What does 'disqualified week' mean on EDD claim after wrongful termination?

Disqualified' week means EDD has determined'you re not eligible for benefits for that specific week. This usually happens after your employer contests your claim by reporting you were fired for misconduct.'You ll need to appeal this decision within 30 days of the disqualification notice date. During the appeal, you should gather any evidence showing you were following company policy or that the alleged violation'wasn t serious misconduct. Continue certifying for benefits while your appeal ispending!

same thing happned to me last year! my boss said i was on my phone too much but i was actually using it for WORK stuff! EDD sided with them at first but i fought it and won. dont give up!!

EDD ALWAYS sides with employers at first! It's part of their ridiculous system. They make these automatic disqualifications and expect people to just give up because the appeal process is so frustrating. I've been through THREE appeals with them over the years - won every single time but had to fight like hell. Document EVERYTHING from your old job. Get statements from coworkers if possible. The burden is on YOU to prove you didn't commit misconduct. And whatever you do, KEEP CERTIFYING every two weeks even while disqualified or you'll lose those weeks permanently!

did u get a letter in the mail explaining why? sometimes the online status just says disqualified but the letter has the actual reason. might help for ur appeal

I've helped several friends through this exact situation. Here's what you need to do: 1. File your appeal immediately using the DE 1000M form. Don't wait for the letter if you already see the disqualification online. 2. When explaining your case, be specific about the company policy you allegedly violated. Detail exactly what procedure you followed and why it was correct. 3. Continue certifying for benefits every two weeks while waiting for your appeal. 4. Prepare for your appeal hearing by gathering documentation: employee handbook sections about the policy, any emails/texts showing you followed procedure, witness statements from coworkers, performance reviews showing your good work history. 5. At your hearing, stick to the facts about this specific incident. Don't get sidetracked complaining about your manager or other workplace issues. The appeal process typically takes 6-12 weeks currently. You'll eventually get back pay for all weeks if you win. In the meantime, have you been able to reach an EDD representative to get more details? That could be helpful.

If you need to actually talk to an EDD rep (which I definitely recommend before your appeal hearing), try using Claimyr. It's a service that calls EDD for you and connects you when they get through. I was skeptical but it saved me hours of frustration when I had a similar issue. Their website is claimyr.com and they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km Getting direct info from EDD about why exactly they disqualified you will be super helpful for preparing your appeal. Sometimes they can even resolve it without going through the whole hearing process if there was a simple misunderstanding.

Hate to be the bearer of bad news, but misunderstanding company policy isn't usually considered good cause for termination under EDD rules. What matters is whether your actions constituted 'misconduct' - which has a specific legal definition for unemployment purposes. Misconduct means a deliberate disregard for the employer's interests. If you genuinely believed you were following procedure correctly, that's generally NOT misconduct even if you made a mistake. Be very clear about this distinction in your appeal. Don't argue about whether you followed policy perfectly - argue that any mistake was not deliberate misconduct. This is a critical legal distinction that often determines these cases. Also, if the policy was unclear, inconsistently enforced, or if you received inadequate training, definitely mention that in your appeal. These are all factors that can help your case.

i would also recommend applying for calfresh while ur waiting if ur low on funds. doesnt take long to get approved and helps with food at least

One more thing - after you file your appeal, you'll get a notice with your hearing date. California uses the Office of Appeals to handle these cases. The hearing will likely be over the phone with an Administrative Law Judge. You'll have the chance to present your side, and your former employer may participate as well. The judge will make a decision based on whether your actions met the legal definition of misconduct under unemployment insurance law. They'll mail you their decision within 2-3 weeks after the hearing. If you win, all disqualified weeks will be paid retroactively. If you lose the first appeal, you can file a second-level appeal to the California Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board. Hang in there! The system is complicated but navigable.

Update us after you speak with EDD or file your appeal. Many of us have been through similar situations and can offer more specific advice as you move through the process.

