EDD appeal hearing wait time in 2025 - how long between filing appeal and getting a date?
I finally submitted my appeal after being disqualified for 'false statement' (which was actually just a mistake on my certification). Now the online portal says my appeal is 'processing' and I'm supposed to wait for a letter with the hearing date, time, and location. Anyone have recent experience with how long this wait is? I've heard rumors that EDD is totally backed up with appeals. I'm stressing because I'm down to my last $590 and was counting on that backpay of $3,800 once I win this appeal. What should I expect timeline-wise? Also, will they send the hearing info by email or just regular mail?
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Logan Stewart
Filed my appeal in mid-January and just had my hearing last week (early March), so about 7 weeks total wait time. The notice came by regular mail only, no email notification. They're definitely backed up but moving faster than last year. Make sure your address is current in your UI Online account so you don't miss the letter. My hearing was on Zoom, not in-person, which was convenient.
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Diego Castillo
•Thanks! Did you get any confirmation when they scheduled it, or did the letter just show up? I'm checking my mailbox obsessively.
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Mikayla Brown
7 weeks??? i waited 11 weeks for mine back in november!! guess they finally hired more judges or somethin
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Sean Matthews
EDD appeal hearings are currently being scheduled approximately 6-9 weeks from the date your appeal is acknowledged as received. However, this can vary significantly based on your local office's backlog and the complexity of your case. The Appeals Division works independently from the regular EDD operations. You'll receive the hearing notice exclusively through regular mail (USPS), so ensure your mailing address is current. The notice typically arrives 10-14 days before your scheduled hearing date, giving you time to prepare. It will contain: - Exact date and time - Whether virtual or in-person (most are virtual via phone/Zoom now) - Instructions for submitting evidence - Contact information for the Appeals office In the meantime, gather all documentation that supports your case - especially anything that shows your certification mistake was unintentional. This includes any previous communications with EDD, pay stubs, or employer statements that might help your case.
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Diego Castillo
•This is super helpful information, thank you! I'll start preparing my evidence now. Do you know if they're scheduling the hearings in the order they receive the appeals, or is there some priority system?
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Sean Matthews
•They generally schedule in chronological order of receipt, but there are exceptions that can prioritize certain cases. Appeals involving immediate hardship or where benefits were stopped after previously being paid sometimes receive priority. But for the most part, it's first-come, first-served. One important note: be absolutely sure to attend your hearing when scheduled. Missing it without requesting a postponement in advance usually results in an automatic dismissal of your appeal.
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Ali Anderson
I waited 5 weeks for mine last month but my friend waited almost 3 months back in december so its kind of random i think
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Zadie Patel
The EDD appeals system is COMPLETELY BROKEN. I waited 13 WEEKS for my hearing and then they rescheduled it TWICE with no explanation!!! When I finally got my hearing the judge was totally unprepared and hadn't even read my case file!!!! They're deliberately making it difficult so people will give up. I had to borrow money from family just to survive while waiting. THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO MAKE YOU FAIL. BTW when you do get your hearing date, make sure you log in 15 mins early (if it's virtual) because they mark you absent if you're even 1 minute late and then GOOD LUCK getting it rescheduled.
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Diego Castillo
•Oh no, that sounds awful. Was your hearing recently? I'm hoping things have improved since then.
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Zadie Patel
•Mine was in January, so pretty recent. Don't count on any improvements - EDD hasn't fixed anything in YEARS! Just be super prepared and document EVERYTHING. Record all phone calls (tell them you're recording), save screenshots, print emails. You need to be your own advocate because they certainly won't help you!!!
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A Man D Mortal
did anybody try getting thru to the appeals office directly? i left like 8 messages and nobody ever called back lol
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Declan Ramirez
•I had the same problem trying to reach the appeals division! Couldn't get through on their direct line for weeks. I finally used Claimyr to reach a live EDD agent who was able to at least confirm my appeal was in the system. Their site is claimyr.com and they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km The agent couldn't give me an exact timeline but did confirm my appeal was received and in the queue for scheduling. At least I got peace of mind knowing it wasn't lost somewhere.
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Mikayla Brown
btw make sure u practice what ur gonna say at the hearing!! i got super nervous and forgot half my points lol
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Ali Anderson
My hearing was supposed to be about my eligibility but they spent the whole time talking about my job search activities which had nothing to do with my appeal wtf
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Sean Matthews
•That's actually quite common. The Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) has the authority to review all aspects of your claim, not just the specific issue you appealed. It's important to be prepared to discuss your entire claim, including work search activities, even if that wasn't the reason for your disqualification.
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Diego Castillo
Thanks everyone for the responses. Looks like I should expect to wait 6-9 weeks based on most of your experiences. I'm going to start gathering all my evidence now and make sure my mailing address is current. Hopefully I'll be one of the lucky ones who gets scheduled sooner rather than later!
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Logan Stewart
•Good plan. One more tip - if you're really in a financial bind, you can include a hardship letter with your appeal or call the Appeals office to request expedited scheduling. It doesn't always work, but sometimes it can move you up in the queue a bit. Just be ready to provide some documentation of your hardship.
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