California Unemployment
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Can a 1099 employee collect unemployment in California EDD?
So I've been working as an independent contractor for the past two years getting paid on 1099 forms and my contract just ended abruptly last week. The company basically told me they were restructuring and no longer needed my services. Now I'm sitting here wondering if I can even file for unemployment benefits through California EDD or if 1099 workers are just completely shut out of the system. I did some googling and got really conflicting information - some stuff says contractors can't collect at all, other stuff mentions something about how California has different rules because of AB5. My situation is kind of complicated because I was doing the same work as regular W-2 employees at this company, just classified differently. Has anyone been through this? Can a 1099 employee collect unemployment in California or am I just out of luck here?
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Fired for poor performance - can I still get California EDD unemployment benefits?
So I got let go from my job last week and I'm completely stressed out about money. My employer said the reason was 'poor performance' but honestly I feel like it was more of a situation where I was set up to fail - they changed my targets three times in six months and never gave me proper training for the new system they rolled out. I've heard mixed things about whether you can collect unemployment if you were fired vs. laid off. Someone told me that if your employer says 'performance' you automatically get denied but someone else said that's not true. I went ahead and filed my claim through UI Online already but now I'm just sitting here wondering if this was even worth doing. Has anyone actually been approved for California EDD benefits after being terminated for performance reasons? What does the adjudication process look like in this situation?
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OP update us when you hear back about your claim! threads like this are most useful when we get the actual outcome not just the advice. rooting for you
good luck!! you've got this. performance terminations really do tend to go well based on everything people post here.
come back and post the outcome. genuinely helps other people who search for this situation and find this thread
Quick practical note - when you're in the adjudication interview, speak slowly and clearly. The analysts are often typing while you talk. If they ask a yes or no question and your answer is more complicated, say 'that needs some context' before you answer rather than just saying yes or no. And if you don't understand a question, ask them to rephrase. These interviews are recorded and become part of your official record so you want your answers to be accurate and complete.
Exactly. Also - at the end of the interview, ask the analyst if there's anything else you should provide or clarify. Sometimes they'll tell you if there's a gap in information that could help your case. They can't tell you the outcome but a good analyst will let you know if there's something that seems unclear.
This is genuinely excellent interview advice. The 'that needs context' phrase is something I wish someone had told me before my adjudication interview. I just said yes to a question that really needed explanation and I think it muddied my case for a bit.
Why is my California EDD unemployment check late this week?
Okay so I'm genuinely stressing out right now. My unemployment payment usually hits my Bank of America debit card every Wednesday without fail - I've been on this schedule for about 11 weeks straight and could literally set my clock by it. This week though? Nothing. It's Thursday afternoon and my EDD debit card still shows the same balance from last week's payment. I filed my weekly certification on Sunday night like I always do, answered all the job search questions, reported zero earnings, submitted it fine. Got the confirmation number and everything. But the payment just... didn't come. I logged into UI Online and my claim status says 'payment issued' for this week's cert but my Bank of America account shows nothing pending. Has anyone else had their unemployment check late this week or know why EDD payments sometimes get delayed even when everything looks correct on your end? I don't know if I should wait it out or actually try to do something about it.
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Quick summary for anyone finding this thread through search: If your California EDD unemployment check is late this week and UI Online shows 'payment issued,' check these things in order: 1) Your UI Online inbox for any messages or requests, 2) Whether it's been less than 3 business days since the issued date, 3) Your remaining benefit balance to see if you're near exhaustion, 4) Whether you filed your weekly cert on a Sunday which can sometimes shift processing by a day. If none of those explain it and it's been over 3 business days, try to reach an EDD agent directly.
Moderator should pin this honestly. Really comprehensive and organized.
Yeah this is exactly the kind of thread that should be at the top of search results instead of some generic FAQ page that doesn't actually help anyone
Hey OP - did you end up submitting the job search documentation? Any update on your payment?
So glad it worked out! And thanks for coming back to update the thread - these resolved threads are really helpful for people who find them later in the same situation.
Great outcome. And your experience is genuinely going to help a lot of people who find this thread searching for why their unemployment check is late. The UI Online inbox piece is something so many people miss.
