If fired can I collect unemployment in California EDD?

Oh wow okay that's actually really reassuring. So it's not just automatic? They actually look into it? Because honestly I feel like my manager just didn't like me and wanted to push me out.

Exactly. California EDD investigates every separation where the employer says the claimant was fired for misconduct. Your employer has to prove the misconduct, not just claim it. No documentation usually means they're going to have a hard time making that case.

this is correct. my cousin got fired and still got benefits because the company couldnt prove anything. the burden is on the employer basically

Wait I had no idea about the weekly certifications. So I have to do something every single week? I thought I just filed once and then waited.

Yes absolutely every week. Log into UI Online on Sunday when your certification week opens and answer all the questions honestly - whether you worked, how much you earned, whether you were available and actively looking for work. It's really simple but it's required to actually get paid.

The weekly cert thing is SO important. I missed two weeks when I first got approved and had to do a whole separate thing to get those weeks back. Don't skip them!!

This is really helpful, thank you! Did you have to do anything special when you talked to the agent or just explain what happened?

I just explained my situation honestly - same as you, new manager, no documented warnings, felt targeted. The agent was actually really helpful and explained what stage my claim was at and what to expect. Way better than staring at a pending status online with no info.

seconding Claimyr, I used it when my claim got stuck and it worked. EDD phone lines are basically impossible otherwise

this needs to be pinned at the top of this forum honestly

yeah the misconduct definition is really specific. I read through the EDD website when I was going through this and was shocked how narrow it actually is compared to what people assume

This is making me feel so much better. I feel like what happened to me was definitely not misconduct - just a new manager who wanted his own people in there.

It depends on the circumstances. If you had documented absences for medical reasons, family emergencies, or things outside your control AND you notified the employer, EDD often doesn't consider that misconduct. If you were just no-calling no-showing repeatedly with no good reason, that's more likely to be treated as misconduct. There's also a question of whether you were warned and given a chance to correct the behavior.

I had a note from my doctor for most of them but my job still fired me over it

Definitely mention the medical documentation when you file and in any correspondence with EDD. That's a significant factor in their determination.

Medical-related absences are specifically given different treatment under California EDD guidelines. Make sure your employer knows you have that documentation - they may not contest your claim as aggressively if they know you can back it up.

The wait is brutal, I won't sugarcoat it. But 11 days isn't that long in EDD time. Just keep certifying every week and try not to read into the pending status too much.

I've been checking UI Online like every hour lol. Nothing changes and then I just stress more

Stop checking every hour, it'll drive you insane. Check once in the morning. The status won't update between your checks anyway

I didn't know about the employer response deadline. That's really interesting. My former job is a pretty large corporation though so I assume they have HR people handling this.

Large corporations sometimes have third-party unemployment claims management companies that handle all their EDD responses. They do tend to contest more thoroughly. But even then, without documentation of actual misconduct, they still have to meet the legal standard.

yeah big companies often have whole departments just for contesting unemployment claims. still doesn't mean they'll win if they can't prove misconduct though

Not a dumb question at all! Yes, you should be conducting job searches AND reporting them on your weekly certifications even while your claim is in adjudication. California EDD requires you to complete three job search activities per week as a general rule. Document them - company name, date, method of contact, position. If you're approved, they may audit your job search records.

oh wow okay I had no idea about the three per week requirement. what counts as a job search activity?

Submitting applications, attending interviews, creating or updating a resume, visiting a workforce development center, attending a job fair - all of those count. Keep a simple log with dates and details.

thank you! I've been applying to jobs but I wasn't keeping track because I didn't know I needed to

That's a really smart idea actually. Did you just upload it as a PDF or is there a specific form?

I just did a PDF with my account number at the top. Just wrote it like a letter explaining the situation clearly and professionally. Uploaded it under the 'upload documents' section in UI Online.

I did this too and I think it genuinely helped. My employer claimed I violated policy but I was able to explain why I did what I did and that it wasn't intentional. EDD sided with me.

I'm so sorry that happened to you. That's really helpful to know that I shouldn't just give up if I get a denial.

