VICTORY! EDD phone appeal success - tips for others with appeals
I had my EDD phone appeal hearing yesterday and just found out the decision was REVERSED in my favor! I was disqualified from benefits for 6 weeks (about $2,800) because they claimed I didn't report some freelance work correctly, but I proved I did everything right. The judge actually called me personally to tell me the good news! I'm still in shock - was preparing for the worst after waiting 3 months for this hearing. For those facing appeals, here's what worked for me: - I organized ALL my documentation chronologically (certification screenshots, income reports, emails with employers) - Wrote out a timeline of events to refer to during the call - Practiced explaining my situation calmly without getting emotional - Had the relevant EDD code sections ready to reference (my disqual was under section 1253) I'm updating because so many people here helped me prepare, and I want to give back. I have another friend with her EDD phone appeal this afternoon and she's super nervous. Any last-minute advice I can share with her?
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Omar Zaki
CONGRATS!!! 🎉 This gives me hope for my situation. I'm waiting for my appeal hearing date (been 7 weeks already). Did they ask a lot of detailed questions about your work history? My situation is different (they say I was fired for misconduct but I actually quit for good cause) but I'm trying to prepare.
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Freya Andersen
•Thank you! Yes, they really dug into details - dates, amounts, communications with the employer. The judge was actually fair but thorough. For your friend-of-a-friend situation, they'll probably focus on the specific reason for separation. Make sure she has documentation from when she gave notice and any communications about the work conditions that made her quit. They really want proof of timeline.
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CosmicCrusader
This is excellent news and thanks for sharing your success strategy! For your friend's phone appeal today, here are some additional tips I've gathered from my experience as an EDD claimant: 1. Be on the call at least 10 minutes early - they sometimes call ahead of schedule 2. Answer the phone professionally - first impressions matter 3. Have a quiet environment with good reception 4. Take notes during the hearing 5. Speak clearly and avoid interrupting the judge 6. Only answer what's asked - don't volunteer extra information that could create new issues 7. If she doesn't understand a question, ask for clarification rather than guessing 8. Be honest but frame facts in the most favorable light Phone hearings actually have a higher success rate than in-person in my experience.
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Freya Andersen
•These are super helpful! I'll text her right now. The point about not volunteering extra info is especially important - I almost made that mistake. I was about to mention some contract work I did AFTER the period in question, but realized it wasn't relevant and could have opened a whole new can of worms. I'll tell her to stick strictly to what's asked.
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Chloe Robinson
congrats but those appeals are totally random imo! my brother had WAY better documentation than me and still lost his. i barely tried and won mine lol. its just which judge u get and if their having a good day 🤷♂️
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Diego Flores
•While there might be some variation between judges, the appeals process isn't random. Administrative Law Judges follow specific legal standards and EDD guidelines when evaluating cases. Good documentation significantly increases success rates according to EDD statistics. Your brother may have had a more complex case or issues with how evidence was presented versus the specific legal question at hand. Preparation absolutely matters.
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Anastasia Kozlov
One thing about phone appeals - your friend should know they sometimes use weird conference call systems where she needs to press buttons to join. I missed half my hearing because I didn't realize I had to press 1 to actually connect! Make sure she knows what system they're using and any access codes needed ahead of time. Also did your judge call from a blocked number? Mine did and I almost didn't answer!
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Freya Andersen
•Thanks for the reminder! Yes, mine came from a blocked/private number too. I'll make sure to tell her to answer ANY calls around her appointment time, even unknown numbers. My hearing notice had instructions to press *1 to join, but nothing else unusual.
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Sean Flanagan
I had my appeal last month but still haven't heard anything back. How long did it take for you to get the decision?
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Freya Andersen
•The judge told me it would take 7-10 days to get the official decision in the mail, but he called me personally after just 2 days to let me know it was approved. I think that's unusual though - he mentioned he had a backlog of cases but mine was "straightforward." Have you tried calling to check the status?
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Sean Flanagan
•No i havent called yet. its been like 3 weeks now so i should probably check. what number did u use to reach them?
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Zara Mirza
This is really timely! I've been trying to get through to EDD for days to ask about my own appeal situation (different issue - they say I failed to do work search activities properly). I found a service called Claimyr that helped me actually reach an EDD rep yesterday after weeks of failed calls. It basically puts you in the call queue without you having to keep redialing. You can check it out at claimyr.com and there's a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km The rep gave me specific information about what documentation I need for my appeal hearing. Might be useful for your friend if she has any last-minute questions before her hearing.
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Freya Andersen
•Thank you! I'll share this with her. She was trying to call this morning to confirm the hearing time and kept getting the "we're experiencing high call volume" message. This might help her get through.
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NebulaNinja
I wanna just add that if ur friend has any mental health issues or anxiety she should mention that upfront!! I have documented anxiety and when i mentioned that at the beginning, the judge was SUPER nice about letting me take my time answering and even take short breaks when i got overwhelmed. made a HUGE difference for me!!!
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Freya Andersen
•That's really good to know! She does get pretty bad anxiety with confrontation. I'll suggest she mentions that politely at the start. Did you need to provide any documentation of your anxiety diagnosis?
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NebulaNinja
•nope! they just took my word for it. i think they're used to people being nervous for these hearings anyway so they try to be understanding.
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Diego Flores
Congratulations on your successful appeal! For your friend's hearing today, I'd emphasize the importance of addressing the specific legal reason for disqualification rather than general fairness arguments. Each disqualification is based on a specific section of the Unemployment Insurance Code, and the judge needs to hear why that specific section doesn't apply or was misapplied. For example: - False statement disqualifications (1257a): Focus on good faith/no intent to defraud - Voluntary quit (1256): Focus on good cause for leaving - Misconduct (1256): Show actions weren't willful/deliberate violation of duties - Able and available (1253c): Demonstrate reasonable availability for work - Work search (1253a): Show reasonable efforts to find work Knowing which section applies to her case will help her target her testimony to exactly what matters legally.
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Freya Andersen
•This is incredibly helpful! Her disqualification is under section 1256 for voluntary quit, but she left because her employer was making her work in unsafe conditions (not providing required PPE for chemical exposure). I'll tell her to focus specifically on the good cause aspect and the documentation she has of the safety issues.
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Omar Zaki
One more question - did they backpay you for all the weeks you were disqualified right away? Or is there another waiting period?
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Freya Andersen
•The judge said the backpay should be processed within 10 business days. He explained that once the decision is entered into the system, it automatically triggers payment for any previously disqualified weeks. I'm going to wait until next Friday before calling if I don't see it in my account by then.
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