Do I qualify for California EDD unemployment if I was fired from my job?

That's actually really reassuring. So the fact-finding interview - does that happen automatically after I file, or do I have to request it somehow? I didn't see anything about it in my UI Online account yet.

It happens automatically. California EDD will contact both you and your former employer to get both sides of the story before making a determination. Just make sure your contact info is current in your account and watch for calls from a 1-800 number - those are often the EDD calling for the interview.

Also worth noting - even if you get an initial denial you can appeal within 30 days. Don't give up just because the first determination goes against you.

Did you have to gather like pay stubs and documentation before the interview or just explain verbally what happened?

mostly verbal for the interview but i did have text messages from my manager showing they knew about my situation. saved my butt honestly. screenshot everything you have

Oh wow I didn't know that was even a thing. I've been trying to call EDD for two days straight and can't get through at all. Might look into this.

does claimyr actually work? seems too good to be true lol

I was skeptical too but it genuinely connected me to an agent same day. Way better than the alternative of calling 50 times and getting nowhere.

gonna bookmark this for when i need it. edd phone lines are an absolute nightmare

This is incredibly helpful. Should I proactively reach out to EDD with this info or just wait for them to contact me?

Wait for them to reach out. Trying to call in proactively is difficult given EDD call volume and they'll initiate the process. Just make sure your phone is on and you answer unknown numbers - EDD often shows up as a blocked or 1-800 number.

they also send letters so watch your mail too. sometimes they mail the interview appointment and you only get a few days notice

3 months is a long time to wait without income. Did you have anything to fall back on during that period? I'm really stressed about covering rent.

It was really tough not gonna lie. I borrowed from family and picked up some gig work which I reported on my weekly certifications. You can work part time and still receive partial benefits which helped.

same here, appeals process takes forever but it's worth doing. i almost didn't appeal because i thought it was pointless

Actually both situations require fact-finding in many cases. When you quit, EDD needs to verify you had 'good cause' to leave. When you're fired, they need to determine whether the termination was for disqualifying misconduct. Both the claimant and the employer get contacted.

oh wow i had it completely backwards this whole time. good to know

Yeah it's a common misconception. Being fired doesn't automatically mean denial and quitting doesn't automatically mean approval. The reasons behind both matter a lot.

I feel this deeply. The fact-finding interviews can feel very rushed and one-sided. That's part of why having your key points written down in advance is so important - you only have a short window to make your case.

exactly. i wish someone had told me to literally script out my main points before the call. i rambled and probably didn't come across well which cost me the first round

This is making me really anxious. I'm going to write down everything in advance like you said.

I didn't even think about the earnings side of it. I was making about $22/hour full time for 14 months so hopefully that's enough?

That should be more than sufficient. The weekly benefit amount California EDD pays is based on your highest earning quarter in the base period. With full-time earnings at that wage you're looking at or close to the maximum weekly benefit amount.

yeah the earnings requirement is rarely the issue for people who worked full time for over a year. the separation reason is usually the main hurdle

Yes. You need to be able and available to work, actively seeking employment, and completing your weekly certifications every week regardless of whether your claim is in adjudication. Missing weekly certifications can cause big problems even if you're eventually approved.

ugh ok i did not know that. i took a week off from certifying because i thought i had to wait for the determination first. that was a mistake wasn't it

You may be able to backfill those certifications by calling EDD directly and explaining the situation. It's worth trying rather than just losing those weeks.

ok gonna try to call today. wish me luck getting through lol

honestly might try this today since i need to fix my certifications situation asap

second this. there are times when you genuinely need to speak to an EDD agent and the normal phone lines just do not work. having an alternative is huge

Generally for remote workers, unemployment is filed in the state where you physically performed the work - so if you were working from California, you'd file with California EDD. The company being headquartered elsewhere typically doesn't change that.

ok good that's what i figured. just wanted to confirm before i file

There can be some edge cases depending on the specific employment arrangement but what was described above is the general rule for most remote workers.

That's a good point - the timing of everything probably does matter. My termination also came pretty suddenly after they restructured my department.

document the timing. if performance was truly a problem you'd have a paper trail of PIPs and warnings over time. sudden terminations often signal something other than genuine performance issues and EDD knows this

This is really solid advice. The lack of prior documentation and warnings is often what sinks an employer's misconduct claim during fact-finding.

Employers can contest claims and provide their side of the story to California EDD, but they cannot simply block you from receiving benefits. EDD makes the determination independently after hearing from both sides. An employer saying they'll fight it is just posturing - it means they'll respond when EDD contacts them, not that they have veto power over your claim.

ok good. my cousin has been scared to even file because of what his former employer said. gonna tell him to just go ahead and file.

Tell your cousin to file ASAP. There's a one-week waiting period after you stop working and then delays start adding up fast. The sooner you file the sooner any approved benefits start.

Thank you for saying this - I just certified for my second week yesterday. Good to know I'm doing that part right at least.

you're doing great. just keep certifying weekly no matter what. even if it takes 8 weeks to get a decision those weekly certifications are what unlock your backpay once approved

i really needed to read this thread before i stopped certifying. lesson learned the hard way

Not advice anyone should follow. California EDD cross-references information from both you and your employer, and inconsistencies are a red flag. Beyond the claim denial, making false statements to EDD can result in disqualification for future benefits, overpayment notices requiring repayment of any benefits you received, and in egregious cases, fraud charges. It's genuinely not worth it.

yeah ok fair enough. just curious. my 'friend' will tell the truth

The truth usually works out better anyway especially in termination cases. EDD sees a lot of employer claims of misconduct that don't hold up under any scrutiny.

This is exactly what I needed, thank you. I'm going to make this list tonight. Should I also mention that I have text messages from my manager?

Yes mention that you have documentation. They may or may not ask you to submit it but having it ready shows you're prepared and credible. Sometimes just mentioning you have supporting messages shifts the tone of the interview.

Agreed. I also wrote down the names and job titles of anyone relevant - my direct manager, their supervisor, HR contact - just so I could reference them specifically if asked. Details signal credibility.

Typically 3-5 weeks after the fact-finding contact is completed for a determination to appear in your UI Online account. That said, California EDD timelines vary a lot depending on claim volume. If it's been 3 weeks since YOUR interview but they may still be waiting to contact your employer, which extends the timeline.

ugh ok. so i just have to keep certifying and waiting. got it

If you're really anxious about it and want an update from an actual person rather than just staring at UI Online, that's exactly the situation where getting through to an EDD agent helps. claimyr.com helped me get through on a day when I was going crazy waiting. They can at least tell you where your claim is in the process.

ok I'll check that out. at this point anything is better than refreshing ui online every hour

Three contacts per week - does that mean applications submitted, or can it include things like networking or informational interviews?

It's pretty broadly defined. An application counts, so does attending a job fair, connecting with a potential employer on LinkedIn, or using CalJOBS (EDD's job search platform). The key is being able to document the employer name, contact info, and date if asked.

does using indeed count as a job search contact? like if you apply through there

Yes applying through Indeed or any job board counts. Save confirmation emails or screenshots of applications just in case.

Thank you so much, everyone in this thread has been incredibly helpful. I feel a lot less panicked now. I'll report back once I get a determination.

Please do! Threads like this are helpful for the next person going through the same thing. Good luck.

rooting for you. california edd can be a beast to deal with but your situation sounds genuinely defensible. hang in there