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Omar Farouk

EDD scheduled DE 4800 interview after reduced hours claim - what questions will they ask?

Just had my hours cut from 40 to 15 at my restaurant job (they're 'restructuring'... ugh). I applied for partial unemployment last week and got approved for the claim, but today I logged into UI Online and saw a notification that I have to do a phone interview regarding a DE 4800 form. The interview is scheduled for next Thursday at 10am. I'm really nervous - don't want to say the wrong thing and lose my benefits. Has anyone gone through one of these DE 4800 interviews before? What kind of questions do they ask? Is this normal for reduced hours claims or did I mess something up on my application? Any tips for making sure it goes smoothly would be super appreciated!

DE 4800 is the form for eligibility interviews. They're usually checking why you're not full-time anymore. Just be honest about your hours being cut and you'll be fine.

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Thanks!! Do you know how long the interview usually lasts? I'm trying to figure out if I need to take the whole day off or if I can still pick up a shift that afternoon.

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I had one of these interviews last month. The DE 4800 is the Eligibility Determination Interview notice. In my case they were verifying that I didn't quit voluntarily. Since your hours were reduced, they'll likely ask: - Exact date your hours were reduced - Who informed you about the reduction (manager name) - If you have documentation of the reduction - Whether the reduction is permanent or temporary - If you're still looking for full-time work elsewhere Make sure you have your employment details handy - exact dates, manager names, and any emails/paperwork about your hour reduction. My interview took about 20 minutes, and the EDD rep was actually pretty nice. Just stick to the facts and you'll be fine!

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This is super helpful, thank you!! I'll make sure to have my manager's email about the reduction pulled up. Do they call exactly at the scheduled time or should I be ready early just in case?

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They never call on time lol I waited 3 hrs for my interview. They might not even call the day they say!!

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Seriously?? That's going to mess up my whole day. I was hoping to at least work the dinner shift :

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The DE 4800 interview is standard procedure for most claims with any potential eligibility questions. For reduced hours claims, they need to verify you didn't voluntarily reduce your hours. Be prepared to answer: 1. Why your hours were reduced (business needs, not your request) 2. Whether you've refused any work offered by your employer 3. If you're available for more hours if offered 4. What steps you're taking to find additional work Keep your answers clear and concise. The interviewer just needs to check boxes confirming you meet eligibility requirements. Have documentation ready showing the reduction wasn't your choice (emails, schedule changes, etc.). And yes, unfortunately, the call timing can be unpredictable. They might call up to 2 hours before or after your scheduled time. I recommend being available for at least a 4-hour window around your appointment.

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⬆️⬆️⬆️ This this this! I almost got disqualified cuz I told them I wasn't looking for other work since I thought my hours would go back to normal soon. ALWAYS say your actively looking for full-time work even if you're hoping your current job gives you more hours!!!

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If ur having trouble getting through to EDD to confirm or reschedule, try Claimyr (claimyr.com). They got me connected to an EDD rep in 20 minutes after I spent days trying on my own. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km. Better than waiting all day by ur phone not knowing when/if they'll call!

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I tried calling EDD 47 TIMES IN ONE DAY and couldn't get through!!! Ridiculous system

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Thanks for the suggestion. I might need this if they don't call at the scheduled time. Do you know if I can reschedule the interview if it conflicts with a shift I pick up?

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Omg the DE 4800 interviews are THE WORST!!! They asked me why I left my last job and I said it was because my boss was a total jerk who kept changing my schedule last minute, and they DENIED my claim saying I quit without good cause!!! Make sure you don't say ANYTHING negative about your employer!!! Just say "business necessity" led to reduced hours and NOTHING else!!!! Don't give them ANY reason to deny you!!!!!

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That's not quite right. You can be honest about workplace problems, but there's a specific way to present that information. If you quit because of a difficult boss, you need to show that you tried to resolve the issues first (complained to HR, requested transfer, etc.) before quitting. EDD looks for whether you took reasonable steps to preserve your employment before leaving.

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That sounds awful, I'm sorry that happened to you. In my case, I didn't quit - they reduced my hours. So hopefully that makes it more straightforward?

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make sure u answer if they call!! i missed my call cuz it came from a weird number i thought was spam and had to wait 3 more weeks for another interview. they won't leave a message always.

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Whoa thanks for the heads up! I'll answer any call that day, even if it looks like spam.

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I had a DE 4800 interview for partial unemployment due to hours being cut at my accounting job. Just be straightforward - they want to make sure you didn't ask for reduced hours or turn down available work. My interview lasted about 15 minutes. The most important thing is being available for the call. They don't always call at the exact appointment time. Mine was 45 minutes late, and a friend's was 30 minutes early. You might want to reschedule that dinner shift if possible. If you miss their call, it can delay your benefits by weeks. Also, they can see your work history and earnings in their system, so don't try to embellish or exaggerate anything. Just answer honestly about why your hours were reduced.

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This makes me feel much better! I was worried they'd grill me for an hour or something. Sounds like as long as I'm honest about the situation, it should be pretty straightforward. I'll definitely clear my schedule that day just to be safe.

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After your interview, make sure you continue certifying for benefits every two weeks regardless of the interview outcome. Many people make the mistake of waiting for the interview results before certifying, which can cause payment delays. The certification process is separate from the eligibility interview. Also, for anyone with reduced hours, remember that California has a specific calculation for partial benefits. You can earn up to 25% of your weekly benefit amount without reduction. After that, each dollar you earn reduces your benefit by a dollar. This is why accurate income reporting during certification is essential.

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Oh that's good to know! So I should keep certifying even if I haven't heard back about the interview yet? And thanks for explaining the partial benefits calculation - I was wondering how that worked.

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Just went through a DE 4800 interview myself last month for reduced hours at my retail job! The whole process was way less intimidating than I expected. Here's what helped me prepare: 1. Write down the exact timeline of when your hours were cut - they'll ask for specific dates 2. Have your manager's contact info ready (name, title, phone number) 3. Keep any documentation handy - emails, texts, schedule changes, etc. 4. Practice explaining the situation in 1-2 sentences: "My employer reduced my hours from 40 to 15 per week due to company restructuring" The interviewer was actually really professional and just wanted to verify the basic facts. They asked about 6-7 straightforward questions and the whole thing took maybe 12-15 minutes. The key is just being factual and not overthinking it. One tip that really helped me: I wrote down bullet points beforehand so I wouldn't ramble or forget important details when I got nervous. Good luck with your interview - you've got this!

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