If you get terminated can you collect unemployment in California?

This is really reassuring to hear. My termination letter just said 'position elimination' so hopefully that works in my favor. Do I need to send that letter to California EDD as part of my claim?

Yes, keep that termination letter! California EDD will contact your former employer to verify the reason for separation. Having documentation that says 'position elimination' is really helpful. Upload any documents you have through UI Online if they request it during the adjudication process.

same thing happened to me last year, position elimination, got approved no problem

I actually filed yesterday online through UI Online. Is there anything specific I should be doing while I wait to hear back? Should I be filing weekly certifications already?

Start filing your weekly certifications right away - you can file for the week that includes your last day of work. Don't wait for your claim to be approved before certifying, otherwise you could lose those weeks of benefits. California EDD processes certifications retroactively once your claim is approved.

wait really?? I didn't know that. I was laid off 2 weeks ago and haven't certified at all because I thought I had to wait for approval first

Wait so your former employer can actually contest your claim?? How common is that? Now I'm worried my company will do the same thing.

It happens, especially with larger companies that have HR departments. But if the termination really was a business decision and not misconduct on your part, contesting usually doesn't change the outcome - it just delays things and puts your claim in adjudication while California EDD investigates. Just make sure you're honest and accurate in your claim details.

employers contest claims all the time even when they have no real grounds just to try to avoid the UI charge to their account. its frustrating but don't panic if it happens

EXACTLY. My former employer contested my claim even after they handed me a layoff notice IN WRITING. California EDD still approved me but it took 6 extra weeks in adjudication. The whole system is broken honestly

Great question. From California EDD's perspective, both layoffs and most terminations (fired for non-misconduct reasons) generally qualify you for unemployment benefits. A layoff is typically when the position itself goes away due to business needs. A termination can mean the employee was let go for performance or conduct reasons. The critical line for UI eligibility is whether there was 'misconduct' - which California defines pretty narrowly. Poor performance by itself usually isn't considered misconduct under California UI law, which surprises a lot of people.

oh wow so even if someone gets fired for like not meeting sales quotas or whatever they might still qualify?

Generally yes - California courts and California EDD have consistently held that failure to meet performance standards, absent willful or deliberate misconduct, doesn't disqualify someone from UI benefits. There's a difference between 'couldn't do the job' and 'deliberately violated company policy.' The former typically qualifies for benefits.

oh no I haven't certified at all yet and it's been almost 2 weeks since I filed my initial claim. can I still go back and certify for those past weeks??

Yes you can - log into UI Online and look for the option to certify for past weeks. You should be able to go back and certify for weeks you missed as long as it hasn't been too long. Do it right now before you lose those weeks!

Jumping in - I just certified for my first week using UI Online and it was actually pretty straightforward. Asked about job search activities, earnings, availability to work. Took maybe 10 minutes.

the job search requirements are real too - make sure you're actually doing 3 job search activities per week and keeping a log. california edd can audit those

That makes a lot of sense. I basically described it exactly as it happened - they called me in, handed me a letter, said position elimination. Kept it factual. Hopefully that's the right approach.

That's exactly right. Factual, straightforward, no emotional editorializing. You said position elimination, they'll presumably confirm position elimination, claim goes through smoothly.

This is solid advice. The adjudication process exists specifically to resolve discrepancies between claimant and employer accounts. Matching stories = faster processing.

I feel you completely. This is exactly why I started using Claimyr - it's the only way I've actually gotten through to a real California EDD agent when I needed to. The site is claimyr.com and there's a demo video at https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10 that explains exactly how it works. Instead of you sitting there hitting redial all day, it handles the hold queue for you and calls you back when an agent is available.

I've seen that mentioned before in these forums. Does it actually work? I'm at the point where I'll try literally anything

It worked for me twice now. Both times got a callback within a few hours and was connected to an actual live California EDD agent who could see my claim and answer my specific questions. Way better than the random automated system disconnecting me.

yeah the edd phone system has always been rough but post-pandemic it never really recovered to normal levels. claimyr has been a lifesaver for a lot of people in these forums

I had no idea CalJOBS was required! I haven't done that yet. Is there a deadline to register or can I do it at any point?

You're supposed to register within 21 days of your claim being filed I believe, but honestly just do it right away. It's not complicated - basically an online resume profile connected to the state job board. Takes maybe 30-45 minutes to complete fully.

Wait is this required for everyone or just certain claim types? I've been filing weekly claims for 3 weeks and nobody told me about CalJOBS

Good to hear there are some smooth experiences out there. Did you have to do a phone interview with California EDD or was everything handled online?

all online for me. never spoke to anyone. claim just got approved and payment showed up on my EDD debit card. i think phone interviews are more common when there are discrepancies or employer disputes

Same here for my last claim - fully online, no interview required, approved in about 10 days. It really depends on whether there are any flags on the claim

That's really eye-opening. So my employer has a financial reason to contest my claim beyond just being vindictive. I'm going to go dig up all the emails from the termination period just in case.

