random tangent but reading this thread made me realize i never looked into whether i should have been filing for unemployment back in 2023 when i got laid off. I just kind of assumed i didn't qualify because i'd only been at that job since the previous spring. Sounds like i probably did qualify and just never filed? is there any way to go back and file retroactively??

Just want to add one practical tip for anyone about to file: when you're entering your work history on the EDD application, be thorough and accurate about your start and end dates for each employer. Discrepancies between what you report and what the employer reported in their quarterly wage filings can trigger an adjudication review and delay your claim by weeks. Match your records to your W-2s and pay stubs as closely as possible.

I work in HR and see people go through this process regularly. Quick tip: if you have any severance coming from your employer that gets paid out after your last day, report it to EDD when you certify. Severance can affect your benefit eligibility depending on how it's structured. Lump sum severance usually doesn't affect benefits but severance paid in continuation payments (like your employer keeps paying your salary for 4 weeks) can delay when your benefits start. When in doubt, report everything and let EDD sort it out.

Just wanted to come back and update everyone - I finally got through to a California EDD agent today (used Claimyr and it actually worked, connected within a reasonable wait). The agent confirmed I'll be at the $450 weekly cap based on my wages. They also confirmed I should use the standard base period which actually works in my favor since my highest earning quarter was Q3 last year during a project bonus period. My claim is processing normally with no adjudication flags which is a huge relief. Thanks everyone for all the helpful info in this thread, it really helped me understand what to expect and ask the right questions.

also just want to say - if you do end up in a gap with no income for a few weeks, some utility companies (PG&E, SoCal Edison, etc.) have assistance programs specifically for people experiencing temporary income disruption. and most landlords would rather work out a payment plan than go through eviction which is expensive and slow for them too. communicate early with everyone you owe money to, don't wait until you've missed a payment

one last thing - document EVERYTHING during this transition period. screenshot your UI Online pages, save all notices, keep records of every call attempt and every contact with EDD. if anything goes wrong with a new claim or if you end up in adjudication on a new filing, having that paper trail makes everything easier. i learned this the hard way when i needed to appeal something and had zero documentation

I want to come back to the original question with one more important point - if your waiting week is STILL showing $0 after 8+ weeks and you've already received your regular weekly payments, that's not normal and you should definitely escalate. Don't just wait indefinitely. At some point it stops being a processing delay and becomes an actual issue that needs to be resolved manually by a California EDD rep.

Just want to add one final data point - I specifically asked a California EDD agent about the waiting week when I had my claim resolved earlier this year and she confirmed that in the rare case where the waiting week payment gets stuck, the most common causes are: (1) unresolved identity verification, (2) an employer protest that was filed after your claim was approved, or (3) a data entry error during the initial filing. So if yours is stuck, those are the three things worth asking about when you call.

Coming back to basics for OP since this thread went in some interesting directions - to directly answer your original question: Yes, employers pay for unemployment. Your weekly UI payments from California EDD come from a fund that your former employer contributed to through payroll taxes. You personally paid nothing into this fund (the SDI deduction on your check is separate). You earned this benefit by working for a company that paid into the system. There is zero reason to feel like you're taking something you don't deserve. File, certify every week, report any income honestly, and document everything about your work search activities.

final tip from someone who's been through the california edd system twice now - save every single communication you get from them. every letter, every email, every notice. screenshot your UI online status regularly. write down dates and times of every call you make including hold times and what was said. if your claim ever goes sideways or you get an overpayment notice later, having this documentation is worth its weight in gold