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Can you collect unemployment after having a baby in California?
So I just had my baby six weeks ago and my situation is kind of complicated. I was working full time at a marketing agency before my due date and had planned to go back after maternity leave, but my employer basically eliminated my position while I was out. They claim it was a 'restructuring' but the timing feels really suspicious. Now I'm sitting here with a newborn trying to figure out if I can even file for unemployment benefits through California EDD. I know there's SDI (state disability insurance) for the pregnancy/birth part and then PFL for bonding time, but my SDI already ended and I'm not sure if I can collect regular UI unemployment now that my job is technically gone. I'm able and available to work, I have childcare lined up actually because my mom is helping, but I have no idea if California EDD will think I'm not 'available' just because I have a newborn. Has anyone gone through this? Can you actually collect unemployment after having a baby when your job disappears during maternity leave? I'm so stressed about this right now.
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Are federal employees eligible for unemployment benefits through California EDD?
So I just got laid off from my federal government job last month and I'm completely lost about whether I can even file for unemployment. I've been a federal civilian employee for about 6 years working at a regional agency office here in California. A coworker told me federal workers go through a totally different process than regular employees but couldn't explain much beyond that. I went to the California EDD website and started filling out the standard UI claim form but then got nervous halfway through — am I even supposed to be filing here? Will California EDD handle my claim or does it go somewhere else entirely? I haven't collected unemployment before so the whole thing is overwhelming. My separation paperwork from the agency lists a reason code I don't recognize and I'm not sure if that affects my eligibility. Any federal employees out there who have been through this? Really need some guidance before I submit anything wrong and mess up my claim.
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something that helped me understand my UCFE eligibility better was actually just calling California EDD and asking them to walk me through it. sounds obvious but when I got someone on the phone they were actually really helpful and patient about explaining the whole process. the problem is just GETTING someone on the phone which took me probably 15 tries over several days before I got through
yeah if I'd known about that earlier I would have used it, would have saved me a lot of frustration
Everyone keeps mentioning Claimyr in this thread, clearly it's a real solution. Going to save that link for if my claim gets stuck.
Just want to add one more thing that tripped me up — when California EDD contacts your former federal agency for wage verification, make sure you know which specific office or bureau handles unemployment verifications for your agency. Large federal departments sometimes have centralized HR offices for this kind of thing and if California EDD is reaching the wrong office internally, it can cause delays. I had to make a call to my former agency's central HR office to redirect their California EDD inquiry to the right team. Saved probably another few weeks of waiting.
Exactly. You're not just a passive participant in the process. Your former agency has an obligation to respond to California EDD's verification requests and you can remind them of that.
Great thread overall. Bottom line for the original poster: yes federal employees are eligible for unemployment through the UCFE program administered by California EDD, file through UI Online, disclose your federal employment when asked, have your SF-8 handy, report your annual leave payout accurately, keep filing weekly certs throughout any adjudication period, and don't hesitate to get on the phone with California EDD if things stall — that's where the Claimyr service people are mentioning can really help if the lines are impossible.
Does California EDD have unemployment benefits available right now?
So I'm in a weird spot and honestly not sure where to start. I got laid off about two weeks ago from my warehouse job and a coworker mentioned I should look into whether California EDD does have unemployment benefits I can actually apply for. I've never filed before so I have zero idea what I'm doing. Like does the state actually have a program running right now where regular workers like me can get weekly payments while job searching? I went to the EDD website and it's honestly overwhelming - there are so many different programs listed and I can't tell which one applies to my situation. I was a full-time W2 employee for about 14 months before getting laid off, no performance issues, just a straight up reduction in workforce. My manager gave me a layoff letter. Do I qualify? How does the whole thing even work? Do they actually pay you every week or is it like a lump sum? Sorry for all the questions I'm just really stressed about rent coming up next month.
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OP hope you're doing okay mentally through all this. Job loss is stressful as hell and then having to navigate a confusing system on top of it is a lot. Just want to say the people in this thread are right that your situation sounds totally eligible and you should be fine. One step at a time.
Thank you, honestly the responses here have calmed me down a lot. I feel way less lost than I did this morning.
That's what this community is for. Good luck, you've got this.
How long does it take to get on unemployment with California EDD?
