Obtaining EDD benefit verification letters for utility assistance - where to find proof?

You can get your proof of benefits directly from your UI Online account. Log in, then look for "Verification of Benefits" in the menu. You'll be able to download a PDF letter showing your claim info and benefit amounts. It's a very official document with the EDD letterhead that utility companies definitely accept. I had to provide mine to my landlord last month.

ya i got the same thing for my water bill they needed proof to. the online account has it under some tab but cant remember exactly. it was pretty easy once i found it

To be more specific, here are the exact steps to get your EDD benefit verification letter: 1. Log in to UI Online at https://portal.edd.ca.gov/WebApp/Login 2. From your dashboard, select "View Documents" 3. Then look for "Verification of Benefits" or "Income and Benefit History" 4. Click on it and you can download a PDF The letter will show your weekly benefit amount (WBA), benefit year, and total claim balance. This is exactly what utility assistance programs need. If you have any trouble finding it, let me know!

I've been dealing with EDD for over a year now and sometimes that verification letter through UI Online doesn't update properly with your current claim info. If you're having ANY issues with the online version or if your case worker rejects it, call EDD directly and request they mail you an official verification of benefits letter. The mailed version always has the correct info but it takes 7-10 days to arrive. Calling EDD is a nightmare though - you'll get the "we're experiencing high call volume" message and get disconnected most of the time. I FINALLY got through using Claimyr (claimyr.com) after wasting two days trying to call myself. They have a system that calls EDD for you and connects you when an agent is available. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km. Totally worth it when you're on a deadline like you are.

dont overthink this. they basically want ANY official thing with your name and the edd payments on it. I sent screenshots of my payment history from UI online to PG&E and they accepted it no problem.

CAREFUL with utility assistance programs!! My cousin applied and they made him verify his unemployment, then turned around and reported him to EDD saying he had unreported income! He didn't, but he had to deal with an eligibility interview and his payments got delayed for 2 months while they investigated! Make sure EVERYTHING you submit matches what you told EDD!!!

ALSO! Make sure you apply for LIHEAP too, not just CARE. The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program gives one-time payments to help with energy bills, and they accept the same EDD verification documents. You can potentially get your entire past-due amount covered, not just a discount going forward. Google "LIHEAP" plus your county name to find the local provider.

Just to confirm what others have said - the Verification of Benefits letter from UI Online is definitely what you need. It's an official document with the proper letterhead, your claim details, weekly benefit amount, etc. I've used it for utility assistance, rental assistance, and even to show income for a cell phone plan. One thing to note: if you've had multiple claims in the past few years, make sure you're downloading the letter for your current claim. The system sometimes defaults to showing your most recent completed claim instead of your active one.

Great to hear you got it sorted out! Just wanted to add that if anyone else is reading this and having trouble with their electricity bill, most utility companies also have "budget billing" programs where they average out your annual usage so you pay the same amount each month. It makes budgeting way easier when you're on unemployment and dealing with irregular income. You can usually sign up for it online or over the phone, and it doesn't require any income verification like the discount programs do.

Another tip for anyone dealing with utility shutoffs - most utility companies are required to offer payment plans even if you don't qualify for assistance programs. I was behind on my gas bill by $600 and PG&E let me set up a 6-month payment plan with no down payment required. They can't shut you off while you're on an active payment plan as long as you keep up with the monthly amount. Just call their customer service and ask about payment arrangements. It bought me time to get my EDD verification sorted out and apply for the discount programs.

For anyone still struggling with this - I just went through the same process last month. The EDD Verification of Benefits letter from UI Online worked perfectly for my SDG&E CARE application. One thing I learned is that if you're also applying for other assistance programs (like food stamps or rental assistance), you can use the same letter for multiple applications. Just make sure to save/download multiple copies since some programs want you to upload it to their portal while others want you to email or mail it. Also, if your weekly benefit amount changed recently due to a new job or reduced hours, double-check that the letter shows your current benefit amount - mine was showing an old amount from before my hours got cut and I had to wait a few days for it to update in the system.