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Dylan Cooper

EDD denied claim over address verification - how long until appeal hearing date?

I'm seriously stressed about my unemployment situation right now. Filed my initial claim on October 19, 2023 and EDD straight-up denied me because of some address verification issue. I've triple-checked everything - my DL matches my current address, but somehow they still flagged it as 'unverifiable' or something. I immediately filed an appeal (early November) but here I am months later with ZERO communication about when my hearing will actually happen. Not even an acknowledgment letter! My savings are almost gone and my landlord isn't exactly patient. Has anyone gone through the appeal process recently? How long did you wait before getting an actual hearing date? I'm starting to wonder if my appeal form got lost in their system...

I went through something similar last year. It took almost 12 weeks from my appeal submission until I got the hearing date letter, and then another 3 weeks until the actual hearing. The system is ridiculously backed up. Make sure you call and confirm they actually received your appeal form - I thought mine was processing but turns out they never even entered it into their system! Total nightmare.

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12 WEEKS?? I'm at about 10 weeks now and haven't heard anything. Did you do anything special to make sure your appeal was processed faster? I'm literally about to be evicted.

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The wait times for appeal hearings are unfortunately very unpredictable right now. In 2025, we're seeing anywhere from 8-16 weeks from appeal submission to hearing date, with most falling around the 12-week mark. The address verification issues are particularly frustrating because they're often triggered by minor discrepancies in the system. Here are some steps you should take immediately: 1. Call EDD to confirm your appeal was received and is in the system (difficult but necessary) 2. Request an expedited hearing based on financial hardship (bring documentation showing potential eviction) 3. Check if you qualify for conditional payments while waiting for your hearing 4. Make sure your contact information is up-to-date so you don't miss the hearing notice The judge will focus specifically on your address verification documents, so gather everything showing your current address (utility bills, lease, bank statements, etc.) to present at the hearing.

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Thank you for these specific steps! I've been trying to call them for weeks but can never get through to an actual person. Do you know any good time to call when the wait isn't 3+ hours? I definitely need to confirm they even have my appeal on file.

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same thing happend to me and i waited 14 weeks for my hearing!! system is broken af. make sure u have all ur mail from your address going back at least 6 months they asked me for that stuff at the hearing

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They actually don't need 6 months of mail anymore since they updated the verification requirements in January. Now they only need 2 pieces of mail from different sources within the last 60 days. The EDD website has all this info but it's buried like 5 pages deep 🙄

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Have you tried using Claimyr to get through to an EDD rep? I was in the same boat - couldn't get confirmation about my appeal status and kept getting the dreaded "we're experiencing high call volume" message. A friend recommended Claimyr (claimyr.com) and they got me connected to an actual EDD agent in under 25 minutes. I was able to confirm my appeal was in the system and got an estimated timeframe for my hearing. They have a video demo that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km - definitely worth it when you're dealing with time-sensitive issues like potential eviction.

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I've never heard of this before. Is it legit? I'm desperate enough to try anything at this point, just nervous about giving out my info to random services.

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It's completely legitimate. They just help you bypass the phone queue. I was skeptical too, but it worked exactly as advertised - connected me with an actual EDD rep who confirmed my appeal was in process and gave me a rough timeline. Definitely put my mind at ease.

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I worked as an Administrative Law Judge for EDD appeals until recently. Here's what's happening: The appeal system is severely backlogged in early 2025, with address verification cases taking longer because they require document review before scheduling. The 8-16 week estimate others mentioned is accurate, but harships cases can be expedited. If you're facing eviction, you should: 1. Submit a written hardship request (fax works best) 2. Include documentation of your hardship (eviction notice, etc) 3. Specify "URGENT - HARDSHIP REVIEW REQUESTED" on all correspondence For the hearing itself, bring ALL documentation showing your address (current ID, utility bills, lease, tax documents, bank statements). The issue isn't just that the addresses match - EDD is often checking if it's a valid residential address vs. a P.O. box or commercial address. Also, many address verification denials happen because income was reported at a different address by employers during your base period. Be prepared to explain any address discrepancies in your work history.

