How to claim unemployment benefits in California EDD - step by step help

Thank you this is exactly what I needed. So I should go back and finish the ID.me part even though it seems scary? It was asking to scan my face and I wasn't sure if that was legit.

Yes it's completely legitimate - ID.me is the official identity verification service California EDD uses. The facial scan is just to match your face to your ID photo. Millions of people have gone through it. Once it's done you won't have to redo it.

the face scan freaked me out too lol but yeah its real, just do it

What should I write exactly? Like 'my store location permanently closed' or is there a specific phrasing I should use?

Something like 'employer permanently closed the business location where I worked, resulting in a layoff of all employees at that location' works well. Clear, factual, no ambiguity.

Adjudication is the WORST. I got stuck in it for 6 weeks over something similar and barely survived financially. Make sure you answer everything clearly like they said.

Oh wow I didn't know you could get help like that. I might use that once I finish setting up my account, just to double check everything went through correctly.

I was skeptical when someone recommended this to me too but it genuinely works. Talked to an EDD rep in like 20 min when I'd been trying to call for a week.

The phone line situation with EDD is genuinely awful, glad there are alternatives

There is a one-week unpaid waiting period (your first week of unemployment doesn't get paid) but the job search requirement starts from week one. You need to make at least three employer contacts per week and document them. Even during the waiting period.

oh no I didn't know that. I filed two weeks ago and haven't been logging anything. am I in trouble??

You should start logging immediately going forward. If you haven't certified yet you might be okay but going forward every week needs to be documented. Don't fabricate past entries though - if EDD audits your records that could cause serious problems.

This is super helpful because I was worried about that. I did one day of temp work through an agency last week - so I just report that income when I certify and I still get partial benefits?

Exactly. Report the gross earnings (before taxes) for the week you earned them, not when you received the paycheck. EDD reduces your weekly benefit by some of that amount but you still get paid the difference. It's much better than not reporting and getting hit with an overpayment notice later.

overpayments are genuinely the worst thing that can happen, report everything accurately

' Pending for 3 weeks can be normal but it can also mean your claim is in adjudication without explicitly saying so. Log into UI Online and check 'under Claim' Summary - if there are any issues flagged it should show something there. Also check your physical mail since EDD sometimes sends notices about neededinformation.

I checked and there's nothing flagged but also no award letter yet. is there anything I can do or just keep waiting

Honestly at 3 weeks with nothing showing I'd try calling EDD directly. This is exactly when Claimyr (claimyr.com) came through for me - my claim was in the same limbo and turns out there was a small issue that the agent fixed in like 5 minutes but I never would have known without getting through to someone.

okay I'll try that, I've been too scared to call thinking it would make things worse but I guess I should just check

Good to know about the debit card - I definitely would have thrown that away thinking it was junk mail. Thank you!

I made this mistake lol. Thought I wasn't getting paid and it was sitting in an envelope I ignored for two weeks

It happens to SO many people. The envelope honestly looks like a credit card offer.

This actually makes me feel better because I've been blaming myself thinking I'm just not understanding something obvious.

Nope it's genuinely confusing. The UI Online portal looks like it was built in 2008 and barely updated. Just take it one step at a time.

facts. first time filers should NOT have to figure this out alone

does linkedin count? like if I reach out to a recruiter on linkedin

Yes, LinkedIn messages to recruiters about specific job openings count as employer contacts. Just document them - screenshot or note the date, company, recruiter name, and what you messaged about.

Also if you register with CalJOBS (the state's job search portal) and complete your profile, that counts as employer contacts for a few weeks. Worth doing early.

This is so reassuring to hear. I went back and finished the ID.me verification today actually! It worked and now my myEDD shows my identity as verified. Going to finish the initial application tonight.

YES! That's the hardest part done honestly. The rest is pretty straightforward compared to that. Good luck!

Great progress! After you submit the application write down your confirmation number. EDD will also email you a confirmation but having it written down is good backup.

