How long does an unemployment appeal take with California EDD?

Thank you for this, the certification thing is really important - I almost stopped doing it because the UI Online portal makes it seem like nothing is happening. So realistically I could be waiting 2-3 months total? I might need to look into emergency rental assistance programs in the meantime.

This is accurate. I went through an appeal last year - filed in February and had my hearing scheduled for late March. Decision came about 3 weeks after the hearing. Won the appeal and got a big lump sum payment. Keep those certifications current, it makes a massive difference.

wait does the lump sum include all the weeks or just from when the appeal was filed? asking because i filed mine late and wondering if i missed some weeks

This is incredibly helpful. I do have emails from my manager about 'restructuring decisions' and an official notice about my position being eliminated. I didn't realize I'd need to present this stuff myself - I assumed California EDD would just see through the employer's claim automatically.

same here. my employer said i quit voluntarily but i have texts proving i was pushed out. saved those screenshots the moment things started getting bad at work. document EVERYTHING people

Do you need an attorney for the ALJ hearing? I have a hearing coming up and I'm freaking out about speaking formally in front of a judge. Also is it actually over the phone or in person?

Replying to the attorney question - you don't need one but you can have one. Most hearings are conducted by phone. The ALJ is generally pretty patient with claimants who are representing themselves. Just be factual, direct, and have your documents ready to reference.

Wait this actually works? I've been trying to call for weeks with zero luck. Going to check this out right now because I desperately need to talk to someone about this pending disqualification.

I've heard of this but was always worried about sharing personal info with a third party service. Is it sketchy at all?

The way it worked for me was pretty straightforward - it handles the phone queue process, not like accessing your account or anything. The agent I got connected to was a real California EDD representative who could look up my actual claim. It's more like a call-back service than anything else.

gonna try this tonight. been trying to reach edd for 3 weeks about my own appeal and honestly at this point ill try anything

I genuinely did not know this. I've been calling EDD asking about my appeal and getting nowhere - maybe because they actually can't help with that part. Going to contact CUIAB directly. Thank you.

This is an important distinction that trips up a lot of people. EDD handles your claim and weekly certifications. CUIAB handles the appeal. Two different systems, two different contact points. For the OP's specific questions about hearing dates and timeline, CUIAB is the right call.

honestly had no idea these were different. i kept wondering why edd agents couldnt tell me anything about my appeal. this explains a lot

11 weeks is a long time but at least there's light at the end. And good point about standby - I hadn't even thought about that. I'm not expecting to be recalled but I should probably clarify the job search situation with California EDD.

The job search requirement during appeal is actually a good point. Standard requirement is 3 job search activities per week, documented in your job search log. If you're not doing this and your appeal succeeds, you could technically still have issues with your certifications. Worth clarifying.

wait so even during an appeal you still have to do job search activities??? this is news to me i definitely havent been doing that

This is exactly the kind of thing I needed to know. I was literally about to email HR this week asking for clarification on some documents. Will hold off completely. Thank you.

Strong agree on this. During the hearing the employer's representative will present documents. You have the right to question those documents. Any informal communication beforehand can get complicated. Stay out of contact.

does this apply to linkedin too lol or just direct emails. asking for a friend who may have messaged a former coworker about what happened

Wait you almost missed your hearing date because they didn't notify you?? That's terrifying. I'm going to check the CUIAB site right now. I hadn't thought to look there separate from UI Online.

Yeah the CUIAB site showed my hearing date and there was a notice letter there too but I never got anything in the mail. Double check both the site AND your mail - apparently the physical letter went to an old address I had on file from like 2 years ago. Update your address everywhere.

This is really important. If you fail to appear at your scheduled hearing, the appeal is typically dismissed and the original disqualification stands. Missing a hearing is one of the worst things that can happen. Check CUIAB directly and verify your address on file is current.

I tried it after seeing it mentioned earlier in this thread - got connected in like 25 minutes. Agent told me my hearing was already scheduled and I had no idea. Definitely recommend for anyone dealing with appeal limbo.

ok i was skeptical before but two people in this thread having success is making me reconsider. my 4th week of trying to call EDD normally and nothing

does it work for questions about the actual appeal or just regular claim stuff

This is the most useful description of the actual hearing I've found. Under oath means I need to be very precise. The 'don't volunteer information beyond what's asked' advice is gold - I tend to over-explain when I'm nervous.

I'd add - the judge will have your claim file including documents EDD gathered when they made the initial disqualification decision. You can ask the judge what documents are in the file at the start of the hearing. Sometimes there's information in there that surprises people.

Also worth knowing: if the employer's rep says something factually wrong, you can respectfully correct it. Don't get emotional, just say 'I'd like to clarify that' and state the correct information. Staying calm makes you more credible.

Not a dumb question. California EDD pays the benefits directly to you. Employers don't pay you directly - they pay into the UI trust fund through payroll taxes and their tax rates can be affected by how many former employees claim benefits. So indirectly, yes, winning affects your former employer's costs, but you get paid by EDD not by them.

ohhhh ok that makes way more sense now. so thats why employers contest it - they dont want their rate to go up

Exactly right. Employer tax rates are experience-rated, meaning more successful claims against them can increase what they pay into the system. That's the financial incentive behind contesting claims. Not all employers do it but larger companies with HR departments often have a process for it.

Oh wow this is really important. I would have assumed I could just mention the documents on the call. So I need to physically mail or fax evidence to CUIAB before a certain deadline listed in the hearing notice?

Yes. The hearing notice will have the fax number and address for the regional office. You fax or mail copies of everything you want the judge to consider. Keep your own copies. This is the step I missed the first time and it basically sank my case.

You can also ask the judge at the start of the hearing to confirm they received your documents. If there was a fax issue or mail delay, better to know at the start than to reference a document the judge doesn't have.

Genuinely same, I feel so much more prepared now than I did when I posted this. The official EDD resources are written in a way that answers nothing. Appreciate everyone here.

the edd website is truly something lol. answers every question with a non-answer and then says call us for more info and then you cant reach anyone by phone. circular nightmare

This is helpful context. 6-14 days after winning is manageable. I've been assuming it would take weeks or months to actually receive the money even after winning, good to know that's not the case.

Mine was 5 days from decision letter to deposit. The system seems to process it automatically once the CUIAB decision is entered. Faster than I expected honestly.

mine took closer to 12 days fwiw but it did come. i was checking my bank account every hour lol

This context is really valuable - knowing that employers use professional services is honestly a little scary but also useful to know going in. Sticking to documented facts is clearly the move.

Can confirm the third party service thing. The person who showed up to 'represent' my former employer on my hearing call was clearly reading from a script and referenced their 'unemployment management file' multiple times. Weirdly formal compared to my side of the call.

The good news about those third-party services is they're often working many cases at once with limited specific knowledge of each one. If you know your own case better than they know it, you have an advantage. They sometimes make factual errors that you can correct in real time.

I will absolutely update this thread. Currently: 3 weeks since filing appeal, no hearing date yet. Just checked CUIAB website per advice in this thread and my appeal is in the queue, no hearing scheduled yet. Going to try Claimyr to speak with an agent and clarify the job search requirement situation. Will report back when I have a hearing date and eventually when there's a decision. Thank you everyone seriously - this thread has been more useful than anything official.

Following this for the update. Good luck OP, sounds like you have the documentation you need and now know the process way better than before.

Rooting for you. The 'voluntarily left without good cause' disqualification for what sounds like a clear layoff is exactly the kind of thing that gets overturned on appeal when the claimant is prepared. Keep certifying, check CUIAB directly, get your documents together, and you should be in good shape.