Multiple EDD redetermination letters with different dates - which one do I appeal?
I'm totally confused about how to handle my appeal situation with EDD. I received three letters all dated 03/17/2025 and then another letter dated 03/31/2025 that says it's a 'redetermination letter.' The latest one has a slightly different accusation - it says I was collecting full benefits while not reporting income (which is NOT true!). The earlier letters had some other incorrect claims about unreported wages. My question is: do I need to appeal ALL four letters separately or just respond to this most recent 'redetermination' one? The appeal deadline for the first batch is coming up really soon and I'm panicking about missing deadlines. Has anyone dealt with multiple determination/redetermination letters? Do I file separate appeals for each letter or just the most recent one?
21 comments


Lauren Zeb
You should appeal EACH letter you disagree with, using separate DE 1000M appeal forms for each one. The redetermination doesn't automatically replace the earlier determinations - they could be for different weeks or issues. Each letter has its own appeal deadline (typically 30 days from the mail date), so don't miss those deadlines! Make copies of everything before sending and use certified mail so you have proof of when you submitted each appeal.
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Ryan Andre
•Thanks for your help. So I'd need to fill out 4 different appeal forms? That seems excessive! Do I need to write different explanations for each one or can I just reference the same issue across all of them?
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Daniel Washington
omg i had this same problem last month!!! sooo frustrating. i just appealed the last letter and explained in my appeal that i got multiple letters. worked for me but maybe im just lucky idk
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Aurora Lacasse
•That's terrible advice. Each determination requires its own appeal. If you only appeal one and ignore the others, you could end up with some determinations becoming final even if you win on the one you appealed. The EDD computer system treats each determination separately.
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Anthony Young
This happened to me too! The EDD is such a mess - they can't even keep their own accusations straight. I filed separate appeals for each letter just to be safe. Spent like 3 hours filling out all those stupid forms. Good luck!!
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Ryan Andre
•Did you write the same explanation on each form or did you customize them based on the specific accusations in each letter?
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Charlotte White
I'd strongly recommend appealing each determination letter individually. While it seems redundant, each determination may cover different benefit weeks or different issues. In your appeal statements, you can reference that you received multiple determinations about similar issues, but be specific about addressing the particular allegation in each letter. Make sure to meet all deadlines - submit your appeals for the three earlier letters immediately. For the redetermination letter, you still have a bit more time but don't delay. If you're struggling to get clarification from EDD directly, I used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to connect with an EDD representative quickly instead of calling for hours. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km. The agent I spoke with helped me understand why I received multiple letters and confirmed I needed separate appeals.
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Ryan Andre
•Thank you! I'll check out that service because I've been calling EDD for days with no luck. I'm going to start working on all the appeals today. Should I mail them separately or can I put all the appeals in one envelope?
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Aurora Lacasse
ALWAYS APPEAL EVERY LETTER! I didn't appeal one of my determination letters because I thought the redetermination replaced it, and they garnished my wages years later! The system doesn't automatically link these issues together. Each letter has its own case number and potentially covers different weeks or different aspects of the same issue. The EDD computer system tracks them separately even if they seem related to you. For the appeal forms, I recommend addressing the specific allegation in each letter rather than using identical text. It shows you're being thorough and responsive to each specific determination.
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Ryan Andre
•Oh no, that's scary about the wage garnishment! I definitely don't want that to happen. I'll appeal each one separately. Thanks for the warning!
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Admin_Masters
i had 2 letters once and just did 1 appeal for both...put both reference numbers on the form...worked out fine for me but maybe im just lucky lol
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Lauren Zeb
•While that might have worked in your case, it's risky. The appeals office might process only one of those reference numbers and ignore the other. The safest approach is always to file separate appeals for each determination to ensure all issues are properly addressed.
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Matthew Sanchez
Wait I'm confused...if the redetermination letter is about the same issue but just worded differently, wouldn't that replace the earlier letters? That's what happened in my case last year - my redetermination superseded the original determination. But maybe mine was a different situation?
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Charlotte White
•It depends on whether the redetermination explicitly replaces the earlier determinations. Some redeterminations completely replace earlier ones, while others address only specific aspects or weeks. Without seeing the actual letters, the safest approach is to appeal everything separately. Better to file unnecessary appeals than miss appealing something important.
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Daniel Washington
this is y the EDD is THE WORST! sending multiple letters with different accusations...cant even keep their own story straight. im still dealing with overpayment drama from 2023!!!
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Anthony Young
•Right?? And then they expect us to respond properly when they can't even organize their own paperwork! I swear the left hand doesn't know what the right is doing over there.
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Lauren Zeb
One more important tip: When you mail your appeals, send them by certified mail with return receipt requested. This gives you proof of when you submitted each appeal, which is crucial if there's ever a question about whether you met the deadlines. Keep copies of everything you send as well as your certified mail receipts. Also, after submitting your appeals, watch your mail carefully for hearing notices. Sometimes these can be scheduled with relatively short notice, and missing a hearing typically results in losing your appeal by default.
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Ryan Andre
•Great advice about the certified mail - I hadn't thought of that. I'll definitely do that and keep copies of everything. How long does the appeal process usually take before I get a hearing date?
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GamerGirl99
•The hearing wait times can vary a lot depending on your region and current caseload. In my experience, it typically takes 2-4 months to get a hearing date after filing your appeal. Sometimes it can be faster if there are cancellations, but I'd plan for at least 2 months. The good news is that if you win your appeal, they usually pay you retroactively for the weeks you were denied benefits during the appeal process. Just make sure to keep certifying for benefits even while your appeal is pending!
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Ethan Clark
I went through this exact same nightmare situation! Got 5 different determination letters over 2 weeks with overlapping but slightly different accusations. Here's what I learned the hard way: 1. Appeal EVERY SINGLE LETTER separately - don't assume the redetermination replaces anything unless it explicitly states that in writing 2. Use certified mail for each appeal and keep tracking numbers 3. Write specific responses addressing the exact allegations in each letter (don't just copy/paste the same response) 4. Include all determination letter numbers and dates in your appeals even if they seem related The EDD's computer system is ancient and treats each determination as a separate case. I made the mistake of only appealing 3 out of 5 letters thinking some were duplicates, and those 2 became final determinations that I'm still fighting today. Also pro tip - if you can't get through to EDD by phone (and you probably can't), document EVERYTHING you tried to do to contact them. Print screenshots of busy signals, keep call logs, etc. This can help in your appeal if they claim you didn't try to resolve issues before the deadline. Don't let the multiple forms intimidate you - it's better to be over-thorough than to miss something and regret it later!
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Mateo Lopez
•Wow, thank you so much for sharing your experience - this is exactly what I needed to hear! I'm definitely going to appeal all 4 letters separately now. I was hoping to take shortcuts but it sounds like that would just create bigger problems down the road. Quick question about the specific responses - when you say address the exact allegations in each letter, do you mean I should quote the specific language they used in each determination? And did you find it helpful to explain in each appeal that you received multiple conflicting letters about similar issues, or did you keep each response focused only on that particular letter? I'm already starting to document my phone attempts to reach EDD - been getting busy signals for 3 days straight! Thanks again for the detailed advice, it's really reassuring to hear from someone who actually went through this mess.
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