Smart move. Also check if you have any performance reviews that show you were meeting expectations before the termination - that further supports that this wasn't a performance-based firing and definitely wasn't misconduct.

Excellent point. In an employer contest, California EDD essentially evaluates: did this person commit misconduct? Your employer has to prove yes, you just have to show there was no misconduct. Documentation of good standing helps your case significantly.

This is a really common misconception worth clearing up. Your cousin may be thinking of how some states handle it, but California specifically does NOT automatically disqualify someone for being fired. The determining factor under California Unemployment Insurance Code is whether there was 'misconduct connected with work.' Being terminated for business reasons, position elimination, downsizing, or even performance issues (without willful misconduct) absolutely can qualify for benefits in California.

oh wow okay that's different from what I thought. good to know I guess

Yeah this myth keeps a lot of people from even filing when they absolutely should. If you got fired and you're in California, ALWAYS file a claim. Worst case it gets denied and you haven't lost anything by trying.

While you're waiting - keep certifying every week without fail, keep doing your 3 job search activities per week and logging them, and make sure your contact info in UI Online is current. If California EDD needs to reach you they'll call or send a notice through your UI Online account.

Yeah I've been trying to call to just check the status and it's impossible to get through. Is there any way to check online instead of by phone?

UI Online will show your claim status - look for 'Claim Status' in your account. If it shows 'pending' it's still processing. If it shows 'adjudication' that means there's something being reviewed. For actually talking to someone, claimyr.com was how I finally got through when I needed answers - you can see how it works at https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10

Just checked UI Online and it says pending. I guess that's normal? Going to keep certifying and hope for the best

Oh wow I didn't even think about that. I had a quarter where I missed about 3 weeks for a medical leave. Could that lower my benefit amount?

It could affect which quarter they use as your highest earning quarter. California EDD looks at quarters roughly 5-17 months before you filed, picks the highest one, and calculates from there. If your medical leave was recent it might not even fall in the base period, but worth checking.

There's also an alternate base period you can request if you don't qualify or get a low amount under the standard base period. It uses more recent wages. Worth knowing if the standard calculation comes back lower than expected.

Six years of employment history actually works in your favor - that's substantial wages in your base period which means a higher weekly benefit amount. File those weekly certifications starting right away and don't wait for approval. You've got this.

Thank you so much. The waiting is the hardest part. I didn't realize I should start certifying before approval - going to log into UI Online right now

Good luck! Most straightforward termination claims in California process within 3 weeks. Six year tenure at one company suggests stable employment history which California EDD views favorably.

Really hoping I don't need to go through an appeal process but good to know the window is 30 days. Is an appeal complicated to file?

The initial appeal form (DE 1000M) is actually pretty straightforward - you basically just explain why you disagree with the determination and submit it online or by mail. The appeals process involves a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge. It sounds scary but it's more informal than court. Plenty of claimants represent themselves without an attorney.

The appeals hearings are actually fairer than you'd think. The ALJ is supposed to be neutral and they understand that most claimants aren't lawyers. As long as you have your facts and documentation straight you don't need legal representation for most cases.

There's a one-week unpaid waiting period in California - the first week you certify you won't get paid for it, but you still have to certify it. After that waiting week, payments typically process within a few days of certifying. Most people get their payment 3-5 days after submitting their weekly certification, deposited to the EDD debit card or direct deposit if you set that up.

oh thats annoying about the waiting week. so basically the first payment you receive is actually for your second certified week?

Exactly right. Week 1 = unpaid waiting period (still must certify). Week 2 = first paid week, you'll receive that payment after certifying for it. It's been that way in California for a long time, just how the program works.

ugh the waiting period makes an already stressful situation worse but at least it's only one week. thanks for explaining this

This is super valuable. I was careful with my language but now I'm going to log back into UI Online to double check what I actually put. Is there a way to edit answers after submitting?

Once you submit the initial claim you can't edit the answers, but don't panic. If there's any ambiguity California EDD will just contact you for clarification either through a phone interview or a written questionnaire. Just be consistent and honest when you respond.

Also worth noting - California EDD will send a form called the DE 4800 (Notice of Unemployment Insurance Claim Filed) to your former employer letting them know you've filed. Your employer then has a window to respond and contest if they choose to. So there will be a back-and-forth process regardless.

This is good motivation to have a backup plan for reaching them. I'm hoping my claim processes smoothly but I'll keep that in mind.

Glad you got it resolved! Three weeks is so long to be in the dark about your claim status. I've been lucky that mine seems to be moving along but I'll definitely remember claimyr if I hit a wall

This whole thread has been incredibly helpful. I feel way less panicked about my situation now. Going to keep certifying every week and stay on top of my CalJOBS registration and job search log. Thanks everyone.