EDD denied school extension - can I appeal when notified too late about 16-week rule?

Sorry you're going through this. The rule about notifying EDD within 16 weeks of your claim start date for CTB (California Training Benefits) approval is real, but there might still be options. First, check if your school/program is on the EDD's approved training provider list (ETPL). If it is, you could have better grounds for appeal. File an appeal immediately - you only have 30 days from the denial notice date. In your appeal, explain that you weren't properly informed about the 16-week notification requirement, and that you've been truthfully reporting your school attendance all along on your bi-weekly certifications.

this happened to my roommate last year. the whole CTB thing is confusing af. she got denied at first but appealed and won because she didnt know about the 16 week rule either

The EDD's Training Benefits program is SO FRUSTRATING!!!! They literally make it IMPOSSIBLE to understand the rules and then PUNISH YOU for not following them correctly! I was denied extension last year for basically the SAME REASON and lost 12 weeks of benefits I desperately needed. The worst part is different reps tell you different things - it's like none of them actually know their own rules!! I hope you have better luck than I did with your appeal.

Let me clarify a few things about California Training Benefits (CTB) that might help your appeal: 1. You're correct that typically, you need to notify EDD within the first 16 weeks of your claim that you're in an approved training program. However, there are exceptions. 2. The fact that you consistently reported your school attendance on bi-weekly certifications is significant. In your appeal, emphasize that you were providing this information regularly and EDD failed to properly advise you about CTB requirements. 3. Gather documentation from your school confirming your enrollment date, expected completion date, and that it's an approved program. 4. On your appeal form (DE 1000M), be very specific about the misinformation you received and the lack of clear guidance from EDD representatives. 5. Continue certifying for benefits while your appeal is pending, even if payments are on hold. I've helped several clients through this exact situation, and about 70% of appeals are successful when the claimant was genuinely unaware of the formal CTB application requirement but had been reporting school attendance all along.

i had a similar situation but with a different outcome actually. i was taking classes at cal state and didn't tell EDD until like 20 weeks in. when i finally did the CTB application they actually approved it retroactively. no idea why they're being so strict with you but definitely appeal! the worst they can say is no again

If you're struggling to reach someone at EDD about your appeal, try using Claimyr (claimyr.com). I was in a similar situation with my training benefits and couldn't get through on the phone for weeks. Claimyr got me connected to an EDD specialist in under 25 minutes who actually knew the rules about training extensions. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km That specialist explained exactly what documents I needed for my appeal and even noted in my file that I had been misinformed by previous reps. Made a huge difference in my case.

Just wanted to add that when you file your appeal, make sure to specifically request a CONTINUANCE of benefits during the appeal process. Many people don't know you can request this. It doesn't guarantee they'll pay you while appealing, but sometimes they do. Also, what kind of healthcare admin program are you in? My cousin finished one last year and had great job prospects afterward.

Wait but did anyone else catch that the EDD rep threatened that they "could have denied the entire claim from the beginning"??? That sounds like INTIMIDATION to me and you should definitely mention that in your appeal!! They're trying to scare you into not appealing! Document EVERYTHING - dates, times, names of who you spoke with. The EDD is a NIGHTMARE of bureaucracy and they WILL try to wear you down until you give up!!! DON'T LET THEM WIN!!!

Quick update on the CTB rules - as of January 2025, EDD is actually supposed to screen ALL claimants for potential training opportunities during their initial claim filing and again at the 8-week mark. They're required to inform eligible claimants about the CTB program and application process. The fact that they failed to do this for you is another strong point for your appeal. Print out the UI code section 1269.5 which outlines these requirements and include it with your appeal documentation.

My brother in law had his extension denied too even though he was in a welding program. But his situation was different since he never told EDD he was in school at all during his certifications. I think you have a much better case since you were honest every time. Good luck with everything! October will be here before you know it!

I'm going through something similar right now - filed for benefits in November 2024 and just started getting pushback about my nursing program at LA City College. What's really frustrating is that I've been completely transparent about my school status on every single certification, just like you. The fact that they're now acting like this is some kind of violation when we've been honest the whole time is infuriating. One thing that might help your case - I noticed you mentioned healthcare administration. That field is considered high-demand in California, especially post-COVID. When you file your appeal, definitely emphasize how this training directly addresses labor market needs and will make you more employable. The EDD is supposed to prioritize training that leads to in-demand careers. Also, keep detailed records of every phone call moving forward. I started doing this after getting different answers from different reps three times in one week. Date, time, rep name (if they give it), and exactly what they told you. It's helped me spot the inconsistencies in their responses. Hang in there - the system is broken but people do win these appeals!

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this - the EDD's handling of training benefits is absolutely maddening! What really stands out to me is that you've been honest about your school attendance on every single certification. That should work heavily in your favor during the appeal process. A few things that might help strengthen your case: 1. When you file your appeal, include a timeline showing exactly when you started school versus when you filed for UI benefits. This can help demonstrate whether the 16-week notification window was even feasible. 2. Request copies of ALL your certification records from EDD showing you consistently reported school attendance. This proves you weren't hiding anything from them. 3. Consider reaching out to your local assembly member's office - they often have staff who specialize in EDD issues and can sometimes expedite appeals or get better explanations of decisions. The inconsistency you mentioned between reps is unfortunately typical, but document those conflicting statements in your appeal. The fact that one rep said you needed to notify "before the last week" while another said "first 16 weeks" shows they don't even know their own rules. Healthcare administration is definitely a growing field, especially with an aging population. Make sure to highlight the job market demand and how this training directly improves your employability. You've got this!

