EDD changed my status from disqualification to appeal - can I still avoid judge hearing?

The status change from "disqualification" to "appeal" is actually normal - it just means your appeal has been acknowledged and entered into their system. The pre-appeal review (also called a reconsideration) still happens behind the scenes, but the status won't necessarily reflect that specific process. If they reverse the decision during pre-appeal review, your status would typically change directly to "paid" or something similar. So right now, your appeal is probably in the queue for review, but no determination has been made yet. Keep checking your UI Online account daily and your physical mail for updates.

same thing happnd to me last year!! took FOREVER to get resolved. my status also said "appeal" for like 2 months before anything happned. keep checking ur mail cuz they might send u hearing date. good luck!

The EDD system is such a nightmare to navigate! I went through something similar when transitioning from SDI to UI and got disqualified for the exact same reason. The "appeal" status just means they received your paperwork, but don't get your hopes up about that pre-appeal review actually happening. In my experience, they SAY they do reviews but almost EVERYTHING goes to a judge regardless. They're so backed up that it took over 3 months before I got my hearing date. And guess what? The judge immediately approved my claim when he saw I had the doctor's note, even though it was late. Such a waste of everyone's time and meanwhile I was broke waiting for benefits!

I work with EDD cases regularly, and I can clarify a few things about your situation: 1. The status changing to "appeal" is just procedural and happens for all appeals - it doesn't indicate whether pre-appeal review failed or succeeded 2. Pre-appeal reviews (reconsiderations) typically take 2-3 weeks, though they can take longer during busy periods 3. If they approve your case during reconsideration, you'll receive a Notice of Reconsideration by mail and your online status will update to reflect eligibility 4. If reconsideration doesn't resolve your case, you'll receive a packet with hearing information and instructions My advice: Start preparing for a hearing just in case (gather all your medical documentation, employment history, etc.), but there's still a good chance they'll resolve it during reconsideration, especially since you've now provided the document they originally requested.

just wanna say i feel ur pain with the whole doctor note thing. i had surgery last year n my doctor was so slow sending paperwork to EDD. ended up costing me like 6 weeks of benefits b4 it got fixed!! the system is broken fr

Have you tried calling EDD directly to ask about your appeal status? I know it's nearly impossible to get through on those phone lines (I spent WEEKS trying), but I finally found this service called Claimyr that helped me connect with an EDD rep without the endless redial nightmare. The rep I talked to was able to tell me exactly where my appeal was in the process and gave me an estimated timeline. Check them out at claimyr.com - they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km It was seriously worth it to actually talk to someone instead of obsessively checking my portal for updates that never came. The rep I spoke with even expedited my case review!

Quick update on timeline expectations: Appeals are currently taking longer than usual. For Q1 2025, we're seeing: - Pre-appeal reviews: 3-4 weeks (up from the usual 2-3 weeks) - Hearing scheduling: 8-12 weeks after pre-appeal decision - Actual hearings: 2-3 weeks after scheduling So realistically, you're looking at potentially 3-4 months total process time if it goes all the way to a hearing. However, cases with simple documentation issues like yours have a higher chance of resolution during pre-appeal review.

one more thing - make sure ur checking ur spam folder for emails from edd!! i missed my hearing notice cuz it went to spam lolll had to reschedule and wait another month smh

I'm glad you're getting some good advice here. One more tip: if you do end up having a hearing, make sure to join the call 15 minutes early and have all your documents ready to reference. The judges appreciate preparedness and it can really help your case. Also, don't be afraid to explain that you simply didn't understand you needed to provide the doctor's note initially but you've corrected that by providing it now. The judges are generally reasonable people who understand that the EDD system can be confusing for claimants.

I went through almost the exact same situation last year when transitioning from SDI back to UI! The "appeal" status is totally normal - it just means they've received your appeal paperwork and it's in the system. You're still in the early stages of the process. Since you now have the doctor's note they originally requested, you actually have a pretty good shot at getting this resolved during the pre-appeal review without needing a hearing. The fact that you provided a detailed explanation letter along with the medical documentation shows you're taking it seriously. One thing that helped me was keeping a detailed log of all my interactions with EDD (dates, times, what was discussed) in case I needed to reference it later. Also, make sure you're checking both your UI Online portal AND your physical mail daily - sometimes they update one before the other. Hang in there! Your case seems pretty straightforward now that you have the required documentation, so hopefully the pre-appeal review will go in your favor and you can avoid the whole hearing process.

I'm going through something similar right now - just submitted my appeal for a disqualification and waiting to see what happens. Reading through all these responses is both helpful and nerve-wracking! The timeline estimates are pretty scary (3-4 months potentially??) but it sounds like cases with clear documentation issues like yours and mine have a better chance of getting resolved during that pre-appeal review phase. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for both of us that we don't have to wait months for a hearing when the solution seems pretty obvious. Thanks for posting this question - all the detailed responses from people who work with EDD cases and have been through this process are super valuable. Going to start checking my spam folder daily now too after that warning from Oliver!

Hey Paolo, I just wanted to chime in with some encouragement since I can really hear the stress in your original post. I went through a very similar situation about 6 months ago - also got disqualified for missing documentation when transitioning from disability back to UI, and I was absolutely panicking about the whole process. The good news is that your case sounds very straightforward since you now have exactly what they originally asked for. In my experience, EDD tends to be pretty reasonable about these kinds of documentation oversights, especially when you provide a clear explanation and the required paperwork like you did. While you're waiting, try not to refresh your portal obsessively (I know, easier said than done!). The status changes can be pretty random and don't always reflect what's actually happening behind the scenes. Focus on the fact that you've done everything you can at this point - you submitted a thorough appeal with the doctor's note and explanation letter. Based on what others have shared here about timelines, you should have some kind of update within the next few weeks. And honestly, cases like yours where it's just a missing document (that you now have) seem to have good success rates during that pre-appeal review phase. Stay positive!

I'm actually dealing with a very similar situation right now! Got disqualified when switching from disability back to UI because I didn't realize I needed medical clearance documentation. Just like you, I submitted my appeal with the doctor's note and a detailed explanation letter about 2 weeks ago. My status also changed from "disqualification" to "appeal" and I've been wondering the same thing - is this good news, bad news, or just neutral? Reading through all these responses is really helpful, especially hearing from @4ae5077595c6 who seems to know the system well. The 2-3 week timeline for pre-appeal review gives me some hope that we might hear something soon. I'm trying not to get too anxious about it, but it's hard when you're waiting for benefits you really need. At least we both have the documentation they originally asked for now, which seems to put us in a better position than if we were appealing empty-handed. Fingers crossed that both our cases get resolved during that pre-appeal review phase and we can avoid the whole hearing process altogether!