California Unemployment
CommunityGovernment Services
Can't reach California Unemployment? Claimyr calls for you, so you don't have to wait on hold.
Claimyr is a pay-as-you-go service. We do not charge a recurring subscription.
Using Claimyr will:
- Connect you to a human agent at the EDD
- Skip the long phone menu
- Call the correct department
- Redial until on hold
- Forward a call to your phone with reduced hold time
- Give you free callbacks if the EDD drops your call
Ask the community...
- DO post questions about your issues.
- DO answer questions and support each other.
- DO post tips & tricks to help folks.
- DO NOT post call problems here - there is a support tab at the top for that :)
Received 1099-G form from EDD but never filed for disability in 2023 - what's going on?
I'm really confused and a bit worried. I just received a 1099-G tax form from EDD stating I received $8,430 in disability benefits during 2023, but I NEVER filed for any disability or unemployment! I haven't been on any EDD programs since 2021 when I had regular unemployment for 3 months. Has anyone experienced this before? Could this be identity theft? I'm freaking out because I don't want to get in trouble with the IRS for benefits I never received. I checked my mailbox yesterday and there it was - this random tax form showing income I never got! What should I do? Call EDD? Report it to the IRS? I've heard EDD is impossible to reach by phone. Really appreciate any advice because tax season is already stressful enough without this weirdness.
Join the conversation
EDD appeal filed 3 months ago but still no hearing date scheduled - normal wait time?
I'm really frustrated with the EDD appeals process and hoping someone can give me some insight. I got disqualified for benefits back in March because my employer claimed I was fired for misconduct (which is completely untrue - I was laid off due to budget cuts). I filed an appeal through the CUIAB website on April 12th, got the confirmation letter about a week later saying they received my appeal... and then nothing. It's now July and I haven't heard a single thing about a hearing date. Is this normal? How long does it typically take to actually get scheduled for a hearing? I've called the appeals office twice but just get voicemail. I'm running out of savings and really need to get this resolved. Has anyone gone through this recently and know what the current timeline looks like?
Join the conversation
One more tip - while you're waiting for your appeal hearing, you might want to try contacting your former employer directly. Sometimes if you can get them to submit a correction to EDD stating you were laid off rather than fired for misconduct, you can potentially get the disqualification reversed without waiting for the full appeal process. It's a long shot, but worth trying.
That's a great idea I hadn't thought of. HR wasn't very helpful when I left, but maybe enough time has passed that they'd be willing to clarify things. Worth a try at this point.
Fired after leaving out-of-town job site against supervisor's orders - Can I get EDD benefits?
Hey everyone, I'm in a tough spot and hoping someone can help me figure out if I have a chance at unemployment. I was working for the same construction company for almost 5 years until last week. We were at a job site about 3 hours from home, and Friday evening I got a call that my teenager was in some serious trouble and needed me immediately. I told my supervisor I needed to go back home to handle a family emergency, but he refused and said we had Saturday work scheduled (even though it wasn't on our original timeline). I explained it was really serious with my kid, but he still said no. I left anyway since we were done for Friday and technically off-clock. When I got back Monday, they fired me for "job abandonment" and "insubordination." I'm worried this counts as misconduct and will disqualify me from unemployment. Has anyone dealt with something similar? Does leaving a job site against orders automatically disqualify me from benefits? I have a perfect record otherwise and have never had any write-ups or warnings.
Join the conversation
my brothers gf works for edd and she says they r really backed up right now so expect to wait FOREVER for interviews.. apply now so u can get in line
One more important point: When you explain your case to EDD, be very careful about how you frame what happened. Don't say "I disobeyed my supervisor" or "I knowingly violated policy." Instead, present it as "I had to respond to a family emergency involving my child's safety after work hours." Framing matters tremendously in these cases. Also, California has specific protections for parents dealing with emergencies related to their children. If your employer has more than 25 employees, you might have been protected under California's Family Rights Act, which could strengthen your unemployment case by showing the termination itself may have been improper.
I didn't know about the Family Rights Act! My company definitely has more than 25 employees. I'll look into that right away - that could really help my case. Thank you so much for this information.