Don't let this discourage you from fighting back! I went through something very similar about 6 months ago - got fired for supposedly not following safety protocol, but it was really just a personality conflict with my supervisor. EDD automatically disqualified me too. Here's what worked for me: I gathered every piece of documentation I could find - old emails, my training records, even photos of the work area that showed the safety equipment was faulty. I also got a written statement from a coworker who witnessed what actually happened. The key thing that helped my case was proving that I had received conflicting instructions from different supervisors about the same procedure. The judge said that showed the company's policies weren't clear or consistently applied. It took about 10 weeks total from filing my appeal to getting my back pay, but I got every penny I was owed. The stress was worth it in the end. You've got this - just stay organized and don't give up!

I'm so sorry you're going through this stress! I just wanted to add that when you're preparing for your appeal, try to get any documentation about your work history there - performance reviews, commendations, anything that shows you were a good employee for those 3 years. That can really help demonstrate that this was an isolated incident and not a pattern of misconduct. Also, if you have any text messages or emails from that day or around the time of the incident, save screenshots of those too. Sometimes there are little details in communications that can support your case. One thing that really helped me was writing out a timeline of exactly what happened that day, hour by hour if possible. It helped me stay focused during my hearing instead of getting emotional about the unfairness of it all. You mentioned this started after a new manager came in - that's actually pretty common. Document any changes in how policies were enforced after they arrived if you can remember specific examples. Good luck with everything!

I've been through the appeals process twice and won both times. One thing that really helped me was requesting a copy of my entire claim file from EDD before my hearing. You can do this by calling and asking for Form DE 8714 (Request for File). This will show you exactly what your employer told them and what evidence they provided. Sometimes employers exaggerate or even lie in their initial report, and seeing their actual statements can help you prepare counter-evidence. In my first case, my employer claimed I was "repeatedly late" but when I saw their file, they only had documentation of two instances over 8 months - hardly a pattern of misconduct. Also, if you win your appeal, make sure EDD processes your back pay correctly. I had to call them again after my victory to make sure all my disqualified weeks were actually paid out. The system doesn't always automatically fix everything even after you win. The whole process is frustrating but definitely winnable if you have your facts straight. Keep us posted on how it goes!

I'm going through something very similar right now! My employer claimed I violated safety procedures but I followed exactly what I was trained to do. The "disqualified week" status is so stressful when you're already dealing with being wrongfully terminated. From what I've learned, that status means EDD believes your employer's version that you were fired for misconduct. But the good news is you can definitely fight this! I just filed my appeal last week using the DE 1000M form that someone mentioned earlier. One thing that's been helpful for me is keeping a detailed log of everything - dates, times, exactly what happened, who was there. Also try to remember if there were any inconsistencies in how your workplace enforced that policy. Did other employees do similar things without getting fired? That kind of stuff can really help your case. The waiting and uncertainty about money is the worst part. I've been applying for every temporary assistance I can find while waiting for my appeal. Have you looked into any local food banks or emergency rental assistance programs in your area? Sometimes there are resources available while you're fighting this. Stay strong - it sounds like you have a good case if you truly followed proper procedure!

I've been helping people navigate EDD appeals for years through my work at a legal aid clinic. Here are some additional resources that might help: 1. California's Self-Help Guide for UI Appeals has step-by-step instructions: https://www.calhealthadvocates.org/unemployment/ 2. Many local libraries offer free legal clinics where attorneys can review your appeal paperwork before you submit it. 3. If you're in LA, SF, or San Diego, there are specific unemployment advocacy organizations that provide free assistance with appeals. The fact that you had 3 years of good employment history and this happened right after a management change actually works in your favor. Appeals judges see patterns like this all the time - new managers trying to clean house or being overly strict about policies that were previously enforced differently. Also, document if you received any kind of employee handbook or written policies about returns. If the policy was vague or if you weren't given clear training on the specific situation you encountered, that's strong evidence against misconduct. Most importantly - don't let them intimidate you out of fighting this. The system relies on people giving up because the process seems overwhelming. You clearly have a legitimate case here!