This is a good point. Standby also has a limit though - you can only be on it for a certain number of weeks before EDD requires you to actively job search regardless. It's not unlimited.

wait I got temporarily laid off and nobody told me about this!! I've been doing job search logs this whole time when I didn't have to??

Call EDD and ask about switching to standby status if your employer has given you a return date. It might not be retroactive but going forward you may be able to stop the job search requirement.

Update: I tried Claimyr yesterday and spoke to an EDD rep today. Turns out my claim had a small employment verification issue that would have delayed things by weeks. The agent fixed it while we were on the phone. So glad I didn't just keep waiting.

Oh this is good to know in case I run into issues after submitting my application. Bookmarking that link.

The fact that you need a third party service just to reach a government agency is kind of infuriating but also... glad it exists I guess

It depends on the circumstances. In California, being fired for misconduct can disqualify you from UI benefits - but 'misconduct' has a specific legal definition. Attendance issues due to medical reasons, family emergencies, or situations outside your control often don't meet the legal threshold for misconduct. If EDD issues a disqualification, you have the right to appeal within 30 days of the notice date. Many people successfully appeal attendance-related disqualifications by providing context.

What if the attendance was partly because my car broke down and I couldn't get to work? That's not really my fault right

That's exactly the kind of context that can make the difference in an appeal. Document everything you can - repair invoices, dates of absences, any communication with your employer about the situation. If you get disqualified, appeal immediately and bring all that documentation.

I didn't know about the message center! That might be good for smaller questions so I don't have to try to call every time.

Just be warned their written responses are sometimes vague or automated-sounding. For anything that actually matters (status of pending claims, resolving adjudication) calling is still faster even though it's painful.

True, the message center has limits. I'd say use it for documentation purposes and informational questions, call for anything time-sensitive.

EDD is required to send you a Notice of Determination if they deny or disqualify your claim - it comes by mail. The problem is some people don't receive it because of address issues, or they receive it and don't recognize what it is. For a 5-week wait with no communication, I'd strongly recommend your roommate call EDD or use a service like Claimyr to reach an agent. 5 weeks with nothing - no award letter, no denial, no mail - suggests something is stuck in the system that needs a human to look at it.

yeah I told them to call but they keep putting it off because of anxiety about it. I'll show them this

5 weeks is beyond normal processing time even for complicated claims. Something needs to be checked on. The longer they wait the more potential benefit weeks could be lost.

Screenshot everything, got it. This is such practical advice.

this is good advice for literally everything government related honestly

Especially EDD lol. Their system has glitches and documentation protects you.

Realistically: 3-5 weeks from initial filing to first payment if your claim is straightforward with no issues. That breaks down roughly as: 1-2 weeks for initial processing and award letter, then your first certification period (2 weeks), then 3-5 business days for payment after certification. If your claim goes into adjudication (EDD needs to investigate eligibility), add 4-8 weeks potentially. This is why it's so important to be detailed and accurate on the initial application.

3-5 weeks is actually better than I feared. I have about 3 weeks of savings so I need to start being more careful with money now but it's manageable.

Also - and I can't stress this enough - certify on time every two weeks. If you miss your certification window your claim can lapse and you'd have to reopen it, which adds more delays.

Good to know! Mine actually went through fine but I know my friend had trouble with it - I'll tell her about the video call option.

The video call option through ID.me is actually pretty quick - usually same day. Much better than being stuck in a loop trying to get the automated scan to work.

This is both alarming and reassuring? Like at least I know to expect some chaos and not assume everything is wrong when something weird happens.

Accurate description honestly. It gets less stressful once you understand the rhythms of the system but the first few months are a lot.

EDD has gotten better but yeah it's still EDD lol

Yeah I definitely want to find something new as soon as possible. The retail industry has a lot of openings so I'm hoping it won't take long.

Also worth knowing: if you accept a part-time job while still job searching for full-time work, you can potentially keep collecting partial unemployment benefits as long as your earnings don't exceed your weekly benefit amount. You don't have to turn down any work while collecting UI.

Wait that's actually really helpful because I was worried about taking any work thinking it would mess up my claim. This whole thread has been incredibly valuable, thank you all.