Quit job to care for mom with dementia - EDD denied me but interview transcript is wrong

Yes, you CAN qualify for unemployment if you had to quit to care for an immediate family member with a serious health condition! This falls under "good cause" to leave employment. But EDD is super strict about documentation and often gets details wrong (as you discovered). For your appeal hearing, bring ALL of these: 1. Medical documentation from your mom's doctor stating she requires 24/7 care 2. Any communications with those care agencies showing the 6+ week wait 3. Written timeline of events (when her condition worsened, when you notified your employer, etc) 4. Any work schedule accommodations you requested before quitting I went through almost the exact same situation with my father's Alzheimer's last year. Initially denied, but won on appeal because I had the documentation. The judge even said the interviewer's notes were "clearly insufficient." The key is proving you had no reasonable alternative but to quit. Good luck!

u probly wont qualify tbh. EDD is mega strict on the "good cause" stuff and family care hardly ever counts unless ur the ONLY person who could possibly do it. did u try hiring someone? or moving mom to a facility? they always ask if u tried everything possible b4 quitting.

I HAD THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM!!! The EDD interviewer completely twisted what I said about why I had to leave my job. In my case they wrote that I "chose to relocate" when I actually explained I had to move because my landlord sold the building with 30 days notice and there was nothing affordable within 75 miles of my workplace!!! It took FOUR MONTHS and three appeals to finally get someone to listen. The system is BROKEN. They deny everyone automatically hoping you'll just give up.

have u tried calling EDD to get it fixed? maybe u can talk to supervisor before the appeal hearing

I work at a nonprofit that helps people with EDD issues, and this happens ALL THE TIME. What you're experiencing with the transcription errors is unfortunately common. For your specific situation about quitting for caregiving responsibilities, you need to understand UI Code Section 1256, which states good cause includes "compelling family circumstances" making continued employment unreasonable. At your appeal hearing, focus on these specific points: 1. The sudden and unexpected nature of your mother's decline 2. The medical necessity of 24/7 care (bring doctor's documentation) 3. The lack of reasonable alternatives (documentation from care agencies) 4. Any attempts to maintain employment (reduced hours, leave of absence, etc.) And regarding the transcript errors - address them immediately at the start of your hearing. State clearly: "I need to correct several significant errors in the interview transcript that misrepresent my statements." I recommend checking out Claimyr.com if you need to reach EDD before your hearing. Their service helped several of our clients get through to EDD when they couldn't on their own. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km showing how it works. Sometimes getting those transcript errors addressed before the hearing can save a lot of trouble.

wait im confused... so if my mom gets sick i can just quit and get unemployment?? that doesnt sound right

I'd like to add some technical clarification here. For those dealing with family care situations and EDD claims, there are two important distinctions to understand: 1. UI benefits (Unemployment Insurance) - What you're applying for when you leave work. For this, you need to prove "good cause" for leaving, which can include family care in certain situations. 2. PFL benefits (Paid Family Leave) - A separate program that provides benefits when you need to care for a seriously ill family member, but this is temporary (up to 8 weeks) and assumes you'll return to your job. For the OP's situation with permanent caregiving needs, UI is the appropriate program, but the burden of proof is higher. You must demonstrate that you had no reasonable alternative to quitting. The interview transcript errors you're describing are serious and absolutely need to be addressed. In my experience, it's best to submit a written correction before the hearing. Draft a clear statement identifying each specific error and what you actually said. Submit this through your UI Online account or by mail (certified) to create a paper trail. At the hearing itself, be very factual and chronological. Avoid emotional language even though this is an emotionally difficult situation. Administrative Law Judges respond best to clear facts and documentation.

my sister went thru similar thing last yr. make sure u emphasize that u tried EVERYTHING before quitting. what sealed the deal for her was proving she asked her boss for reduced hours/different schedule and was denied. did u do that?

Yes, absolutely bring that email from HR! That's exactly the kind of documentation that helps win appeals. It demonstrates that you attempted to preserve your employment before quitting, which is a critical element in establishing good cause. To address your earlier question - yes, bring printed copies of everything to your hearing, including your written correction of the transcript errors. Make at least three copies of each document (one for you, one for the judge, one for EDD's representative). One last piece of advice: prepare a concise (2-3 minute) opening statement that clearly outlines your situation. Focus on the chronology of events and the necessity of your decision to leave work. Practice it beforehand so you can deliver it calmly despite what I'm sure is a very stressful situation.