California Unemployment
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Can a self employed person file for unemployment in California EDD?
So I've been running a small freelance graphic design business for about four years now, mostly contract work with a handful of steady clients. Last month two of my biggest clients dropped me at the same time — budget cuts on their end, nothing I did wrong — and now my income basically dried up overnight. Someone at my coworking space mentioned they thought self-employed people couldn't get California unemployment at all, but I'm not 100% sure that's right. I always see the CASDI deduction on the occasional W-2 I get from a client who put me on payroll temporarily, so I'm wondering if that counts for anything. Has anyone actually looked into whether self-employed folks can get California EDD unemployment? I don't want to waste time applying if it's a dead end, but I also can't afford to just sit here and not try.
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How to file for unemployment as a business owner in California EDD
Okay so I know this sounds weird but hear me out. I ran a small landscaping company for about six years, had two employees, did everything legit - payroll taxes, the works. Business finally dried up completely this past spring, couldn't keep the doors open, had to dissolve the LLC and let my employees go. Here's the thing though - I paid myself as a W-2 employee through my own business the whole time. Had a legit salary, payroll deductions, the whole deal. So now I'm wondering if I actually qualify for California EDD unemployment even though I WAS the business owner. I've been reading conflicting stuff online and I genuinely can't figure out if my situation counts. Anyone dealt with this? The business is gone, the income is gone, and I really need to know if I can even apply.
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Ten weeks into my claim after closing my bookkeeping practice. Used Claimyr to reach an EDD agent last week when my Claim History showed a pending week with no explanation after I'd already had my interview. The agent checked my account and said a wage verification was still open on one of the quarters and that I'd hear via mail once it resolved. Week resolved and paid out two days later.
Exactly - the UI Online screen doesn't tell you WHY something's pending, just that it is. Getting the specific reason made it a lot easier to stop catastrophizing.
The UI Online Claim History showing 'Pending' with no detail is universally maddening. At least there's a way to get an actual explanation.
What about appeal rights if EDD denies the claim? I keep hearing business owner claims get flagged for review which makes me nervous about what happens if they decide no.
Keep certifying through an appeal without question. If you win, EDD can pay the certified weeks. If you stop certifying, those weeks are gone even if the appeal succeeds.
The 30-day window is tight. Mailing date on the notice, not the date you receive it - so open that mail immediately.
Is unemployment affected by government shutdown? California EDD claimants need answers
So I've been on California EDD for about six weeks now after getting laid off from my logistics coordinator job, and I keep seeing news alerts about a possible federal government shutdown. My weekly benefit amount is $387 and I cannot afford for those payments to stop even for a week. I'm already barely keeping up with rent. My question is basically whether a federal shutdown would mess with my California EDD unemployment payments or if state UI benefits are separate from whatever Congress is fighting about. I've looked around online but I keep finding conflicting stuff — some articles say state unemployment is totally fine, others make it sound like everything gets frozen. Does anyone actually know how this works? Have payments ever been disrupted during past shutdowns? I have bills due on the 15th and I'm genuinely losing sleep over this.
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For the original poster asking about payments on the 15th — if you certified on time and EDD has no pending issues on your claim, payments typically post to the Money Network card within 24 hours of certifying online. Waiting for a payment that's already in process and worrying about a shutdown disrupting it is a lot of anxiety for a situation where the two things are completely unconnected. Check UI Online under Payments for the status, or call 1-866-333-4606 which runs 24 hours and gives you current payment status.
What's the difference between a week showing Pending in Claim History versus a week just not showing up at all? I've had both happen and wasn't sure which was more concerning.
Pending means EDD has the certification and is working through eligibility. A week not showing at all usually means it hasn't been certified yet or the certification didn't go through. If you certified and the week still isn't appearing after a couple of days, that's worth a message through your UI Online account to check on.
One thing I want to correct from earlier in the thread — someone implied that if you're a federal employee you have to wait until the shutdown ends to file for California EDD because EDD can't verify your wages. That's not quite right. EDD can still open your claim and start the process; the Standard Form 8 piece is part of wage verification but it doesn't block you from filing. You file, EDD works with what it has, and if federal agency HR is slow to respond to EDD's requests that might add processing time — but your claim date is still the Sunday of the week you filed.
Fair correction. Filing immediately locks in your claim start date, which is the Sunday of the week you apply. Even if processing takes longer because of federal verification delays, that date doesn't move.
This is exactly the kind of thing that gets me — I almost waited to file thinking the whole system was paused. The start date piece is really important and I didn't see it spelled out clearly anywhere on EDD's site initially.
Do you receive unemployment if you are fired? California EDD rules explained
Lost my job at a distribution warehouse two weeks ago - my supervisor claimed I violated a company attendance policy but honestly the whole situation was really unfair and I think they were looking for any excuse to let me go. I've never had issues before, been there four years, and suddenly I'm being handed a termination letter over two absences that I had doctor's notes for. Anyway I filed for California EDD unemployment benefits right after and I'm kind of freaking out because everyone keeps telling me different things. Some people say you automatically get denied if you were fired, others say it depends. My claim is showing weeks as Pending in UI Online and I got a notice about a phone interview scheduled soon. Does being fired automatically disqualify you from collecting UI benefits? Or does it actually depend on the circumstances?
