A Quick Guide to Navigating Unemployment Insurance in California
When you lose your job, you may find yourself looking for lifelines to help you get through this rocky period. One of those lifelines may be unemployment insurance. If you make a mistake on your claim, you may accidentally delay those funds. You can do it right by reading this quick overview of the unemployment application process.
Determine Your Eligibility
Before filing your claim with California’s Employment Development Department (EDD), determine if you are eligible for benefits. You are likely eligible if your previous employer sent you a W-2 and you are no longer fully or partially employed because of a layoff, furlough, or fewer wages or hours.
Collect Your Information
The next step is to collect the necessary information to complete the unemployment application process. Gather all the pertinent information about your former employer, including the name of the firm and your supervisor, along with the company address and telephone number.
You should note the last day you worked, why your employer let you go, and your earnings during your last week of work. Collect similar information about all the companies you worked for in the last 18 months, including your gross wages and the dates you started and ended each job.
Visit the UI Online Site
Take a photo of your identification after gathering your information. It will be necessary when you visit the UI Online site, which will transfer you to the ID.me web page to take a photo of yourself and upload the image of your identification.
If the EDD needs to further confirm your identity, ID.me will schedule a video call. During this interview, you must provide two primary documents to confirm your identity or one primary document and two secondary documents. Make sure you review how to prepare for your unemployment insurance interview ahead of time.
After completing your video call and allowing ID.me to share your information with the EDD, you can finish your application. You should start receiving benefits after undergoing a one-week waiting period.
EDD Phone Eligibility Interview
When you apply for unemployment benefits in California, the EDD may require you to undergo an eligibility interview. This process is initiated if a potential eligibility issue is identified with your Unemployment Insurance (UI) claim. You will be scheduled for a phone interview to provide information to an EDD representative. During the interview, you will be asked questions about your claim. The EDD will use the information you provide to determine if you can be paid UI benefits.
If you are not available for your phone interview, a decision will be made based on the available information, which may result in a denial of benefit payments. Note that this eligibility interview can affect your benefit payments. If you have never received a payment on your claim and have a potential eligibility issue, additional benefits cannot be paid until the interview process is complete and your eligibility is determined. You can learn more about how to prepare for the interview here:
- How to Prepare for an Unemployment Insurance Phone Interview With the EDD - Pershing Square Law Firm, PC - Case Management Knowledge
- 5 Tips for Preparing for Your EDD Interview - Pershing Square Law Firm, PC - Case Management Knowledge
If you have filed an unemployment claim but EDD denied you benefits, contact Pershing Square Law Firm. Our EDD lawyers can help you get benefits faster and work with you to make the best decisions in your case.