California (CA EDD) Unemployment Benefits After Expiry of Pandemic Enhanced Benefit Programs – Latest Updates and Payments

California’s Employment Development Department (EDD) manages the Unemployment Insurance (UI) and State Disability Insurance (SDI) programs for the State of California. This includes all the systems, programs and processing of unemployment claims funded at a state and federal level.

I have provided some FAQs and tips to help get your claims faster in each of the relevant unemployment stimulus programs. Jump directly to them via the links below. Please also see the comments forum below this article for more on these topics and some useful tips.

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How Much Unemployment Can I Get?

With the expiry the pandemic unemployment programs, only traditional/regular state unemployment is available for full or partial unemployment claims. The table below provides key details on the latest unemployment benefits and qualifying wage requirements.

You will need to submit a claim or certify your application via the state’s unemployment website (see section below on filing a claim) to get your actual weekly benefit amount (WBA).

Note that to qualify for unemployment, your job or hours worked loss will generally need to be involuntary. I.e. through no fault of your own or via directly quitting. Your job and wages must also have been paid/covered by an employer or source that deducted unemployment insurance taxes per state law (see your paycheck).

Further if you are being paid severance via a layoff or able to use sick leave or paid vacation, you cannot claim unemployment.

You will also need to certify for benefits every two weeks, demonstrate ongoing work availability and evidence of job search requirements to keep getting weekly unemployment benefits.

Weekly Unemployment Available
(Min – Max)
$40 to $450
($166 to $450 under DUA program – see below)
Benefit DurationUp to 26 weeks
Minimum Qualifying Income over Base PeriodAt least $1,300 during highest quarter base period
Part-Time Income or Workers With Reduced HoursThe first $25 or 25 percent (which is greater) of the wages allocated to a week will be disregarded in determining your UI weekly benefit amount. The amount remaining (i.e., earnings over $25 or 75 percent of the earnings, whichever is smaller) is deducted from the claimant’s weekly benefit amount. If the deductible amount equals or exceeds the WBA, the claimant would not be unemployed and would not get any benefit.
So based on the CA EDD guidance and given the max UI in CA is $450, the most someone could earn per week is $600 before losing unemployment benefits.
CA EDD Unemployment Benefits

Why is my weekly benefit payment lower than the maximum amount?

Your actual weekly benefit amount (WBA) is the amount of money your state agency has determined you and your dependents may receive for regular unemployment insurance after filing a claim. This can change weekly based on your certification or claim for benefits.

Your actual WBA is based on the amount that you earned over the states pre-defined base or alternate wage period. In CA this is 12-month period of time where each base period has four quarters of three months each.

The higher your earnings, the higher your approved WBA will be, up to the maximum amount allowed in the state. All earnings must be subject to UI tax (covered employment) to be eligible for factoring into your benefit determination.

Any part time or temporary earnings from employment or other activities during eligible weeks you are claiming and certifying for benefits, will potentially reduce the amount of benefits you may get as shown in the table above.

Also note that that your state UI agency may deduct overpayments and court-ordered child support from your weekly payment. This will reduce your WBA.

Finally during periods of high unemployment in the state, benefit amounts and the number of weeks that are covered may be extended.

What if I worked or lived in another state?

If you worked or lived in another state during the base year, you should file your unemployment benefits claim in the state you worked in and where your wages were reported. Not where you reside at the time of claim. You can file a claim in multiple states.

Your claim will be paid and governed by laws of that state in which you applied for. You will need to report this on your state and federal income taxes per form 1099-G issued by the state’s UI agency.

Claimants will also need to apply or reapply for UI benefits when they reach the end of their benefit year.

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CA Federal Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) – Now Available

With recent natural disasters in the state, residents in the affected counties – Santa Barbara, San Joaquin, Sacramento, Merced, Santa Cruz, Monterey, San Luis Obispo – can apply for Federal disaster unemployment assistance (DUA) from December 27, 2022.

This will cover payments from the week beginning January 1, 2023, where eligible claimants can receive between $166 and $450 a week in benefits for a maximum period of 28 weeks.

