had to call multiple times after winning my appeal because they didn't automatically process my backpay. The whole system is designed to wear you down so you'll give up!!
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Omar Hassan
•omg yes! this happened to my roommate too! she won her appeal but then had to call like 5 times to get the backpay processed. so ridiculous
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Ravi Gupta
One thing I wanted to add - the Administrative Law Judges (ALJs) who handle these cases typically have a large caseload. Under normal circumstances, they aim to issue decisions within 14 days, but there are several factors that can affect the timeline: 1. Complexity of the case 2. Whether additional evidence was submitted that needs review 3. If the judge requested post-hearing briefs 4. Current case backlog at your specific Appeals Office 5. If there were technical issues during the hearing If you're approaching the 30-day mark, that's when I'd start making calls to the Appeals Office to check on status. The main EDD line won't have information about appeal decisions - you need to contact the specific Appeals Office that handled your case (this information should be on your hearing notice).
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StarStrider
•This is really informative, thank you. The judge did ask both sides to submit additional documentation after the hearing - I sent mine the next day. Maybe that's causing some delay? I'll give it another week before I start calling. I appreciate everyone sharing their experiences - it helps to know I'm not alone in this process.
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