I'm new to this community but dealing with a very similar situation right now. Reading through everyone's responses has been incredibly helpful - especially learning about that 25% wage reduction threshold. I was also "forced" to quit when my employer cut my hours from full-time to basically part-time, and now EDD is saying I voluntarily quit without good cause. One thing I wanted to add that might help others - I found that keeping detailed records of ALL communication with your employer is crucial. I saved every text, email, and even wrote down dates/times of verbal conversations about my schedule changes. The more documentation you have showing you tried to work with them and that the hour reduction wasn't your choice, the stronger your case will be. @Ravi Patel - based on what everyone's shared here, it sounds like you have a really strong case for constructive discharge. Going from 38 to 15-18 hours is definitely over that 25% threshold. I'm planning to represent myself too after reading these responses. We've got this!

Just want to add another success story to hopefully give you more confidence! I went through almost the exact same thing in 2022 - hours cut from 40 to about 12 per week, employer claimed it was "temporary" but it went on for months. I represented myself at the appeal hearing and won. The key things that helped me: 1) I calculated the exact percentage my wages were reduced (it was about 70% reduction), 2) I brought evidence that I actively looked for other work while still employed there, and 3) I showed that I gave my employer reasonable time to restore my hours before quitting. The hearing itself was about 20 minutes over the phone. The judge was actually very understanding and seemed familiar with these types of cases. What really sealed it was when I referenced that EDD regulation about wage reductions being good cause - the judge even thanked me for citing the specific regulation number. Your case sounds even stronger than mine was since you have documentation of trying to resolve it with your manager. Don't let them intimidate you - these constructive discharge cases are very winnable when you have clear evidence of significant hour reductions!

One more important tip: When you mail your appeals, send them by certified mail with return receipt requested. This gives you proof of when you submitted each appeal, which is crucial if there's ever a question about whether you met the deadlines. Keep copies of everything you send as well as your certified mail receipts. Also, after submitting your appeals, watch your mail carefully for hearing notices. Sometimes these can be scheduled with relatively short notice, and missing a hearing typically results in losing your appeal by default.

I went through this exact same nightmare situation! Got 5 different determination letters over 2 weeks with overlapping but slightly different accusations. Here's what I learned the hard way: 1. Appeal EVERY SINGLE LETTER separately - don't assume the redetermination replaces anything unless it explicitly states that in writing 2. Use certified mail for each appeal and keep tracking numbers 3. Write specific responses addressing the exact allegations in each letter (don't just copy/paste the same response) 4. Include all determination letter numbers and dates in your appeals even if they seem related The EDD's computer system is ancient and treats each determination as a separate case. I made the mistake of only appealing 3 out of 5 letters thinking some were duplicates, and those 2 became final determinations that I'm still fighting today. Also pro tip - if you can't get through to EDD by phone (and you probably can't), document EVERYTHING you tried to do to contact them. Print screenshots of busy signals, keep call logs, etc. This can help in your appeal if they claim you didn't try to resolve issues before the deadline. Don't let the multiple forms intimidate you - it's better to be over-thorough than to miss something and regret it later!

This whole thread is so helpful! I'm dealing with a similar ID verification issue right now and was about to mail my documents like the rep told me to. Thank you everyone for mentioning ID.me - I had no idea that was even an option! It's ridiculous that EDD reps aren't consistently telling people about the faster online verification method. Going to check my UI Online account right now to look for that ID.me link. Hopefully I can get this sorted out quickly like you did Maxwell!

Just went through this exact same frustrating experience last month! The first EDD rep I spoke with also only mentioned mailing documents and made it sound like that was my only option. I was so stressed about sending my original ID through the mail. Thankfully I found out about ID.me through this community - completed the verification in about 20 minutes and my claim was approved within 48 hours. It's honestly inexcusable that some reps aren't informing people about the faster digital option. For anyone still dealing with this - definitely try the ID.me route first before resorting to mailing anything. And if you need to call EDD again, don't be afraid to ask specifically about digital verification options if they only mention mail-in documents.

That's correct. You can request an Overpayment Recovery Reduction through your UI Online account or by calling EDD. If approved, they may reduce the standard 25% collection rate to as low as 10% depending on your financial situation. You'll need to provide evidence of financial hardship.

Just wanted to add my experience for anyone else going through this - I had a similar situation with penalty weeks + overpayment last year. The key thing to remember is that once your penalty period ends, you should start receiving benefits again automatically when you certify, BUT they will deduct for the overpayment. In my case, they took exactly 25% each week until my balance was paid off. The good news is that the disaster waiver for the waiting period means you'll get paid for both weeks on your first certification back. Make sure to keep checking your UI Online account - it should show your payment history and remaining overpayment balance. If something looks off after a few days, definitely call EDD to verify everything is processing correctly. Good luck!

I'm going through this exact same nightmare right now! My check is 10 days late and I've been checking my mailbox obsessively every day. It's so stressful when you're counting on that money for rent and groceries. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been really helpful though - at least I know I'm not the only one dealing with this mess. The fact that so many people are having the same issue with their UI Online showing 'paid' but no check in the mail makes me feel like mine isn't lost, just stuck somewhere in this broken system. I'm definitely switching to direct deposit the second this check finally shows up. Thank you everyone for sharing your stories - it really helps to know we're all in this together!

I'm in the exact same boat - my check is 8 days late and I've been losing sleep over it! Reading through all these comments has been such a huge relief though. I had no idea about the vendor change or the USPS staffing issues, so knowing this is a widespread problem and not just my payment getting lost makes me feel so much better. My UI Online shows 'paid' too, so sounds like we're all dealing with the same system delays. I'm definitely going to wait it out a bit longer and then switch to direct deposit immediately. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - it really helps to know we're not dealing with this stress alone!