The last payable week of this emergency benefit ends July 15, 2023. Recipients will need to certify that their unemployment or loss of self-employment continues to be of result of the declared disaster

DUA is a federally funded program that provides financial assistance via unemployment benefits to jobless workers, business owners and the self-employed when they are unemployed or had their work hours reduced as a direct result of a major natural disaster – as declared by the President and FEMA.

Like prior pandemic unemployment programs (see below) the DUA is administered by the CA EDD and impacted residents that live in the identified counties can apply for immediate or retroactive benefits

is EDD still paying? CA PUA reassessment and reapplication for retroactive benefits

While PUA retroactive claims have been processed over the last year by the CA EDD, there are now three new federally approved reasons/criteria for unemployed Californians to claim PUA benefits if they were out-of-work during the COVID public health emergency when the pandemic unemployment programs were in effect.

Approximately 100,000 claimants who initially did not qualify for benefits could be eligible for PUA retroactive payments if they meet these new COVID-19 related criteria which include the following:

  • Due to the COVID-19 public health emergency, your hours were reduced or you were laid off as an employee.
  • Denied unemployment benefits because you refused to return to work or accept an offer of work at a worksite that was on that basis that the workplace was not in compliance with COVID-19 safety standards.
  • School employee who fully or partially lost their wages as a result of changes in their usual work schedule caused by COVID-19.

Claimants who met the above criteria and were originally rejected have been sent notices by the EDD to reapply for retroactive benefits via PUA reassessment form (see details below). Existing claimants should also check their UI online account if they didn’t get a letter in the mail – they will have 30 days to submit the reassessment claim.

Backdated Requests for PUA documents

The CAA EDD has started sending notices requesting additional documentation for past PUA recipients. This is in line with federal regulations that valid PUA claims be supported by documentation proving claimants were, or planned to be, self-employed or employed at some point during the calendar year before & up to the start of their PUA claim.

This documentation request was delayed in order to allow state unemployment systems to get updated and to prevent further delays for PUA payments. The EDD notices are sent to your latest home address on file and will indicate the deadline for providing the necessary documents and/or process for requesting a valid extension.

Contacting the CA EDD for Help With Missing or Back Claims

Visit Ask EDD unemployment benefits page to request to backdate your claim if you think it has the wrong start date. Then select Claim Questions and then Backdate the Effective Date of my UI Claim Due to COVID-19.

The CA EDD has also launched a New Online Portal that provides Unemployment Claim Status Information. The CA Unemployment Insurance Online (UIO) tool helps claimants get more information about the status (and details) of their claims, including potential eligibility issue that requires further review and describes next steps.

General UI questions and technical help with registration, password resets, EDD Account Numbers, and how to use UI Online: 1-833-978-2511 (English and Spanish). To get specific claim support or information call the following numbers between 8 a.m. to 12 noon (Pacific time), Monday through Friday: For English: 1-800-300-5616; For Spanish: 1-800-326-8937

You will need to upload these to your EDD claim portal and wait for the agency to acknowledge receipt and confirmation that the uploaded documents were sufficient. This could take a few days after you load the requested documents, so keep monitoring this to avoid receiving a violation or request for benefits repayment notice.

End of Federal Enhanced Benefits in California (PUA, PEUC, $300 FPUC and $100 MEUC)

The CA EDD has confirmed that claimants on the PEUC, PUA, MEUC and FPUC programs will file/certify for benefits for the last time covering the week ending September 4, 2021. Any active claims, with or without remaining balances, will expire after this date and no benefits will be paid (including the $300 FPUC).

While there has been a lot of discussion around extending pandemic unemployment benefits, the Biden administration has confirmed (see video) that states will have to use already allocated stimulus funding to expand or extend traditional state unemployment programs. The EDD or state agencies have not indicated they are planning to do so at this stage, but I will post updates if things change.

The CA EDD automatically transferred over 340,000 claimants to the Federal-State Extended Duration (SEB) benefits, but these were only available for an extra week until September 11th. After this date all claimants must have a regular UI claim to continue receiving benefits. This may exclude PUA claimants who would not normally qualify for traditional state unemployment insurance programs.

Note that even after September 11th, any pending claim payments will be processed retroactively after September 4 if you are later determined eligible and you did not receive conditional payments.

