Just received EDD disqualification letter for 2020 claim - no overpayment amount specified

Yes, you'll receive a separate Notice of Overpayment that details exactly how much they believe you owe. It usually arrives 1-2 weeks after the disqualification notice. And absolutely appeal this! The fact that you quit due to having a newborn during the early pandemic might actually qualify under the special COVID provisions that were in place. When you appeal, be very specific about the timeline - when your baby was born, when you quit, and emphasize the lack of childcare options during that period. Under the PUA rules at that time, childcare facility closures were a valid reason for benefits. Make sure to file your appeal within 30 days of the disqualification notice date (not when you received it). I went through something similar last year with a 2020 claim being questioned. The appeals process takes time but can definitely work in your favor if you have documentation.

OMFG they are STILL going after people from 5 YEARS AGO?!?!? This is absolutely ridiculous. The EDD system is completely broken. They approve you when you need it, then years later they're like "oops just kidding give it all back". I was hit with a similar letter in January for my 2020 claim. They claimed I didn't provide sufficient proof of self-employment even though I UPLOADED ALL THE DOCUMENTS THEY ASKED FOR. Now they want $22,700 back!!!! I appealed immediately and am still waiting for a hearing date. The system is designed to wear you down until you just give up.

when i got my disqualification letter the overpayment notice came 3 days later in a separate envelope. they'll definitely tell you how much they think you owe. my advice is don't panic yet and definitely appeal! i had success getting my overpayment waived because i could prove i applied in good faith and didn't lie on my application. the whole pandemic unemployment thing was confusing for everyone

I'm an administrative law specialist who has handled many EDD appeals. Here's what you need to know: 1. The separate overpayment notice will arrive soon - keep checking your mail daily 2. You have 30 calendar days from the date on your disqualification notice to file an appeal (DE 1000M form) 3. For your specific situation, you should request both appeal AND overpayment waiver 4. The appeal argument would be that quitting to care for a newborn during a public health emergency constituted "good cause" under expanded COVID provisions 5. The waiver argument would be financial hardship and that you applied in good faith You don't necessarily need a lawyer for the initial appeal filing, but representation at the hearing can be beneficial. Many legal aid organizations offer free assistance with EDD appeals - try Legal Aid Foundation or Bet Tzedek if you're in Southern California, or Bay Area Legal Aid if you're in Northern California. Document everything and gather evidence of your childcare situation in 2020. Since PUA had special provisions for childcare unavailability during COVID, this could be central to your appeal.

You are not required to make payments while your appeal is pending. Make sure you check box #4 on the DE 1000M form which requests that collection activities be suspended during appeal. If they send you a billing notice before your appeal is resolved, respond in writing that you have an active appeal and reference your appeal case number (which you'll receive after filing). Don't ignore any mail from EDD - respond to everything promptly. And keep detailed records of all communications.

This happened to me too! Have you been trying to call EDD to get more information? I spent THREE WEEKS trying to get through to someone who could explain my disqualification notice. Always busy signals or getting disconnected after waiting on hold for hours. So frustrating!!! I finally discovered Claimyr (claimyr.com) which got me connected to an EDD rep in about 20 minutes. They have a demo video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km The EDD rep was able to explain exactly why I was disqualified and what specific documents I should include with my appeal. This made a HUGE difference in my case because I was about to submit an appeal with incomplete documentation. Definitely worth connecting with a real person before you submit anything.

Yes, it's completely legit. They don't access your EDD account or anything - they just connect the call for you using their system that can get through the busy signals. You still talk directly to an actual EDD representative. I was skeptical too but it honestly saved me weeks of frustration.

Actually i think you might have a decent case for the appeal. I quit my job in 2020 too because of fear of covid and i had two high-risk people in my household. I got a similar disqualification letter in 2023, but I appealed and actually WON my case! The judge ruled that quitting due to genuine fear during the early pandemic when there were no vaccines and lots of unknowns could constitute "good cause" especially with a newborn involved. Make sure you emphasize in your appeal that: 1. You had just given birth 2. No vaccines were available yet 3. Information about COVID risks was still emerging 4. Childcare facilities were closed by government order These factors combined made it impossible for you to continue working safely. Don't give up hope!

The whole process took about 5 months from when I filed my appeal to getting the decision. The actual hearing was scheduled about 3.5 months after I submitted my appeal paperwork. The hearing itself took about an hour (over phone), and then I got the decision in the mail about 5 weeks later. It's definitely a long process but worth it if you win! And even if you don't win the appeal, you can still apply for a waiver of overpayment or a payment plan. Just stay on top of all the deadlines and keep responding to everything they send you.

quick question - did u get any warning before the disqualification letter? they're supposed to do a phone interview before disqualifying u but they skipped that step for me too

One more important thing - if you end up having to repay, make sure to request a "waiver of overpayment" using the DE 1446W form. For COVID-era claims, EDD has special criteria for waiving repayment if you can show: 1. You applied in good faith (believed you were eligible) 2. Repayment would cause financial hardship 3. Repayment would be against "equity and good conscience" The fact that you had a newborn during a pandemic and childcare facilities were closed is very relevant to this waiver request. EDD should have sent you a DE 1446W form along with your overpayment notice, but if they didn't, you can download it from their website. Even if your appeal is denied, many people are successful with the waiver request, especially for pandemic claims where the rules were changing and confusing.

