How to file unemployment with California EDD – confused about where to even start

This is incredibly helpful thank you! One question – when it asks for employment history for the past 18 months, do I need to list every single job even if it was part-time? I had a part-time weekend gig for like 3 months in addition to my main job.

Yes, list all jobs including part-time. California EDD uses all wages earned in your base period to calculate your weekly benefit amount, so including that part-time work could actually slightly increase your benefit. Just be thorough and accurate – leaving stuff out can cause adjudication issues down the line.

also make sure you file ASAP because there's technically a waiting week built into the process – your first week of unemployment won't be paid. So the sooner you file the sooner that waiting week starts and you don't lose extra time.

Good point about those dates – I worked a partial day on my last day so I'll make sure I get that right. My official last day was Friday but I was let go mid-morning so does the date matter that much?

Your last day worked is the date, not the time. So Friday is your last day worked regardless of what time you were let go. Your first day of unemployment would be Saturday in that case.

yeah the date thing got me confused too when I filed. Just go with the calendar date you last physically worked and you'll be fine.

Oh interesting I hadn't heard of that. I might use it if I run into issues after filing – right now I think I have enough info to just go ahead and do it online. But good to know there's a way to actually reach someone.

does claimyr actually work?? I've been trying to get through to EDD for 3 days about a completely different issue and keep getting disconnected

It worked for me – I got connected to an actual California EDD rep within like 20 minutes after spending days trying on my own. Definitely worth checking out if you're stuck. The demo video at https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10 explains how it works.

I'm always a little skeptical of these third party things but I've seen it mentioned a few times on this forum and the people recommending it seem legit. Good to know it exists at least.

Yes good call, I'm definitely going to review everything carefully before submitting. Did you hear back quickly after you filed?

got my determination letter like 10 days later. it went pretty smooth tbh since I was a straightforward layoff. fingers crossed yours goes just as easy!

Wait so the base period isn't just my most recent year of work? It goes back further than that? So my earnings from like early 2024 would count?

Exactly right. If you filed today for example, your base period would generally cover Q4 2023 through Q3 2024. Your wages during those quarters determine your benefit amount. If for some reason you didn't earn much during that standard base period (like you had a gap), California EDD can sometimes use an alternate base period which uses the most recent four quarters. It's a bit complicated but for your situation with steady full-time employment it should be straightforward.

This is a really important point that California EDD doesn't explain well upfront. I had a friend who took a medical leave partway through her base period and her benefits came out way lower than expected because of the gaps. If that happens to anyone, definitely ask California EDD about the alternate base period option.

Not a dumb question at all! You file your initial claim once to establish your eligibility and benefit amount. But then every week (or every two weeks depending on how California EDD sets up your account) you have to file a 'weekly certification' which is basically you certifying that you were available for work, looked for work, and reporting any income you earned that week. The weekly certifications are what trigger your actual payments – you don't get paid automatically just from the initial filing.

ohh okay that makes way more sense. so the initial filing is like applying and then the weekly cert is like clocking in. got it thank you

That's a great way to think about it. And don't miss your certification weeks – if you skip one California EDD can pause your payments and sometimes you have to contact them to reopen the claim which is a whole hassle.

Unfortunately yes this is kind of normal especially in the first few weeks. Pending just means they're reviewing your claim – it doesn't necessarily mean there's a problem. But three weeks is getting to the point where I'd try harder to reach someone.

I've tried so hard though. I genuinely cannot get through. I'm going to lose my apartment if this doesn't get resolved soon

If you're really struggling to get through by phone, try Claimyr (claimyr.com) – it's what I used when I was in a similar situation and couldn't reach anyone at California EDD. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10 that explains how it connects you to an actual EDD agent. Three weeks of pending with no contact is exactly the kind of situation where being able to actually talk to someone makes a huge difference.

I'll try literally anything at this point, thank you. Checking it out now.

Oh wow I had no idea about this requirement. So I need to be job searching even while waiting to find out if my claim is approved?

Yes, your job search requirement starts from your first week of certification. California EDD assumes you're actively looking for work as a condition of receiving benefits. The three activities per week can include submitting applications, attending a job fair, using CalJOBS, contacting employers, etc. – it doesn't have to be three submitted applications specifically.

Also worth noting – if you're in some kind of employer-approved standby status (like if your employer told you they might call you back within 60 days) you may be exempt from the job search requirements. That's a specific situation though and you'd need to indicate it when filing.

wait I didn't know about the job search log thing either. I've been doing certifications but I didn't keep actual records. should I be writing down everything I've been doing retroactively??