Additional support programs for Californians

Once federal unemployment benefits expire and if you still need support, consider the following state and federal programs to support you and your family:

CalFresh (GetCalFresh.org or by phone at 1-877-847-3663), whether a person is working or not. You can get over $234 per person per month for food.
• Money for rent and utilities—including 100 percent rent and utilities—via Housing is Key (HousingIsKey.com or by phone at 1-833-430-2122)
• Free or low-cost health insurance for as little as $1 p/month through Covered California or Medi-Cal (CoveredCA.com or by phone at 1-800-300-1506).
Cash aid and food assistance for families with children (CalWORKs) through county human services agencies at BenefitsCal.org
Golden State Stimulus payments (see section below) for millions of qualified residents who file taxes, even if not required. Filing taxes may also qualify you for the monthly child tax credit

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California (CA) Pandemic Unemployment Benefits be Extended Again in 2021 or End Early?

With several states ending federally funded unemployment benefits earlier than planned (see full list) to encourage workers to return to work, there is a strong concern this action could spread nationwide. But the good news for unemployed workers in California is that most of the states cancelling unemployment benefits are Republican led, which California is most certainly not.

So it is highly likely that claimants in CA will keep ALL pandemic unemployment benefits, including the extra $300 weekly payment, until the current program end date which would be the week ending September 4th, 2021.

However it should be noted that work search requirements are being more rigorously enforced by the EDD and there will be a lot more scrutiny of job rejections if not for pandemic or health related reasons. I will post further updates as they come to light and you can stay connected via the options below.

Conditional Unemployment Payments Now Available

In response to ongoing delays in making timely unemployment benefits payments, the CA EDD has announced that it will begin paying advance unemployment insurance benefits for claimants whose payments have been pending for at least two weeks. According to the EDD, the conditional payment program will still require claimants to clear identity and fraud checks (e.g. via ID.me) before getting paid.

But overall it is expected thousands of claimants waiting on current and past payments for more than two weeks will see faster payments in the coming weeks. The EDD will be sending notices to eligible claimants with payment details.

Please also see the hundreds of comments in the forum at the end of the article where people have shared their stories, tips and struggles getting paid under one or more of these programs.

25-week Unemployment Program Extensions Under Biden ARP Stimulus Package

Under President Biden’s $1.9 trillion federal coronavirus relief package, known as the American Rescue Plan (ARP), enhanced unemployment benefits will be extended until September 6th. This includes the following extensions:

Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) – The PUA program, designed for freelancers, gig workers and independent contractors or those that generally don’t qualify for regular state unemployment, has been extended by another 29 weeks. This brings the total number of weeks in the program to 79. However note that the actual extension only covers 25 calendar weeks (a known oversight). The minimum PUA payment is still 50% of a states average weekly benefit amount and limited to the state’s maximum weekly benefit amount (WBA).

Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) or Pandemic Additional Compensation (PAC) as known in California – The new stimulus bill funds another 25 weeks of weekly supplementary/extra unemployment at the current $300 level. Payments for the $300 weekly payment will continue until early September for a total of 25 weeks and eligible claimants – those getting at least $1 from state and federal unemployment programs – can get a maximum of $7,500 if they qualify for all weeks covered in this new extension. The other $100 supplementary payment for Mixed Earners (MEUC) was also extended by 25 weeks.

Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) – The PEUC program, which extends coverage for those who have exhausted regular and extended state unemployment, has also been extended for another 29 weeks, bringing the total amount of PEUC coverage to 53 weeks. Again the actual extension only covers 25 calendar weeks.

There are also provisions in the Biden Stimulus package for Unemployment tax breaks on the first $10,200 of benefits in 2020.