This is exactly why I always tell people to document EVERYTHING when dealing with EDD from day one. The fact that you've been completely transparent about your school attendance on every certification puts you in a strong position for your appeal. Here's something that might help - when I went through my CTB appeal last year, I included a statement explaining that I was never informed about the formal CTB application process despite being honest about my training on all certifications. The judge specifically noted that EDD has a responsibility to properly inform claimants about available programs. Also, don't let them intimidate you with threats about denying your entire claim retroactively. That's classic EDD scare tactics. You were eligible when you filed, you've been honest throughout the process, and you're in an approved training program for a high-demand field. One more tip - if you haven't already, call your community college's financial aid office. Many schools have staff who are familiar with EDD training benefit issues and can provide additional documentation or even advocacy support for students in your situation. The 70% success rate that Paolo mentioned earlier sounds about right from what I've seen. Stay strong and don't give up!

I went through almost the exact same situation with EDD about 8 months ago and successfully won my appeal! Like you, I had been completely transparent about being in school on every single certification, but they still tried to deny my extension for not filing the formal CTB application within 16 weeks. Here's what worked for me: I emphasized in my appeal that EDD had all the information they needed from my bi-weekly certifications but failed in their duty to inform me about the CTB program requirements. I also included printouts of every certification I had submitted showing I consistently answered "yes" to attending school. The key thing that helped my case was getting a letter from my school's career services department explaining how my program directly addressed local job market needs and included job placement statistics. The appeal judge seemed really impressed by that documentation. Don't let their intimidation tactics work - that threat about denying your whole claim is just them trying to scare you into not appealing. You were eligible when you filed, you've been honest throughout, and healthcare administration is definitely a high-demand field right now. File that appeal ASAP and keep certifying while it's pending. You've got a really strong case here, especially since your school is on their approved provider list. Rooting for you!

I'm a newcomer here but this thread caught my attention because I'm facing a similar situation with my cosmetology program. Reading through everyone's experiences gives me hope that these appeals can work! What really strikes me is how many people here have been completely honest about their school attendance on certifications yet still got denied for not knowing about formal CTB requirements. It seems like EDD has a pattern of not properly informing claimants about these programs despite having all the information they need. @Zainab Omar - your case sounds particularly strong since you've documented everything and your program is on their approved list. The fact that different reps gave you conflicting information about notification timing is definitely something to highlight in your appeal. For anyone else dealing with this, I'm keeping notes on all the great advice shared here - especially about getting documentation from career services, emphasizing job market demand, and requesting continued benefits during appeals. This community is such a valuable resource for navigating EDD's confusing system!

I'm new to this community but your situation really resonates with me because I just went through something very similar with my vocational rehabilitation program at Santa Ana College. The EDD's handling of training benefits is absolutely broken - they have all the information they need from our honest certifications but still penalize us for not knowing about their internal processes. What really helped my case was getting a detailed letter from my program coordinator explaining not just the job placement rates, but also the specific skills I was gaining and how they directly address current labor shortages in Orange County. Since healthcare administration is such a high-growth field, especially with all the regulatory changes happening in healthcare, you should definitely emphasize that workforce development angle. Also, when you file your appeal, make sure to request a phone hearing rather than just a paper review if that option is available. Sometimes being able to explain your situation directly to the judge makes a big difference, especially when you can demonstrate how cooperative and transparent you've been throughout the process. The fact that you're at Cypress College is actually great - they have an excellent reputation with EDD for their workforce development programs. Their career services department probably has experience helping students with exactly this type of situation. Don't let EDD's intimidation tactics work - you have a really strong case here!

I'm new to this community but your story really hits home because I'm dealing with something almost identical right now. I'm in a medical assistant program at Los Angeles Trade Tech and just got blindsided by the same 16-week CTB notification rule after being completely honest about my school attendance on every single certification for months. What's really encouraging is seeing how many people here have successfully appealed these denials, especially when they were transparent about their training from the beginning like we were. The pattern is so clear - EDD has all the information they need from our bi-weekly certifications but then penalizes us for not knowing about their internal application processes that nobody explains. I'm definitely taking notes on all the excellent advice shared here, especially about emphasizing how our programs address high-demand career fields and getting documentation from career services about job placement rates. Healthcare is such a growing sector right now, especially with the ongoing staffing shortages in medical facilities. The intimidation tactics they use are really something else - threatening to deny entire claims retroactively just to discourage appeals. But reading everyone's experiences here shows that standing up to their scare tactics actually works when you have documentation and a solid case. Thanks for sharing your situation and to everyone who's provided such detailed guidance. This community is an amazing resource for navigating EDD's confusing maze of rules and procedures!

I'm new to this community but your situation really resonates with me as someone who just started dealing with EDD's training benefit maze. I'm currently in a pharmacy technician program at Riverside City College and reading through all these experiences has been incredibly eye-opening about what I might face. What really strikes me about your case is how you've been completely transparent from day one - answering honestly on every certification about school attendance. That level of honesty should be rewarded, not penalized! The fact that your program is on their approved provider list is huge too. From everything I've read here, it seems like the key arguments for your appeal should be: 1) You consistently reported school attendance showing good faith, 2) EDD failed in their duty to inform you about CTB requirements despite having this information, 3) Healthcare administration directly addresses California's workforce needs, and 4) The conflicting information from different reps shows systematic problems with their communication. The intimidation tactic about potentially denying your entire claim is particularly disgusting - they're literally trying to scare you out of exercising your legal right to appeal. But seeing all these success stories gives me hope that fighting back actually works when you have solid documentation like you do. Your October 2025 completion date isn't that far away, and healthcare admin jobs are definitely in high demand right now. Don't let their bureaucratic failures derail your career plans - file that appeal and keep pushing forward!