California EDD — Unemployment & Job Services

We are one of the largest state departments, and we’re here to support Californians with many important services. To help you, we: Provide Unemployment, Disability Insurance, and Paid Family Leave to those in need. Collect payroll taxes from businesses to help fund important programs. Keep track of employment records for millions of California workers. Help people find jobs by connecting them with employers who need them. Manage federal job training programs to help you develop new skills and find work. Collect and share helpful information about the job market, so you can stay informed.

Unemployment Insurance Branch This branch helps people in California who have lost their jobs. It manages a state and federal program that gives short-term financial support and helps people find new jobs. Employers pay for this program.

Through our Workforce Services Branch, we proudly serve job seekers, employers, and workforce partners throughout California. Our Job Services team is here to guide job seekers toward meaningful, long-lasting work, one step at a time.

Unemployment Benefits

Step 1: Get Your Information in Order

Eligibility Requirements

Certify for Benefits

Reopen Your Claim

Appeals

Receive Your First Payment

Your Benefit Payment Options

Tax Information (Form 1099G)

Contact Information for Unemployment Insurance

Register in CalJOBS

End Your Benefits

CalJOBS

America's Job Center of California

Securing a job can be challenging

Enhance Your Skills

California Training Benefits

The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) helps people

The California Eligible Training Provider List (ETPL) helps adults

Past 18 Months of Employment Information: Employer names, mailing and physical addresses, dates worked, gross wages (total before taxes and deductions), hours worked, and how you were paid (such as weekly or monthly). Most Recent Employer Information: Contact information (name, address, and phone number) for your most recent employer and your immediate supervisor, the date when you last worked for this last employer, and gross wages in the “last week” you worked.

The base period is a specific 12-month period that tells us if you earned enough to set up an unemployment claim. To learn more, review How Unemployment Benefits are Computed (DE 8714AB) (PDF). If you qualify, your weekly benefit amount will be between $40 and $450. You can use the unemployment benefit calculator to get an estimate of what you might receive.

Personal Information: Your name, birth date, address, Social Security number, photo identification (such as driver's license, ID card, or passport), and another identity document (such as W2, utility bill, or birth certificate). To avoid delays, your information should match what’s on file with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) or Social Security Administration. View the full list of acceptable documents for identity verification. Past 18 Months of Employment Information: Employer names, mailing and physical addresses, dates worked, gross wages (total before taxes and deductions), hours worked, and how you were paid (such as weekly or monthly). Most Recent Employer Information: Contact information (name, address, and phone number) for your most recent employer and your immediate supervisor, the date when you last worked for this last employer, and gross wages in the “last week” you worked. Last week means Sunday until Saturday. Reason You Aren’t Working (or had your hours cut): If you voluntarily quit or were fired (sometimes called terminated, discharged, or let go) for misconduct, you may not be eligible for benefits. Citizenship: If you are registered with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) as a non-citizen, you’ll need your USCIS document, such as your Permanent Resident Card, Employment Authorization Card, or Refugee Travel Document. Federal Employment: If you worked for the federal government during the last 18 months, you’ll need your Notice to Federal Employee About Unemployment Insurance, Standard Form 8. Military Service: If you served in the military in the last 18 months, you’ll need your DD214 Member Copy 4.

By MAIL to the following address: EDD PO Box 989738 West Sacramento, CA 95798-9738 NOTE: Extra postage is required. By FAX to the following telephone number: 1-866-215-9159

DO NOT MAIL OR FAX THIS PAGE SUBMITTING YOUR APPLICATION Be sure to review your application thoroughly for completeness. An incomplete application may delay or prevent the filing of your claim, or cause benefits to be denied. Submit your completed application including any applicable attachment(s) by mail or fax: By MAIL to the following address: EDD PO Box 989738 West Sacramento, CA 95798-9738 NOTE: Extra postage is required.

You can contact your local AJCC for help with filing an unemployment claim online, through the mail or fax. But center staff cannot assist with any existing claim issue.

It takes about three weeks to process a new application for unemployment benefits and issue payment to eligible workers.

Certifying is the process of answering basic questions every two weeks to tell us you’re still unemployed and eligible to receive benefit payments. You’ll first certify for benefits about two weeks after we process your application and again every two weeks. We will send you an email, or we will contact you by mail, when it’s time to certify. If you fail to certify accurately or on time, it will delay or prevent payment.

Note: If you need to report work and wages, a change of address, or a phone number, certify through myEDD or by mail.

*Customers on Partial or Work Sharing claims are unable to certify for benefits or reopen an existing claim using UI Online at this time, but can access all other features of the system. Who can use UI Online? Only customers who have an existing unemployment claim and an EDD Customer Account Number can register for UI Online. Can I use UI Online to file any type of unemployment claim online? Yes, but there are some exceptions.

While you’re waiting, please post your resume in CalJOBS. You have 21 days from the date on your Notice of Requirement to Register for Work (DE 8405) to do so, but there’s no reason to wait. We will let you know if you don’t have to complete this step.

You have 21 days from the Notice Date on your Notice of Requirement to Register for Work (DE 8405) form to meet this requirement.

You must submit your appeal in writing within 30 days of the mailing date on your Notice of Determination and/or Ruling (DE 1080CZ) or Notice of Overpayment (DE 1444CT). You can still submit an appeal after the 30-day deadline, but you must provide the reasons why you missed the deadline. An ALJ will review your reasons for missing the appeal deadline. If the ALJ decides that you had good cause for missing the appeal deadline, the ALJ will continue to review your appeal.

NOTE: Claimants for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) have 60 days to file an appeal. Employers appealing the Notice of Determination or Assessment (DE 3807), have 30 days to file an appeal. SECTION I APPELLANT INFORMATION INSTRUCTIONS: The following information must be provided by the Appellant (the claimant or employer who is appealing a notice), or by the authorized agent or representative of the Appellant.

