California Unemployment
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If you get laid off are you eligible for unemployment in California?
So I just got the news yesterday that my position is being eliminated at the end of the month. Company is doing a round of layoffs and my whole department is basically getting cut. I've never filed for unemployment before and honestly have no idea where to start or even if I qualify. Someone at work told me you automatically get benefits if you get laid off but my manager's assistant said it's not that simple. I've been at this job for about 2 years full time. Does being laid off actually make you eligible for unemployment through California EDD? Like is it basically guaranteed or are there hoops to jump through? Really stressed about this and would appreciate any info from people who've been through it.
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Does California EDD unemployment call your previous employer when you file a claim?
So I filed my unemployment claim about two weeks ago and I've been stressing out ever since wondering — does unemployment actually call your previous employer? Like does California EDD literally pick up the phone and contact them directly, or is it all done through forms and online stuff? My situation is a little complicated because I left under not-the-greatest circumstances (let's just say it wasn't totally voluntary but they didn't technically fire me either) and I'm worried about what my old boss might say if someone from EDD reaches out. I reported everything honestly on my claim but I'm still anxious about how this whole employer contact process works. Does anyone know what actually happens behind the scenes when EDD is reviewing your claim?
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UPDATE for anyone following this thread — OP I was in almost your exact situation 3 months ago, murky separation circumstances, paranoid about employer contact. Here's what happened: EDD sent the written notice to my employer. Employer responded saying I voluntarily resigned. I submitted a written statement explaining the actual circumstances (basically pushed out due to a role elimination they framed as a resignation). EDD put me in adjudication for about 4 weeks then approved my claim. The whole 'does unemployment call your previous employer' fear is understandable but the process is actually more structured and less chaotic than it seems.
I tried calling a few times to check status but couldn't get through. Eventually just had to trust the process. If I'd known about Claimyr back then I probably would have tried it to get some peace of mind at least.
the waiting is genuinely the hardest part. 4 weeks feels like forever when you dont know whats happening
Just wanted to come back and thank everyone in this thread. I've learned more here in one afternoon than in hours of searching the EDD website. The short answer to my original question seems to be: California EDD doesn't usually call your previous employer directly — they send written notices and the employer responds (or doesn't) through official channels. Phone contact can happen but it's not the norm. I'm going to document everything I can remember about my separation circumstances just in case, keep monitoring my UI Online account and physical mail, and try not to catastrophize. Will report back if anything notable happens with my claim.
Rooting for you! And if you do end up needing to reach an EDD agent at any point and can't get through, claimyr.com saved me a lot of stress. Just keeping it in your back pocket is worth it.
Come back and update us! These threads are really helpful for other people going through the same thing.
Can you get unemployment if you get terminated in California? EDD eligibility explained
So I just got terminated from my job yesterday and I'm in full panic mode trying to figure out what my options are. I worked at a logistics company for about 2 and a half years, showed up consistently, hit my numbers, and then out of nowhere my manager calls me in and says they're letting me go. No write-ups, no warnings, nothing in my file as far as I knew. HR just handed me a termination letter that said 'performance issues' which honestly blindsided me completely. My main question is whether I can actually get unemployment if I got terminated. I always assumed unemployment was only for layoffs but someone at my job told me termination can still qualify depending on the reason. I have no idea if that's true or not. I'm trying to figure out if it's even worth applying to California EDD or if I'm just going to get denied and waste my time. Does the reason for termination matter? Does it matter that my employer might contest it? I have some savings but not much and I really need to understand my options fast.
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I genuinely cannot believe how complicated this system is for people who just lost their jobs and are stressed and scared. Like OP said, first time through this process, already panicking, and then you have to become a part-time unemployment law expert just to get benefits you're entitled to. The system should not be this hard to navigate. Venting into the void here but ugh.
100%. and the phone situation on top of it makes it even worse. at least forums like this exist where people actually explain stuff in plain language
seriously though. the EDD website itself is not exactly user friendly either. I've read the same page 4 times and still wasn't sure what it was telling me
update us when you hear back OP! rooting for you. sounds like you have a strong case based on everything described here. no documentation, no warnings, employer calling it 'performance' without specifics — that's a tough case for them to prove misconduct. you should be okay if you engage with the process properly.
Great move filing quickly. Now just keep those weekly certifications going, watch your mail, and respond to anything EDD sends you promptly. Good luck — based on what you've described your chances are solid.
🤞🤞 come back and let us know how it goes. and remember — Claimyr at claimyr.com is there if you hit a wall trying to reach EDD by phone. having actual access to a rep can be a lifesaver when you need real answers fast.
Can I apply for California EDD unemployment after 3 months of not working?