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This is incredibly helpful, thank you! I didn't realize faxing would be better than mailing. Do you happen to know the best fax number for hardship requests? Also, I did move about 8 months before filing my claim - could that be what caused the verification issue?

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Yes, a recent move is often the trigger for these verification issues, especially if you had W-2 income reported at your previous address. The main appeals office fax is 916-319-1778, but you should also fax a copy to your regional appeal office (the one listed on your appeal acknowledgment if you received one). Make sure to include your full name, claim ID, and SSN on every page of the fax. And yes, the move 8 months prior is likely the exact cause - the verification system flags discrepancies between your current address and where your base period employers reported your income.

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This conversation is so helpful! I'm dealing with the exact same issue but different timeline. Quick question - does the base period for 2025 claims still look back at the previous 18 months of employment, or did they change that rule? My denial mentioned something about my "base period employers" but I'm confused about which jobs that actually includes.

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Ugh, I hate the EDD appeal process! Waited 11 WEEKS for my hearing date last year, then they randomly rescheduled it with only 48 hours notice! Make sure you answer EVERY phone call, even unknown numbers, because they sometimes call to schedule rather than sending mail. And btw the denial reason they give you initially isn't always what they focus on at the hearing - my "address verification" issue suddenly became an "availability for work" issue at the actual hearing. Be prepared for ANYTHING!

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Wow that's concerning... I'll make sure to be prepared for other topics too. Did you win your appeal in the end?

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Yes! Won on both issues actually. The judge was surprisingly fair and listened to my evidence. Just be organized, bring MORE documentation than you think you need, and answer questions directly without rambling. My hearing lasted about 30 minutes. Don't worry too much about legal formalities - it's not like a regular court. The judge walked me through everything.

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Just want to add that after you do get your hearing date, make sure you submit any evidence at least 7 days before! I submitted mine 5 days before and the judge almost didn't consider it. Also, if you have any witnesses who can verify your address (landlord, roommate, etc.), you can have them testify by phone during your hearing - just need to arrange it beforehand.

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oh and make sure u check ur mail EVERYDAY cuz they sent my hearing notice to wrong address even tho i updated my address online lol the whole case was about address verification and they still messed up my address on the hearing notice 🤦‍♂️

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I'd like to follow up on a few comments here with important clarifications about EDD appeals in 2025: 1. The current average wait time for non-expedited appeals is 10-12 weeks 2. Hardship requests can reduce this to 4-6 weeks when properly documented 3. The "base period" is still the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters before filing 4. Address verification issues are common for claimants who moved within 12 months of filing 5. Evidence must be submitted 10 business days before the hearing (this changed from 7 days in late 2024) I strongly recommend calling EDD to confirm your appeal is in their system. I know the phone lines are frustrating, but it's crucial to verify they received your appeal form. If you can't get through by phone, you can also check your appeal status by visiting an America's Job Center in person - they can access the appeal database directly.

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Thank you for these updates! I'll try calling again tomorrow, and if that doesn't work, I'll look up the nearest job center. Really appreciate everyone's help with this - I was feeling completely lost in the system.

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Hey Dylan, I just went through this exact situation about 6 months ago and know how stressful it is. A couple of things that helped me: First, definitely try the America's Job Center suggestion - I went to the one in Sacramento and they were able to confirm my appeal status immediately, which gave me peace of mind. Second, while you're waiting, start gathering EVERYTHING related to your address. I made copies of my lease, utility bills, bank statements, voter registration, car registration, and even Amazon delivery confirmations - basically anything with my name and address. The judge was impressed with how organized I was and it definitely helped my case. Also, if you're facing eviction, document that too because it can help with the hardship request. The whole process sucks but hang in there - most people who appeal address verification issues do win if they have proper documentation. You've got this!

