EDD labeled me as fraudulent after employer claimed I was terminated - can't repay + possible blacklisting

First and foremost, you need to appeal this determination ASAP! You only have 30 days from the date on the notice to file your appeal. Get that done immediately before worrying about anything else. When you appeal, include a copy of your layoff letter as evidence. After that, you should request all records from EDD about your claim through a formal records request - this will show you exactly what your employer told them. You have a right to see this information. Regarding the blacklisting concern - that's actually illegal in most states including California. If you suspect this is happening, document every job application, follow up with places that seemed interested but suddenly went cold, and consider consulting with an employment attorney for a free consultation.

omg this happened to my cousin last year!!! his boss was TOTALLY lying about why he got fired and edd believed the boss instead of him. he ended up having to pay everything back cuz he missed the appeal deadline. dont make that mistake!! appeal right now!!

You need to file form DE 1000M for your appeal - it's the "Appeal Form" for questioning EDD determinations. You can download it from the EDD website or get one at an America's Job Center office. Mail it to the address listed on your determination notice. If you still have your layoff letter, make copies and include one with your appeal. ALSO, request a copy of your complete claim file via a formal written request to EDD - this will show exactly what your employer reported. As for the blacklisting - California law prohibits employers from preventing former employees from obtaining work, but it can be very hard to prove. Document EVERYTHING - dates of interviews, who you spoke with, their responses, etc. While waiting for your appeal, call EDD and ask about a payment plan for the overpayment. They can reduce the repayment to very small amounts if you can prove financial hardship, which clearly applies to your situation.

if ur employer is saying u were terminated for cause but u have proof of being laid off, they r committing fraud NOT U!!! u need to contact labor commissioner office too, not just edd. they can investigate ur employer for retaliation and false statements. btw the whole system is rigged against workers. my neighbor waited 6 MONTHS for her appeal hearing and then had to wait another month for decision. its bs how they make u wait so long when u have no money!!

I went through something very similar in 2025. What saved me was getting through to a supervisor at EDD who could actually review my case properly. The regular agents just read whatever notes are in the system and can't really help. After weeks of failing to reach anyone helpful, I finally discovered Claimyr.com - they have a service that gets you through to an EDD representative quickly instead of battling busy signals all day. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km showing how it works. I was skeptical at first, but it worked and I got connected to someone who could actually review my documentation and fix the issue. For the possible blacklisting - I also worried about this. I ended up changing how I listed that employer on my resume (using parent company name instead of subsidiary) and suddenly started getting more interviews. Might be coincidence, but worth trying.

Everybody here is forgetting the most important part - you NEED to file for a waiver of the overpayment! EDD can waive repayment if it would cause extraordinary hardship and you didn't intentionally provide false information. Fill out DE 1446W along with your appeal. Being unemployed for 5 months with no income definitely qualifies as hardship. I had a somewhat similar situation where my employer lied about my separation reason. My appeal took about 8 weeks to be scheduled for a hearing, and then another 2 weeks for the decision. Make sure you're VERY prepared for the hearing - have all documents organized, write out a timeline of events, and be ready to clearly explain your side. The Administrative Law Judge who handles these is usually fair but expects you to be prepared. Oh and make sure EDD has your CURRENT MAILING ADDRESS. I missed my first hearing notice because it went to my old address!

This happens allll the time. Companies try to avoid increases in their unemployment insurance rates by claiming termination instead of layoff. It's super shady but common. Besides appealing (which u absolutely should do ASAP), you should also reach out to Legal Aid in your area. They offer free legal assistance for EDD issues if you qualify financially - and it sounds like you would. Just google "legal aid edd help" plus your county name. As for the blacklisting - try using different references from that company if possible. Maybe a coworker instead of a manager? Or just leave them off your reference list entirely if you can.

One more important thing: during your appeal process, you should request a formal hearing. At this hearing, your employer will need to provide EVIDENCE that you were terminated for cause. If they cannot provide documentation (written warnings, termination notice specifying cause, etc.), the Administrative Law Judge will likely rule in your favor. Also, if your employer fails to appear at the hearing (which happens frequently), you will almost certainly win your appeal. The burden of proof is on them to show you were terminated for cause, not on you to prove you weren't. During the hearing, stick to facts, not emotions. Present your layoff letter, any positive performance reviews, and timeline of events clearly. Even if the employer shows up, they often aren't prepared with proper documentation.

I had this EXACT situation in January!!! EDD is such a mess - they believe employers without question most of the time. What eventually worked for me was getting my coworkers who were also laid off to write statements confirming there was a layoff and I was part of it. EDD finally reversed their decision after I submitted these as additional evidence. If you're still in touch with any former colleagues who were also laid off, ask them to write a brief statement that you can submit.

I'm so sorry you're going through this - the stress of being wrongly accused of fraud while already struggling financially must be overwhelming. Based on what others have shared here, it sounds like you have a strong case for your appeal since you have documentation proving it was a layoff. One thing I'd add that I haven't seen mentioned yet - while you're waiting for your appeal hearing, consider reaching out to your state assemblyperson's office. Many have caseworkers who specialize in helping constituents with EDD issues, and they can sometimes expedite reviews or connect you with the right people at EDD. It's a free service and they're often more responsive than EDD directly. Also, regarding the job search struggles - have you tried working with a recruiter in your field? Sometimes they can help you navigate around potential employer bias, and they often have inside knowledge about which companies are actually hiring vs just posting jobs. Given your 8+ years of experience, a good recruiter might be able to open doors that aren't responding to your direct applications. Hang in there - from what I've read in this thread, appeals with solid documentation like yours have a good success rate. You've got this!

I went through something very similar last year and want to share a few additional tips that helped me. First, when you file your appeal, also request an "expedited hearing" due to financial hardship - this can sometimes speed up the process by a few weeks. Second, keep detailed records of EVERY interaction with EDD going forward - dates, times, names of reps you speak with, and what was discussed. This documentation becomes crucial if you need to escalate further. For the job search challenges, consider temporarily using a different phone number (like a Google Voice number) on applications to see if that changes response rates. If you suddenly start getting more callbacks, it could indicate your current number is flagged somehow. Also, check if your state has a "rapid response" program through the workforce development board - they often provide free services specifically for people who were laid off, including job placement assistance and sometimes emergency financial aid while you're between jobs. You're dealing with multiple serious issues at once, but tackling them systematically like you're doing gives you the best chance of success. The fact that you have documentation proving the layoff puts you in a much stronger position than many people facing these appeals.