EDD eligibility appeal hearing by phone tomorrow - need urgent advice!

Deep breaths! I went through this last month. Here's what you need to prepare: 1. Have ALL your income documentation ready - bank statements, pay stubs, 1099s, anything that shows exactly what you earned and when 2. Write down key dates and amounts - when you certified, when you worked, how much you earned 3. Be honest about your mistake but explain your misunderstanding clearly 4. Take notes during the call - the judge will give you a case number at the beginning The call WILL be recorded. The judge will swear you in at the beginning. Be very respectful and don't interrupt. Address them as "Your Honor" or "Judge [Name]". You'll get a chance to explain your side fully.

make sure ur ready EARLY! my freind missed her hearing cuz her phone was on silent and they only called ONCE. then she had to request a whole new hearing and waited like 2 months!!!!

These EDD hearings are designed to INTIMIDATE you. The whole system is rigged against claimants. They expect us to understand every little rule while their website is outdated and confusing!!! I had my hearing in January and the judge was RUDE and barely let me finish my sentences. Make sure you stand up for yourself. Don't let them railroad you!!

I work in HR and help employees with EDD issues frequently. Yes, an EDD representative will likely be on the call. They represent the Department's position on why you were disqualified. One thing that's critical: if you genuinely misunderstood the reporting requirements, emphasize that you made an honest mistake with no intent to defraud. Under California Unemployment Insurance Code Section 1257(a), if they determine there was no willful misrepresentation, you might still owe the overpayment but could avoid additional penalties and disqualification weeks. Also, prepare a simple timeline of events to reference. The judge will appreciate organization and clarity. Good luck!

Had my hearing last month and was super nervous too! Besides what others said, have a quiet place for the call. My dog started barking mid-hearing and it was so embarrassing! Also my judge asked if I had received and reviewed all the case documents they supposedly mailed me, but I never got them. So if they reference documents you haven't seen, speak up right away. Btw, after trying for DAYS to reach EDD before my hearing to ask questions (always got the "we're experiencing high call volume" message), I found this service called Claimyr that got me through to an actual EDD rep in about 20 minutes. Check them out at claimyr.com - they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km The EDD rep I talked to gave me some specific advice about my case that really helped during the hearing.

Something nobody mentioned yet - at the end of the hearing, the judge will ask if you have anything else to add. DO NOT skip this opportunity! This is your chance to summarize your main points. Write this closing statement in advance, keeping it under 2 minutes. Include: - Acknowledge your mistake - Explain why it was an honest misunderstanding - Mention any financial hardship the overpayment would cause - Thank the judge for their time My hearing judge seemed to really appreciate this approach. I got my decision 2 weeks later and won my appeal!

i had my hearing in februrary. honestly it wasnt as scary as i thot. the judge was pretty nice actually. main thing is just be honest about what happened, they can tell if ur making stuff up. also my hearing only took like 30 mins even tho they said 2 hours! good luck!!

My appeal wasn't about income reporting but about availability for work, but I think the process is the same. One tip: I started talking too much and getting off-topic, and the judge had to redirect me several times. So try to keep your answers direct and to the point. Also, I don't know if this matters for your case, but I was able to set up a payment plan for my overpayment after I lost my appeal. They took my financial situation into account and made the monthly payments manageable. Don't let fear of the full amount stress you out too much - there are options if things don't go your way.

One last tip - judges often look favorably on claimants who've taken steps to understand where they went wrong. Consider printing the relevant section of the EDD handbook about income reporting and highlighting the part you misunderstood. Then mention early in the hearing something like, "Since this happened, I've carefully reviewed the EDD guidelines and now fully understand my reporting responsibilities." This shows you're taking responsibility and are committed to following the rules correctly in the future. Good luck tomorrow - let us know how it goes!