I went through this exact same thing 2 years ago and it's absolutely infuriating! The disqualification hit me right when I needed the money most. What really helped me was getting organized ASAP - I created a folder with all my employment documents, the employee handbook, any emails or texts from work, and wrote down every detail I could remember about the incident. The appeals process felt overwhelming at first, but once I got into it, I realized the system actually CAN work if you're prepared. My hearing was over the phone and lasted about 45 minutes. The judge asked really specific questions about company policy and whether I knew what I was doing was wrong. Since I genuinely thought I was following procedure correctly, I was able to answer confidently. One thing that surprised me was that my employer's HR person seemed way less confident during the hearing than they probably were when they first reported me to EDD. When you're actually questioned under oath about the specifics, exaggerations and half-truths become pretty obvious. I ended up winning and got all my back pay - it was such a relief! The whole process from filing the appeal to getting paid took about 12 weeks, but it was absolutely worth fighting for. Don't let them steamroll you over this!

I'm really sorry you're dealing with this stress! The disqualification process can feel so overwhelming when you're already dealing with losing your job unfairly. One thing I wanted to add to all the great advice here is to make sure you save any photos or documentation of your workplace procedures if you still have access to them through work email or shared drives. Sometimes these get deleted after employees leave, so grab anything relevant now while you still can. Also, if you remember the specific date and time of the incident, check if your workplace has security cameras that might have captured what happened. You can request this footage during the discovery process for your appeal - it could be powerful evidence showing you followed proper procedure. The fact that you gave "proper authorization" for the return (as you mentioned in your post) sounds like you have concrete evidence of following policy. Make sure to emphasize exactly what authorization you gave and how that matched the training you received. It's completely normal to feel freaked out right now, but based on what you've described, you definitely have grounds for a strong appeal. The three years of good employment history combined with this happening after a new manager arrived is actually a pretty common pattern that appeals judges recognize. Stay strong and don't let them push you around!

Just want to add one more thing that helped me during my appeal - if you can, try to get statements from any coworkers who witnessed how returns were typically handled at your store. Even if they can't testify at the hearing, having written statements from people who saw that your actions were consistent with normal practice can be really powerful evidence. Also, when you're writing up your timeline of events, include any conversations you had with supervisors or managers about returns policy, especially if you ever asked for clarification and were told to handle things the way you did. This shows you were actively trying to follow proper procedure. The stress is real, but remember that EDD disqualifies a LOT of people initially - it doesn't mean your case is weak. They're required by law to investigate when employers claim misconduct, but that doesn't mean they've made the right decision. You clearly have strong evidence that this was either a misunderstanding or inconsistent enforcement of policy, not deliberate misconduct. Keep fighting!

I'm a newcomer here but wanted to share that I went through something very similar about 8 months ago. The "disqualified week" status is terrifying when you're already stressed about money, but please don't panic! What really helped me was understanding that EDD's initial decision is often just based on what your employer reported, without hearing your side at all. They basically have to disqualify first and let you prove your case later - it's backwards but that's how the system works. My situation was almost identical - long-term employee (5 years), new manager came in and suddenly everything I'd been doing "correctly" was wrong. I was fired for supposedly mishandling customer complaints, but I had been following the exact same process my previous supervisor taught me. The appeal process was stressful but definitely worth it. I gathered every piece of evidence I could find, got statements from coworkers, and really focused on proving that my actions weren't deliberate misconduct - just following procedures as I understood them. Won my case and got full back pay for all the weeks I was disqualified. Based on what you've described about following authorization procedures and this happening after new management arrived, you have a really strong case. Don't let them intimidate you into giving up! File that appeal ASAP and keep certifying every two weeks. You've got this!