Yes I noticed there were some sketchy looking sites when I googled. I made sure to go directly to edd.ca.gov. Good warning for others though.

People lose money to those sites every year. Sometimes they look really official too. The real URL will always be edd.ca.gov for anything related to California unemployment.

Really good tip – I just double checked and my address is correct in the system. I updated it when I created my myEDD account.

Also sign up for email notifications in your myEDD account settings. It won't replace the physical mail but at least you'll get a heads up when something new is in your account.

does everything come by mail or do things also show up in UI Online? I feel like I've gotten notifications in my account but also gotten physical mail about the same thing

Eight weeks?? I'm panicking at three weeks. How did you survive financially?

I had to borrow money from family which was humiliating. Eventually got everything back paid out but the stress was unreal. The system is designed to make you give up I swear.

The adjudication delay issue is real but it often happens when there's a discrepancy between what you reported and what your former employer reported, or if there's a question about your separation reason. If you get stuck in adjudication the best thing to do is get through to an actual EDD agent to find out exactly what's holding it up – that's the only way to actually move things forward.

This timeline is super helpful context. I filed yesterday so I know not to expect anything for at least a couple weeks. I've already set a reminder to do my first weekly certification on Sunday.

Perfect, you're on the right track. One more thing – when you certify, California EDD will ask if you looked for work each week. Say yes and make sure you actually are doing your job search activities so it's the truth.

this is the clearest explanation of the timeline I've seen. wish I had this when I first filed lol

What kind of mistakes did you make if you don't mind sharing? I want to make sure I avoid the same ones.

I put the wrong date for my last day worked (off by one day) and also misclassified my separation reason – I put 'quit' because in my mind I had given notice, but technically I was let go as part of a downsizing so it should have been 'laid off/lack of work.' The separation reason one was the bigger problem because it triggered an automatic adjudication hold since 'quit' claims require more investigation.

This is such an important point. 'Quit' vs 'laid off' is one of the most consequential choices on the initial application. If you resigned but it was a constructive discharge (meaning working conditions were intolerable or you were pressured out), you should still select a separation reason that reflects that you didn't leave voluntarily – and you can explain the circumstances in the text field. Those situations can still qualify for benefits but they require more documentation.

Update: I tried Claimyr after seeing it mentioned earlier in this thread and got connected to an EDD rep this morning. Turns out my claim had a verification hold because my former employer filed a different separation date than I did. The rep told me exactly what form to submit. I've been sitting here for three weeks not knowing this. Genuinely relieved.

That's such a relief to hear! And also a reminder to double-check your separation dates match what your employer would say.

glad it worked out. this is exactly the stuff that drives me crazy about EDD – the hold was sitting there for THREE WEEKS and they never once sent a notification or reached out. you only find out if you manage to actually get someone on the phone.

Not a dumb question. California EDD eligibility is based on wages earned during your base period, not necessarily how long you worked at your most recent job. If your cousin earned at least $1,300 in the highest quarter of her base period, OR at least $900 in the highest quarter AND total base period wages of at least 1.25 times the high quarter earnings, she may qualify. Two months of work could be enough depending on her wages – she should file and let California EDD make the determination rather than assuming she doesn't qualify.

ok she's going to file then. better to try and find out than assume. thanks!

Also even if she doesn't qualify for regular UI, California EDD may have other programs depending on her situation. But yeah, always file first and let them determine eligibility – that's the right call.

Already did this – I have screenshots of every page including the confirmation. My confirmation number starts with what looks like a date so I'm hoping that's a good sign it went through.

That confirmation number is your proof of filing. Hang onto it. You should also receive an email confirmation to whatever address you used for your myEDD account within a day or two.

I didn't screenshot mine when I first filed and then the EDD website went down and I had a minor panic attack thinking my claim was lost. It wasn't but lesson learned for sure

This is an amazing summary. I'm going to save this whole thread honestly. Thank you everyone.

This is exactly the kind of info that should be on the EDD website in plain language but isn't lol

The debit card timing thing confused me so much. I kept waiting for my payment but it went to the card which I hadn't activated yet because I didn't realize it had arrived. Check your mail carefully right after your first certification is processed.

Also just to close the loop on my situation – my hold was cleared by the end of the day after I called EDD this morning and my pending certifications are now showing as payable. If anyone is stuck waiting, please don't just sit there. Find a way to actually reach an agent.