I just wanted to add my perspective as someone who went through this process about a year ago. My employer (a tech startup with around 100 employees) actually did show up to my hearing with their HR person and some documentation, but it ended up working in my favor because their story fell apart under questioning. The Administrative Law Judge was very thorough and kept asking specific questions about their misconduct claims. When they said I was terminated for "insubordination," the judge immediately wanted to know: What specific incident? Was there a written policy about this? Did I receive any warnings? Were there witnesses? They couldn't answer most of these questions with actual evidence. Meanwhile, I had emails showing that my "insubordination" was actually me questioning a directive that violated our own safety protocols - which is actually protected under California labor law. The whole experience taught me that these judges really do know the law and can spot weak cases from employers pretty quickly. They're not just rubber-stamping whatever the employer claims happened. Don't let the anxiety consume you - focus on organizing your facts and trust that the system actually works when you have the truth on your side. I got my benefits approved and received full back pay. You can do this!

I had my EDD appeal hearing about 5 months ago and can definitely relate to your anxiety! My former employer (a retail company with about 180 employees) did send their regional HR manager to the phone hearing, but honestly it wasn't as scary as I had built it up to be in my head. The Administrative Law Judge was very professional and structured the whole process clearly. The hearing lasted about 45 minutes, and what really struck me was how focused the judge was on the actual legal definition of misconduct rather than just accepting my employer's characterization of events. My employer claimed I was terminated for "violation of company policies," but when the judge asked for specific documentation - written warnings, progressive discipline records, evidence I knew about the policies I allegedly violated - they kept giving vague answers and couldn't produce much concrete evidence. What really helped my case was having a clear timeline showing that my termination happened right in the middle of a broader restructuring where they eliminated several positions across different departments. I also had my performance reviews which were consistently satisfactory. The judge kept coming back to questions like "If this employee's conduct was truly problematic, why wasn't it addressed through your normal disciplinary process?" and "Can you explain why this termination coincided with your department restructuring?" I won my appeal and received all my back pay about 3 weeks later. The key is staying calm, sticking to facts, and remembering that the burden is on them to prove actual willful misconduct - not just poor performance or being in the wrong place at the wrong time during layoffs. You're going to do great! Trust the process and focus on presenting the facts about the downsizing context.

This thread is absolutely incredible - reading through everyone's experiences and solutions has been both eye-opening and reassuring. As someone who's currently employed but always worried about potential layoffs, I'm saving every single detail from this discussion for future reference. The step-by-step breakdown you've all created is better than any official EDD guide I've seen. The technical support line number (1-833-978-2511), the 8 AM calling strategy, having identity verification info ready, and especially that 72-hour temporary access code option - these are pure gold for anyone facing account lockouts. What really strikes me is how this community has transformed individual crisis situations into a comprehensive survival guide. The fact that we've had to reverse-engineer EDD's own recovery processes through collective trial and error is both frustrating and impressive. At least now there's a clear roadmap for anyone dealing with this nightmare! @Anastasia Kuznetsov so glad you got everything sorted in time! And massive thanks to everyone who shared their real experiences and detailed solutions. This thread should honestly be pinned as the definitive EDD account recovery guide. The level of genuine support and practical advice here is exactly why online communities matter.

This thread has become an absolute masterpiece of community problem-solving! As someone who works in tech support myself, I'm genuinely impressed by how you've all collectively documented and refined the EDD account recovery process. The level of detail here - from the specific technical support number (1-833-978-2511) to the 8 AM calling strategy to having identity verification info prepared - is better than most official documentation I've seen. What really stands out is how everyone transformed their individual frustrating experiences into actionable solutions that are genuinely helping people. The 72-hour temporary access code workaround is brilliant, and those practical tips like writing it down and testing it while still on the phone are the kind of real-world wisdom you only get from people who've actually been through the process. @Anastasia Kuznetsov I'm so relieved you got everything sorted in time for your certification! And huge kudos to @Kai Rivera for helping their elderly neighbor navigate this nightmare - that's exactly the kind of community support that makes a real difference. This thread should honestly be required reading for anyone dealing with California EDD. You've all created something way more valuable than anything on their official website. Bookmarking this entire discussion as the ultimate EDD account lockout survival guide!

Hey everyone! I'm also dealing with the Money Network card transition from BofA and this thread has been incredibly helpful. Just wanted to add that if you're having trouble with the app or website, try clearing your browser cache or updating the app to the latest version. I was getting error messages when trying to add my bank account info, and a simple app update fixed everything. Also, for those worried about security, the ACH transfer through the Money Network app uses the same encryption as most major banks, so it's actually quite safe. One last tip - keep a screenshot of your transfer confirmation number just in case you need to reference it later. The Money Network customer service isn't great, but having that confirmation number can help speed things up if there are any issues. Hope this helps others navigate this frustrating but manageable process!

