EDD interview immediately showed disqualification status - no waiting period?
I'm freaking out right now. I just completed my eligibility phone interview with EDD this morning at 10:30am, and when I checked my UI Online account an hour ago, it already shows 'disqualification' on my claim!!! I thought they were supposed to take a few days to review everything before making a decision? The interviewer didn't even say anything negative during our call - she just asked about my previous job, why I left, and if I was available for work. I answered everything honestly and thought it went well. Has anyone else had their status changed this quickly? Is this normal or did something go seriously wrong with my interview? I was counting on this money for rent next month...
32 comments


Anastasia Smirnova
yah same thing happened to my brother last month. EDD is moving faster these days with decisions. sorry to say but they probably didnt like your reason for separation from your employer
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Diego Chavez
But the interviewer didn't say ANYTHING negative! She was actually really nice and understanding when I explained I had to quit because my commute changed to 2+ hours each way after my company relocated. Shouldn't they at least tell you if there's an issue?
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Sean O'Brien
Happened to me too. Got disqualified immediately after interview because they classified me as \
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Diego Chavez
Did you win your appeal? I'm wondering if it's even worth trying or if I should just give up and look for another job faster.
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Sean O'Brien
Yes, I won my appeal but it took about 8 weeks to get a hearing date. Definitely worth it - I got all my backpay. Don't give up! Just make sure you gather evidence supporting your reason for leaving (emails about the relocation, calculations of new commute time/cost, any attempts to find alternatives with your employer, etc).
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Zara Shah
This is actually becoming pretty common in 2025. EDD has upgraded their systems and can make determinations much faster now, sometimes even same-day. What matters most is how your employer responded to their questionnaire about your separation. If they indicated you quit without good cause (from THEIR perspective), the system can automatically flag you for disqualification regardless of how well your interview went.\n\nYou mentioned you quit because of a commute change - unfortunately, EDD typically doesn't consider a longer commute as \
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Diego Chavez
Oh no...I didn't know commute wasn't considered good cause! Yes, I did ask about working remotely, but they said my position required in-person work. The new office is 65 miles from my home and I don't have reliable transportation for that distance. I have emails showing I tried to find a solution before quitting. Should I include those in my appeal?
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Zara Shah
Yes, absolutely include those emails in your appeal! 65 miles is significant and could potentially qualify as good cause, especially if you can demonstrate both: 1) that you tried to find alternatives before quitting, and 2) that the commute creates a genuine hardship (cost compared to wages, transportation limitations, family obligations, etc). Make sure your appeal letter clearly explains these details - they matter. Your case sounds potentially winnable with proper documentation.
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Luca Bianchi
Have you tried calling EDD to ask why they made their determination so quickly? Sometimes there's a simple misunderstanding that can be cleared up without going through the entire appeal process. They might have coded your separation reason incorrectly. I recommend trying to reach an EDD representative ASAP to get clarity.\n\nI had trouble getting through to EDD for weeks until I used Claimyr (claimyr.com). They helped me get through to an EDD agent in under 15 minutes when I was facing a similar situation. They have a video demo of how it works here: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km. Saved me lots of stress and I was able to get my issue resolved without waiting for an appeal hearing.
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Diego Chavez
Thank you!!! I've been trying to call all afternoon but keep getting the \
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GalacticGuardian
I think everyone is missing an important point here. The disqualification you're seeing might be TEMPORARY while they process your interview results. Log into UI Online and check if there's a determination letter under
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Diego Chavez
I just checked and there is a determination letter dated today. It says \
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GalacticGuardian
OK yeah that's a formal determination then. File your appeal using the DE 1000M form as soon as possible. Be VERY specific about: 1) The extreme distance (65 miles), 2) Your transportation limitations, 3) The financial hardship of the commute costs vs. your salary, and 4) Your attempts to find alternatives before quitting. Don't wait - the 30-day appeal window starts from the date on that letter!
