How to Apply for Unemployment Benefits in California
California's unemployment insurance (UI) program provides weekly benefit payments to unemployed workers who involuntarily lose their jobs or have their hours reduced to less than full time. Individuals may apply for UI benefits with the State of California Employment Development Department (EDD) online or by mail, telephone or fax.
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Instructions
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Gather Required Information
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Determine whether you are qualified to receive unemployment benefits. To receive benefits in California, you must be presently unemployed or working less than full time, be physically able to work, actively looking for and willing to accept work, and worked in the previous 18 months before becoming unemployed.
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Gather the following personal information: your Social Security number, mailing and residential address, telephone number, driver's license or other identification number, your citizenship status (including your alien registration number if applicable), and DD Form 214 (if you served in the military in the last 18 months).
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Gather the following information about your last employer: your last day of employment (or if you are working part time, the number of hours you are working each week); the employer's name as it appears on your pay stub or W2 form; the employer's complete mailing address, physical location and telephone number; your supervisor's name; and the reason you are no longer working (or working reduced hours).
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Gather the following information about all your employers for the last 18 months: name of the employer as it appears on your pay stub or W2 form, length of time employed (start and end dates), amount earned and how you were paid (hourly, weekly, monthly), and whether you are receiving or expecting to receive any further payments from the employer (such as pension payments, vacation pay or sick pay).
Submit the Application
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To apply online, complete the secured application at https://eapply4ui.edd.ca.gov/. The online application is available 24 hours a day and provided in English and Spanish.
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To apply by telephone, call 800-300-5616 (for English speakers), 800-326-8937 (for Spanish speakers), 800-547-3506 or 866-303-0706 (for Chinese speakers), or 800-547-2058 (for Vietnamese speakers). The telephone option is available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., excluding California state holidays.
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To file by mail or fax, obtain a paper application (DE 1101I ) by downloading the PDF version (available online at http://www.edd.ca.gov/pdf_pub_ctr/de1101id.pdf) or contacting your regional EDD office. Complete the application and submit it to the mailing address or fax number provided on the application.
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The EDD will mail claim materials to you within 10 days of receiving your application. A telephone interview may be scheduled if there are any questions about your eligibility for UI benefits. For example, if your reason for leaving your last employer was because you quit, you may need to satisfactorily prove that you had a valid reason for leaving your job. If you do not receive any information by mail within 10 days, contact the EDD office.
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Tips & Warnings
The quickest way to apply for UI benefits is to file your claim online.
Be sure to provide the correct spelling and address for your last employer. Refer to your pay stub or W2 form for exact information. Entering this information Incorrectly may cause a delay in processing your UI application.
References
Resources
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