EDD Rollout Update on 25-week Extensions in California – Latest News and Status on PUA, PEUC and $300 FPUC

The Federal Department of Labor (DOL) has now issued formal guidelines for states to implement the latest unemployment extensions and the CA EDD has now updated their program/systems to provide the extended coverage weeks funded under the ARP Program. This includes the following updates and knowns issues:

  • Anyone currently collecting unemployment (active claimants or those on regular UI and FED-ED) in any amount will receive the $300 FPUC supplemental benefit without interruption.
  • New PUA Claimants can file for the minimum of $167 payment per week – plus the extra $300 supplementary weekly payment. New claimants will also be able to provide income documentation to potentially increase this payment up to $450 per week
  • Those with existing or exhausted PUA claims are now able to certify for benefits.
  • Those who exhausted PEUC benefits can expect EDD to begin automatically processing PEUC extensions, with the additional weeks of benefits available for certification from April 17th (earlier than planned). Those with non-exhausted, existing PEUC claims have already been able to collect benefits.
  • EDD will continue to notify claimants who exhausted those benefits when their payments are ready to resume.
  • While getting hold of a representative at the EDD has improved, many readers are still reporting longer than usual wait times.
  • A summary of EDD Federal Enhanced benefits over 2020 and 2021 are shown in the chart below.
  • Benefit Year End (BYE) – Some claimants are reporting a delay or lapse in benefits when they reached their BYE date (see section below for more). This is because they are late in their filing for a new claim (except for those on PUA who don’t need to file a new claim at BYE) and need to wait for EDD to run claims through fraud screening and identity verification. Missing payments will be paid retroactively for eligible weeks.

I will continue to post additional updates and final implementation dates, including known claim issues, in the coming weeks. You can follow us for updates via the options below.

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Benefit Year End and September 2021 ARP Extension

With many claimants having received benefits for more than 12 months under the various extension, they would have reached their annual benefit year end (BYE) date. At the end of that benefit year, most claimants will need to reapply for benefits. The exception is for those on a PUA claim do not need to apply for a new claim when they reach the end of their benefit year.

Everyone else on any other type of claim (include regular and PEUC claimants) must reapply for federal benefits if they are still unemployed once they reach the end of their benefit year. This is a requirement under state and federal law. Individuals will be notified via email and text message, or mailed notice, when the new claim is processed, which may take up to three weeks.

The CAA EDD also announced that starting on June 5, 2021, claimants who did not earn enough wages in the last 18 months will no longer have to reapply for benefits. Instead, EDD will automatically process benefits on their behalf and add a federal extension to the expired claim, or continue the existing extension.

This automation will occur regardless of the type of claim–such as a regular claim, federal extension, or Pandemic Unemployment Assistance. Claimants will continue to certify for benefits, and EDD will notify them when the additional benefit weeks are processed


California Golden State Stimulus Program (Fourth or Fifth Stimulus Check)

Many unemployed and lower income Californians have also been able to partake of the Golden State Stimulus program which provides a one time $600 or $1200 to qualifying individuals and families.

You can only receive this if you have filed a tax return (with less than $75,000 AGI) and receive/qualify for the the California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC). Most of these payments will be made by the end of May, or generally 2 to 4 weeks after filing your state tax return.

However Governor Gavin Newsom has recently announced, thanks to state budget surplus’ and federal funding via the Biden ARPA stimulus package, another nearly $12 billion in direct cash payments. This expansion to the Golden State Stimulus, providing additional direct payments to middle-class families that make up to $75,000, will provide $600 direct payments.

Qualified families with dependents, including undocumented families, will also now be eligible for an additional $500 dependent payment.

I’ll post updates as they come through and you can follow via the options below.

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The CA EDD has issued Form 1099G for 2020, which summarizes all unemployment and Paid Family Leave benefits paid which are taxable by the federal government but not at the state level. EDD estimates it will issue a record 7.8 million Form 1099Gs for claimants (five times normal) so will take a few weeks to distribute these (electronically or by mail).

Latest News and Updates from CA EDD on 2021 11-week Unemployment Benefits Extension

The $900 billion COVID-19 relief package, under the Continued Assistance Act (CAA), was passed into law on Dec. 27, 2020, which among several other pandemic relief measures extends and provides additional federal funding for enhanced unemployment benefits.