You must sign the form and return it to the EDD at the office address listed on the notice that you are appealing. YOU HAVE 30 DAYS FROM THE MAIL DATE OF THE NOTICE TO FILE A TIMELY APPEAL. If you appeal after the 30 day period, you must include the reason for the delay. The administrative law judge (ALJ) will determine whether you had good cause for the delay. If the ALJ determines you did not have good cause to submit your appeal late, your appeal will be dismissed.

Note: Please continue to certify for benefits while your appeal is pending. You can only be paid for weeks in which you have certified and met all other eligibility requirements.

You can reopen your claim if it was filed within the last 52 weeks and you have not used all of your benefits. If your benefit year ended, you may need to reapply for unemployment. Visit Benefit Year End for more information. You can also watch this video for more help with reopening your claim. Important: Waiting to reopen or apply for a new claim can delay benefit payments. How to Reopen a Claim Show All Online The fastest and most convenient way to reopen your claim is through myEDD.

End Your Benefits Your benefit year ends 12 months after the start date of your claim. You cannot be paid for weeks that fall outside of your benefit year, even if there is a remaining balance on your claim. For more information, visit Benefit Year End. Your payments will also end when you: Stop certifying for benefits. You will not be paid for any weeks you do not certify. Have reported to us that you are back to work and have stopped certifying for benefits.

Payments are usually deposited within three days after being approved. Note: Holidays and weekends will delay your payment until the next business day. Deposit timeframes also vary by bank. Contact your bank to get details on when deposits are made to your account.

Select Debit Card, Direct Deposit, or Mailed Check, then Save. For direct deposit, enter your personal banking information. For direct deposit, agree to the Terms of Use and Prepaid Debit Card Disclosures, then select Submit.

Disability Insurance representatives cannot answer questions about Unemployment Insurance (UI). Please visit Contact the EDD for UI contact information. Important: SDI Online is the fastest way to file your claim. To learn how to submit questions about your Disability Insurance claim or Paid Family leave, visit Contact Disability Insurance and Paid Family Leave.

To start chatting with a live agent, select the blue Help button at the bottom of your UI Online homepage. Agents are available Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

EDD staff provide employment services to the public, but may not be physically present at each AJCC location. Please contact an office before visiting to confirm EDD staff availability.

Veterans and their spouses get priority service for job referrals, career counseling, training services, and more. For more information, visit Services for Veterans.

We do not pay for school or training expenses such as tuition, fees, books, supplies, or transportation. But there are other programs that might help you pay for school or training. To learn more, visit Federal Student Aid.

If you’re approved for CTB, you’ll need to keep certifying for unemployment benefits. But don’t worry—you do not have to be available for work, look for a job, or accept a job while you’re in school or training. How to Participate in the Program To join the CTB program, you need to have a current and valid unemployment benefits claim. Here are the other things you need to do: Step 1: Let us Know You’re Interested If you want to join the CTB program, contact us online, by phone, or in person at an America’s Job Center of California (AJCC) as soon as you can.

If you have a CalJOBS account, you do not need to sign in. If you don’t have an account and do not want to create one, continue with step two below.

Once you select a provider, the programs eligible for WIOA funding will display a green checkmark.

You must serve a one-week unpaid waiting period on your claim before getting paid. The waiting period can only be served if you certify for benefits and meet all eligibility requirements for that week.

Report any work and wages—even if you were not paid yet. Show All Certify with myEDD (Fastest Option) myEDD is the fastest way to certify for benefits and report work and wages. To get started, log in to myEDD and select UI Online. If you have wages to report, select Report Wages to use the Weekly Wage Reporting Tool. The information you enter can be used in your certification.

For technical help, including registration, password resets, EDD Account Numbers, and how to use UI OnlineSM, contact us at 1-833-978-2511 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Pacific time), Monday through Friday, except on state holidays. Note: Representatives will not have access to your claim or payment information.

For general workforce services information: Phone: 1-916-654-7799 California Relay Service (711): Provide the Workforce Services number (916-654-7799) to the operator

For assistance, call CalJOBS at 1-800-758-0398.

For technical help, including registration, password resets, EDD Account Numbers, and how to use UI OnlineSM, contact us at 1-833-978-2511 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Pacific time), Monday through Friday, except on state holidays. Note: Representatives will not have access to your claim or payment information.

By MAIL to the following address: EDD PO Box 989738 West Sacramento, CA 95798-9738 NOTE: Extra postage is required. By FAX to the following telephone number: 1-866-215-9159

Hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Pacific time), Monday through Friday, except on state holidays. Note: Monday and Tuesday mornings before 10 a.m. are our busiest call times, so we recommend calling at a different time. English and Spanish: 1-800-300-5616 Armenian: 1-855-528-1518 Cantonese: 1-800-547-3506 Korean: 1-844-660-0877 Mandarin: 1-866-303-0706 Tagalog: 1-866-395-1513 Vietnamese: 1-800-547-2058 All Other Languages: 1-800-300-5616. Interpreter services are available free of charge. California Relay Service (711): Provide the UI number (1-800-300-5616) to the operator. TTY: 1-800-815-9387

Unemployment Automated Self-Service Line Get information on how to apply, reopen an existing claim, or view your last payment issued. You can also: Certify for benefits using EDD Tele-CertSM. Request copies of your 1099G tax information. Find your local America’s Job Center of CaliforniaSM. Hours: 24 hours per day, seven days per week English: 1-866-333-4606 Spanish: 1-866-333-4606

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE APPLICATION

APPEAL FORM

How to Apply for Unemployment