One more important thing to know: if you appeal the overpayment determination and WIN, the penalty weeks will be removed completely. But if you only appeal the number of penalty weeks (accepting the overpayment determination), you're just asking for a reduction in weeks. Two different appeal strategies depending on your situation.

Just wanted to add that timing is crucial with appeals - you only have 30 days from the date on your penalty determination letter to file your appeal. I almost missed my deadline because I was so overwhelmed by the whole process. Also, even if you're appealing, you still need to repay the overpayment amount (or set up a payment plan) separately. The appeal only affects the penalty weeks, not the repayment requirement. Good luck with your appeal - sounds like you have a solid case if it was genuinely a calculation error!

UPDATE: Finally got through to EDD this morning! The representative confirmed it WAS a system issue. Apparently when my disqualification was overturned, it wasn't fully processed in all their systems. The person who reviewed my case made the change in their case management system, but it didn't properly sync with the payment system. The rep had to manually override the disqualification codes in the payment system and said my payments should process within 48-72 hours. She also said this happens fairly often with manually overturned determinations - the different EDD computer systems don't communicate well with each other. For anyone dealing with something similar, make sure you specifically ask if all systems show the same status for your claim!

Wow, what a rollercoaster! I'm so glad you got it resolved. This is exactly why I always screenshot everything with EDD - their systems are so unreliable. Your experience is going to help so many people who run into this same issue. I've been dealing with EDD for years (unfortunately) and the number of times I've seen people panic over system glitches like this is crazy. The fact that you got a service request number is huge - that paper trail will protect you if anything goes wrong again. Thanks for updating us with the resolution!

Hi Jujubeans! Congratulations on receiving your appeal decision letter! Without seeing the specific language in your letter, it's hard to say definitively, but if you received a favorable decision from the judge, it should mean you won your appeal. Look for key phrases like "decision is reversed," "claimant is eligible," or "benefits are granted." If the judge ruled in your favor, EDD should process the back payments automatically, though it can take several weeks. I'd recommend checking your EDD online account regularly and maybe trying to call during off-peak hours (early morning or late evening) to get through to someone who can confirm the status. You can also try contacting your local assembly member's office - they often have dedicated EDD liaisons who can help cut through the phone maze. Hang in there, and I hope this is the good news you've been waiting for!

One thing nobody has mentioned - check if your former employer is even going to contest the appeal. Sometimes they don't bother showing up to the hearing, which makes it MUCH easier to win your case. You could potentially call your former HR department (not your boss) and ask if they plan to participate in the appeal hearing. If they don't, self-representation becomes much more viable.

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - got disqualified after my eligibility interview and facing a $3,200 overpayment. Reading through everyone's responses here has been really helpful! I'm leaning toward trying to represent myself first since my case seems straightforward (employer cut my hours from 35 to 12 per week), but I'm definitely going to get a free consultation with an attorney just to be safe. One question for those who've been through this - how long did you have to prepare between filing your appeal and the actual hearing? I want to make sure I have enough time to gather all my documentation and organize everything properly. Also, did anyone record their conversations with their boss? I have a few voice recordings on my phone from when we discussed the schedule changes but I'm not sure if those are even admissible. Thanks to everyone sharing their experiences - it's scary going through this alone but this community really helps!

One other factor to consider: if your surgery can wait (medically speaking), you might also look at how many quarters of your higher wages will fall into the base period. If waiting another month would add another full quarter of higher earnings into your calculation, it could make a significant difference in your weekly benefit amount. You can actually estimate your potential weekly benefit amount yourself. Take your highest-paid quarter in the base period, divide by 13 (weeks in a quarter), and multiply by about 0.6-0.7 to get a rough estimate of your weekly benefit.

I went through a similar situation when I needed shoulder surgery last year! The timing strategy really does work if you can swing it medically. I waited about 6 weeks because my higher-paying job wages hadn't fully cycled into the base period yet, and it made about a $200/week difference in my SDI benefits. One tip that helped me: I called EDD (eventually got through using that Claimyr service someone mentioned) and asked them to do a "what if" calculation based on different filing dates. They can actually tell you exactly what your benefit would be if you filed today vs. filing in a month or two. That way you're not guessing. Also, make sure your doctor is on board with any delay and that they'll provide the necessary disability paperwork when you do file. You'll need them to certify that you're unable to work due to your condition. The whole process was way smoother than I expected once I actually got it started. Hope your surgery goes well whenever you decide to schedule it!