Just wanted to share my recent experience since I went through this exact same situation last week! I had about $1,800 on my Money Network card and was dreading the transfer process after reading horror stories online. But honestly, it was way easier than I expected once I followed the right steps. First, I activated the card by calling the number on the back (took like 2 minutes). Then downloaded the Money Network app and did the identity verification - uploaded my license photos and answered some security questions. The whole verification took maybe 20 minutes and was approved within a few hours. For the actual transfer, I did what someone else mentioned and started with a small test amount ($100) just to make sure everything worked. It went through perfectly in 2 business days, so then I transferred the remaining balance. The $5,000 daily limit was more than enough for my needs. Pro tip: double check your bank's routing number! I almost messed that up. Also, if you do the transfer on a Friday, don't expect it until Tuesday/Wednesday since weekends don't count. The whole experience was actually pretty smooth once I got past the initial learning curve. Definitely recommend the app over calling customer service - saved me hours of being on hold!

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - my manager created such a hostile environment that I developed anxiety and had to leave. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful, especially learning about the "good cause" terminology and constructive discharge concept. One thing I'm wondering about - for those who have been through the appeal process, how long did it typically take from filing the appeal to actually having the hearing scheduled? I just filed mine last week and I'm trying to plan ahead for gathering all my documentation. Also, did anyone find it helpful to practice their testimony beforehand, maybe with family or friends? The advice about organizing everything chronologically really resonates with me. I have emails, text messages, and medical records scattered across different places, so I need to get that all sorted out. Thanks to everyone sharing their experiences - it's giving me hope that there's light at the end of this tunnel!

I went through a very similar situation about 8 months ago - toxic supervisor, anxiety diagnosis, and initially denied UI claim. What really helped me win my appeal was focusing on the timeline of events and showing a clear pattern of deteriorating workplace conditions. A few practical tips that weren't mentioned yet: 1. If you have any performance reviews or emails showing you were a good employee before the hostile environment started, bring those to contrast with how things changed 2. Keep a detailed log of any physical symptoms your anxiety caused (sleep issues, headaches, etc.) - this helps establish the medical impact 3. If your doctor recommended the leave specifically because of work stress, make sure that's clearly documented in their notes The hearing itself was less intimidating than I expected. The judge asked very specific questions about what I did to try to resolve the situation and why I felt I had no other choice but to quit. Having concrete examples with dates made all the difference. Stay strong - the appeal process exists for exactly these situations where the initial determination missed important context. Your case sounds like you have solid grounds for good cause, especially with the medical documentation and the fact that they essentially pushed you out by removing you from the schedule.

I just went through this process a few months ago and wanted to share my experience since it sounds like we had very similar situations. I was laid off in December but didn't file until mid-January because I thought I'd find something quickly (spoiler: I didn't!). I ended up requesting the backdate and it was approved, but here's what actually happened: EDD put a temporary hold on my account for about 10 days while they reviewed my request. During this time, I couldn't certify for benefits and was freaking out. However, once they approved the backdate, they released all the held payments plus the backdated weeks in one lump sum. The whole process took about 5 weeks total, and I had to do a phone interview where they asked why I delayed filing and whether I was available for work during the backdated period. My advice: make sure you can clearly explain your reason and have documentation if possible (like job applications or emails showing you were actively looking for work during those weeks). Looking back, it was worth the temporary stress for the extra money, but definitely be prepared for some uncertainty during the review period. Your current benefit year won't be affected - you'll just get those earlier weeks added to your claim.

As someone who just went through a backdating situation last month, I wanted to add my perspective. I was in almost exactly the same boat - lost my job in late December 2022 but didn't file until February because I was confident I'd land something quickly (famous last words, right?). I was terrified about potentially messing up my existing payments, but after reading tons of posts like this one, I decided to go for it. Here's what happened: I submitted the DE1181BW form explaining that I delayed filing because I had several promising job leads and expected to be employed again within a few weeks. EDD put my account under review for about 2 weeks, but crucially - my regular bi-weekly certifications and payments continued normally during this time. They eventually approved the backdate and I received payment for those 6-7 missed weeks. The total process took about 3 weeks from submission to receiving the backdated payments. No phone interview was required in my case, which was a relief. The key things that seemed to help: 1) I had a legitimate, documented reason for the delay, 2) I could prove I was available and actively job searching during the backdated period, and 3) I hadn't received any other benefits during that time. My advice: if you truly were available for work and actively seeking employment during those 6 weeks, and you have a valid reason for the delayed filing, it's probably worth pursuing. The worst they can do is deny the backdate - they won't take away your current benefits for asking.