If you get fired from a job can you get unemployment in California?

This is really reassuring, thank you. So the burden is kind of on the employer to prove I did something wrong? I was worried I'd automatically be denied just because they fired me.

yeah this is accurate. my sister got fired for 'attitude problems' and still got approved. edd takes a pretty claimant-friendly approach unless there's actual evidence of serious misconduct

One thing to add - make sure when EDD sends you the questionnaire about your separation, you describe the situation factually and calmly. Don't say anything that could be interpreted as admitting to intentional wrongdoing. Just stick to the facts of what happened.

5 weeks is a long time, were you able to pay your bills during that period or did they back pay everything once approved?

they backpaid all the weeks I certified for, so once it was approved I got a lump sum for all those weeks. still stressful not knowing when money would come though

This is really common when there's a disputed termination. The adjudication period for fired claimants is almost always longer than for laid off workers because EDD has to gather info from both sides.

I didn't even know services like that existed. I've been trying to call EDD all morning and can't get through at all. Might have to check this out.

how does that even work? like do they just stay on hold for you?

Basically yes - it connects you to an actual agent so you skip the endless redial cycle. Really useful when your claim is in adjudication and you need answers fast.

I'm skeptical of anything that promises to get through to EDD lol. That phone system is designed to defeat humans. But I've heard a few people mention this recently so maybe it actually works

The language on paperwork matters less than what EDD actually determines happened. Both your cousin's situation and a straightforward firing go through the same separation review process. EDD will ask the employer directly why employment ended. If the employer says 'position eliminated' that's actually closer to a layoff which would likely result in faster approval with no adjudication needed.

oh interesting so if the employer kind of covers for you on the paperwork that helps? seems weird that it works that way but ok

Technically the employer is supposed to be accurate but yes if they describe it as a reduction in force or position elimination, EDD generally takes that at face value unless something else raises a red flag.

That's actually a huge point. I'm not sure my former employer would even take the time to respond with a bunch of documentation. It was a pretty small company.

Small companies especially tend not to bother. They fired you, you're gone, they move on. They're not thinking about your unemployment claim two weeks later.

this is true but don't count on it. still respond thoroughly to any EDD questionnaires and document your side of the story. don't assume the employer will just not respond

This is exactly the kind of detail I needed. No documentation, no write ups, nothing formal - so it sounds like I'm in the clear zone you're describing.

good info but I'd also mention that EDD has their own definition of misconduct that doesn't always match what most people think of as misconduct. they've approved claims for people fired for things that sound really bad and denied claims for things that sound really minor. it's not always predictable

100% agree - the unpredictability is real. That's exactly why talking to an actual EDD rep about your specific situation before the decision is made can be really valuable. Especially if your situation has any gray areas.

Yeah that's basically where I landed - already filed. Just anxious about the waiting.

totally get it. the waiting is the worst part. just make sure you keep doing your weekly certs no matter what

The weekly certifications thing is something I didn't fully understand - do I certify even though I don't know if I'm approved yet? That seems weird but I guess I should just do it anyway?

Yes, certify every single week regardless of adjudication status. Think of it as claiming your place in line for those weeks. If approved, all certified weeks get paid. If you miss a week, that week is simply gone.

This is the number one mistake people make. They stop certifying because they think 'what's the point if I'm not approved yet' and then they lose weeks of payments when they finally do get approved.

wait so what do you certify about if you're in adjudication? do you still have to list job search activities?

Did she end up getting approved?

yeah she got approved about two weeks after she found that out. knowing what stage it was at definitely helped her stress level even if she couldn't speed up the process

That's exactly the value - even if you can't make EDD move faster, knowing WHERE your claim is stuck makes a huge psychological difference. Is it waiting on your employer? Is there a specific issue on your account? That info changes what you do next.

Oh man I hadn't even thought about preserving communications. My work email access was cut off when they fired me but I might still have some texts on my phone. Going to dig through those now.

Do it immediately. Download or screenshot everything you have. Also write out a detailed timeline while your memory is fresh - dates, conversations, what was said. Even if you don't need it for the initial decision it's gold if you end up at appeal.

Appeals are actually more claimant-friendly than people realize. It's a full hearing before an administrative law judge and you can present all the evidence you want. Many people who lose initially win on appeal.

