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EDD refund after winning appeal - how long until I get my money back?

Finally got some good news after fighting with EDD for months! The administrative law judge ruled in my favor at my appeal hearing last week and specifically ordered that EDD must refund the $2,750 I've been paying back through their repayment plan since January. The decision paperwork says I'm eligible for benefits and the overpayment was their error, not mine. But now what? The judge ordered the refund, but the paperwork doesn't say anything about how or when I'll actually get my money back. Do I need to call EDD? Submit a form? Or just wait? Has anyone gone through this process before and know how long it typically takes for them to process refunds after an appeal decision? I'm worried they'll just ignore it unless I keep bugging them.

congrats on winning!!!! i heard those hearings r super intimidating

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Oliver Weber

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Thanks! It was definitely nerve-wracking but I had all my employment documents organized which helped a lot. Just wish the paperwork was clearer about next steps.

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NebulaNinja

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You need to wait for EDD to process the judge's decision. This typically takes 10-15 business days from when the decision was issued. The refund will then be issued through the same payment method as your original benefits (either Bank of America EDD card if your claim is older or Money Network card for newer claims). If you previously had direct deposit set up, they'll use that. If you don't see the refund after 15 business days, you should contact EDD directly. The judge's decision is binding and EDD has to comply, but their administrative process can be slow.

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Oliver Weber

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Thank you for the detailed info! That's really helpful. I'll mark my calendar for the 15 business day mark and then follow up if nothing's happened by then.

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Javier Gomez

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Did you get a formal Notice of Decision in the mail? Mine had a separate page at the end that talked about the implementation process. Check all the papers they sent you!!! Also, does the decision say "FULLY FAVORABLE" or "PARTIALLY FAVORABLE"? That might affect how they process it. I won my appeal too but it was classified as "partially favorable" so I only got back some of what I paid.

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Oliver Weber

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Yes, I did get the formal Notice of Decision in the mail yesterday. It says "FULLY FAVORABLE" at the top of the first page. I'll double-check all the pages again to see if there's an implementation section I missed. Thanks for the tip!

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Emma Wilson

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don't hold your breath waiting for EDD to do anything quickly lol... took them 2 months to process my refund after I won my appeal last year. I had to call them like 10 times and each time they said it was "in process" whatever that means

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Malik Thomas

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Same here! They kept saying my refund was "pending processing" for weeks after my appeal. The system is deliberately slow I think... they're quick to take money but soooo slow to give it back!

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I went through this exact situation in February. After winning my appeal, I waited about 3 weeks and nothing happened. I finally got through to an EDD representative who told me my case needed to be manually reviewed by their appeals department before the refund could be processed. The key is getting through to someone who can actually check on the status of your appeal implementation. I wasted weeks trying their regular number before I found Claimyr (claimyr.com). They have a service that helps you bypass the phone tree and get through to an actual EDD rep - saved me hours of redial frustration. There's a video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km Once I got through to someone in the appeals department, my refund was processed within a week. The money came back to my Money Network card.

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Oliver Weber

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That's really good advice, thank you. I'll give it a week or so and then try to reach someone. The Claimyr service sounds helpful - I'll check out that video. Did they tell you if there was any specific department I should ask for when I call?

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Ask specifically for the "Appeals Implementation" or "Appeals Processing" department. Regular tier 1 reps often can't see the status of appeal implementations in their system. Make sure you have your appeal case number handy when you call (it should be at the top of your decision notice).

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NebulaNinja

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One important thing to remember: EDD is required by law to implement the judge's decision, but they have internal processes that can take time. Here's what's likely happening behind the scenes: 1. The judge's decision gets transmitted to EDD (2-3 days) 2. EDD's appeals division reviews and updates your claim status (5-7 days) 3. The system generates a payment adjustment (3-5 days) 4. The refund gets processed through the payment system (2-3 days) If your case has any unusual circumstances, like multiple benefit years or a combination of regular UI and extension benefits, it might take longer. But you shouldn't have to do anything additional - the appeal decision is sufficient to trigger the refund process. If you reach the 15 business day mark with no update, then calling is appropriate.

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Oliver Weber

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This breakdown is super helpful - thanks for explaining the process so clearly. I do have a somewhat complicated situation with two benefit years that overlapped during the pandemic, so maybe that will add some time. I'll try to be patient!

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Ravi Kapoor

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DONT TRUST THEM TO DO IT AUTOMATICALLY!!!! I won my appeal in December and I'm STILL fighting to get my refund!!!! They "lost" my appeal paperwork twice and each time I had to start over. CALL THEM EVERY SINGLE DAY until they fix it!!!! The system is DESIGNED to make you give up!!!

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omg that's horrible! did u ever get ur money back??

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Malik Thomas

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Quick question - did your judge actually specify the refund amount in the decision? My judge just said I was eligible for benefits but didn't mention anything about a refund specifically. Still waiting to see what happens...

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Oliver Weber

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Yes, my decision specifically stated that the $2,750 I had repaid should be refunded to me. The judge wrote that the overpayment was due to an EDD error and not my fault. Maybe that's why it was included in my decision? Did you already pay back any money before your appeal?

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Malik Thomas

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Yeah I paid back about $1,200 before my hearing. Guess I better call them and specifically ask about the refund since my decision doesn't mention it. This system is so confusing!

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Just an update that might help others - I checked with a friend who works at EDD (not giving specific advice, just general info). She said that refunds after favorable appeal decisions are taking longer than usual right now because of a recent system update. The current processing time is closer to 20-25 business days rather than the usual 10-15. Also, for anyone in this situation, make sure your address is current in the UI Online system because sometimes they mail a check instead of using your card, especially if the original overpayment was collected more than 6 months ago.

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Oliver Weber

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Thanks for the insider info! That's really good to know about the potential for a paper check. I'll double-check my address in the system right away. And I appreciate the heads-up about the extended timeline - helps me set realistic expectations.

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