Need to waive EDD appeal to get disability - what to expect?
Hey everyone, I'm in a bit of a pickle here. I need to waive my appeal for unemployment so I can get disability benefits. Has anyone gone through this process before? What should I expect when I talk to the EDD agent? Any tips on how to explain my situation clearly? I'm feeling pretty lost and could use some guidance.
23 comments


Zara Ahmed
I've been through this before. Here's what you need to do: 1. Call EDD and clearly state that you want to waive the 30-day appeal period. Explain that you need to access disability benefits ASAP. 2. Have any relevant docs ready that support your request. Medical records, doctor's notes, anything that shows why you need disability. 3. Ask the agent for specific steps on how to proceed. Make sure you understand exactly what you need to do next. 4. Get the agent's name and ID number, and ask about any follow-up actions you need to take after the call. Good luck! The system can be a pain, but stay persistent.
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Sean O'Donnell
•Thank you so much for this detailed response! It's really helpful. Do you know if there's a specific form I need to fill out to waive the appeal?
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Zara Ahmed
•Glad I could help! As far as I know, there isn't a specific form for waiving the appeal. You usually just need to tell the agent verbally and they'll note it in your file. But definitely ask the agent to make sure - procedures might have changed.
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Luca Esposito
•This is great advice! I'd add one thing: write down everything the agent tells you during the call. It's easy to forget details when you're stressed.
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Nia Thompson
ugh, the EDD is such a nightmare to deal with. I've been trying to get through to them for weeks. How did you even manage to talk to a real person??
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Mateo Rodriguez
•I feel you. It's like trying to win the lottery just to speak to someone. I've had some luck calling right when they open, but it's still hit or miss.
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GalaxyGuardian
•Pro tip: I found a way to actually get someone on the phone. I used this site called claimyr.com - it's a calling tool that dials the phone menu, stays on hold, and then connects you when a live agent picks up. It costs $20, but it worked for me. Here's a video about it: https://youtu.be/Ize0EkN4HDI
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Nia Thompson
•Whoa, seriously? That sounds too good to be true. Has anyone else tried this?
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Aisha Abdullah
•I was skeptical too, but I gave it a shot out of desperation. It actually worked! Saved me hours of frustration.
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Ethan Wilson
•Idk man, paying to talk to a government agency feels wrong. Shouldn't this be free?
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GalaxyGuardian
•I get where you're coming from, but for me, the time saved was worth the cost. Spent way more than $20 worth of my time trying to get through on my own.
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Yuki Tanaka
Wait, you can waive an appeal? I didn't even know that was an option. Does anyone know if this affects your chances of getting approved for disability?
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Carmen Diaz
I'm in the same boat as you, OP. Been trying to figure out how to switch from unemployment to disability. The whole system is so confusing. Let us know how it goes for you!
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Sean O'Donnell
•Will do! It's comforting to know I'm not the only one struggling with this. Fingers crossed we both get it sorted out soon.
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Andre Laurent
Just a heads up, make sure you're 100% sure about waiving your appeal rights. Once you do that, you can't change your mind later. Make sure disability is definitely the right move for your situation.
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AstroAce
•This is really important advice. I rushed into waiving my appeal once and regretted it later. Take your time and be certain!
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Sean O'Donnell
•Thanks for the warning. I'm pretty sure this is the right move for me, but I'll double-check everything before I make it final.
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Zoe Kyriakidou
lol good luck dealing with EDD. might as well try to teach a rock to swim 🪨🏊♂️
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Jamal Brown
•🤣🤣🤣 for real tho. EDD more like EDDiot amirite?
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Mei Zhang
•Cmon guys, I know it's frustrating but the people working there are just doing their jobs. The system sucks, not the employees.
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Liam McConnell
Has anyone here successfully switched from unemployment to disability? How long did the process take? I'm worried about having a gap in benefits while everything gets sorted out.
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Savannah Vin
•I went through this transition about 6 months ago. The whole process took about 3-4 weeks for me, but I did have a gap of about 10 days where I wasn't receiving any benefits. My advice would be to apply for disability as soon as you waive your unemployment appeal - don't wait. Also, make sure you have some savings set aside if possible to cover that gap period. The disability office was actually more responsive than EDD in my experience.
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Grace Durand
•@Savannah Vin Thanks for sharing your experience! That s'really helpful to know there might be a gap. Did you have to provide any specific documentation when you applied for disability, or was it pretty straightforward once you had waived the unemployment appeal?
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