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Nia Harris
ok i no everyones talking about appeals but can u go back to ur old job?? EDD wont pay if u coulda just stayed at job. u might b wasting time with appeal if u really quit just bc of drive. my neighbor drives 70 miles each way and still keeps job
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Diego Chavez
No, they've already hired my replacement. And I couldn't afford the commute anyway - I calculated it would cost me about $750/month in gas plus wear and tear on my car, which is already having issues. That's almost 25% of my take-home pay gone just to get to work.
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Nia Harris
ok that makes sense then, def put that in ur appeal. the money part is important cuz thats a big chunk
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Zara Shah
Just to give you some hope - I've seen cases where commute-related quits were approved when the claimant could demonstrate:\n\n1. The commute would consume more than 25% of their wages\n2. They explored all alternatives (carpooling, remote work, transfer, etc)\n3. No comparable work was available closer to home\n4. The new commute created genuine hardship (beyond just inconvenience)\n\nBased on what you've shared, you seem to meet at least some of these criteria. Make sure your appeal is extremely detailed and factual. I'd also recommend continuing to look for work and documenting all your job search efforts while waiting for your appeal - this shows good faith and will help if you win.
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Diego Chavez
Thank you so much for the encouragement. I've been applying to jobs non-stop since I left (15+ applications last week alone). I'll definitely document everything carefully for my appeal. This gives me hope that I might actually have a chance!
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Mateo Gonzalez
I HAD SAME THING HAPPEN AND IT'S ALL BECAUSE OF THEIR \
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Anastasia Smirnova
its not actually a computer making decisions lol. real people still review cases but they just do it faster now with better systems
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Mateo Gonzalez
Then why did an EDD supervisor literally TELL ME to my face that my initial disqualification was made by their \
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Aisha Ali
Wow reading this is giving me anxiety because I have my interview scheduled for next week! I also quit my job (toxic manager who was harassing me). Now I'm worried I'll get instantly disqualified too...
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Zara Shah
Your situation is different - harassment can qualify as good cause if you can document it. Make sure you have specific examples (dates, incidents, any witnesses) and evidence that you reported it internally before quitting. Prepare for your interview by organizing this information clearly. Workplace harassment is treated differently than commute issues under EDD guidelines.
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Aisha Ali
Thank you! I have copies of emails I sent to HR and text messages from coworkers who witnessed some incidents. I'll make sure to have all that ready for my interview.
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Ethan Moore
•That's great that you have documentation! Also make sure to include any medical records if the harassment affected your health (anxiety, stress, etc.) and keep copies of everything you submit. The more evidence you have, the stronger your case will be. Good luck with your interview - harassment cases often have better outcomes than other quit scenarios when properly documented.
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Mohammed Khan
Hey Diego, I'm sorry this happened to you! The same-day disqualification is becoming more common but it's definitely jarring when you're not expecting it. From reading your situation, I think you actually have a decent shot at winning your appeal. A 65-mile commute that would eat up 25% of your take-home pay, plus you have documentation showing you tried to work with your employer first - that's exactly the kind of evidence that can overturn these quick determinations. A few tips for your appeal: 1) Calculate the exact annual cost of that commute (gas, wear/tear, time value) vs your salary, 2) Include those emails about requesting remote work/alternatives, 3) Show that you looked for closer jobs before and after quitting, and 4) Emphasize that your car was already having issues making the long commute unsafe/unreliable. Don't let the fast decision discourage you - EDD's new system might be quicker but appeals still work the same way, and human reviewers at the appeal level often overturn these automated-feeling initial decisions when they see the full picture. Keep documenting your job search efforts while you wait!
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Luca Greco
•This is really helpful advice! I'm definitely going to calculate all those costs exactly - I didn't think about including the time value aspect. My car is a 2016 with over 180k miles and the check engine light has been coming on intermittently, so the reliability issue is real. I already started a job search spreadsheet tracking all my applications, so I'll make sure to keep that updated. Thanks for giving me hope that the appeal process might actually work even though this initial decision happened so fast!
