Interstate claim confusion - applied for EDD after moving back from Iowa
OK so I'm super confused about how to handle my unemployment situation. I moved to Iowa last year for a job opportunity (manufacturing sector) that seemed promising but the company downsized after about 13 months and I got laid off. I decided to move back to California since my family is here and the cost of living was actually getting pretty high there too. It's been 3 weeks and I haven't found work yet despite applying everywhere. My savings are getting low and I need to file for unemployment, but I don't know if I should file here in California or if I have to go through Iowa's system since that's where I was working? Their website is so confusing and when I called their unemployment office, I got disconnected twice. Does anyone know how this works with interstate claims? Do I apply through California EDD or Iowa Workforce Development? I paid into the system for 4 years in CA before moving to Iowa if that makes any difference. Thanks for any help!!
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Emma Olsen
You need to file what's called an "interstate claim" through California EDD. Since you've moved back to California, you'll file here but your benefits will be based on your Iowa wages. Go to UI Online and when you're filling out the application, it will ask about work in other states. Make sure you have all your Iowa employment info ready (employer address, dates worked, etc). The California EDD will then coordinate with Iowa to determine your benefit amount. I moved back from Oregon last year and did the same process. It took about 4-5 weeks to process instead of the normal 2-3 weeks because they have to verify with the other state.
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Christian Bierman
•Thank you!! This is exactly what I needed to know. I was so confused because the Iowa website seemed to say I should file there. Will my weekly benefit amount be based on what Iowa would pay or what California would pay? The max benefit in Iowa is like $600 something and California is higher, right?
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Lucas Lindsey
u file whre ur living now bro. thats how it works. my cousin did this when he moved back from neveda. but prepare 4 the wait cuz it takes FOREVER with interstate stuff
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Sophie Duck
•This isn't entirely accurate. You can file in either state technically, but you should file in the state where you currently live. Your benefit amount will be based on the state where you earned wages during your base period, not where you're currently living. The process can be confusing, so make sure to give them a call if anything is unclear during the application.
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Austin Leonard
The EDD phone system is ABSOLUTE GARBAGE if you need to ask questions about interstate claims. I went through this exact situation and spent TWO WEEKS trying to get through to a real person. The regular number keeps transferring you around and then hangs up. So frustrating!!!!
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Anita George
•I had the same frustrating experience trying to get someone on the phone about my interstate claim. After dozens of failed attempts, I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me through to an EDD rep in under 25 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km It was seriously worth it because the agent was able to fix my interstate claim issues and explain exactly what I needed to do. Interstate claims have all these special procedures that aren't explained clearly on the website.
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Abigail Spencer
Interstate claims can be tricky! Here's the official procedure: 1. File your claim in California since that's where you're now residing 2. During the application, indicate you worked in Iowa during the base period 3. California will determine if you qualify for a Combined Wage Claim (using wages from both states) 4. If you only worked in Iowa during the base period, your benefit amount will be based on Iowa's calculation 5. The payments will still come from California EDD via their payment system The most important thing: You must complete your work search requirements according to CALIFORNIA rules, not Iowa's, since you're claiming here. That means you need to log your work search activities according to CA requirements, which currently requires you to make at least 3 job contacts per week.
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Logan Chiang
•Wait I thought it was the other way around? When I moved from Arizona, they told me my benefit amount would be Arizona's rate but I had to follow California's work search requirements. The whole system is so confusing!
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Christian Bierman
OK I'm going to try filing through California EDD tomorrow. One more question - the job I had in Iowa paid a lot better than my previous jobs in California. Will my benefit amount be based on the higher Iowa wages? I was making about $28/hour there vs $21/hour at my last CA job.
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Emma Olsen
•Yes, your benefit amount will be based on your highest-earning quarters during the base period. If your Iowa wages were higher and fall within the base period (typically the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters before filing), then your benefit calculation would use those higher wages. That's actually a good thing for you since it should result in a higher weekly benefit amount.
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Austin Leonard
Watch out because sometimes they'll make you verify your identity TWICE - once for each state! I moved back from Washington and had to go through ID.me for California and then do a separate verification for Washington. Total nightmare that delayed my benefits by over a month!
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Emma Olsen
One more important thing: if you do file an interstate claim through California, make sure to follow up if you don't hear anything after 2-3 weeks. Interstate claims often get stuck in processing because the two states have to communicate with each other. Sometimes you need to call and give them a nudge to check on the status. Just be persistent!
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Christian Bierman
•Thanks for the tip! I'll definitely keep an eye on it and follow up. Really appreciate all the help from everyone here.
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