How long does unemployment disqualification last with California EDD?

Wait so there's actually a difference between the misconduct disqualification and the voluntary quit one? The letter says something about 'separation from last employer' being the issue - does that fall under one of those categories?

Yes exactly - 'separation from last employer' language means they're disputing whether you quit or were fired. That's a voluntary quit disqualification in their system. You'll want to file an appeal right away and provide documentation showing you didn't quit - texts, emails, termination paperwork, anything that proves the employer ended the employment.

This is really good info. I went through the same separation issue last year and the appeal process was the right move. Gather every single piece of evidence you have about how the job ended.

Back pay for all the weeks?? I didn't know that was even possible. How long did your whole appeal process take?

mine took about 8 weeks from when i filed the appeal to when i got the hearing date. then another 3 weeks after the hearing for the decision. its a lot of waiting but worth it

The back pay thing is real but you have to keep filing your weekly certifications throughout the entire appeal process even while disqualified. If you stop filing weekly claims you lose those weeks even if you win the appeal later.

I've been trying to call EDD for three days straight and can't get through to anyone. I'll check out that Claimyr thing, at this point I need any help I can get to actually reach a human.

yeah calling edd is basically a full time job lol. i spent like 4 hours one day just hitting redial over and over

The advice about finding out what your employer said is spot on. The disqualification notices are vague on purpose it seems like, they never tell you exactly what the employer claimed in their response which puts you at a disadvantage going into an appeal.

Thank you for saying this!! I almost gave up on my claim entirely because someone told me disqualification meant permanent ineligibility. Would have lost thousands in benefits.

It's so common for people to get this wrong. The EDD disqualification letter itself is written in such confusing legal language that even people who read it carefully come away with the wrong idea about what it means for their claim.

Okay this is actually reassuring to hear. So even if I don't win an appeal I could still potentially qualify for benefits again down the road after earning enough wages at a new job?

I do have some text messages from my supervisor that I think show pretty clearly I didn't quit willingly. Would screenshots be acceptable as evidence or do I need printed records?

Screenshots are totally acceptable. Print them out and bring multiple copies to the hearing - one for you, one for the judge, and one for any EDD representative present. Also write down the dates and context for each message so you can explain them clearly.

Also request the employer's separation questionnaire response through the appeals process - you're entitled to see what they submitted and it helps you know exactly what you're countering.

This is making me more motivated to actually go through with the appeal. I'm sorry that happened to you.

yeah just learn from my mistake. the worst they can say is no and you're in the same position you're in now anyway

I hadn't even thought about CalFresh. I've never applied for anything like that before but at this point I need to explore everything. Good suggestion.

CalFresh is worth it for sure especially while waiting for the appeal to sort out. You can apply online and it goes pretty fast compared to dealing with EDD

County emergency rental assistance programs vary a LOT by location. Some have waiting lists months long and others process in a couple weeks. Worth calling your county's social services office to ask what's available.

This is genuinely useful advice that goes beyond just 'call EDD'. Knowing the specific reason code changes the whole appeal strategy.

So the notice doesn't actually tell you the full reason? That seems like it makes it intentionally hard to appeal...

The notices are written to technically satisfy legal requirements but often leave out the specific employer statements or fact findings. Getting those details from an agent directly is really valuable prep work before a hearing.

Yes unfortunately the benefit year clock keeps running regardless of whether you're collecting or disqualified. Your benefit year is fixed from your initial claim date. This is another reason why resolving the disqualification quickly through an appeal matters - every week that passes is a week you can't recover.

oh wow that's harsh i didn't realize that. so you could win your appeal but then have less time to collect the actual benefits

This is accurate and it's exactly why people say to keep filing weekly certifications even while disqualified AND to file the appeal immediately. Both protect your ability to collect if/when the disqualification is overturned.

I actually do have messages from my supervisor that I think could be interpreted as them telling me not to return. Hearing your outcome is making me feel a lot more hopeful about this.

Print those out and highlight the key phrases before your hearing. Also practice explaining the context clearly because the judge will ask questions and you want to be able to answer calmly and factually.

There's actually some truth to this. Employers who frequently deal with EDD do sometimes have standard language they use in separation responses. But it also means workers who show up with actual evidence tend to do well because the employer's generic response falls apart against specific documentation.

Exactly. Show up with receipts - actual documentation - and the judge can see through boilerplate employer responses pretty quickly.

I really wish someone had told me this before I gave up on my appeal. I assumed the employer's word would just automatically be taken over mine.

Good question - a disqualification on a previous claim generally doesn't affect a new claim filed based on a new job and new wages. Each claim is evaluated based on your most recent employment and separation. The old disqualification shouldn't follow you to a completely new benefit year based on new employment.

That's a relief actually. I was worried about this for my own situation where I had a disqualification a couple years ago.

I tried calling again this morning and got disconnected after 45 minutes on hold. Going to look into Claimyr tonight, this is getting ridiculous.

45 minutes and then disconnected is literally the most edd experience ever described lmao. sorry that happened to you

The call disconnect thing is SO common especially around 5pm when they're about to close. The whole phone system feels designed to frustrate people into giving up.

Mine is specifically the separation/voluntary quit type that everyone's been discussing so I think the advice here applies directly. But good to flag that for other people who might be in different situations.

This is an important point. The disqualification notice should have a code or section reference that tells you which rule they're applying. That code is your roadmap for what to research and what to address in an appeal.

Oh I didn't know phone hearings were an option. That would actually be a lot less stressful for me than having to appear somewhere in person.

Phone hearings work fine for most straightforward separation cases. Just make sure you're in a quiet place where you can focus and have all your documents organized in front of you before the call starts.

I did my appeal hearing by phone and it went completely smoothly. The judge was professional and just walked through the facts calmly. Don't let the word 'hearing' make it sound more intimidating than it is.

Wait that's huge - I was literally about to mail it tomorrow because I thought that was the only option. Going to check the online form tonight.

yes definitely check it out, just make sure you print/save the confirmation they send you after submitting so you have proof of when you filed

Correct - and beyond even that, there's civil court review technically available though that's very rarely practical for unemployment amounts. But the point stands that one unfavorable decision is not the absolute end of the road.

This is all really helpful context. I feel much better about my situation than I did when I posted this morning. I have a plan now - file the appeal online tonight, gather my text message evidence, keep filing my weekly certifications, and try to reach an agent through Claimyr to get the specific reason codes before my hearing.

Writing these questions down right now. Thank you seriously to everyone in this thread - this has been incredibly helpful and I went from totally panicked to actually feeling like I have a real shot at this.

Come back and update us after your hearing! These threads where we actually find out what happened are the most helpful for people who find them later searching for the same situation.

rooting for you!! the fact that you have written evidence from your supervisor is honestly really strong. you got this