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.

I went through the appeals process last year and won my case! Similar situation - employer claimed I quit but I was actually pushed out due to hostile work environment. A few things that really helped me: 1. Submit ALL your evidence before the hearing deadline (usually 10 days prior). Don't wait until the hearing itself 2. Keep your explanation factual and chronological - don't get emotional even if your employer lies 3. Focus on the legal standard: would a reasonable person in your situation have felt compelled to leave? For your hour reduction situation, definitely emphasize that 12 hours/week wasn't sufficient to meet basic living expenses. If you can show you tried to make it work (like picking up a second job or asking for more hours), that strengthens your case. The whole process took about 6 weeks from hearing to final decision, but the stress was worth it when I got that approval letter. You've got a solid case with the documentation you mentioned - stay organized and confident!

I just went through the appeals process in February and won! My employer also claimed I quit voluntarily when they actually made my job impossible by changing my schedule with no notice and cutting my pay. Here's what I wish I had known going in: The hearing was way less scary than I expected. The Administrative Law Judge was professional and gave both sides equal time to present their case. The whole thing lasted about 30 minutes. My employer's representative wasn't even that prepared - they just repeated the same claims from their initial response. Key things that helped me win: - I had email evidence showing I tried to work with the schedule changes - I documented how the pay cut made it financially impossible to continue - I stayed calm and stuck to facts, even when their rep made accusations - I clearly explained why a reasonable person would have left under those circumstances For your situation with the hour reduction from 40 to 12 hours per week, that's a textbook case of constructive discharge. Make sure you calculate exactly what the pay difference was and emphasize that 12 hours wasn't livable income. If you have any communication showing you asked for more hours or expressed concern about the reduction, bring that too. The decision came back in my favor about 2 weeks later. Don't let them intimidate you - you have rights and a valid case!

I went through the appeals process about 6 months ago and won my case! Similar to your situation, my employer claimed I voluntarily quit when they actually forced me out by making unreasonable schedule changes and cutting my hours drastically. Here's my experience and advice: **Preparation was key:** I spent hours organizing all my documentation - pay stubs, emails, text messages, anything that showed the timeline of what happened. Having everything organized chronologically made a huge difference during the hearing. **The hearing itself:** It was conducted over the phone and lasted about 40 minutes. The Administrative Law Judge was fair and asked detailed questions to both sides. My former employer's HR representative tried to stick to their story, but when the judge asked for specifics, they couldn't provide documentation to back up their claims. **What worked in my favor:** - Clear documentation showing the change in working conditions - Evidence that I tried to work with the situation before leaving - Staying factual and professional throughout the hearing - Explaining how a reasonable person would have responded in my situation For your case specifically, the reduction from 40 hours to 12 hours is a slam dunk for constructive discharge. Make sure to emphasize the financial impossibility of surviving on 70% less income. If you have any evidence showing you tried to make it work or asked for more hours, that's golden. You don't necessarily need a lawyer for this type of case if you have good documentation and can present your story clearly. I represented myself and it worked out fine. The whole process from hearing to decision took about 3 weeks. Hang in there - you've got a strong case!

I went through the EDD appeals process in December and won my case! I was in almost the exact same situation - employer claimed I quit when they actually cut my hours from 35 to 8 per week. Here's what really helped me prepare: **Documentation is everything:** I gathered pay stubs showing the hour reduction, screenshots of my work schedule changes, and text messages where I asked my supervisor about getting more hours. The judge specifically asked about my attempts to address the situation with my employer first. **Practice your timeline:** I wrote out a simple chronology - when I was hired, what my original hours were, when they got cut, what I did to try to fix it, and when I finally had to leave. Having this clear narrative really helped during the hearing. **The hearing itself:** It was less intimidating than I expected. The judge asked me to explain what happened, then asked my employer questions. When they claimed the hour reduction was "temporary," the judge asked them to specify how long and what the plan was to restore hours. They couldn't give a clear answer, which really helped my case. Your situation with 40 hours dropping to 12 is even more dramatic than mine was. That's a 70% reduction in income - no reasonable person could be expected to survive on that. Make sure to emphasize the financial impact and that you tried to work with them before leaving. The whole process took about a month from hearing to decision, but getting that approval letter made all the stress worth it. You've got a strong case - stay organized and confident!