The current requirement in California is three job search activities per week. This requirement is in effect from the first week you certify - there's no pause during adjudication. However, job search activities can include more than just applying - attending a job fair, creating or updating a resume on a job search site, or registering with an employment agency all count.

oh ok good to know. what about if you're on standby status? i thought standby meant you didn't have to do job search activities

Correct - if your claim is approved for standby status (like if you're a union member waiting to be called back or your employer has confirmed a return date within 60 days) then job search requirements are waived. But that has to be specifically approved, it's not automatic.

And to be clear, for a termination situation like the OP, standby wouldn't apply. Job searches are required.

Twice is quite a track record haha but genuinely reassuring to hear

😂 yeah rough few years but hey the system worked both times. good luck to you

$450 a week maximum seems pretty low honestly given California's cost of living. My rent alone is way more than that.

Yeah it's not designed to fully replace your income, it's meant to be partial wage replacement while you job search. It replaces roughly 60-70% of your prior earnings up to that cap.

The base period calculation also means if you were out of work for any period in the last 18 months for any reason, that could affect your weekly amount. Worth checking the portal calculator before you budget around a specific number.

I'm sorry you're in this situation - have you tried Claimyr? It's specifically designed for the problem you're describing - getting through to an actual EDD agent when you can't get past the phone system. Go to claimyr.com or watch the quick demo at https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10 - for a claim stuck this long in adjudication, talking directly to an agent is probably the only way to find out what's actually blocking it.

at this point I'll try literally anything. two months is insane. my landlord is not being patient about this

Two months with no movement often means there's a specific unresolved issue on the account that nobody flagged you about. Could be an ID verification hold, an unresponded employer questionnaire, or a pending interview that wasn't scheduled. An agent can usually identify this in about 5 minutes once you actually get one on the phone.

If your original benefit year is still open (benefit years last 12 months from your filing date), you would reopen your existing claim rather than file a new one. If the benefit year has expired, you'd file a new claim and EDD would determine which base period to use. Reopening is done through UI Online and is usually processed faster than a new claim.

ok that makes sense. my benefit year should still be open so I'll reopen instead of refiling. thanks

Also worth noting - weeks worked at the new job won't count as weeks you can collect benefits for (obviously), but they won't negatively affect your remaining balance on the original claim either.

3 extra months is brutal. Did you have to attend an in-person hearing for the appeal or was it all done by phone?

appeals are done by phone hearing with the administrative law judge. they mail you a notice with the date and time. you can request more time if you need to gather evidence or find representation.

Legal aid organizations in California often help with EDD appeal hearings at no cost to the claimant. If you find yourself at the appeal stage, it's worth looking into whether there's a legal aid society near you that handles unemployment appeals.

Only on the initial claim application do you describe the reason for separation. In your weekly certifications you're primarily answering questions about whether you worked, how much you earned, whether you were available for work, and whether you completed your job search activities. The separation issue is handled separately during the adjudication process.

oh ok that's easier than I thought. I was dreading having to explain the whole situation every single week

I actually did get a small severance. I had no idea that would affect the timing, definitely need to disclose that correctly on my application.

Yes disclose it honestly - EDD will often find out anyway since employers report it and you don't want a fraud issue on top of everything else. It's not a big deal just a timing thing.

Correct - and to be specific, it's not all severance that causes this. If the severance is truly a lump sum with no conditions attached, the rules around it can differ from severance that's structured as continued salary for a period of time. If you're unsure, an EDD agent can clarify how your specific severance package will be treated - another good reason to get someone on the phone if you can.

This is exactly what I needed to read today, thank you. Really hope mine goes the same way.

it very likely will. the people who get denied for performance-related terminations are usually the ones where the employer submitted very specific documentation of repeated warnings with signed acknowledgments. no documentation cuts heavily in your favor.

also just want to add - use this time productively even while waiting. update your resume, start applying, register on CalJOBS if you haven't. meeting your job search requirements isn't just a box to check, it also puts you in a better position if EDD ever audits your search activities later

Thank you everyone in this thread. I've learned more in the last hour than I would have in days of trying to navigate the EDD website. Feeling a lot less panicked now. I'll keep certifying every week, respond to everything immediately, and stay on top of my job search log. Will update when I get a decision.

Good luck - truly sounds like you're in a solid position based on what you've described. And remember, even if the initial determination doesn't go your way, appeals have a meaningful success rate. You have options at every stage.

If at any point you're stuck waiting and need to get specific status info from EDD, don't forget about Claimyr at claimyr.com - that phone access can be the difference between knowing what's happening with your claim and just anxiously waiting. Wishing you a quick and smooth approval.