EDD appeals process - anyone had success lately with winning appeals?

I won my appeal last month! I was initially disqualified because my employer claimed misconduct, but I had documentation showing their claims weren't accurate. Here's what worked for me: 1. Gather ALL documentation - emails, texts, performance reviews, anything that supports your case 2. Write out a timeline of events to keep your facts straight during the hearing 3. Practice explaining your situation clearly and concisely 4. Be respectful to the Administrative Law Judge even if your employer says things that aren't true The hearing itself lasted about 45 minutes. The judge called me, asked me to verify my identity, and then my former employer joined. We both gave our sides, the judge asked clarifying questions, and that was it. I got my decision letter about 10 days later saying I was eligible. In your case, if they reduced your hours drastically, that could qualify as "constructive discharge" which means you didn't truly quit voluntarily. Make sure you emphasize how much they cut your hours and that continuing there wasn't feasible.

i lost my appeal and now i owe 8k back. the whole thing is RIGGED. they will always side with employers no matter what evidence you have!! i had proof my boss was lying but the judge didnt even look at it. waste of time.

I'm in the middle of my appeal right now too!!!! I'm so nervous I can barely sleep. My hearing is next Tuesday and I keep having nightmares about it. Did anyone bring witnesses to their hearing? My coworker saw how they treated me but idk if she'll be willing to testify or whatever it's called in an appeal. Also how formal is the hearing? Do I need to dress up even though it's on the phone?????

I successfully appealed a disqualification in January 2025. Here's what I learned: - EDD is currently approving about 50-60% of appeals according to my lawyer - Having documentation is CRITICAL - don't just rely on verbal explanations - Cases about constructive discharge (like yours with reduced hours) tend to have better outcomes than misconduct cases - The appeals board looks for clear evidence that continuing employment wasn't reasonable In your specific situation, having pay stubs showing the reduction from 40 to 12 hours would be very strong evidence. If you have any communication where you asked for more hours or explained you couldn't survive on the reduced schedule, that's golden. Also, you don't have to repay anything until the appeal process is complete, so don't panic about that $4,800 yet.

my friend just went thru this. said hearing was super intimidating but she won! her boss tried lying to the judge saying she had attendance issues but she had her timecards. definitely bring everything u can to prove ur case. also write down what ur gonna say so u dont forget important stuff when ur nervous

Has anyone in this thread tried calling EDD to ask questions about the appeal process? I've been trying to get clarification on some paperwork for my appeal but can't get through AT ALL. Just constant busy signals or disconnects after waiting forever. So frustrating!

To answer your question about lawyers - I represented myself and won, but my case was pretty straightforward with good documentation. If your case is more complex or you're not confident speaking for yourself, a lawyer might be worth it. Some legal aid organizations offer free help with unemployment appeals if you can't afford an attorney. For what it's worth, the ALJ (Administrative Law Judge) in my hearing was very patient and asked questions to make sure she understood my situation completely. It wasn't as adversarial as I feared.

One tip nobody mentioned - during the hearing, wait for the judge to completely finish asking questions before you answer. I kept interrupting accidentally because I was nervous, and the judge seemed annoyed. Also make sure your phone is fully charged and you're somewhere quiet without background noise.

Yes, you can absolutely have notes during the hearing! In fact, it's recommended. I had the following prepared: 1. A timeline of employment events 2. Key dates and facts (hire date, last day, when hours were reduced, etc.) 3. List of evidence I was submitting 4. Bullet points of my main arguments 5. Answers to questions I expected them to ask The judge can't see that you're using notes since it's a phone hearing, but even if they could, it's completely allowed and expected that you'd be prepared.