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This is such great advice, Chloe! I'm definitely going to start gathering all that documentation you mentioned - I hadn't even thought about things like Amazon deliveries or voter registration but that makes total sense. The America's Job Center idea sounds really promising too since I've been getting nowhere with the phone lines. It's reassuring to hear from someone who actually won their appeal for the same issue. Did your hearing end up being in person or over the phone? And roughly how long did the whole process take from appeal to final decision?

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I'm going through something very similar right now - filed my claim in December and got denied for address verification even though all my documents match perfectly. It's so frustrating because you know your own address is correct! I've been waiting about 7 weeks since filing my appeal and still haven't heard anything. Reading through everyone's experiences here is both reassuring and terrifying - reassuring that I'm not alone in this mess, but terrifying that some people waited 14+ weeks. One thing I learned from calling around is that you can also check your appeal status through your local state assembly member's office. They have a constituent services department that can sometimes get faster responses from EDD than calling directly. Might be worth trying if the America's Job Center route doesn't work out. Also, I've been keeping a detailed log of every attempt to contact EDD (dates, times, reference numbers) just in case I need it for my hearing. Stay strong Dylan - from everything I'm reading here, people with legitimate address verification issues usually win their appeals if they come prepared with documentation.

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Nia, thanks for mentioning the assembly member's office option - I had no idea that was even a thing! That's actually really smart to keep a detailed log of all your contact attempts too. I'm definitely going to start doing that from now on. It's crazy how many hoops we have to jump through just to get basic information about our own cases. How did you find out about the constituent services route? Did you just call your assembly member's office directly or is there a specific department to ask for?

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I'm in almost the exact same situation as Dylan and really appreciate all the detailed advice in this thread! Filed my claim in November 2023 and got hit with the same address verification denial even though everything on my driver's license matches perfectly. I'm at about 9 weeks since filing my appeal and the silence from EDD is deafening. A few things I've learned from my own research that might help others: If you moved recently like Dylan did, make sure you can explain the timeline clearly at your hearing. I created a simple timeline document showing when I moved, when I updated my address with DMV, when I registered to vote at the new address, etc. Also, I found out that some credit monitoring services (like Credit Karma) will show you a history of addresses associated with your credit report - this can be useful evidence if EDD is questioning whether you actually live where you say you do. One question for those who've been through hearings recently - do they still allow you to have a representative or advocate with you during the hearing, or do you have to represent yourself? I've heard mixed things about this and want to be prepared. The financial stress while waiting is brutal. Hang in there everyone - it sounds like most people with legitimate cases do eventually win their appeals.

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Lim, that timeline document idea is brilliant! I'm definitely going to create something similar showing my move timeline and when I updated everything. The Credit Karma suggestion is really smart too - I never would have thought of that as potential evidence. Regarding representatives at hearings, from what I've read in other threads, you can have an advocate but they need to be registered with EDD beforehand and there's some paperwork involved. Might be worth looking into if you're not comfortable representing yourself. This whole process is such a nightmare but at least we're all helping each other navigate it. Solidarity in the EDD struggle! 💪

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Dylan, I feel for you - the EDD appeal process is absolutely brutal right now. I'm currently at week 13 waiting for my hearing date after filing an appeal for the same address verification issue back in November. Like others have mentioned, the wait times are all over the place but seem to average around 10-12 weeks. One thing that really helped me was going to my local Assembly member's office for constituent services - they were able to confirm my appeal was actually in the system and get me a rough timeline estimate when I couldn't get through on the phones. You can find your Assembly member on the CA legislature website and just call asking for help with EDD issues. Also, start preparing your documentation NOW even while you wait. I created a binder with sections for: lease/rental agreement, utility bills, bank statements, DMV records, voter registration, medical records, and even subscription service bills (Netflix, gym membership, etc.) - basically anything showing your name at that address over time. The more evidence you have, the stronger your case. The financial stress is real - I had to take on some gig work just to stay afloat while waiting. But from what I've seen in this community, people with legitimate address verification issues usually win their appeals if they come prepared. Hang in there!

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