EDD shows 'false statement penalty week' on certification - am I disqualified?

A false statement penalty week means EDD determined you knowingly provided incorrect information on a previous certification or application. This doesn't mean you're permanently disqualified, but you won't get paid for a certain number of weeks (usually 2-15 weeks depending on the severity) even though you still have to certify. Did you report all income accurately? Or maybe miss an interview? They should have sent a determination notice explaining what happened.

same thing happend to me last year they said i didnt report 2 days of work but i swear i did. ended up with 5 penalty weeks and still had to do all the certifications every week but got $0. really sucked

You need to check your UI Online inbox immediately. They always send a Notice of Determination before applying penalty weeks. It should explain exactly what the issue was (unreported wages, incorrect information, etc.) and how many penalty weeks you're receiving. You have the right to appeal within 30 days of the notice date if you believe the decision is incorrect. In the meantime, you MUST continue certifying every two weeks as normal even though you won't receive payment during the penalty period. If you stop certifying, you'll have a much bigger problem to fix later.

you should DEFINITELY appeal it!! i had the same thing last year where they said i didnt report income but i had proof i did. you need to gather your pay stubs and any emails or texts about those work days. if you can prove you made an honest mistake they might reduce or cancel the penalty. but do it fast cuz the 30 day deadline is serious they wont give u extra time!!!

While you're preparing your appeal, you should also try to speak directly with an EDD representative. They can sometimes provide more details about the determination that aren't clear in the notice, and in some cases, they can help resolve simpler issues over the phone without a formal appeal hearing. I know it's incredibly frustrating to get through to EDD though. After spending days getting busy signals, I finally used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to connect with an EDD agent. You can see how it works in their video demo: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km. Talking directly to a representative helped me understand exactly what documentation I needed for my appeal.

I HATE THE EDD!! They make it impossible to get through on the phone and then punish you for tiny mistakes that THEY SHOULD HAVE CAUGHT MONTHS AGO!! Why wait until January to tell you about something from last year?? The whole system is designed to deny people benefits and it's CRIMINAL!!!!

Here's what you need to know about the appeal process for a false statement penalty: 1. File the appeal using the form they provided with the determination notice (DE 1000M). You can mail it or submit it online through UI Online. 2. Clearly explain WHY you believe the determination is incorrect. If it was an honest mistake, state that explicitly. If you have evidence you did report the income, include copies. 3. Be prepared for the appeal hearing. These are typically conducted by phone with an Administrative Law Judge. You'll want all your documentation organized and ready. 4. Continue certifying every two weeks during the entire process, even though you won't receive payments during the penalty period. 5. If the appeal is successful, you'll receive backpay for any weeks that were under penalty. Honest mistakes happen, but you need to be proactive about addressing this.

my cousin had penalty weeks and said you can still get food stamps while waiting for edd to start paying again. might help u get by

I went through this exact situation 6 months ago and want to share what I learned. The appeal process can take 2-3 months, so prepare for a long wait. During my hearing, the judge was actually pretty fair and asked detailed questions about whether I intentionally withheld information or if it was an honest mistake. One thing that really helped my case was showing a pattern of accurate reporting - I printed out all my previous certifications to demonstrate that I consistently reported income correctly, which made the one missed report look like a genuine oversight rather than intentional fraud. Also, if you're struggling financially during the penalty weeks, check if your county has emergency rental assistance programs. Many have special funds for people dealing with unemployment issues. Don't give up hope - honest mistakes can often be resolved if you present your case well!

I'm so sorry you're going through this Emma - the false statement penalty system is really harsh and confusing. One thing I want to emphasize that others have touched on: make sure you save EVERYTHING related to your appeal in multiple places (email yourself copies, print them out, save to cloud storage). I learned this the hard way when my computer crashed during my appeal process and I almost lost crucial documentation. Also, if you do end up speaking with an EDD representative (whether through Claimyr or by getting lucky with the phone lines), take detailed notes of everything they say including their name, the date/time, and any reference numbers they give you. Sometimes phone reps give conflicting information, so having that documented can be really helpful if issues come up later. The good news is that temporary work situations like yours are exactly the kind of cases where appeals often succeed, especially when you can show a pattern of honest reporting like others have suggested. The system knows people make innocent mistakes with temp work because the reporting can be confusing. Keep fighting this - you're being way more proactive than most people would be!