Can I file for unemployment if I was fired from my job in California?

Oh thank god. So even though I was fired I still have a shot? The online form asked me to describe the reason I was let go and I tried to be as detailed as possible. Is there anything specific I should make sure to include?

yes this is correct. my cousin got fired for missing too many days and still got approved because she had a valid reason for the absences. edd looks at the full picture not just the word fired

What's the timeline usually like for adjudication? I'm really stressed about the money situation and I don't want to wait months.

adjudication took me like 5 weeks last year and they eventually approved me. just certify every week while you wait so you dont miss out on payments once they decide

The adjudication timeline varies a lot. I've seen people get resolved in 2 weeks, others wait 8+ weeks. Really depends on the complexity of your case and EDD's current backlog. Keep certifying weekly no matter what - this is super important.

I've never heard of Claimyr before. So it actually gets you through to a real EDD agent? Not just an automated system?

Yeah a real live agent. That's the whole point - bypasses all the hold music and disconnections. When you're stressed about your claim status and can't get answers it's genuinely worth it.

seconding this. i used it when my claim was stuck and couldn't get any info. agent was able to tell me exactly what was holding things up and what I needed to submit

EDD doesn't really look at whether your employer followed proper HR procedures - that's more of an employment law / wrongful termination issue. What EDD cares about is whether YOUR CONDUCT rose to the level of 'misconduct' under California unemployment law. An employer can fire you however they want and still lose the UI claim if they can't prove you committed misconduct.

ohh okay that makes way more sense. so it's about what the employee did not how the company acted

I actually have some text messages from my manager that I think support my side of things. Should I upload those with my initial claim or save them for later?

Upload whatever you have now and keep copies of everything. You can always submit more later but starting with documentation shows good faith. Also screenshot your UI Online portal entries regularly - having a record of what you submitted and when can matter.

THIS. I went to an appeal hearing completely unprepared because I assumed it would be casual and my former employer showed up with printed email records going back a year. Learned the hard way to take documentation seriously.

Adjudication is NOT a denial. It's a review process where EDD takes a closer look at the circumstances before making a decision. You can come out of adjudication approved, denied, or sometimes they'll ask you for more information. A denial is a separate thing where they've actually made a decision that you don't qualify.

omg okay that makes me feel so much better. i've been assuming adjudication meant i was denied this whole time and panicking for nothing lol

Very common misconception. Even if you DO get denied, you have the right to appeal within 30 days of the denial notice. The appeals process is your chance to present your case to an administrative law judge.

This is really helpful context. My manager said 'performance issues' but it was more like they kept changing what they expected of me without proper training and then used that as justification. Does that kind of thing factor in?

Absolutely factors in. If the performance issues stem from inadequate training, changing expectations, or circumstances outside your control, that strengthens your argument that there was no willful misconduct. Make sure to explain all of that context in your claim.

yeah edd approved me when I got fired and the employer argued performance issues but I explained I never received proper training and they had no documentation of any formal warnings. edd sided with me

This is really reassuring, thank you. Did you have to do anything specific during adjudication or just wait?

They sent me a questionnaire asking me to explain my side of the separation in more detail. I just answered honestly and thoroughly. That was pretty much it until the decision came.

they sent me one of those questionnaires too!! I didn't realize it was part of adjudication I thought it was just like a standard form

I just filed the initial claim yesterday so I haven't gotten to the certifying stage yet. Do I start certifying right away or do I wait for something?

You'll get a notice telling you when your first certification period opens. Usually starts about two weeks after your claim effective date. Check your UI Online account and your mail - EDD sometimes sends important notices by mail that don't show up online right away.

the mail thing is so real. I missed a notice because I was only checking online and it nearly messed up my whole claim. check both always

Is this a free thing or do you pay for it?

Check the site for details, I'm not the right person to explain pricing. What I can say is that after weeks of failed calls the value of actually getting through was massive for my stress levels alone.

Adding this to my notes for if I get stuck in adjudication. Appreciate the heads up.

wait really?? I had no idea. where do you log those job search activities?

you report them when you certify - there's a section asking about job search activities. technically they can ask you to verify them so it's good practice to keep your own log with dates, company names, positions, and how you applied

Correct. California EDD's job search requirement is 3 contacts per week under standard conditions. Keep a personal log even though you only report the number when certifying - if you ever get audited or questioned you want to be able to show your work.

Yeah the stress is definitely real. Even just reading through all this and trying to understand what might happen is overwhelming.

totally valid feeling. the thing I kept reminding my roommate is that you filed, that's the hard part. now just respond to anything EDD sends you quickly and completely and let the process work

quick responses to EDD requests are CRUCIAL. they give you deadlines and if you miss them it can result in a denial even if your case was strong. treat every letter or notice like it has a 10 day deadline because most of them do

Oh wow I did not know that. So realistically I'm looking at a few weeks minimum before I see any money even if everything goes smoothly?

Yes, factor in: waiting week (no pay), then your first certification period opens, then processing time after you certify. Best case scenario is probably 3-4 weeks from filing before you see a payment. If adjudication is involved add more time.

California temporarily suspended the waiting week during some periods but it's back in effect now. Plan accordingly and if you have any financial assistance resources available to you in the meantime, use them.

They never gave me any written warnings, no PIP, nothing formal. Everything was verbal and vague. I actually asked for written feedback several times and was told they'd get to it.

That's a strong position for you. Document that history of requesting written feedback and not receiving it. That kind of detail can really matter in adjudication or an appeal.

Agreed. An employer who fired someone for 'performance issues' with no paper trail is going to have a hard time proving misconduct. California EDD places the burden on the employer to show misconduct when a claimant was fired.

This is exactly the kind of real-world example I needed to see. Thank you for sharing.

Hang in there. The waiting is genuinely awful but most people in your situation do end up approved if they didn't do anything that was clearly intentional misconduct.

You can still file for unemployment benefits if you're working part time. California EDD uses a formula to calculate partial unemployment - you report your part-time earnings when you certify and they reduce your benefit payment accordingly. You don't have to be completely unemployed to collect UI.

oh interesting. so the part time income just reduces benefits rather than canceling them entirely?

Exactly. California EDD has an earnings disregard formula. Basically some portion of your part-time earnings don't count against you, and above that threshold your benefits are reduced dollar for dollar. Always report your earnings honestly - underreporting is the main cause of overpayment notices.

seven weeks sounds absolutely brutal. glad it worked out eventually

It was rough. The not knowing is the worst part honestly. At least when I finally talked to an agent I knew what was happening and what to expect.

Okay I've seen Claimyr mentioned a few times in this thread now. Bookmarking the site for sure. Hopefully I won't need it but good to have in my back pocket.

Thank you everyone seriously. I filed last night and I'm going to keep checking my UI Online account. I feel so much better after reading through all of this. I'll try to update the thread with how my claim goes.

rooting for you! come back and update us

good luck!! most people in your situation end up approved just be patient with the process