So I've been putting this off way longer than I should have and now I'm sitting here three months after losing my job wondering if I even still qualify to file. My last day was in early spring and honestly I just kept thinking I'd find something new quickly so I never bothered filing. Spoiler: I did not find something quickly. Now I'm three months in with no income and no idea if California EDD is going to laugh at me for waiting this long or if there's some cutoff I missed. I was working full time in logistics for about two years before the layoff, so I definitely had enough wages earned. I just… waited. Is it too late to apply for unemployment benefits now? Can you still get approved if you waited months before filing your claim? Will they backdate anything or am I just screwed out of those first three months entirely? Any info would help because I'm kind of panicking.
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Also want to add for OP: once your claim is approved and you're in the system, download the UI Online app or bookmark the website. Certification day every two weeks is important to remember. I literally put a recurring reminder in my phone calendar. If you miss your certification window you have to call EDD to reopen it and that means more phone time which as we've established is not fun.
Yes, after your claim is opened EDD assigns you a certification schedule. It's usually tied to the last digit of your Social Security number. You'll see your scheduled certification dates in UI Online under your claim details.
mine is every other Sunday night, I always certify right when the window opens because apparently certifying early in your window sometimes means faster payment processing. not sure if that's totally proven but it's what I do
Comprehensive summary for OP and anyone else finding this thread later who's wondering if they can still apply for California EDD unemployment after several months of not working: 1. YES you can still file - there's no hard deadline to apply 2. NO they won't automatically pay you for the months you waited 3. Backdating is possible but requires documented valid reasons - just not knowing or hoping to find work doesn't typically qualify 4. Your weekly benefit amount calculation is NOT significantly harmed by filing late 5. File online at edd.ca.gov, it takes about 20 minutes 6. Expect first payment about 3 weeks after filing for a clean claim 7. Certify every two weeks and complete 3 job searches per week 8. If you need to talk to EDD about backdating or any complications, Claimyr (claimyr.com) is worth looking at for getting through on the phone without the endless redial nightmare
Good luck OP. The system is annoying but once you're in it it's pretty manageable. Check back in if you run into anything weird during adjudication or with your first certification.
solid summary. only thing I'd add is make sure the address on your claim is current because EDD mails important stuff like your award letter and EDD debit card and if it goes to a wrong address it's a whole headache to fix
Can you get California EDD unemployment benefits if you're already on Social Security?
So I've been working part time for the last couple years while collecting Social Security retirement benefits. My employer just laid me off last week and I honestly had no idea whether I'd even qualify to file for unemployment through California EDD since I'm already getting Social Security. I asked a coworker and she said they'd just deny me automatically, but another friend said he collected both at the same time a few years back with no problem. I'm so confused. I'm 67, I was working about 30 hours a week at a logistics company, and I paid into the system this whole time so it feels like I should be able to file. Has anyone actually done this? Does receiving Social Security disqualify you from California EDD unemployment or not?
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Does anyone know if working part time while collecting affects your benefit? Like if OP gets a part time job while on unemployment can they still collect some benefits?
that's actually really smart policy, encourages people to work even part time without punishing them for it
Good to know since I might try to pick up some part time consulting while I look for something full time. I'll make sure to report earnings correctly.
I have a kind of philosophical question - at what point is it worth trying to find a new job vs just living on SS and UI? I'm asking because my dad is in a similar situation and he's 70 and honestly maybe this is nature's way of telling him to actually retire lol
Ha, that's a very relatable family dynamic! But seriously, that's entirely a personal decision. What California EDD does require is that you be genuinely able, available, and actively seeking work to continue receiving UI benefits. If he truly doesn't want to work anymore, filing for UI might not be appropriate since the system is designed for people who want to return to work. But if he genuinely wants to keep working, he absolutely should be able to access benefits he paid into.
yeah he definitely still wants to work, he'd go crazy sitting at home. I was mostly joking. he loves working just needs a new gig
Victoria Jones
Has anyone had issues with California EDD finding your new job before you reported it? Like I know you're supposed to report earnings each week but I've heard they can cross reference with employer payroll data and catch people. Obviously I'm not planning on cheating the system but I want to make sure I understand exactly when and how to report if I get a part time job while collecting
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Victoria Jones
ok good so i can work part time and still get some benefits, i just have to report everything. that's actually less scary than i thought
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Sophie Hernandez
The formula California EDD uses: they subtract 25% of your weekly benefit amount as a disregard, then reduce your payment dollar for dollar for any earnings above that. So you can earn a little before your payment starts getting reduced.
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Cameron Black
Genuinely rooting for OP. Getting laid off is stressful enough without having to navigate the EDD system on top of it. Based on everything in this thread sounds like your situation is as textbook eligible as it gets. File quickly, certify consistently, do your job searches, report any earnings honestly. The system is clunky but it works for straightforward layoff cases.
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Cameron Black
Keep us posted! And remember if you ever do get stuck in adjudication or have issues reaching EDD, tools like Claimyr exist specifically for those moments when you just need to talk to a human agent and can't get through the phone lines.
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Daniela Rossi
good luck OP, you got this
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