Need last payment amount from 2021 EDD account - can't remember federal minimum for CA
So frustrating! I'm trying to get back into my EDD account from the pandemic days, but the system is asking for my last payment amount from March 2021. I was getting the federal minimum in California at that time, but I don't have any of my old paperwork and can't remember the exact amount. Does anyone know what the federal minimum payment was in CA during that time? I've tried guessing a few numbers but keep getting locked out. Need to access my old claim info for tax purposes and I'm going crazy trying different numbers!
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Chloe Boulanger
The federal minimum for California during the pandemic was $167 per week for PUA claims. Regular UI had a different minimum, but if you mean PUA, it would be $167. If you were getting any of the federal supplements (the extra $300 or $600 depending on time period), those would be separate. The amount you need is likely the base weekly benefit amount.
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Noah Ali
•THANK YOU!!! That sounds right - $167 rings a bell! I'm pretty sure I was on PUA since I was self-employed. I'll try that amount. Do you know if I should enter it with or without the extra federal supplement amount?
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James Martinez
i had same issue last year.. u need just the BASE amount not including any extras they were giving. try $167 if u were on PUA
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Olivia Harris
•But what if they had a regular UI claim not PUA? The minimum for regular UI would be different right? I think it was like $40 or something back then? The system is so confusing!
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Alexander Zeus
Just to clarify some of the comments here - there are two different minimums people might be referring to: 1. PUA (Pandemic Unemployment Assistance) minimum: $167/week in California 2. Regular UI minimum: $40/week in California The system is asking for your base WBA (Weekly Benefit Amount) without any federal supplements like the FPUC ($300/$600 extra). If you were self-employed or a gig worker during the pandemic, you likely received PUA at the $167 rate unless you qualified for more based on your income documentation.
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Alicia Stern
•My sister got PUA but hers was higher than $167 because she submitted income proof. So depends if OP did that or just got the minimum!
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Gabriel Graham
I had EXACTLY the same problem last month!!! The EDD website is such trash - making us remember exact payment amounts from years ago. I tried calling them directly about this and spent HOURS waiting on hold only to get disconnected twice. So infuriating!!!!
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Drake
•If you're still having trouble getting through to EDD on the phone, I'd recommend trying Claimyr (claimyr.com). They helped me get through to an actual rep in under 30 minutes last week when I needed to verify some old claim info. They have a demo of how it works at https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km. Saved me a ton of stress after three days of failed calls.
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Noah Ali
Update: I tried $167 and it worked!!! I'm back into my account. Thanks everyone for the help. For anyone else with this issue - it definitely wants just the base weekly amount, not including any of the extra federal money.
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Chloe Boulanger
•Great to hear! Just as an FYI for the future, you can also request your payment history by submitting form DE 8714 (Request for Unemployment Insurance Payment History) if you ever need to access old payment information. It takes a few weeks to process but can be helpful for tax purposes or account recovery.
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James Martinez
good 2 hear it worked! edd systems r the worst
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Alicia Stern
wait I'm confused. I thought pandemic benefits expired completly?? Why do you need to access your account from back then? Can't you just start a new claim if you need benefits now?
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Noah Ali
•I don't need new benefits - I'm trying to access my old account for tax records. My accountant needs verification of exactly what I received in early 2021 because I got a letter from the IRS about my 2021 taxes.
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Alexander Zeus
Just a helpful reminder for everyone: it's a good practice to keep records of all your unemployment payments (regular UI, PUA, any extensions, and federal supplements) for at least 5 years. The IRS can audit back that far, and EDD occasionally does retroactive reviews. You can download your payment history as a PDF from your UI Online account and store it somewhere safe.
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Olivia Harris
•Oh no, I never did this... I haven't kept ANY of my EDD papers from the pandemic. Am I going to be in trouble? Now I'm worried they'll audit me and I won't have anything to show them!
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Chloe Boulanger
To address the anxiety some of you are expressing about documentation: if you didn't save your records, don't panic. You can request your complete payment history from EDD even years later. Either through your UI Online account (if you can access it) or by submitting the DE 8714 form. EDD maintains these records and can provide official documentation if needed for tax purposes or audits.
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Alicia Stern
•My cousin got audited last year and had to do this! They sent him all his payment stuff from 2020-2021. Took almost a month to get it tho
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CosmicCommander
This is super helpful info! I'm bookmarking this thread because I have a feeling I might need to access my old EDD account someday too. Question for those who've been through this - is there any way to reset your security questions or get help if you can't remember those either? I changed phones since then and lost access to my old email, so I'm worried I'll be completely locked out if I ever need to get back in.
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Ethan Taylor
•If you're locked out of your account due to changed contact info, you'll likely need to call EDD directly or visit a local office with ID to verify your identity and update your account details. They can help reset security questions and update your email/phone. It's definitely more of a hassle than just remembering payment amounts! I'd recommend trying to get back in sooner rather than later while you still remember some details, because the longer you wait the harder it gets.
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Amara Nnamani
Pro tip for anyone else who might face this issue: if you're trying to recover old EDD account access, check your email for any old payment confirmation emails from 2020-2021. I found mine buried in my Gmail archives when I searched for "EDD" and "payment issued" - they actually show the exact weekly benefit amount which is what the system asks for. Saved me from having to guess! Also, if you had direct deposit, your bank statements from that time period will show the exact amounts too.
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GalacticGladiator
•This is brilliant advice! I wish I had thought to check my old emails first. For anyone else reading this - also check your spam/trash folders if you don't see the EDD emails in your main inbox. Sometimes those automated payment notifications ended up in spam. And if you used a tax prep service like H&R Block or TurboTax, they might have copies of your unemployment documents from when you filed your 2021 taxes. Worth checking there too before going through the hassle of calling EDD!
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