EDD disqualified ALL my pandemic payments from 2020-2021 due to medical issues - refusing to pay back!

This is unfortunately becoming common. EDD is doing massive retroactive reviews of pandemic claims. The key issue here is the 'able and available' requirement - even during the pandemic, you needed to be available for some type of work (even remote work). You should immediately file an appeal - you only have 30 days from the disqualification notice date. The form is DE 1000M. Make sure to include copies of: - Your doctor's documentation - Any communications showing you disclosed this information - Evidence you were seeking work you could do safely Also request a 'financial hardship waiver' if repayment would cause significant financial burden. The appeal hearing will be scheduled 2-3 months out, but the collection process is paused while appealing.

OMG this is TERRIFYING!!! I had a similar situation with health issues but haven't heard anything from EDD yet. Did they just call you out of the blue? No letter first??? I'm freaking out now thinking they might come after me too. How far back can they even go to demand repayment???

i got hit with this two months ago, they said i wasnt eligiable for PUA becuz i quit my job in feb 2020 (before lockdowns) even tho i told them that at the time and they approved me!! now they want $19,200 back. sent in my appeal but havent heard anything yet. this is such BS, they approved everyone no questions in 2020 and now want it all back when ppl have already used that money to SURVIVE a pandemic!!

You need to call EDD immediately to discuss your specific case details and appeal options. I went through a similar situation last year with a $15,600 overpayment claim. The problem is getting through to someone who can actually help. I spent 3 weeks trying to reach a Tier 2 specialist who could access my case notes and explain the disqualification details. Regular agents couldn't see the specifics. After 40+ attempts, I finally used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through - they have a system that connects you directly with EDD agents. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km Once I got through to the right person, I was able to get detailed information that helped me prepare a much stronger appeal. In my case, they reduced the overpayment by 70% after I provided additional documentation.

@7 Yes, it worked for me when nothing else did. The key is that it gets you past that initial barrier where they disconnect you. You'll still wait on hold, but at least you're in the queue. Make sure when you do get through, you ask specifically for a Tier 2 specialist who can review disqualification decisions.

@5 Yes, if you have an active claim you should absolutely continue certifying while appealing. The appeal only addresses the disqualified weeks, not your current eligibility. Also, gather any emails or documentation from your initial application that shows you disclosed your medical situation. One more tip: contact your state assembly member's office. They have EDD liaisons who can sometimes get information or escalate cases when you can't get through directly. Just Google "[your county] state assembly member" to find yours.

This is exactly why I kept EVERY SINGLE PIECE of correspondence with EDD during the pandemic. I had a feeling they'd try something like this years later. I printed all my certifications, took screenshots of my work search activities, and saved all emails. You mentioned having a doctor's note - that's critical for your appeal. The judge will want to see that you were looking for work you could safely perform with your medical condition. Did your doctor specifically state you could work remotely? That distinction might be the difference in your case.

YES - definitely get an updated letter from your doctor that specifically mentions you were able to work in remote/non-public-facing roles during that time period. Make it crystal clear. The more specific, the better. Administrative law judges in EDD cases tend to be very literal in their interpretations. If your doctor can reference their notes from 2020-2021 to show this was their recommendation at that time (not just a current opinion), that would be ideal.

wait i'm confused... if you had medical issues that prevented you from working certain jobs, shouldn't you have been on disability (SDI) instead of regular unemployment? i thought UI was only if you could accept any suitable work...

Based on what you've shared, you have a strong case for appeal. Here's what you need to focus on: 1) The distinction between being completely unable to work (which would require disability) versus being able to work with reasonable accommodations (which can qualify for UI) 2) Evidence that you were actively seeking suitable work that accommodated your medical condition 3) Documentation showing you disclosed your situation from the beginning 70-80% of appeals that are well-prepared with documentation end up with at least partial reversals of overpayment determinations. The appeals board understands the unprecedented nature of the pandemic period. Also, if your appeal is unsuccessful, request a waiver of overpayment based on equity and good conscience. These are being granted quite frequently for pandemic-era claims when the claimant acted in good faith.

I'm dealing with something similar but haven't gotten the call yet - this post is making me really nervous! I received PUA benefits in 2020-2021 while dealing with chronic health issues that made it unsafe for me to work in my usual retail job during the pandemic. Like you, I was completely honest about my situation when I applied and was approved without any issues at the time. Reading through all these responses is both terrifying and helpful. It sounds like the key is having solid documentation that shows you were able and available for SOME type of work, even if not all types. I'm now going through my records to make sure I have everything saved - work search logs, medical documentation, emails with EDD, etc. Has anyone here successfully gotten through the appeals process yet? I'm curious about the timeline and what the actual hearing experience is like. Also wondering if there are any patterns to which cases EDD is targeting for these retroactive reviews - is it random or are they focusing on specific types of claims? Stay strong @Zoe Wang - it sounds like you have a good case with the documentation you mentioned!