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Mateo Rodriguez
I'm really sorry you're going through this stress, Diego. The same-day disqualification definitely sounds shocking, but don't panic yet! Based on what you've described, you actually have several strong points for your appeal: 1) 65 miles each way is genuinely unreasonable - that's 130 miles daily! 2) The cost calculation you mentioned (25% of take-home pay) is significant 3) You have documentation showing you tried to work with your employer first 4) Your car reliability issues make this commute potentially unsafe The key thing is that EDD's initial determination is often based on limited information from your employer's response to their questionnaire. The appeal process gives you a chance to present YOUR full story with evidence. I'd recommend filing that DE 1000M appeal form immediately and being very specific about the financial hardship, safety concerns, and good faith efforts you made. Also keep in mind that even if this takes a few months to resolve, if you win your appeal you'll get all the backpay for the weeks you should have been eligible. Stay strong and don't give up - commute-related quits can be approved when there's clear evidence of genuine hardship like yours!
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Sean Kelly
•This is such solid advice! I'm really grateful for everyone's support here. You're right that 130 miles daily is insane - I didn't even think about framing it that way. I'm going to sit down tonight and organize everything: the cost breakdown, the emails with my employer, documentation of my car issues, and my job search records. It's reassuring to know that the appeal process gives me a real chance to tell my full story instead of just relying on whatever my former employer told EDD. I'm feeling much more hopeful now that this isn't just an automatic dead end. Thanks for taking the time to break this down so clearly!
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Royal_GM_Mark
Diego, I'm so sorry you're dealing with this stress! The same-day disqualification is definitely jarring, but please don't lose hope. Your situation actually has several factors that work in your favor for an appeal: The 65-mile each way commute creating a 25% financial burden on your take-home pay is substantial evidence of genuine hardship. Combined with your documentation showing you attempted to negotiate alternatives with your employer first, plus your vehicle reliability issues, you have a much stronger case than you might realize. I've seen similar commute-related appeals succeed when the claimant could demonstrate: 1) The financial impact was significant (which yours clearly is), 2) They made good faith efforts to find solutions before quitting (you have the emails), and 3) The commute created genuine hardship beyond mere inconvenience (130 miles daily with an unreliable car definitely qualifies). File that DE 1000M appeal form as soon as possible - don't wait! Be extremely detailed about the costs, include all your documentation, and emphasize both the financial hardship and safety concerns. Keep documenting your ongoing job search efforts too, as this shows you're actively seeking work. The appeal process gives you a real chance to present your complete story, not just whatever limited information EDD initially reviewed. Stay strong - this quick decision doesn't mean your case is hopeless!
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Keisha Jackson
•This is exactly the kind of detailed guidance Diego needs right now! I just wanted to add that when filing the DE 1000M, it's also worth mentioning any family obligations or health considerations that made the 130-mile daily commute particularly burdensome. For example, if you have young children, elderly parents to care for, or any medical conditions that make long commutes difficult, include those details too. EDD considers the "totality of circumstances" in good cause determinations, so paint the complete picture of why this commute was genuinely unworkable for your specific situation. The fact that you're getting such consistent advice from multiple people here about having a strong case should give you confidence - this community has seen a lot of these situations play out!
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Chloe Anderson
Diego, I know this is incredibly stressful, but don't give up! I went through something very similar in 2024 when my employer moved locations and I got hit with the same instant disqualification after my interview. The key thing that helped me win my appeal was being super specific about the numbers and having documentation. For your appeal, make sure to include: 1) Exact mileage calculations (65 miles each way = 650 miles per week just for work!), 2) Detailed cost breakdown including gas, maintenance, and time lost, 3) Those emails showing you tried to negotiate with your employer, 4) Evidence of your car's reliability issues, and 5) Documentation that you've been actively job searching. The fact that this would eat up 25% of your take-home pay is huge - that's well above what most people would consider reasonable. I calculated mine at about 20% and that was a major factor in winning my appeal. The appeals judge was much more thorough than whoever made the initial decision. It took about 10 weeks total for my hearing, but I got full backpay once I won. Keep applying for jobs and save all your application records - it shows you're serious about finding work. You've got this!
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