Where do I apply for unemployment in California EDD?

oh thank you! so I just go to edd.ca.gov and there's a place to start an application? do I need to create an account first or can I just fill it out?

Yes you'll create a myEDD account first at myedd.edd.ca.gov, then from there you access UI Online to file. The account setup takes maybe 10 minutes and then you can start the actual application right after.

make sure you file asap, benefits don't start until you actually apply and there's a one week unpaid waiting period after that

wait there's a separate identity verification thing? what happens if I don't do that step?

If you don't complete the ID.me verification your payments get held up in a pending status. It's pretty straightforward though, you just upload a photo of your ID and do a quick selfie verification. Takes like 15 minutes.

the ID.me thing got me so frustrated, took me like 3 tries before it accepted my documents. just be patient with it

how many jobs do I need to apply to each week? is there like a minimum number?

California EDD requires you to make at least three job search activities per week. Applying to jobs counts but so does things like attending a job fair, setting up a profile on a job site, or networking. Just keep records of everything - date, company, contact info, position.

I did not know it was 3 per week I thought it was still 1. glad they clarified this

oh wow I would have totally ignored that call. do they leave a voicemail if you miss it?

Sometimes they do and sometimes they don't, it depends on the situation. If you miss it, try calling back as soon as possible. Getting through to an agent can be really difficult though, the hold times are brutal. I actually used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) when I was trying to reach EDD about my interview - it basically gets you in the queue to talk to a real agent without you sitting on hold for hours. There's a demo video at https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10 that shows how it works. Saved me a ton of stress.

seconding the phone call thing, I missed mine and it sent my claim into adjudication for an extra 5 weeks. answer every call from an unknown number while your claim is processing

lol okay okay I'm going right now. do I need pay stubs literally in front of me or is it just for reference?

just for reference to help you fill in your earnings info accurately. the EDD does verify with your employer but having ballpark numbers helps you fill out the form correctly the first time

oh good to know, I saw some sites that looked kind of sketchy when I googled it

Yeah the official site is a bit clunky but it works. If you have trouble navigating it just search 'UI Online California EDD' specifically and the direct link should come up.

those third party sites are predatory imo, targeting people in already stressful situations

I was laid off so hopefully that's the simple route. my whole department got cut

mass layoff is the easiest case honestly, they usually process those pretty smoothly. you might not even need that phone interview I mentioned earlier

Mass layoffs are definitely faster to process. You may want to see if your employer filed a WARN notice with the state - if they laid off 75+ employees they were supposed to give 60 days notice or pay in lieu of it, which is separate from unemployment

that's really reassuring, 45 minutes isn't bad at all. did you get approved pretty quickly?

took about 2.5 weeks for my first payment. the waiting is the hardest part honestly

2.5 weeks is pretty good, mine took almost 4 weeks because of that missed phone interview I mentioned

this is so helpful thank you. one question - what if I worked for two different employers in the past year? do I list both?

Yes list all employers from the past 18 months. California EDD will look at your full earnings history to calculate your weekly benefit amount. Your claim is based on a base period which is usually the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters.

also if any of your past employers were out of state or you did gig work it gets a little more complicated, might be worth a call to EDD to clarify

oh that's a really good tip, I'll make sure to check back frequently

yeah check at minimum every few days. they also sometimes send letters to your mailing address so make sure your address in the system is current

I've heard Tuesday mornings right at 8am when they open is actually good? but honestly it's kind of a lottery

honestly yeah it varies so much week to week. I eventually just used Claimyr (claimyr.com) when I absolutely needed to get through for something urgent. You can watch how it works at https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10 - basically gets you connected to an actual EDD agent without the hours of hold music. For stuff that can't wait it was worth it

bookmarking that for if I need it. hopefully my application goes smoothly and I won't need to call

wait so I have to keep logging in every two weeks forever while I'm collecting? I thought it was just a one time thing

yep every two weeks while you're collecting benefits. it only takes like 5 minutes once you know what you're doing but you have to do it consistently

and if you miss a week you can still certify retroactively for a limited time but there's a pop up warning you have to acknowledge. just don't let it go too long

that's actually more than I expected. I was making decent money so it'll be a pay cut but manageable

Yeah it's not luxurious but it's meant to be a bridge while you job hunt. The key is filing fast so you start that bridge ASAP

also remember UI benefits are taxable income federally, you can choose to have 10% withheld or deal with it at tax time

I didn't know that was a thing, thank you for mentioning it

Yeah 211.org is a good starting point, you can search by zip code for local assistance programs for utilities, rent, food, etc. Hopefully your EDD claim processes fast and you won't need it but good to have in your back pocket

Tell her to try Chrome or Firefox if she's on Safari, the EDD site is notoriously glitchy on Safari. Also clearing cache and cookies before trying again sometimes helps. If she still can't create the account she should call EDD tech support at 1-833-978-2511, that's separate from the main claims line

thank you! will pass this along, she's been trying for two days and getting frustrated

also make sure she's going to myedd.edd.ca.gov specifically and not trying to create an account directly on edd.ca.gov, they're separate login systems and it's confusing

oh that's a good point, I did get a small severance. so that delays when benefits start?

It can depending on how much it was and how it was paid out. If it was a lump sum vs continued salary makes a difference. Might be worth a quick call to EDD to clarify your specific situation

Severance paid as salary continuation can push back your claim's start date, but lump sum severance is handled differently. The EDD looks at whether it replaces wages for a specific period.

that's really smart, I'm going to start doing that from day one

Also photograph or scan any physical mail from EDD before you do anything with it. I've seen people accidentally throw away important notices thinking it was junk mail

yes to all of this. I learned the hard way when my claim went into adjudication and I had to reconstruct a whole timeline from memory

will do! I'm going to try and fill out the application tonight. fingers crossed it goes smoothly

good luck!! you've got all the info you need, just go for it

Keep us posted and don't hesitate to come back with questions once you're in the system. The initial application is just the beginning and there will probably be more questions along the way

I feel so much better prepared now than I did this morning. genuinely grateful for everyone in this thread

That's what this community is for. Good luck with your claim, you're doing the right thing by getting on it fast

seriously this is one of the most helpful threads I've seen on here. saving for future reference