This includes the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA), Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) and a reinstatement, but halving of the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) Program which provides a $300 supplemental weekly unemployment payment. The PUA and PEUC program will be extended by 11 weeks, for a total of 57 weeks of PUA and 24 weeks in PEUC benefits

February 15th update: While many jobless Californians continue to see issues around claiming the extra 11-weeks passed under the CAA, the EDD has confirmed that nearly 94% of claimants eligible for PUA and PEUC can claim or are already being paid the 11 extra weeks available. Around 6%, those who had exhausted all benefits before December 26th, will have to wait until March 7th to file their claims. As discussed in this update video, there are also another 100,000 to 300,000 claimants who could see further delays due to having to switch back to the PEUC program (from their current PUA program per new CAA rules) or have not validated their identity following a CA EDD notification to do so.

CA EDD 2021 Unemployment Extensions Update
CA 2021 Unemployment Extensions Update

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[January 28th Update] CA EDD is now paying extended 2021 benefits approved under the COVID relief bill (CAA). Some key notes.

  1. PEUC claimants: You must use your entire existing PEUC balance (=$0) before you get the extended 11 weeks applied to your UI account balance. You will see Max Benefits paid once you do this, but this just means that your extension has not been applied. You will get an EDD notification and if you are in a new benefit year (check your claim start date) you will need to file a new claim when you next try and certify. For those in their current benefit year the 11 week extension will be automatically applied by the EDD. This may take 1 to 2 weeks and you will see a message saying you have a $0 claim balance, which will disappear once EDD applies the extension.
  2. PUA claimants are getting paid in all tiers and should be seeing extending benefits and payments now.
  3. $300 FPUC payments are being made, including retroactive weeks for which you were eligible.

For those that call the EDD, you can ask a Tier 2 agent (your initial call goes to a Tier 1, so ask for a Tier 2 one) to manually apply the 11 weeks if you have not yet seen the extension applied.

Also ensure you respond to requests for documentation for PUA claims as required in the new legislation. I covered this in detail in this video, but is a big cause of delays when it comes to paying out benefits under the new 11 week extension.

The following story around a CA readers PEUC claim may help others (and shows patience and persistence pays off)

Here is the background of my PEUC claim. I had 2 weeks left weeks left on the original 20 week extension as of 12/27/2020 so I believe I was a part of the first round of people to be reinstated. I think it’s important to mention I never received a request to confirm my identity like so many others have or any correspondence from EDD at all. After I certified for the last time 01/13/2021 my account showed that I had expired all of my allowable benefits and I couldn’t file another claim until my benefit year had ended.

At that time, my account showed $0 in the last payment issued section, $0 in the claim balance section and $0 in the weekly benefit amount section. However, it showed that I was on “extension” next to my benefit year. Late last week I started to get concerned so I began to check my account daily. I tried to call EDD 10X Saturday, 10X Sunday, 10X Monday and about 20X yesterday.

All attempts were unsuccessful. When I logged into EDD’s website this morning my dashboard had changed. The update reflected a last payment on 12/28/2020 and I had a weekly benefit amount again however the claim balance was still showing $0 and I wasn’t able to certify.

This afternoon (1/28) I logged into my account and it had been completely updated. My last payment showed the correct date of 01/13/2021 and I had a new claim balance to reflect the next 11 week extension and more importantly I was also able to certify. This all feels like a never-ending frustrating stressful mess. Hopefully you all will get lucky as I did but, in the meantime, try to keep the faith!!!

Do I need to Reopen Claim to get benefits with CA EDD?

Getting this question a bit and per CA EDD, “If you stop certifying for continued benefits, and it’s been more than 30 days since you last certified for benefits, your Unemployment Insurance (UI) claim becomes inactive. You must reopen your claim to request benefit payments.”

However based on calls people have had with EDD they are getting a somewhat conflicting message with one person commenting ” I just got off the phone with EDD and the rep said nobody has received an extension [as of January 11th] and only people who are receiving payments are from pending payments on December 26th.

She also said it doesn’t matter if you clicked the reopen claim button the extensions will be rolled out this week and to wait for an email or text message notification that you have available weeks to certify”.

Existing or expired claim balances should be aware of the following general guidelines:

  • PUA and PEUC, FPUC will be automatically added to the claimants’ benefits if they are eligible for the weeks outlined in the new legislation. They may have to reopen their claim if they have exhausted their benefits before December 27th.
  • Claimants with weeks remaining in UI should continue to file weekly claims to get the extra $300 FPUC.
  • Claimants who will have additional weeks in UI and PUA or PEUC due to state provisions (where applicable) should watch their state agency UI portal or website for updates that will allow additional weeks to be filed.
  • Claimants will be retroactively caught up on payments for all weeks they are eligible.
  • New Claimants can backdate their claim date to December 1st (first effective weeks of coverage is December 6th) and will be eligible for the 11 week extension from December 27th.

