Can I get EDD benefits during mountain road closure after storm? Employer shut down until March 16

Yes! You can absolutely file for unemployment in this situation. This would qualify as a temporary layoff due to circumstances beyond your control. The technical term EDD uses is "lack of work" - which is exactly what's happening in your case. The business is temporarily closed, you're ready and willing to work, but can't due to the closure. Make sure you apply right away since benefits aren't retroactive to before you file your claim.

my sister was in the exact same situation during the big fire evacuation last year!!! dont worry u totally qualify 4 ui but make sure u tell them ur AVAILABLE for work even tho u cant get there rn if that makes sense. like ur not refusing to work ur just UNABLE to

You definitely qualify for what's called a "temporary layoff" situation. When you file, make sure to explain exactly what happened with the storm and road closures. I've been through the process 3 times and the most important thing is being SPECIFIC about why you're not working. Don't just say "weather" - explain that the business is closed due to storm damage and road closures, and that your employer has given a specific return date. That helps EDD process your claim faster without needing to call for clarification.

Just wondering... are you SURE the business will reopen on March 16th? A lot of small businesses in Big Bear have been closing permanently after these big storms because of insurance issues. Might want to confirm that with your boss before assuming it's temporary. Not trying to be negative just looking out for you because EDD handles permanent closures differently than temporary ones.

They always REJECT first time applications anyway so good luck even getting through lol. EDD is such a joke these days. I filed after my seasonal ski resort job ended early because of low snow last year and they denied me three times before finally paying. The whole system is designed to make you give up!!!!

I had to file for EDD benefits during the COVID shutdowns and it was a nightmare trying to get through to a real person. Spent DAYS calling that 800 number and always got the "we're experiencing high call volume" message. Finally found a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get through to an EDD rep within about 20 minutes. Totally worth it when you need to speak to someone about your specific situation. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km

To answer your specific question: Yes, you qualify for unemployment in this situation. When you file, you'll want to select "Laid off/No work available" as your reason. Make sure you have your employer's contact information handy because EDD will likely verify the closure with them. Since this is a known weather event affecting a whole region, EDD should process these claims relatively quickly. Important: During your bi-weekly certifications, make sure you indicate that you were "ready and available to work" each week, since the closure is not your choice. Also, you won't need to do the usual job search requirements if your employer has given you a specific return-to-work date, but you'll need to indicate this on your certification forms.

Hey, has your employer provided any paperwork about the closure? When my job closed after the floods last year, my boss gave everyone a letter explaining the temporary closure which made the EDD process go much smoother. Might be worth asking for something in writing if you only got a text message so far.

One more thing to be aware of - once you're approved, it takes about 3 weeks to receive your EDD debit card (Money Network) if this is your first time on unemployment. After that, payments are much faster as they just load the card. Just wanted to mention this so you can plan accordingly for that initial waiting period.

I just went through the application process last month - make sure you check your UI Online account DAILY after applying. Sometimes they need additional information but only notify you through the portal, not by email or text. Missing those requests can delay your claim by weeks.