Can I go on unemployment if I get fired in California?

That's such a relief to hear. So even though the termination letter says 'performance issues' I still have a shot at qualifying?

Yes, performance issues alone generally don't constitute disqualifying misconduct under California UI law. Just be detailed and accurate when describing the separation on your claim form.

this is correct - i was fired for 'not meeting performance benchmarks' and still got approved. EDD looks at the whole picture not just what the employer writes on the form

3 weeks sounds manageable. Did you have to do anything special or just file the regular claim online?

Just the regular UI Online claim. They sent me a questionnaire about the separation and I answered honestly. That was pretty much it.

same experience here. filed online, got a questionnaire, answered it, approved. wasnt nearly as complicated as i thought it would be

Wait there's a phone interview sometimes? Is that like a formal thing or more of a quick call?

It depends on the situation. Sometimes it's just a mailed questionnaire you return. If the circumstances are more complex or disputed they might schedule an actual phone interview with a California EDD interviewer. It's not super formal but you do want to be prepared and have your facts straight about your employment timeline, what happened, what was said when you were terminated, etc.

I had a phone interview for my claim. It was honestly fine, the interviewer was professional and just asked me to explain what happened from my perspective. Wasn't nearly as intimidating as I expected.

omg I'm terrified of the phone interview thing. Did they record it?? Can they use it against you somehow??

I've already tried calling EDD twice and got disconnected both times so honestly this is good to know. Saving that link.

does that actually work? sounds kinda too good to be true lol

I know it sounds skeptical but it genuinely worked for me. I think it just puts you in an actual callback queue so EDD calls you instead of you waiting forever. Got my adjudication issue sorted out after talking to the agent.

I've heard of this too - my coworker used it when her claim was stuck. She said the same thing, got a callback way faster than trying to call herself

Adjudication just means California EDD needs to do a deeper review of something on your claim before approving it. For terminations specifically, most claims do go through at least some level of review because EDD has to evaluate whether misconduct was involved. It doesn't mean you're going to be denied - it just means a human reviewer looks at it instead of it being automatically processed. Don't panic, it's actually normal for fired claims.

ok that makes more sense. so adjudication isn't the same as being denied or disqualified?

Correct. Adjudication = under review. Disqualification = denied. Very different outcomes. Plenty of people come out of adjudication fully approved.

yeah I was in adjudication for almost 5 weeks and came out approved. it's stressful waiting but it doesn't mean anything bad by itself

This is SO important thank you. I actually wasn't sure if I should start certifying or wait until I knew if I was approved. Starting this weekend for sure.

yes this!! I made this mistake my first time and lost like 3 weeks of benefits because I didn't know to keep certifying. please learn from my mistake everyone

Can confirm this is correct. File your weekly certs every week like clockwork. EDD also has a certification schedule - yours will be either Saturday/Sunday depending on your Social Security number. Check your UI Online account for your specific certification day.

This is really reassuring coming from someone on the employer side. Thank you for giving that perspective. I genuinely never received any kind of formal warning in writing.

Document that for yourself. Write down everything you remember about the termination conversation - what was said, who was present, the date and time. If EDD contacts you for an interview that information will be valuable.

This is great advice. I'd also suggest checking your employee handbook if you have a copy - sometimes there's a progressive discipline policy written in there that the company was supposed to follow and didn't. That could help your case.

8 months is terrifying. Is it still in adjudication or something else is going on?

it went to adjudication then they issued a partial denial then i appealed and now I'm waiting for an appeal hearing date. it's been a whole saga. hopefully yours goes smoother, most people don't have it this bad

Sorry you're dealing with that. For what it's worth appeal hearings with the California Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board (CUIAB) do have a decent approval rate for claimants, especially in cases without clear documented misconduct. Hang in there.

I didn't even think about that part. I was just focused on whether I'd qualify at all. So the amount varies based on what I was making?

Yes exactly. Higher earners during the base period get higher weekly benefits up to the state maximum. EDD uses the highest earning quarter in your base period to calculate it. The website calculator gives a pretty good estimate.

Just a heads up the base period is typically the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you filed. So it's not just your most recent pay stubs - it looks further back. The EDD website explains the alternate base period too if your regular base period doesn't work in your favor.

