Has anyone used ESD's Unemployment Law Project for claim appeals? Worth it?

I used the Unemployment Law Project last year for my appeal and they were incredibly helpful. They assigned me an attorney who helped prepare my case, reviewed all my documentation, and even represented me at the hearing. I was facing a $6,200 overpayment for allegedly turning down suitable work (which wasn't true). With their help, I won my appeal and didn't have to pay anything back. They're definitely busy, so call them ASAP. Their intake process took about 3 days for me before an attorney was assigned. They'll want copies of your disqualification letter and any documentation showing why you left your job. Medical documentation will be particularly important in your case.

theyr not that great tbh... my cousin used them and still lost his appeal. said the lawyer seemed rushed and didnt really fight for him. but maybe he just got a bad one idk

I TRIED TO USE THEM!! Called for TWO WEEKS and left messages! No one EVER called back!! By the time I gave up, my appeal deadline had passed and I was SCREWED!! Had to pay back $3700 all because they couldn't be bothered to return my calls. The whole system is rigged against us!!!!

The ULP is generally very helpful, but they're also chronically understaffed and overbooked. They prioritize cases based on merit and timing. Here's what I suggest: 1. Don't just call - also submit their online intake form on their website 2. In your message, clearly explain your deadline (2 weeks) and briefly outline why you believe you have good cause (health condition, unreasonable demands) 3. While waiting to hear back, file your appeal anyway! Don't miss the deadline waiting for ULP 4. Gather medical documentation of your health condition 5. Get any written communication from your employer about the increased hours Your case sounds like one they'd be interested in taking because health conditions that prevent you from working the demanded hours can qualify as good cause for leaving employment.

I couldn't get through to ULP for days and was getting desperate with my appeal deadline coming up. I ended up using Claimyr (claimyr.com) to connect with an ESD agent directly. They got me through to ESD in about 20 minutes when I'd been trying for days. The ESD agent helped me understand exactly what documentation I needed for my appeal while I waited to hear back from ULP. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 I eventually did get help from ULP too, but being able to talk to an actual ESD person first was super helpful in preparing my case.

my friend is a lawyer (not unemployment but still) and she says that medical reason for not being able to work the hours they demand is usually good cause! make sure u have doctor notes or something showing your condition though. ULP might help but dont wait for them. file ur appeal now and say you cant work 60 hrs because of medical reasons

One more thing I forgot to mention - if you can't get through to ULP, there are also some helpful resources on WorkSource's website with templates for appeal letters. Not as good as having an attorney, but it's better than nothing if you're running out of time. Also, be sure to request a copy of your ESD file immediately so you can see what your employer claimed about your separation.

i had a kinda similar situation last year. my boss kept scheduling me for shifts i told him i couldn't work because of my kids and then marked me as a no-show. when i got fired esd denied my claim saying misconduct. the ULP helped me and we won! but it took like 3 weeks to get help from them so definitely file your appeal now like others said

To answer your follow-up question about documentation: You should submit essential documentation with your initial appeal letter, but you can submit additional evidence up until the hearing date. The most critical documents to include immediately are: 1. Medical documentation showing your condition exists and limits your working hours 2. Any communication with your employer about your limitations 3. Any written evidence of them demanding 60+ hour weeks When requesting your ESD file, call the Office of Administrative Hearings at 800-366-0955 and request all documents related to your claim. This will show you exactly what your employer told ESD about why you left.

if ULP doesnt work out dont give up... my moms friend represented herself and won her case! she just prepared really well and had all her evidence organized. but ya try ULP first for sure

One last recommendation - regardless of whether you get ULP help or not, be very careful about how you phrase things in your appeal and hearing. Never say you "quit" - always say your employer gave you an impossible choice that effectively terminated your employment. And focus on the medical condition as the primary reason you couldn't meet their new demands. This framing makes a big difference in how judges interpret your case.