Can I claim EDD benefits during Big Bear storm closure until March 16th?
So my employer in Big Bear just informed us that they're keeping the business closed until all the roads are cleared from the recent storms - supposedly March 16th according to what they've heard. I haven't been able to work at all since the storm hit, and I'm wondering if I qualify for unemployment during this kind of natural disaster situation? Has anyone dealt with something similar with mountain closures? My savings are getting low and I'm worried about making it until mid-March without any income. Do I apply as a regular unemployment claim or is there some special disaster category I should use?
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Carter Holmes
Yes u can ABSOLUTELY file! This is exactly what unemployment is for - temporary layoffs due to circumstances beyond ur control. U need to apply ASAP because benefits aren't retroactive until u actually file. When I got caught in the 2023 floods my employer did the same thing & EDD approved me right away. Just make sure to answer that ur ready & willing to work but CAN'T because of the disaster situation!!
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Mia Alvarez
•Thank you! That's a relief to hear. So I just file a regular UI claim? Do I need to get any kind of special documentation from my employer about the closure or will EDD contact them directly?
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Sophia Long
You qualify for regular UI benefits in this situation. This would be considered a temporary layoff due to a natural disaster. When applying, make sure to: 1. Be truthful that you're not working due to road closures from the storm 2. Indicate you're able and available to work (just prevented by circumstances) 3. List your employer correctly with their contact information EDD will verify with your employer. You'll need to certify every two weeks while you're not working. Once the roads open and your employer calls you back, you'll report any earnings during certification or stop certifying if you return full-time.
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Angelica Smith
•I went thru this during the forest fires last year and it worked exactly like this. Just be super clear about WHY you can't work (road closures preventing access) not that you don't want to work.
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Logan Greenburg
The EDD system is so broken it might take you until March 16th just to get through to someone lol. But seriously, start filing like yesterday because everything takes forever with them.
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Charlotte Jones
•If you're having trouble reaching EDD (which is likely because of all the storm-related claims coming in), I recommend using Claimyr to connect with an EDD agent. It helped me get through when I was dealing with my claim last month after getting stuck trying for days. Check out their demo at https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km or go to claimyr.com. They'll connect you directly to an EDD representative so you can explain your specific situation about the Big Bear closures and get your claim processed properly.
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Lucas Bey
Dont listen to these people sayng its automatic approval - my cousin works at a resort in Arrowhead and they denied her claim at first saying she "could find other work" during the closure. She had to appeal and explain her entire situation was temporary and she was going back to her job. So make sure when u file u are SUPER clear this is TEMPORARY and ur returning to ur same employer when roads open!!
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Mia Alvarez
•Oh that's concerning! Did she eventually get approved? How long did the appeal take? I definitely plan to return to my current job once they reopen.
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Harper Thompson
When you file, make sure to answer the question about disaster correctly. There should be a question asking if you're unemployed due to a disaster. Answer YES and provide details about the storm and road closures. This flags your claim appropriately in their system. Also, for anyone in Big Bear area affected by the storms, there might be additional disaster assistance available through FEMA since San Bernardino County has been declared a disaster area. Check disasterassistance.gov as well as filing for UI through EDD.
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Mia Alvarez
•Thank you! I didn't realize there might be a specific disaster question on the application. And thanks for the FEMA info too - I'll definitely check that out as well.
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Angelica Smith
i was out of work during the big storms in 2019 and got ui no problem but it took like 3 weeks to get first payment so apply now seriously
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Caleb Stark
Wait but arnt you soposed to be looking for work when on unemplyment? What if they ask u to take another job while ur waiting for roads? Genuine question bc i might be in same situation soon
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Sophia Long
•Great question. In temporary layoff situations like this, you're still technically employed but temporarily not working. When you certify every two weeks, you'll need to indicate you're able and available to work, and you should do some work search activities as required. However, you can explain in your claim that you expect to return to your employer once the roads open. This doesn't exempt you from work search requirements, but it provides context for your situation. If you receive suitable job offers during this period, you would need to accept them or potentially risk your benefits.
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Carter Holmes
Also make sure u get UI ONLINE set up on ur phone cause u have to certify every 2 weeks or they stop paying u!!!!! I missed ONE certification deadline and it took me calling 37 TIMES to fix it!!!!
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Mia Alvarez
•Thanks for the reminder! I'll definitely set up phone alerts so I don't miss any certification deadlines.
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Harper Thompson
One more tip - keep documentation of the road closures. Screenshot news articles, official announcements, or Caltrans updates about the Big Bear road closures. If you get any written communication from your employer about the closure, save that too. While you probably won't need it, having this documentation ready will help if there are any questions about your claim.
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