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My termination was actually for performance reasons not attendance, and I still ended up collecting. The employer submitted information to EDD and nothing they said rose to the level of what EDD considers misconduct. Got my determination letter about 10 days after my interview. Claimyr helped me get through to an agent when I was worried about whether my identity verification had cleared before the interview date - agent confirmed it had and that my file was complete.
How long from the interview to the actual determination letter in your case?
About 10 days for me, but I've seen people say two to three weeks. EDD's timeline isn't super consistent.
The main thing I'd tell anyone reading this thread who just got fired is - file immediately through myEDD at https://myedd.edd.ca.gov/, get your DE 4800 when it comes, read it completely, show up ready for the interview at the exact time listed, and keep certifying every two weeks no matter what. Those four steps cover most of the mistakes people make. The employer still has to make their case to EDD and you get to make yours.
That confidence is warranted based on what you've described. Doctor notes for the absences, four years of history with no prior issues - EDD has to weigh all of that. Good luck with the interview.
The doctor notes specifically matter because they speak directly to whether the absences were intentional or beyond your control. That's the core question EDD is asking about misconduct.
Can you get unemployment and short term disability at the same time? California EDD question
So I got laid off from my marketing job about six weeks ago and filed for California EDD unemployment right away. Benefits started coming in, I was certifying every two weeks, all good. Then about three weeks into collecting, I threw out my back pretty badly - herniated disc, doctor put me on restrictions and said I can't sit at a desk for more than 20 minutes at a time. My HR rep from my old company mentioned I might still have access to their short term disability plan for 90 days post-termination. Now I'm sitting here wondering if I can collect both at once - my California EDD unemployment AND short term disability payments. I don't want to do anything wrong but I also really need the money right now. Has anyone navigated this situation? Do I need to tell EDD something? Do I stop certifying for unemployment while the disability kicks in?
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Update from earlier - ended up getting through to an EDD agent and asked specifically about my private LTD plan. The agent pulled up my claim and confirmed that the LTD payments from my former employer's plan needed to be reported when I certify but that they don't automatically stop my unemployment. EDD then determines whether and how they affect my specific weekly payment amount. So the reporting-but-not-automatic-disqualification thing that someone mentioned earlier turned out to be accurate for my situation.
Glad you got a concrete answer. That's exactly why the distinction between private LTD and California SDI matters - they get treated differently.
Took way too long to get there but at least I have an actual answer now for my specific account.
Just to loop back to the original question one more time for anyone who finds this thread later - the short version is: California SDI and California EDD unemployment cannot be collected for the same days. Period. Private employer short term disability plans exist in a grayer area and require reporting to EDD, with EDD determining the impact. If your injury makes you genuinely unable to work, stop certifying for unemployment and file for SDI. If you're partially restricted but still able to do some work, talk to EDD about your specific situation before making any decisions.
Filing for SDI sooner rather than later is the move if you haven't started yet - that 49-day window moves faster than people expect when you're dealing with an injury.
Agreed - and keep that DE 429Z (the award notice EDD sent when your unemployment claim was processed) handy because it shows your weekly benefit amount and balance remaining, which helps when you're trying to figure out how much you have left when you eventually come back to unemployment.
Mateo Perez
Twenty months of freelancing full-time with zero W-2 work before my income collapsed — EDD's answer was no valid claim. Filed anyway just to confirm and got the denial in writing. What I actually did was pivot to CalFresh while I rebuilt: applied through BenefitsCal and got approved based on my current income level. Unemployment benefits count as proof of income for CalFresh if you do qualify for them, and you can still apply even if you don't. Worth knowing there are other programs if EDD doesn't pan out.
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Mateo Perez
Yes, completely parallel processes. CalFresh goes through your county via BenefitsCal, nothing to do with EDD. Apply as soon as you need help — there's no rule that says you have to exhaust other options first.
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Isabella Oliveira
211 is also worth calling — in most California counties they can point you toward local emergency assistance, food banks, rent help, all of it. Good safety net while waiting to see how the EDD claim shakes out.
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Aisha Rahman
Fourteen weeks into collecting UI after my W-2 position ended, and the question I had was whether training through a local community college would affect my work search requirement. Reached EDD through Claimyr and asked the agent directly. She pulled up my claim and explained that California Training Benefits is a program that lets you stay in school or EDD-approved training without the usual work search requirement — but you have to request it before your 16th week of benefits and EDD has to approve the specific program. I'd asked just in time.
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Aisha Rahman
Theoretically yes if you qualify for UI in the first place and EDD approves your training program. The request has to go in before week 16, so it's not something to leave until late in the claim.
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Diego Flores
CalJOBS also has resources for training programs and job fairs that can help with the job search side of things, independent of the Training Benefits program.
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