If you were fired can you collect unemployment in California EDD?

Thank you, this is exactly what I needed to hear. So they'll actually investigate why I was fired rather than just taking the employer's word that I was terminated for cause?

Exactly. California EDD will contact your former employer and ask them to explain the reason for separation. Your employer has to demonstrate that your actions constituted misconduct - meaning willful, deliberate, or wanton disregard for the employer's interests. Absenteeism due to a family emergency generally doesn't meet that bar. Make sure you explain your dad's hospitalization situation clearly when you certify and if adjudication opens up.

This is correct. I work in HR and can confirm that 'terminated for cause' on internal paperwork doesn't automatically mean EDD will agree with that determination. EDD makes their own independent finding.

Did you have to do anything special during adjudication? Like submit documents or just wait?

They sent me a form asking me to describe what happened from my side. I wrote out a detailed explanation and they called my former employer too. After about 3 weeks it showed approved. Just be honest and thorough in your explanation.

same, got fired from a restaurant job and thought I was done for, ended up getting approved after adjudication. edd approved me after like 4 weeks

wait it actually gets you through to edd?? ive been trying to call for 3 days straight

Yeah it worked for me. I had basically given up on ever reaching a human being at EDD. The agent I talked to was super helpful and explained exactly where my claim stood in adjudication.

I've heard of Claimyr. My sister used it when her claim got stuck. She said the same thing - actually got a real person on the line who could answer her specific questions about her termination.

Great question - it actually matters a lot. Under California unemployment law, 'misconduct' has a specific legal definition. Poor performance alone, even chronic poor performance, typically does NOT constitute misconduct unless EDD can show you deliberately disregarded your employer's reasonable expectations. Being bad at your job is different from intentionally breaking the rules.

oh wow ok so performance issues are different from actual misconduct thats actually really helpful to know

This is what I was confused about too. My HR paperwork says 'terminated for cause' but I think my situation was more performance-related than intentional misconduct. Hoping EDD sees it the same way.

I have some texts to my manager explaining what was going on and I think the hospital sent some paperwork to my employer at some point. Should I proactively submit that stuff?

YES. When EDD sends you their questionnaire about the separation, reference that documentation and offer to provide it. The more context you give them the better. An adjudicator reading about someone missing deadlines during a parent's hospitalization is going to look at that very differently than just 'missed deadlines repeatedly.

this is solid advice. documentation saved my claim when i got fired. keep everything

This breakdown is incredibly helpful, thank you. I feel a lot more confident now that my situation isn't an automatic disqualification.

Saving this comment. This is the clearest explanation I've seen of the misconduct standard anywhere online.

what about if you got fired for calling in sick too many times? like not FMLA or anything just regular sick days but more than the policy allows

Same boat as you! Filed mine this morning actually. Fingers crossed for both of us.

yeah seriously this thread should be like pinned somewhere lol. the 'if you were fired can you collect unemployment' question should have a simple answer on the edd website but of course it doesn't

Good call - I actually went back and added more detail to the notes section of my application. It let me type a pretty long explanation.

100% this. The initial claim application narrative matters. Adjudicators are reading these and the more human context you provide upfront the less back-and-forth is needed.

does it matter if you already submitted and didn't put much detail? can you add to it somehow

Yeah this is such a widespread myth. I genuinely believed this until yesterday. Really glad I asked before just giving up on filing.

the misconduct thing is the real key. most firings don't actually meet that legal definition

The phone interview aspect is something I didn't know about - is that standard when there's a dispute about the reason for termination?

In my experience yes, especially when the employer claims misconduct. EDD wants to hear both sides before making a determination. Be prepared, be calm, and just tell the truth about what happened.

Correct. The phone interview is called an 'eligibility interview' and it's your opportunity to present your side of the separation. Having your documentation ready and your timeline straight before that call is really important.

ok fine im checking it out. been trying to reach edd for a week about my adjudication status and getting nowhere

Good luck! It's genuinely frustrating that reaching EDD is so hard especially when you have urgent questions about whether your fired-for-cause claim is going to be approved.

I was skeptical of these services but my neighbor used it and said it actually connected her with a real EDD agent who answered all her questions about her termination situation. Might try it myself.

This is such a good point. I almost didn't file because I was so sure the answer would be no. Really glad I asked around before just giving up.

yep. file first ask questions later. you can always be disqualified but you can never collect benefits you never applied for

what happens to your claim while adjudication is happening? do you still have to certify every two weeks?

oh thank god i asked. i was literally about to stop certifying because i thought there was no point while adjudication was going on

Please don't stop! It's one of the most common mistakes people make. Certify every single two-week period until you get a final determination.

Bookmarking this comment. Certifying through adjudication - got it. I did not know this was required, this could have been a costly mistake.

Do it!! Don't wait any longer, every week you wait is a week you potentially can't claim retroactively.

filed it just now. put a lot of detail in the separation reason section. fingers crossed

This framing really helps - it's not just about the facts but about how clearly and compellingly I present the context. I'm going to write out my account in detail before the questionnaire comes so I'm prepared.

Exactly right. Also keep records of everything - dates, communications, any HR documents. You want to be able to back up your account if it comes to an appeal.

Honestly just try Claimyr, the phone battle with EDD is not winnable through persistence alone. claimyr.com - I spent way too long trying the 'just keep calling' approach before I gave in and used it. Save yourself the stress.

yeah ok doing it. i'll report back. i just need to talk to an actual person about whether my termination situation qualifies or not

update us!! genuinely curious if it works for adjudication status questions specifically

Really good to know there's an appeals process. I feel like I have a good case but knowing there's a safety net if EDD gets it wrong is reassuring.

The appeals process is genuinely fair in my experience. An administrative law judge hears both sides. It's more formal than the initial determination process but it's accessible to regular people without attorneys.

Agreed. And honestly the information in this thread should be plastered everywhere because the misinformation out there is really damaging. I almost didn't file at all.

This thread is exactly what I wish I'd found when I got fired two years ago and just didn't file because I assumed I didn't qualify. Learned too late I probably would have been approved.

That's honestly the saddest outcome - people who had valid claims and never filed because of this misconception. Please, everyone reading this: if you were fired for reasons other than clear intentional misconduct, file your California EDD claim. Let EDD make the determination.

Congrats!! So happy to hear this. Your update is going to help so many people who find this thread in the future.

YESSS!! this is the update i needed today. congrats!!

Great outcome and perfectly consistent with how California EDD handles these situations. Employer saying 'misconduct' on paperwork means nothing if the actual circumstances don't support the legal definition. Glad you got your benefits.

this gives me so much hope. still waiting on my determination but seeing this outcome helps a lot