I went through a similar situation last year with an "able and available" overpayment for caregiving. The good news is that temporary family caregiving can qualify for exceptions, especially if you properly disclosed it during certification. When you appeal, emphasize that you were transparent about your situation and had every intention of returning to work once your mom recovered. I also recommend calling your local Assembly member's office - they often have caseworkers who can help expedite EDD issues. Mine helped me get my appeal resolved in 6 weeks instead of months. Document everything and don't let them intimidate you into paying without fighting it first!

I'm so sorry you're going through this stress - I know exactly how overwhelming it feels! I had a similar overpayment notice for $4,200 last year and was terrified. The most important thing is DON'T PANIC and don't ignore it. Since you were caring for your mom and reported it during certification, you actually have a strong case for appeal. The "able and available" requirement has specific exceptions for temporary family caregiving situations. When I appealed mine, I gathered all my certification records showing I was honest about my situation, medical documentation for my family member, and a detailed timeline of events. I also filed for the overpayment waiver (DE 1446W form) at the same time, documenting my financial hardship. The whole process took about 3 months, but I ended up getting 80% of the overpayment waived. During the appeal process, they can't garnish your wages or take collection action, which gives you breathing room. Stay strong - you reported everything honestly and that matters a lot in these cases!

I'm new here but had to chime in because I went through something very similar! EDD sent me an overpayment notice 7 months after my benefits ended - turned out my employer had contested my claim months after I'd already been approved and receiving benefits. The whole process was incredibly stressful, especially since I'd already moved on and was working again. What really helped me was keeping detailed records of everything - every phone call, every piece of mail, every document I submitted. I also learned that EDD has specific timelines they have to follow for processing appeals, so don't let them drag their feet if you don't hear back within reasonable timeframes. Your roommate is lucky to have you helping her through this - having someone to organize paperwork and research the process makes a huge difference when you're already stressed about money.

I just wanted to add something that might be helpful for your roommate's situation. When EDD sends overpayment notices this late, it's often because they're conducting what's called a "cross-match" review where they compare employer records with benefit claims. Since her former employer is now claiming misconduct instead of layoff, this sounds like a classic case where the employer initially didn't contest the claim (maybe they were disorganized or understaffed) and then later decided to challenge it, possibly to reduce their unemployment insurance taxes. The good news is that if she has that layoff letter mentioning department restructuring, she's in a strong position. I'd also suggest she request her complete claim file from EDD - sometimes there are notes or communications in there that can help her case. You can request this by calling or writing to EDD, and it's free. Having the full picture of what was originally reported vs. what the employer is now claiming can really help strengthen her appeal.

Yes, EDD should automatically begin processing your payments within 7-10 business days after receiving the ALJ's decision. Since you mentioned you've been certifying all along, you should receive all back payments for the weeks you certified that fall within your benefit year. If you don't see any payment activity within two weeks, that's when I'd recommend contacting EDD for clarification. Make sure to keep certifying for benefits every two weeks while you wait. Congratulations on winning your appeal! Quitting due to a hostile work environment is one of the legitimate 'good causes' for leaving employment, but it often requires an appeal to prove. You did everything right.

Congratulations Maya! I went through a very similar situation last year - quit due to harassment from my supervisor at a restaurant, initially denied, then won on appeal. The "overturned" language definitely threw me off too at first! One thing I learned during my process: even though the chances of your employer appealing are very low (especially since they no-showed), keep all your documentation from the harassment incidents just in case. The ALJ likely found your testimony credible about the hostile work environment, which is why they ruled in your favor. Also, once your payments start flowing, you might want to consider filing a complaint with your state's labor department about the workplace harassment if you haven't already. What your manager did wasn't just grounds for unemployment benefits - it was likely illegal workplace conduct that other employees shouldn't have to endure. Hope this helps ease some of your stress! You've been through the hardest part already.

To clarify on some of the responses here - when unreported wages are found to be an honest mistake rather than willful fraud, EDD typically won't issue an overpayment or disqualification, especially for smaller amounts like you mentioned. The interviewer was required to tell you about appeal rights because that's standard procedure for ALL determinations, even favorable ones. The Notice of Determination you'll receive will include language about appeal rights regardless of whether they ruled in your favor or not. This is because all EDD determinations, positive or negative, can be appealed (though obviously you wouldn't appeal a favorable decision). The payment status changing to PAID is the system implementation of their decision, which is clearly in your favor. While there are occasional system glitches, this sequence of events strongly indicates a positive outcome for your claim.

Congratulations on getting your payments! I went through a similar situation last year with unreported DoorDash earnings from 2022 that I completely forgot about (only like $1,800). The interviewer was ice cold and made me feel like a criminal, but my payments also switched to PAID right after the call. Got my money within 2 days and the determination letter a week later confirming they ruled it was an honest oversight. The key thing EDD looks for is whether you were trying to hide income deliberately vs. just making a mistake. Since you were honest about it during the interview and the amount was relatively small, they likely saw it as the latter. Definitely keep reporting everything going forward - even if it's just $50 from a random gig. Better safe than sorry with EDD!

Based on everyone's experiences shared here, it really sounds like you have a strong case for getting UI benefits approved! The fact that you tried to work with your employer on the schedule issue and have documentation of your childcare search puts you in a good position. I wanted to add one more thing that might be helpful - when you're preparing for your eligibility interview, consider creating a simple one-page summary that includes: - Timeline of events (schedule changes, your requests for accommodation, when you quit) - Financial impact (income loss, childcare cost estimates) - Evidence you'll reference (emails, texts, daycare waitlist confirmations) Having this organized summary can help you stay focused during the interview and make sure you don't forget to mention important details when you're nervous. The success stories in this thread show that EDD does recognize childcare as legitimate good cause when you can prove you exhausted other options. With your 3 years at the full-time job, your benefit amount should be calculated on those higher wages too, which will help. Don't let the initial stress discourage you from applying - even if there's a chance of initial denial, the appeals process is there for exactly these situations. You've got solid documentation and a legitimate case. Good luck with your application!

I'm so grateful to have found this thread! I'm dealing with almost the exact same situation - had to quit my full-time job because they changed my schedule with no notice and I couldn't arrange childcare. I've been terrified to apply for UI because I thought quitting meant automatic disqualification. Reading all these success stories is giving me hope that I might actually have a chance. I have emails where I asked my supervisor for a consistent schedule, documentation of my childcare search, and even cost estimates showing that emergency care would have eaten up most of my paycheck. @Zara Khan - have you decided to file your claim yet? I'm in the same boat with still working part-time but losing most of my income. Maybe we can support each other through this process! Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences - especially the detailed tips about documentation and interview preparation. This community is amazing for helping people navigate such a stressful situation. I'm going to organize my evidence this weekend and file my claim next week. Fingers crossed!