EDD denied my claim after quitting due to hostile workplace - how to appeal with anxiety documentation?

ypu can definitely appeal this!!!! i had a similar situation last year when i quit my retail job bc of a manager who was literally terrorizing me daily. got denied first but WON my appeal. the key is to show you tried to resolve the situation before quitting. did you report the bullying to HR or management??? that's super important to show you tried to fix it before leaving. the medical docs from your ER visits are GOLD for your case!!!! make sure you highlight those in your appeal!!!

You need to file your appeal immediately - you only have 30 days from the date on your disqualification notice. For workplace harassment cases, EDD requires you to have made reasonable efforts to preserve your employment before quitting. In your appeal, focus on: 1. Documentation of all incidents with specific dates and details 2. Evidence showing you reported the issues to supervisors/HR 3. Medical documentation connecting your health issues directly to workplace conditions 4. Any witness statements if possible The medical documentation will be particularly important since you mentioned ER visits. Make sure your doctor clearly states the connection between your anxiety/health issues and the workplace situation. At the appeal hearing, stay focused on the facts and timeline. Explain why the interviewer didn't get the complete picture during your eligibility interview.

I went through this exact nightmare in 2023! Quit my toxic office job after months of targeted harassment and got denied initially too. Here's what worked for me: First, in your appeal letter, be SUPER specific about how the bullying affected your ability to perform your job. Don't just say you were anxious - explain how it prevented you from doing specific job duties. Also emphasize ANY communication with HR or management - even informal conversations count. For the medical stuff - gold mine! Get a letter from your doctor explicitly stating that continuing in that work environment would have caused further health deterioration. My doctor wrote that my continued employment would pose "significant and ongoing health risks" which the judge specifically mentioned when approving my appeal. The appeal hearing is nothing like that rushed eligibility interview. The Administrative Law Judge will give you plenty of time to explain everything in detail. Mine took about 45 minutes and was over the phone. Timeline-wise: took about 5 weeks to get a hearing date after I filed my appeal, then another 10 days for the decision. Good luck!

sorry ur going thru this! quitting for health reasons should 100% count as good cause but EDD is so strict about it. make sure u mention u tried to resolve it b4 quitting thats what they care about

I dealt with this situation last year. The appeals process takes time, so you need to prepare financially while you wait. The medical documentation is crucial - make sure your doctor specifically states that continuing to work there would cause further health deterioration. One thing to know about the appeal hearings is that your former employer will likely be invited to participate. Be prepared to face potential contradictions to your account. Stick to documented facts and avoid emotional language. The timeline varies widely right now - my appeal hearing was scheduled about 6 weeks after filing, but I've heard others waiting 2-3 months. Have you tried calling EDD to get more information about why exactly they disqualified you? Getting through to them is nearly impossible with regular calls. I found Claimyr (claimyr.com) super helpful for actually reaching an EDD representative. They have a service that helps you get through to an actual person at EDD without the endless busy signals. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km that shows how it works. Definitely worth it when you're dealing with time-sensitive issues like appeals.

The EDD is such garbage sometimes! They basically assume everyone is trying to scam them. I quit my job last year due to safety concerns (they wanted me working alone late at night in a sketchy area after a robbery) and they denied me too! I had to fight it for months. The whole system is rigged against workers.

Something important no one's mentioned yet - when you file your appeal, request a copy of your claim file! You have a right to see everything the interviewer wrote and what your employer said. This helped me enormously because I found out my employer had completely misrepresented our HR meetings. I was able to bring email evidence to contradict their statements. Also, regarding your question about representation - most people represent themselves at these hearings. They're designed to be accessible without an attorney. However, if you're really worried, some legal aid organizations offer free help with unemployment appeals.

Did you try to resolve the problems before quiting? Thats what matters to EDD. If u just quit without trying to fix it first they wont approve you. Happened to my frend

One additional thought regarding your appeal: for workplace anxiety/hostile work environment cases, EDD will be looking at whether a "reasonable person" would feel compelled to quit under similar circumstances. In your appeal, try to objectively describe the bullying behaviors and their frequency. Rather than just saying you were bullied, specify exactly what was said/done and how often it occurred. Connect each incident to how it impacted your work performance and health. For your medical documentation, if possible, have your doctor explicitly state that: 1) Your health issues were directly caused by workplace conditions, and 2) Continuing in that environment would cause further medical harm. This medical nexus is crucial for these types of cases. The appeal hearing is much more thorough than the initial interview. You'll have time to fully present your case.

I'm so sorry you're going through this - the combination of workplace harassment and then getting denied by EDD is just awful. I went through something similar about 6 months ago and want to share a few things that helped me win my appeal. First, don't panic about the timeline! You have 30 days to file your appeal, and the good news is you have really strong documentation. The screenshots of the group chat messages are incredibly valuable evidence - make sure those are front and center in your appeal. When you write your appeal letter, structure it chronologically. Start with when the harassment began, show the escalation over time, document each attempt you made to resolve it (those HR emails are gold!), and then connect it directly to your health deterioration. The fact that you have ER visits with medical documentation is huge. One thing that really helped my case was getting a detailed letter from my therapist explaining how the workplace trauma affected my mental health and ability to function. Since you mentioned panic attacks and chest pain, having your doctor write specifically about how the workplace environment caused these medical issues could be the key to your appeal. Also, don't let that rushed phone interview discourage you. The appeal hearing is completely different - you'll have plenty of time to tell your full story to an Administrative Law Judge who will actually listen. Mine took about an hour and I was able to present everything properly. You've got this! The documentation you have sounds really strong, and quitting due to documented harassment that's affecting your health absolutely should qualify as good cause.

I'm really sorry you're dealing with this - workplace harassment is traumatic enough without having to fight EDD too! Your case actually sounds very strong based on what you've described. The combination of documented harassment (those group chat screenshots!), attempts to resolve it through proper channels, and medical documentation connecting your health issues to the workplace situation checks all the boxes for "good cause" to quit. A few quick tips for your appeal: - File it ASAP (you have 30 days from the disqualification date) - Request your complete claim file so you can see exactly what your employer told EDD - Get a detailed letter from your doctor specifically linking your ER visits and health issues to the workplace harassment - Organize your evidence chronologically to show the pattern of escalating harassment The appeal hearing will be so much better than that rushed phone interview. The Administrative Law Judge will actually give you time to present your full case properly. I've seen people with similar situations successfully overturn their initial denials - don't lose hope! Your documentation sounds really comprehensive and that's exactly what wins these appeals. Hang in there - you did the right thing by leaving that toxic environment, and hopefully EDD will recognize that once you get a fair hearing.