I went through a similar appeal process last year and want to share some hope! I had a $22,000 overpayment determination for pandemic benefits due to a work restriction from a back injury. The initial EDD decision was that I wasn't "able and available" but I successfully appealed. Key things that helped my case: - I had detailed work search logs showing I applied to jobs I could physically do (desk jobs, remote work) - My doctor provided a letter explaining I could work with restrictions, not that I was completely disabled - I kept records of all my original communications with EDD showing I was transparent about my limitations The appeal hearing was about 40 minutes over the phone. The judge was actually pretty fair and asked good questions about what types of work I was seeking and whether I would have accepted suitable positions if offered. The decision came back 6 weeks later - they reversed the overpayment completely! Don't give up @Zoe Wang! If you were genuinely looking for work you could safely do and were honest from the start, you have a solid case. The appeals process exists for exactly these situations where the initial determination missed important context.

This is absolutely outrageous but unfortunately becoming more common. I'm a paralegal who's been helping people with EDD appeals and I've seen dozens of these retroactive disqualification cases in the past few months. The good news is that you have strong grounds for appeal based on what you've described. Being immunocompromised during the pandemic and having doctor's documentation creates a compelling case that you were still "able and available" for suitable work - just not ALL work. This is a crucial legal distinction that EDD often gets wrong in their initial determinations. A few critical steps for your appeal: - File the DE 1000M form immediately (within 30 days of notice date) - Request all your original claim documents from EDD to show you disclosed everything upfront - Get an updated doctor's letter that specifically states you were able to work in low-risk/remote environments during that period - Compile evidence of your work search activities showing you were actively seeking suitable employment The appeals success rate for pandemic-era cases with proper documentation is actually quite high - around 75% get at least partial relief. Don't let EDD intimidate you into paying back money you legitimately qualified for. Fight this!

I'm so sorry you're going through this @Zoe Wang - this exact situation is my worst nightmare! I received PUA benefits in 2020-2021 while dealing with anxiety and panic attacks that made it impossible for me to work in crowded retail environments during the pandemic. Like you, I was completely honest about my mental health situation when I applied. Reading through all these responses has been both terrifying and educational. It's clear that EDD is conducting these retroactive reviews more frequently now, and the key seems to be proving you were "able and available" for SOME work, not necessarily ALL work. I'm now frantically going through my old records to make sure I have everything documented - work search logs, therapy notes, applications to remote positions, etc. The fact that you disclosed everything upfront and have doctor's documentation should really work in your favor. Has anyone dealt with mental health-related work restrictions in their appeals? I'm wondering if the standards are different compared to physical health limitations. The distinction between being completely unable to work (disability) versus needing accommodations (UI eligibility) seems crucial for these cases. Stay strong - it sounds like you have a solid foundation for your appeal!

This is such an important thread - thank you for sharing your situation @Zoe Wang. I'm seeing a disturbing pattern here where EDD approved pandemic benefits without proper review in 2020-2021, and now they're coming back years later to claw money back from vulnerable people who acted in good faith. What really bothers me is the timing - they're targeting these retroactive reviews now that people have likely spent the money on basic necessities during one of the most challenging periods in recent history. The "able and available" standard during a global pandemic should have been interpreted with the extraordinary circumstances in mind. For anyone facing similar situations, I'd also recommend documenting the timeline of your original application process. If EDD had adequate information to make an informed decision at the time and still approved your claim, that could be strong evidence of their error rather than your ineligibility. Also worth noting - if you're dealing with this stress, please don't hesitate to seek support. The financial and emotional burden of these surprise overpayment demands can be overwhelming. You're not alone in this fight, and based on the success stories shared here, there's real hope for getting these wrongful determinations overturned.

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this nightmare @Zoe Wang! As someone new to this community, I'm absolutely shocked reading about these retroactive disqualifications. The fact that EDD is coming after people 4 years later for benefits they approved during a GLOBAL PANDEMIC is beyond cruel. Your situation sounds like you have a really strong case for appeal though. Being immunocompromised and having doctor's documentation showing you needed to avoid high-risk work environments is completely reasonable - especially during 2020-2021 when we barely understood COVID transmission. The key distinction everyone's mentioned between being "unable to work" vs "able to work with accommodations" seems crucial here. I'm taking notes from all the great advice in this thread since I'm terrified I might get hit with something similar. The success stories like @Carmen Vega's are giving me hope that fighting these determinations can actually work with proper documentation. Please keep us updated on how your appeal goes! It sounds like you were completely transparent from the beginning and actively looking for suitable remote work. EDD made the approval decision with full knowledge of your medical situation - they shouldn't be able to reverse that years later just because they want the money back now. Stay strong - you've got a whole community rooting for you! 💪