What is needed for unemployment in California EDD? First-time filer checklist
I got laid off from my warehouse job two weeks ago and honestly have no idea where to start with filing for unemployment. A coworker told me to go to the California EDD website but I didn't even know what information to have ready before starting the application. I started filling it out and got halfway through before realizing I didn't have my employer's address or my exact start date handy. Had to abandon the whole thing and start over later. Can someone just spell out what is needed for unemployment through California EDD so I don't keep messing this up? I feel like I'm flying blind here.
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One more thing nobody's mentioned - if you're going to school or in any kind of training program while collecting UI, you need to report it to California EDD. Some training programs are approved and won't affect your benefits, but others might raise questions about whether you're truly able and available for full-time work, which is a requirement. If EDD finds out about unreported school attendance it can trigger a review. When in doubt, just report it and let them sort out whether it affects your eligibility.
That's really useful to know. I've been thinking about getting some certifications while I look for work.
Definitely look into CTB then. It's specifically designed for that situation and keeps you from having to choose between training and benefits.
I called EDD last week with a question about my claim status and somehow got through after only 45 minutes on hold which felt like a miracle. Usually it's like 2-3 hours minimum or you just get a busy signal and have to try again. I've started calling right at 8am when they open and that seems to help. Has anyone else found tricks for getting through?
I keep hearing about Claimyr, might have to finally try it next time instead of doing the redial game
Tuesday and Wednesday mid-morning also used to be slightly less brutal than Monday first thing. But nothing is guaranteed with EDD phone lines.
What must an individual do each week they receive California EDD unemployment benefits?
So I just got approved for unemployment last week and honestly I'm kind of lost about what I'm supposed to do on a regular basis to keep getting paid. My former employer (I was a project coordinator at a mid-size logistics company) let me go due to restructuring, and after jumping through all the hoops to get my claim approved I assumed the hard part was over. But now I keep hearing people mention weekly requirements and I genuinely don't know what I'm expected to do each week to keep receiving my benefits. Like do I have to apply to a certain number of jobs? Do I have to log into something every week? Is there a deadline? I've been searching online but getting conflicting info everywhere. Can someone break down exactly what an individual must do each week they receive unemployment benefits in California? I don't want to mess this up now that I finally got approved.
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Just to add some clarity on the CalJOBS thing since there was some confusion upthread - when you register on caljobs.ca.gov, make sure you actually COMPLETE your profile including your work history and uploading a resume. A half-finished profile can sometimes get flagged the same as no profile at all. I made the mistake of creating an account, filling in my name and email, and thinking I was done. Nope - EDD was looking for a completed profile with employment history.
I'd say go back at least 5-10 years or whatever's relevant to your field. Same level of detail you'd put on a resume. The system will prompt you through the sections so just follow the prompts and fill everything in rather than skipping sections.
Also make sure your contact info on CalJOBS matches what EDD has on file for you. Mismatched contact details apparently can cause issues in some cases.
One practical tip that saved me - screenshot your certification confirmation page every single time you certify. UI Online shows a confirmation screen after you submit with a confirmation number. Screenshot or print that page. I had one case where EDD claimed they had no record of my certification for a week I KNOW I completed. Having that screenshot meant I could prove it and they resolved it quickly. Without it I would have been stuck.
Same here - I keep every EDD document, confirmation, and notice. It's saved me twice when there were discrepancies. Treat it like tax documents.
wish i had done this from the start. lost a payment once because I couldn't prove I'd certified and EDD had no record of it. nightmare.
Ryan Young
Reading this whole thread as someone about to file. Can I ask one more thing - if EDD determines I WAS misclassified, does the company face any consequences or is it just about my claim?
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Zoe Gonzalez
yeah companies HATE these determinations because of the liability exposure. which is also why some of them pay lawyers to fight individual claims - they're really protecting themselves from a bigger audit.
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Alexis Robinson
the whole system honestly makes so much more sense when you understand it from both sides
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Ethan Clark
Update for anyone following: I went ahead and filed my claim this morning. UI Online let me submit without any issues - it didn't immediately reject me for listing 1099 income. I documented my employment situation as clearly as I could in the initial filing. Now I'll wait for the questionnaire and compile all my email evidence in the meantime. Really grateful for all the information in this thread - I felt totally lost a few days ago and now I actually understand what I'm dealing with. Will try to update when I get through adjudication.
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Noah Torres
Following for your update. This whole thread has been incredibly useful, thanks everyone.
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Chloe Green
rooting for you! document everything and don't give up if there are delays - the people who stay consistent with their weekly certifications and respond promptly to EDD tend to get better outcomes
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