So I got laid off from my warehouse job about two weeks ago and I'm sitting here wondering how long does it take to get on unemployment through California EDD. I submitted my initial claim online right after getting my termination letter but I have no idea what to expect timeline-wise. My UI Online dashboard just says 'pending' and I can't find any clear answer anywhere. I've got rent due in three weeks and I'm starting to stress out. Did my employer have to confirm anything? Is there like a waiting period I don't know about? I reported my last day of work correctly and I'm pretty sure I answered all the questions right but now I'm just waiting. Anyone been through this recently and can tell me roughly how long the whole process takes from filing to actually getting paid?
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update us when you get paid!! I always love hearing the resolution on these threads. fingers crossed it goes smoothly for you
that's the best outcome of these threads honestly. good luck!
rooting for you! hopefully you're in that 14-21 day category with no drama
Late to this thread but wanted to add - California EDD has a 'claim status checker' separate from the main UI Online portal that some people don't know about. You can check basic claim status without logging in fully. Also the EDD website has a processing times page that gets updated periodically showing current average processing times by claim type. Worth bookmarking both.
Yes it's accessible from edd.ca.gov - look for 'Check Claim Status' in the UI Online section. It's more limited than the full portal but useful for a quick check.
Good tip. Though I'll say in my experience the status checker can lag behind the actual portal so if there's a discrepancy trust the full UI Online login over the quick checker.
Can unemployment benefits be extended through California EDD after regular UI runs out?
So my regular unemployment claim through California EDD is getting close to running out and I'm honestly not sure what happens next. I've been collecting for about 4 months now and my balance is getting really low. I work in the film industry and jobs have been really inconsistent lately - I've been doing everything right, submitting my weekly certifications on time, logging my job search activities, the whole deal. But I'm starting to panic a little because I don't know if California EDD has any kind of extension program I can apply for or if benefits just stop completely when the balance hits zero. I called the EDD number a few times but couldn't get through to anyone. Does anyone know if unemployment benefits can be extended in California? Like is there a formal process to request an extension or does it happen automatically? Really stressed about this.
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I ended up getting really clear answers about my extension options by actually reaching an EDD agent - used Claimyr to get through the phone queue. Honestly the agent I spoke with was thorough and explained exactly what my remaining balance was, confirmed EB wasn't active, and walked me through what a new claim would look like based on my recent wages. It took one call to get what I needed after days of failed attempts on my own. Site is claimyr.com if anyone's been struggling to get through.
Third time I've seen this mentioned in this thread so maybe I should actually try it lol
Yeah it's not magic or anything, you still have to talk to EDD, it just gets you to an actual human which is the hard part
To summarize what's been covered in this thread for anyone who finds it later searching about California EDD benefit extensions: 1) Federal-State Extended Benefits (EB) is the main extension mechanism but requires specific unemployment rate triggers currently not active in CA. 2) Standby status is NOT an extension - it only waives job search requirements temporarily. 3) Your benefit year end date and benefit exhaustion date are separate things - know both. 4) You may qualify for a new claim after your benefit year ends if you've earned wages during the year. 5) Use the Alternate Base Period option if standard base period wages are too low. 6) CalJOBS job search documentation can be verified by EDD so keep it updated.
Should be pinned honestly
bookmarked this whole thread
Daniel Rivera
This is probably the most comprehensive thread I've seen on this specific situation. Should be stickied honestly. The can you collect unemployment after having a baby question must come up constantly
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Kelsey Chin
Agreed, found this through Google and it answered everything I needed to know
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Brooklyn Knight
AuthorI'm glad my stressful situation could help other people! Will definitely update when I get a decision on my claim.
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Vincent Bimbach
UPDATE REQUEST: OP please come back and let us know if you got approved. These threads are so much more useful when there's a resolution and for anyone googling 'can you collect unemployment after having a baby in California' this thread showing a real outcome would be incredibly helpful
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Sophie Footman
Pending with employer contact is totally normal. Usually resolves within 2-3 weeks if the employer confirms the layoff. The email you saved is your safety net if they try anything.
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Molly Hansen
If it gets stuck or you need to talk to someone about it, seriously use Claimyr - claimyr.com - to get through to an EDD agent. Way easier than trying to get through the regular phone system and helpful for checking on pending claim status when you need a human to explain what's happening.
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