How Do I Claim Unemployment Benefits with the California Employment Development Department (Edd)?

This article explains how to claim unemployment benefits through the California Employment Development Department. If you have recently become unemployed, this guide will help you. The article explains how to apply for unemployment benefits in the state of California online, over the phone, via fax, or by mail, what information you need, and what to do if these steps don't work.

Apr 28, 2020

If you need to claim unemployment benefits from the California Employment Development Department because you are either unable to work or searching for work, this guide can help you.

You have recently become unemployed, and you need to claim unemployment benefits until you can find work. However, you haven't claimed benefits before and don't understand the application process. Fortunately, you can easily apply for unemployment benefits from the California Employment Development Department online, on the telephone, or by mail.

To find out how to claim unemployment benefits, read this guide.

Claiming Unemployment Benefits Online:

Visit The California Employment Development Department Website:

Find the California Employment Development Department website and navigate to the homepage.

Then, click the Claims button that can be found in the middle of the page. Selecting Claims will transfer you to a new page; once you have been transferred, click the File a New UI Claim link, which can be found under the Unemployment Insurance headline.

Choose Your Method Of Application:

Scroll down until you see the How To File a Claim heading and choose the Online option.

Selecting Online will open a new box from this box click the UI Online link. Once the new page has opened, you need to select the Benefit Programs Online option, which is in a blue box.

Log In or Register:

From the next page, click the Log In or Register button, which will transfer you to the login page.

If you already have an account, enter your email and complete the reCAPTCHA to sign in. Register for a new account if you have not yet created one.

Make Your Claim:

Once you have successfully logged into your account, you will need to make a claim. To make a claim, you need to supply this information:

  • Your last employer's company name, address, and phone number
  • Your last date worked
  • The reason for no longer working
  • Gross earnings for the last week you worked
  • Information on all employers from the last 18 months
  • Your social security number
  • Your Alien Registration Number (if you are not a U.S. citizen or national)

Fill in the information and answer the questions as instructed, then submit your claim application.

Applying for Unemployment Benefits Over The Phone:

If you would prefer to process your application via the telephone, you can call the California Employment Development Department customer representatives Monday to Friday.

You can find the contact information for the California Employment Development Department on the GetHuman website.

Applying for Unemployment Benefits Via Fax or Mail:

You can also apply for unemployment benefits via fax or through the mail. To submit your application, you need to access the paper unemployment insurance application form.

Once you have this form you need to fill in all of the information and post it to the stated address on the form or send it to the fax number, also found on the form.

If This Doesn't Work:

If you have followed these steps carefully, but you still can't apply for unemployment benefits, you need to contact the customer service team. The California Employment Development Department customer service representatives will be able to process your application; the contact details are on the GetHuman website.

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Christian has been writing about long hold times and customer service call center experiences since 2010. He's been featured in Bloomberg, the Wall Street Journal and the Boston Globe.
How Do I Claim Unemployment Benefits with the California Employment Development Department (Edd)?

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Why does GetHuman Write How-to Guides for California Employment Development Department (EDD) Problems?

GetHuman has been working for over 10 years on sourcing information about big organizations like California Employment Development Department (EDD) in order to help customers resolve customer service issues faster. We started with contact information and fastest ways to reach a human at big companies. Particularly ones with slow or complicated IVR or phone menu systems. Or companies that have self-serve help forums instead of a customer service department. From there, we realized that consumers still needed more detailed help solving the most common problems, so we expanded to this set of guides, which grows every day. And if you spot any issues with our How Do I Claim Unemployment Benefits with the California Employment Development Department (Edd)? guide, please let us know by sending us feedback. We want to be as helpful as possible. If you appreciated this guide, please share it with your favorite people. Our free information and tools is powered by you, the customer. The more people that use it, the better it gets.

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