How to Collect Unemployment Benefits in California

Those who are unemployed in California only need to follow a few simple steps in order to collect their unemployment benefits. Californians can submit their unemployment insurance claim through the state Employment Development Department (EDD), but there are a forms and items of business to take care of before one will be ready to submit your claim and receive unemployment benefits.

When one is laid off from their job, their employer should furnish them with a copy of "For Your Benefit - California’s Programs for the Unemployed, DE 2320", a booklet given to those who are newly unemployed. This booklet is required by law to be distributed, and explains the basics, in terms of applying for unemployment insurance. After receiving the booklet, one must then go onto the Employment Development Department website for the State of California to apply for benefits, at https://eapply4ui.edd.ca.gov/. A claim can be submitted through the DE 1101I application, by postal mail. The EDD can also be contacted by telephone, for those who wish to do so, by calling 1-800-300-5616 (English), or 1-800-326-8937 (Spanish). Other language hotlines can be found on the website.

Before applying however, you need a few pieces of information, including your name, mailing address, ID card/driver's license, the last date you worked for an employer, that employer's information, as well as information as all of your employers of the past 18 months. Your ability to accept work, and whether you have the right to work, legally, in the United States, is also asked. Additionally, the EDD asks for the name of the employer where you were employed for the longest length of time, and the reason for leaving that specific employer. Be specific, when stating the reason. Finally, the EDD asks if you are receiving any pay from the former employer. While the department asks that severance pay be reported, it is not deducted from unemployment insurance benefits, and it also does not affect your ability to potentially receive unemployment insurance (Unemployment Development Department, http://www.edd.ca.gov/unemployment/Before_you_Start.htm)

After applying, one will receive a few items in the mail, including a continued claim form, and a notice of unemployment insurance award, among others. The EDD will then make a decision to determine if one is eligible, so benefits can be distributed. if a claimant is eligible to collect benefits. The Department then interviews applicants over the telephone, and reviews documents and written statements submitted to the department, to determine eligibility. If one is notified that the Department rejected their application, they can file an appeal. 

If one is approved for benefits, they must file a Continued Claim Form (DE 4581) every week that they claim benefits, except if they are in a partial or workshare program. These forms are mostly bi-weekly, and unemployment insurance recipients must certify that they still meet the requirements every week, in order to continue receiving benefits. After a week of receiving benefits, the Department will then notify one's base employer, and the employer will look over the information submitted by the benefit recipient, and correct any errors that may exist concerning wages originally reported, which must be completed within 20 days. If one follows these simple steps, they can apply for, and potentially receive unemployment benefits in the Golden State.