No-show employer at EDD appeal hearing - what happens now with my unemployment claim?

This is actually GOOD NEWS for you! I went through this exact situation last year and won my appeal. When the employer doesn't show up, they basically forfeit their chance to dispute your side of the story. The judge can only consider the evidence in front of them, which is now just YOUR evidence and testimony. The judge still has to make a decision based on the facts and applicable laws, but without the employer there to contradict anything you said, your version stands uncontested. As long as your reason for separation qualifies you for benefits under CA unemployment laws, you should be fine. The 10-14 days timeline is accurate in my experience. Just keep checking your UI Online account - you'll see the status change there before you get the official letter.

congrats lol ur pretty much guaranteed to win now. employer no shows are the best. got $11k in backpay when mine didnt show up

While an employer no-show is typically advantageous, I want to clarify that it's not an automatic win. The Administrative Law Judge still evaluates your testimony and evidence against the legal standards for unemployment eligibility. That said, without contradictory testimony, your version of events will stand as the primary evidence. The judge will issue a written decision that includes findings of fact and conclusions of law explaining the rationale. If you win, EDD will process payments for all weeks you properly certified during the appeal period, usually within 7-10 days of the decision being entered into their system. Continue certifying every two weeks while waiting. If your previous employer submitted written evidence prior to the hearing, the judge will consider this even if they didn't attend. Did the judge mention if there were any documents from your employer in the case file?

I've been through the EXACT same situation and I can tell you that EDD is still TERRIBLE at updating the system even after you win. I won my appeal when my employer no-showed but it still took almost 3 WEEKS after receiving the favorable decision before my UI Online account updated and I got paid! Keep calling every single day after you get your decision if nothing changes online. They claim they're "processing" but really someone just needs to push the right button to release your funds. The appeal decision has to be manually entered into their system and sometimes it gets backlogged.

I went through this in April. Won my appeal because employer didn't show. Got my decision letter in 8 days, but then nothing happened for weeks. So frustrating!!

Yes, finally got paid after 5 weeks! Had to keep calling though. They said there was a "processing delay" whatever that means.

When I had my appeal hearing last year, my employer showed up but was completely unprepared and contradicted their own written statements. The judge actually seemed annoyed with them! I think judges get frustrated when employers make accusations they can't back up or don't take the process seriously. Did your judge seem sympathetic to your situation at all? Sometimes you can tell by their questions whether they're leaning one way or another. My judge asked me really detailed questions about my work search efforts which made me nervous, but I still won in the end.

Look for a letter from the California Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board in your mailbox - that's how you'll get the official decision. Mine came exactly 12 days after my hearing. If you win, don't celebrate until you actually see the money in your account! The EDD system is incredibly slow to update after appeals. Also, if you haven't already, make sure all your certification weeks are complete and up to date. Even for weeks you were disqualified. They can't pay you for weeks you haven't certified, even if you win your appeal.

i tried calling edd for weeks after my appeal and never got through. then i found this service called Claimyr that got me connected to an EDD rep in 20 minutes when i hadnt been able to get through for days trying on my own. they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km once i got through to a rep they were able to release my backpay right away. apparently my appeal decision was just sitting there needing manual processing. their website is claimyr.com if you end up needing help getting through after you win

btw make sure u kno that winning an appeal can take 2-3 months to actually get paid out. edd is so slowww

OP, can I ask how long it took from when you filed your appeal to when you got your hearing date? I just filed my appeal last week and wondering what to expect for timeline. Congrats on the employer no-show!

One more important piece of advice: make a copy of your favorable decision letter when you get it! You might need it later if there are any payment issues. EDD reps can sometimes see the appeal outcome in their system, but not always the details. Having that letter with the case number and specific findings makes resolving any problems much easier. Also, if your employer doesn't appeal the judge's decision within 30 days (which is rare), then the decision becomes final. Just be aware there is a small possibility your employer could appeal if they disagree with the judge's decision.

Yes, you would receive written notification if your employer appeals the Administrative Law Judge's decision to the California Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board (CUIAB). This is a second-level appeal and relatively uncommon, especially after an employer no-show at the first level. To address your earlier question: after a favorable decision, you should call the EDD Appeals Office (not the regular UI number) if your benefits aren't released within 10 business days. The number should be listed on your decision letter. They can check if the decision has been implemented in the system and escalate if needed. Based on current processing times, most claimants are seeing their UI Online accounts updated within 7-14 days after a favorable decision, though some delays still occur due to backlogs.