Just FYI the Family Rights Act only applies if you've worked there for at least a year AND worked at least 1,250 hours in the past 12 months. So make sure you meet those requirements before you mention it to EDD.
Money Network card delivery timeline after EDD payment issued - worried about fraud
Hey all, I just received my first EDD payment notification on Tuesday but I'm still waiting for my Money Network card to arrive in the mail. I'm getting a bit nervous with all the mail theft and fraud going on these days. My claim was approved for $647/week and I can see the first payment was issued, but I'm not sure how long I should expect to wait before the actual card shows up. Does anyone know the typical timeframe between first payment and card delivery? I'm in Sacramento area if that makes any difference for mail times. At what point should I worry and call to report a missing card? Thanks!
Join the conversation
This is why I HATE the EDD system so much! Why should people already struggling without income have to wait weeks for a stupid piece of plastic to access THEIR MONEY that's already been approved??? It's 2025 for crying out loud! Every other financial service can send money electronically from day one!
preach! 👏 its like they're living in the stone age with their systems
Just to wrap this up with some accurate information: 1. Official timeline: 7-10 business days from first payment issued 2. If not received by then, call Money Network at 1-866-320-8699 3. The envelope is plain and comes from South Dakota 4. Once received, register online immediately 5. Set up direct deposit for future payments 6. Keep your address updated in BOTH systems Hope this helps! Let us know when your card arrives.
Update: My card finally arrived today - took exactly 9 business days from when payment was issued. Thanks everyone for the advice! I've registered it online and am setting up direct deposit right now.
EDD unemployment eligibility for ROP teachers during summer break with fall contract
Just found out our ROP program is closing for summer in 2 weeks (earlier than expected due to funding issues). I've been teaching healthcare certification courses for the past 9 months through our county's ROP. My question is: can I legally file for unemployment during summer months even though I already signed a contract to return next school year? The contract specifically says I'm only paid during active teaching periods (Sept-June). Our program coordinator gave us conflicting info - first said we could file, then backtracked saying we can't because we have 'reasonable assurance' of returning. But I've heard ROP teachers are treated differently since we're grant-funded? Anyone dealt with this specifically for Regional Occupational Programs? Bills don't stop just because teaching does...
Join the conversation
ive heard some ROP teachers get approved and others dont. seems like it depends on who reviews ur claim tbh
One more important point - California has specific precedent cases for ROP and adult education teachers that differentiate them from K-12 regular teachers. The key case law established that when positions are contingent on funding, enrollment, or other variable factors, the "reasonable assurance" standard may not be met despite having a contract for the following year. When you certify for benefits, you'll need to answer "Yes" to the question about whether you have reasonable assurance of returning to work (since you do have a contract), BUT then use the additional information section to explain the contingent nature of ROP funding and how it differs from regular teaching positions. This will likely trigger a phone interview, which is actually good because it gives you the opportunity to explain your situation to a human instead of just being automatically denied by the system.
Thank you so much for explaining this! I was getting confused about how to answer that question. So I should say yes to having reasonable assurance, but then explain the unique ROP circumstances. That makes sense. I'll definitely apply and see what happens.
QuantumQueen
People don't realize how common this problem is! The EDD systems were completely overwhelmed during the pandemic and they're still dealing with the aftermath of all the fraud. Always double-check any tax documents you receive, especially from government agencies. One thing I'd add to the excellent advice others have given: check if your employer received any notices about disability claims filed in your name. Sometimes EDD contacts employers to verify employment details for SDI claims, so your HR department might have information that could help your case.
0 coins
NeonNinja
AuthorThat's a really good point - I hadn't thought of that. I'll check with HR tomorrow. Thank you!
0 coins
Sean Murphy
wait so did they tell u how someone got ur info?? thats scary they could just file for benefits in ur name without u knowing!!
0 coins
NeonNinja
AuthorNo, they didn't tell me exactly how it happened, but the rep mentioned there were several data breaches over the past few years that exposed people's personal information. She said the fraudsters probably got my SSN and other details from one of those breaches. Really scary stuff!
0 coins