Need attorney recommendations for EDD disqualification appeal - anyone fought this and won?

I was in your situation last year. Honestly, I didn't need a lawyer - I just followed the appeal process myself and won. You need to request a hearing within the 30 days, then prepare your case showing why you had good cause to leave. In your situation, they significantly changed your working conditions (reduced hours) which is considered good cause if it resulted in a substantial reduction in pay. Gather any documentation showing your previous hours vs. reduced hours. The hearing is informal and the Administrative Law Judge is usually fair in my experience.

u dont need a attorney for this stuff. my cousin work at a resturant and got fired for being late and still got edd after appeal. just write down everything that happened and tell it like a story when u go to the hearing. the judge people are actually nice!!!

You absolutely can win this appeal without an attorney, but it depends on how complex your case is and how comfortable you are presenting evidence. For "constructive discharge" cases (where hours were reduced so much that it effectively forced you to quit), you need to prove: 1. Your hours were reduced significantly (generally 20% or more) 2. This resulted in a substantial pay reduction 3. You attempted to resolve the issue with your employer before quitting 4. The reduction wasn't temporary If your documentation is strong and straightforward, self-representation works fine. If there are complex issues or you're not comfortable speaking at the hearing, an attorney might be worth it. Legal Aid organizations sometimes offer free help with EDD appeals - try Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles or Neighborhood Legal Services.

Went through something similar in 2021 but with being fired not quitting. The whole EDD appeals process is a nightmare!! My hearing got rescheduled twice and then when it finally happened the judge sided with my employer even though they barely presented any evidence. Complete waste of 3 months. If I could do it over I definitely would have gotten a lawyer.

I've been trying to reach EDD for weeks about my disqualification and kept hitting dead ends. Finally used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to an actual person. They have this service that calls EDD for you and connects you when they reach an agent. Saved me HOURS of redial hell. Check out their demo: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km The agent I spoke with explained exactly what documentation I needed for my appeal and even noted in my file that I was preparing an appeal. Made me feel so much more prepared. Definitely recommend talking to EDD directly before your hearing if possible.

I work in HR and deal with unemployment cases frequently. Here's my professional advice: 1. For constructive discharge cases (which is what yours is), you have a good chance of winning IF you can demonstrate your hours/pay were cut significantly and it wasn't a temporary measure. 2. Attorneys specializing in EDD appeals typically charge $800-1200. Is it worth it? Depends on how much benefit money is at stake and how strong your case is. 3. If your total potential benefits are under $5000, I'd recommend self-representation. The ROI on an attorney may not make sense. 4. Regardless of your decision, immediately request your appeal hearing in writing (keep proof of delivery) and start organizing your evidence: pay stubs showing reduced hours, any communications about your schedule changes, and your attempts to resolve the situation. 5. The most common mistake people make is not properly preparing their timeline and evidence. Create a chronological document of events with dates and supporting documentation. Law firms that handle these cases in LA: Frontier Law Center or the Employment Rights Center, both have experience with EDD appeals.

my sitsuation was different but similar in 2020 and what helped me win was bringing a WITNESS to my hearing!!! my coworker testified that everyone's hours were cut and confirmed my story. made a BIG difference!!!

One thing nobody's mentioned yet - if you decide to go without an attorney, you should still get a consultation with one beforehand. Many employment attorneys offer free initial consultations. They can review your specific case, point out strengths/weaknesses, and give you customized advice even if you don't hire them for full representation. I did this and it was incredibly helpful for preparing my own case.

Quick update for those following this thread - I just checked the EDD website and they've posted updated guidelines for constructive discharge cases. As of January 2025, they explicitly state that a reduction of hours resulting in 25% or greater loss of wages is presumed to be good cause for voluntary quit IF the reduction is indefinite/permanent. This strengthens your case if your hours were cut that significantly. Make sure to cite this in your appeal letter and during your hearing!

I went through a similar appeal in 2023 and won without an attorney, but I'll be honest - it was stressful and took a lot of preparation. Based on what you've described (38 hours cut to 15-18), you definitely meet that 25% wage reduction threshold that @Chloe Robinson mentioned. Here's what made the difference in my case: I created a detailed timeline with exact dates, kept screenshots of my work schedule changes, and had my final paycheck showing the dramatic reduction. The judge asked very specific questions about whether I tried to get more hours elsewhere in the company and if the reduction was supposed to be temporary. One thing that really helped was that I found the specific EDD regulation (Section 1256-3 of Title 22) that defines "good cause" for voluntary leaving. Having that legal reference made me sound more prepared. If you do decide to represent yourself, practice explaining your situation out loud beforehand. The hearing felt less intimidating than I expected, but being able to clearly tell your story without rambling is key. Good luck!

I'm new to this community but dealing with a very similar situation right now. Reading through everyone's responses has been incredibly helpful - especially learning about that 25% wage reduction threshold. I was also "forced" to quit when my employer cut my hours from full-time to basically part-time, and now EDD is saying I voluntarily quit without good cause. One thing I wanted to add that might help others - I found that keeping detailed records of ALL communication with your employer is crucial. I saved every text, email, and even wrote down dates/times of verbal conversations about my schedule changes. The more documentation you have showing you tried to work with them and that the hour reduction wasn't your choice, the stronger your case will be. @Ravi Patel - based on what everyone's shared here, it sounds like you have a really strong case for constructive discharge. Going from 38 to 15-18 hours is definitely over that 25% threshold. I'm planning to represent myself too after reading these responses. We've got this!

Just want to add another success story to hopefully give you more confidence! I went through almost the exact same thing in 2022 - hours cut from 40 to about 12 per week, employer claimed it was "temporary" but it went on for months. I represented myself at the appeal hearing and won. The key things that helped me: 1) I calculated the exact percentage my wages were reduced (it was about 70% reduction), 2) I brought evidence that I actively looked for other work while still employed there, and 3) I showed that I gave my employer reasonable time to restore my hours before quitting. The hearing itself was about 20 minutes over the phone. The judge was actually very understanding and seemed familiar with these types of cases. What really sealed it was when I referenced that EDD regulation about wage reductions being good cause - the judge even thanked me for citing the specific regulation number. Your case sounds even stronger than mine was since you have documentation of trying to resolve it with your manager. Don't let them intimidate you - these constructive discharge cases are very winnable when you have clear evidence of significant hour reductions!