One more thing - if EDD is claiming it was a voluntary quit without good cause, your son should specifically request the "Notice of Determination" form DE 1080CZ. This form will explain EXACTLY why they disqualified him. Sometimes they disqualify for reasons you wouldn't expect, and arguing the wrong point in an appeal can cause you to lose automatically. If he can't get through to request this form, that's another situation where the Claimyr service I mentioned can help. Being able to talk to an actual EDD representative makes a huge difference in understanding exactly what needs to be addressed in the appeal.

I've been following this thread and wanted to add something important that hasn't been mentioned yet. Since your son is now in Nevada, he should also consider filing for unemployment benefits in Nevada while his California appeal is pending. Nevada has different eligibility requirements and might approve benefits even if California doesn't. Many people don't realize you can have claims in multiple states simultaneously if you've worked in different states within the base period. Nevada's system might view his situation more favorably, especially since he's now actively seeking work there. Also, make sure he keeps detailed records of EVERY conversation with EDD - dates, times, representative names, and what was discussed. This documentation can be crucial if his case goes to a higher level appeal. I learned this the hard way when I had to go through three levels of appeals a few years back. The interstate claim process can be confusing, but Nevada's unemployment office is generally more responsive than California's. Worth exploring as a backup plan while fighting the California decision.

idk if this helps but I've heard some people have luck reaching out on Twitter. Might be worth a shot?

Hey Mateo, sorry to hear you're dealing with this mess. I went through something similar a few months ago. Here's what worked for me: I sent them a written request through the UI Online message center explaining that I missed the call and requesting a reschedule. Make sure to include your claim details and be polite but firm about needing the interview ASAP. Also, try calling the 2511 number (1-800-300-5616) around 8:02 AM - sometimes you can get through right after they open. In the meantime, keep certifying for benefits even though you're pending - you don't want to miss those deadlines. Hang in there, it's frustrating but most people do eventually get it sorted out!

Everyone's advice has been really helpful! I'm working on organizing my documentation today. One more question - will the hearing be in person or over the phone? My notice doesn't specifically say, just gives an address and time.

Good luck with your hearing! I went through something similar about 6 months ago - also sales job, also performance vs misconduct dispute. The key thing that helped me win was being able to show I was actively trying to improve. Do you have any emails where you asked your manager for additional training, requested different territory assignments, or discussed strategies to meet targets? Those really help demonstrate good faith effort. Also, if you have any documentation showing the 180% increase in targets was unreasonable (like industry standards, previous years' data, or other team members' struggles), bring that too. The judge in my case was very interested in whether the performance expectations were realistic. One tip: practice explaining the difference between "couldn't meet targets despite trying" vs "deliberately underperforming" - that distinction is crucial. You got this!

UPDATE: Just wanted to let everyone know that I was able to certify this morning! The system updated overnight like you all said it would. Thanks for calming me down yesterday - this is my first time dealing with a holiday while on unemployment. My certification went through and it says my payment should process within 48 hours. Thanks again for all the help!

So glad you got it resolved! This is exactly why I love this community - everyone jumps in to help when someone's stressed about EDD issues. For future reference, holidays always mess with the certification schedule but it usually sorts itself out within 24-48 hours. The system is old and clunky but it does eventually work. Hope your payment comes through on time!

One additional tip that might help: When you do manage to get through to an EDD representative, immediately ask for their direct extension or ID number. This won't guarantee that you can reach them directly if you call back, but if you get disconnected again, you can at least reference who you were speaking with when you call again. Also, I'd recommend preparing a brief "claim summary" document for yourself with all the key information you need to provide. This way, if you do get through, you can efficiently complete the claim without scrambling for information, which reduces the time spent on the phone and the chance of another disconnection. Include details such as: - Your employment history for the past 18 months (employer names, addresses, phone numbers) - Start and end dates for each job - Reason for separation from each employer - Your gross earnings for the last week worked - Any vacation or severance pay received Having this information readily available has helped many of my clients complete their claims more efficiently during their brief windows of connection with EDD representatives.

I feel your pain! I went through something similar last year. One thing that really helped me was using the EDD website's "Contact EDD" feature to send a message about my dropped call situation. While they don't respond quickly (took about 5 days), when I did get through on the phone later, the rep could see my message in the system and it actually helped speed things up since she knew exactly what had happened. Also, if you're calling from a cell phone, make sure you're in an area with strong signal. I learned the hard way that even small signal drops can cause the call to disconnect on EDD's end, even if your phone shows full bars. I started calling from my landline after that and never had another dropped call issue. Good luck with the 8am call tomorrow! The advice about having everything ready is spot on - the faster you can get through the questions, the less chance of technical issues messing things up.