Probationary period doesn't automatically disqualify you from California UI benefits. The same misconduct analysis still applies. Being fired during probation just means the employer doesn't have to give you as much notice or explanation under some company policies, but it doesn't change the California EDD rules about what counts as disqualifying misconduct.

ok good because I've been freaking out about that. I was only 60 days into the job when they let me go.

Also worth noting - for the base period wage calculation, if you only worked 60 days at that job you might not have earned enough wages there to matter. Your benefits would be based on your previous employment earnings. Just make sure you list ALL your employers in the past 18 months when you file.

Thank you this is genuinely what I needed to hear. Did your employer try to contest it?

They did respond to EDD's inquiry but apparently whatever they said wasn't enough to establish misconduct. I never saw their response but EDD found in my favor. You might not even know if your employer contests or what they say - EDD just weighs both sides.

Same experience here. Former employer responded to EDD, I got approved anyway. The bar for misconduct is genuinely high under California UI law.

How does it even work? Like do you give them your EDD login or something?

No nothing like that - it's just a service that gets you into EDD's phone queue in a smarter way so you actually get a callback instead of endlessly calling. You don't hand over any EDD credentials or personal account info.

ok that actually sounds more legit than I thought. might try it if my claim gets stuck

This is a really good point. I only have the verbal conversation to go by - nothing was put in writing about the reason. Should I get a copy of anything?

Request a copy of any separation paperwork or termination letter if you haven't already. Also check if your state has a law requiring employers to provide a written reason for termination - California doesn't require it but some employers provide it anyway. If there's anything in writing that contradicts a later EDD statement from the employer that's useful.

Also check if you signed anything on your last day. Some employers have employees sign separation agreements or acknowledgment forms. Keep copies of anything you signed.

Wait so even once I'm approved I have ongoing requirements every week? I didn't realize it was that involved.

Yes, it's not a set-it-and-forget-it thing. Every week you certify you confirm you were able to work, available for work, and actively looking for work. The job search activity requirement is real and documented audits do happen, especially if your claim is paid out for a while.

Also note - if you get a job offer and turn it down for no good reason that can disqualify you. 'Suitable work' has a specific California EDD definition but generally if it's in your field and at reasonable pay you're expected to accept it.

CalJOBS is also a thing - California EDD may require you to register on the CalJOBS employment portal as part of your claim requirements. Worth checking your approval notice when it comes for any specific requirements attached to your claim.

Absolutely not final. If California EDD denies your claim you have 30 days from the mailing date on the determination notice to file an appeal with the California Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board (CUIAB). The appeal is a completely fresh review - you get an actual hearing in front of an Administrative Law Judge where you can present your side, bring documentation, even have a representative or advocate. Many claims that are initially denied get reversed on appeal, especially termination cases without documented misconduct.

that's really good to know. I was assuming if they said no that was it

File the appeal if you get denied - DO NOT just accept the denial. I'm in the middle of an appeal right now and it's slower but it's absolutely your right. The initial determination is just one person's review.

It happens unfortunately. But here's the thing - EDD is experienced at evaluating employer responses and they know companies sometimes try to inflate the misconduct angle. If what the employer claims doesn't match the documented record (or lack of one) it can actually hurt the employer's credibility. Stick to your honest account, be specific and consistent, and if the employer claims something that isn't true that inconsistency can work in your favor.

I guess I just have to trust the process. Kind of nerve-wracking to know they could say anything.

If you're denied based on something your employer said that you believe is false, the appeal process is specifically where you can challenge that. At the appeal hearing you can actually present evidence, call witnesses, and directly contradict the employer's account. It's a much more level playing field than the initial determination stage.

This is so encouraging thank you for coming back to post this update. Really needed to see this today.

Love seeing these resolution posts. Congrats on getting approved!

This is the typical trajectory for undocumented performance terminations. Glad it worked out.

I've had two disconnected calls already trying to reach EDD so I'm bookmarking this for when I inevitably need it. Thank you.

ok third time seeing this recommended in this thread, must actually work lol

Ha yeah it genuinely made a difference for me. The EDD phone system is just not designed for the volume of people who need to use it. Having a way to actually get through is huge.

signing up for this if my claim hits adjudication. I cannot deal with the hold music situation