I was so overwhelmed by the whole thing that I just didn't fight it. Cost me probably several thousand dollars in benefits. If I could go back I would have called EDD directly to understand my options or gotten help.

This is exactly why being able to actually reach an EDD agent matters so much. If you'd been able to talk to someone right after your denial they probably would have explained the appeal process. That's another situation where something like Claimyr would have made a difference - they can help you get through to EDD when the stakes are high.

PLEASE FILE RIGHT NOW. Seriously. Every week you wait is a week of potential benefits you're losing because California EDD does not backdate claims (with very limited exceptions). What you described - 'not working out' - is not misconduct language at all. That sounds like a business decision, not a disciplinary action. File today.

oh god I didn't realize I was losing money by waiting. filing right now

The date you file becomes your claim start date essentially. There is no going back for the weeks before you filed in most circumstances. Please file as soon as possible.

Yeah this is urgent, file immediately. You can always amend details later if needed but you can't reclaim the weeks you waited.

Oh this is such a good point. I moved about 6 months ago but I think my address is right on the application. Going to double-check right now.

Also make sure your email and phone number are current. Sometimes EDD will contact you by phone to ask questions about your separation and if they can't reach you it can delay everything.

This is really encouraging to hear. How did you find out you'd been approved? Did they call you or did it just update online?

Just updated online one morning. UI Online showed my claim status changed to approved and then I saw payment information. Got my first deposit about 5 days later.

The waiting for the UI Online update is so nerve-wracking. I keep refreshing constantly

Wait this is confusing me. So you can technically qualify but still get disqualified? How does that work?

Think of it as two separate gates. Gate 1: did you earn enough and work enough hours in the base period to establish a claim? Gate 2: did you leave work for a qualifying reason? You can pass Gate 1 (have enough work history) but fail Gate 2 (fired for misconduct). You need to pass both.

Good explanation. The base period earnings determine your weekly benefit amount and maximum benefit amount. The separation reason determines whether you can collect at all. Both have to be satisfied.

Be honest, keep it factual, and stick to what you know for sure. You don't need to speculate or volunteer information beyond what they ask. If they ask why you were fired, explain exactly what you were told and what the circumstances were. Don't embellish. Don't guess at your employer's motives even if you believe you know them. Just tell the truth clearly.

What if they ask me things I don't know the answer to? Like specific dates or company policies?

It's perfectly fine to say 'I don't recall the exact date' or 'I'm not sure about that policy specifically.' Don't make things up. EDD agents understand that claimants don't have HR-level access to their own employment records.

This. Don't lie, don't guess, don't try to be clever. Just answer honestly and directly. That's literally all you need to do.

This is actually really helpful to hear from someone on that side. Thank you. My manager definitely did NOT have any documentation.

This is accurate from everything I've seen. Unemployment claims that employers can't document are often conceded or weakly contested.

wish more people knew this instead of just assuming they're going to get denied automatically

This is exactly what I needed to read right now. Congratulations on the new job!

This gives me hope too. Congrats!

Don't give up and don't stop certifying weekly no matter what. That's the most important thing during the wait.

I wish I'd known about this when I got denied. Would have made such a difference.

Thank you for sharing this. I'm hopeful I won't need it but good to have in my back pocket just in case things go sideways.

bookmarking this entire thread honestly. so much useful info here

They can and do audit job search activities, though not everyone gets audited. If you're selected for a review, they'll ask you to provide your job search log. If you can't prove you were doing the required number of activities, you could be disqualified for those weeks and potentially face an overpayment. It's genuinely not worth the risk - just actually do the three activities per week and write them down.

yikes okay yeah definitely actually doing it then

Yeah don't play games with this. The overpayment situation is so much worse than just doing the job search. CalJOBS is also a resource you might want to register with - EDD sometimes requires it.

YES! So glad to hear this. Congrats! Keep certifying every week and good luck with the job search.

This is the update we were all hoping for. Congrats!

I needed to see this today. Still waiting on mine but this gives me real hope.

Great outcome. You did everything right - filed promptly, kept certifying, and let the process work. That's genuinely all you can do.