I'm so sorry you're going through this stress! The same thing just happened to my sister last month - she got a disqualification letter for her 2020 claim with no dollar amount specified. The overpayment notice came about 10 days later for $18,000. Your situation with quitting to protect your newborn during the early pandemic actually sounds like it has strong grounds for appeal. The timing is key here - you quit in early 2020 when we knew so little about COVID transmission and there were no vaccines available. Plus, with a 6-week-old baby, you were dealing with someone extremely vulnerable. Don't let them intimidate you into not appealing just because it's been 5 years. They approved your claim back then based on the information available, and now they're second-guessing their own decision. The appeals process exists for exactly this reason. Start gathering any documentation you have from that time period - anything showing when your baby was born, when childcare facilities in your area closed, any communication with your employer, etc. Even if you don't have much, your testimony about the circumstances can carry weight at the hearing. You've got this! Many people are successfully appealing these delayed disqualifications, especially for pandemic-related situations like yours.

I'm going through the exact same situation right now! Got my disqualification letter two weeks ago for my 2020 PUA claim and I've been losing sleep over it. Like you, I had to quit my job due to COVID concerns - I was working at a grocery store and my elderly mother lives with me. I was terrified of bringing the virus home to her. The thing that really gets me is that EDD approved my claim back then after reviewing all my information, and now 5 years later they're like "oops, never mind." It feels so unfair, especially since we were all just trying to survive during an unprecedented crisis. I haven't received my overpayment notice yet but I'm dreading it. My total was around $16,000 over 8 months. Reading through all these responses is actually making me feel a bit better though - sounds like there's real hope with appeals, especially for COVID-related situations like ours. Are you planning to represent yourself in the appeal or try to get legal help? I'm torn between trying to save money by doing it myself versus getting professional help to make sure I don't mess anything up. This whole process is so overwhelming! Hang in there - we're not alone in this fight!

I'm so sorry you're going through this - the stress of getting that letter must have been overwhelming! I went through something very similar last year with my 2020 claim and want to share what I learned. First, yes you'll get a separate overpayment notice with the dollar amount within the next 1-2 weeks. Don't panic when you see it - that number isn't set in stone if you appeal successfully. Your situation actually sounds like it has really strong grounds for appeal. Quitting to protect a 6-week-old newborn during the early pandemic when we had no vaccines and childcare facilities were closed is exactly the kind of situation the expanded "good cause" provisions were meant to cover. The fact that you initially thought everything would blow over quickly and didn't apply right away actually shows you weren't trying to game the system - you genuinely needed help when circumstances became impossible. Key things for your appeal: - Emphasize the timeline (newborn born 6 weeks before lockdowns) - Mention closed childcare facilities - Stress the unknown risks to infants at that time - Note that you applied in good faith when it became clear you couldn't work File your appeal as soon as you get the overpayment notice, and definitely look into those legal aid resources others mentioned. Don't let the 5-year delay intimidate you - if anything, it shows how chaotic their system was during COVID. You deserve to have your case heard fairly!

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this stress - getting that disqualification letter out of nowhere must have been absolutely terrifying, especially as a single parent. Your situation with quitting to protect your newborn during the early pandemic actually sounds like you have very strong grounds for appeal. A few important things to keep in mind: 1. Don't make any payments until you've exhausted all your appeal options. You're not required to pay while an appeal is pending. 2. Your timing is actually really important here - you quit in early 2020 when we knew virtually nothing about COVID transmission, there were no vaccines, and childcare facilities were closed by government mandate. Having a 6-week-old infant made you especially vulnerable. 3. The fact that you didn't apply immediately shows you weren't trying to abuse the system - you genuinely thought the situation would resolve quickly and only applied when it became clear you couldn't work. Start gathering any documentation you can find from that time period - birth certificate showing your baby's birth date, any records of childcare facility closures in your area, even photos or social media posts that might show the timeline. Your testimony about the circumstances will also carry weight. File your appeal as soon as you get that overpayment notice (should arrive within 1-2 weeks), and definitely look into those legal aid organizations others mentioned. Many people are successfully appealing these delayed COVID-era disqualifications. You're not alone in this fight, and you absolutely should not give up without appealing first!

I'm so sorry you're going through this - the stress and fear you're feeling is completely understandable! Getting a disqualification letter 5 years later with no dollar amount specified would send anyone into panic mode. Your situation actually sounds like you have really strong grounds for appeal. Quitting your job to protect a 6-week-old newborn during the early days of the pandemic when we knew virtually nothing about COVID transmission is exactly the kind of "good cause" the expanded provisions were meant to cover. The fact that childcare facilities were closed by government order and you had no safe options for working while caring for an infant makes your case even stronger. A few key points for your appeal: - Emphasize that your baby was only 6 weeks old when lockdowns started - Highlight that this was March 2020 when COVID risks to infants were unknown - Note that childcare facilities were closed by government mandate - Stress that you applied in good faith when it became clear you couldn't return to work The overpayment notice with the dollar amount should arrive within 1-2 weeks. Don't panic when you see the number - it's not set in stone if you win your appeal. Make sure to file your appeal within 30 days and check the box requesting that collection activities be suspended during the appeal process. You mentioned you're a single parent now and can't afford repayment - this is also important for the overpayment waiver application (DE 1446W) if needed as a backup plan. Don't let them intimidate you into not fighting this. Many people are successfully appealing these delayed COVID-era disqualifications. You made the best decision you could with the information available at the time, and you deserve to have your case heard fairly!