I will post additional updates as they are released in coming days. So stay tuned.


Extra $300 Unemployment under Lost Wages Assistance (LWA) program

The Lost Wages Assistance program provided an extra $300 per week in addition to your unemployment benefits if you received (existing) unemployment benefits for any weeks between July 26 and September 5, 2020. This program has now been paid out, other than retroactive payments to claimants who were eligible or working through payment issues.

The CA EDD was approved by FEMA for the $300 weekly payment under the LWA program, which provides supplemental payments to eligible unemployment benefits claimants who have been unemployed, partially unemployed, or unable or unavailable to work due to disruptions caused by COVID-19 and are currently eligible to receive at least $100 per week in UI benefits. The EDD has completed work on the technology requirements necessary for this program and will begin delivering payments to eligible claimants starting on September 7th. Eligible claimants will have their LWA weekly benefit payment retroactive to August 1st for the weeks that they are eligible.

CA LWA Week 6 (final week of LWA payments)

California’s Employment Development Department (EDD) just announced it will start paying out the sixth and final week of the Lost Wages Assistance program from the week of 10/12. In a news release, EDD said it is wrapping up weeks four and five of the $300 payments. The sixth week of payments that begin going out on October 12 will be the final week of payments.


COVID 19 Enhanced Benefits and Payment Issues

[August 2020] The EDD announced that they have put in place unemployment support programs so that Californians on a regular UI claim can qualify for a total of 59 weeks of benefits. If eligible, you can get 26wks of regular state UI +13wks of PEUC +20wks of FED-ED. If you don’t qualify for regular UI, you can get up to 46wks of benefits w/ PUA.

EDD has reviewed the federal CARES Act and has is now compliant with the following enhanced unemployment programs:

• Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA): expands eligibility for individuals who are typically ineligible for
Unemployment benefits, for example independent contractors, and self-employed and “gig” workers. The Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) was released in California effective April 28, 2020. This program includes up to 46 weeks of benefits from February 2, 2020, through December 26, 2020, depending on when you were directly affected by COVID-19. PUA launched with up to 39 weeks of benefits and an extra seven weeks was recently added.
• Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC): provides an additional $600 per week, on top of regular benefits, to all recipients of Unemployment Insurance; retroactive to the week ending April 4, 2020. [Now Expired]
• Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC): 
provides an additional 13 weeks of Unemployment benefits to all recipients. The EDD initiated phase one of the PEUC roll-out on May 27. The department is now automatically reviewing regular UI claims in our system for those with a benefit year that started on or after June 2, 2019, and that have run out of all available benefits.

The EDD offers a wide variety of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) including those about the PUA program designed for the self-employed, as well as how eligibility for unemployment benefits can be impacted with a worker’s return to work or refusal to return to work.

The minimum PUA payment is $167 and the maximum is $450 per week. To qualify, your net self-employment income for 2019 needs to be more than $46,696.

If you are not able to provide proof of income, the EDD may decrease your payments. If so, you will have to repay the difference for any weeks you were paid over $167.If you qualify for your claim to be backdated to an earlier PUA effective date based on your last day of work, you could receive payment for prior weeks you were unemployed due to COVID-19. You will be required to provide the EDD eligibility information every two weeks. This is known as certifying for benefits.

CA EDD Unemployment General FAQs and Filing a Claim

Applying for PUA Backpay and Adjusting Payment Date

You can request to backdate your PUA claim date to the week you became unemployed due to COVID-19. If approved, benefits will be back paid based on your last day of work. February 2, 2020, is the earliest start date for a PUA claim. To change you claim:

  • Write what needs to be corrected on your Notice of Award and mail it to the EDD address on the notice.
  • Visit Ask EDD to request to backdate your claim if you think it has the wrong start date. Select Unemployment Insurance Benefits, then Claim Questions, then Backdate the Effective Date of my UI Claim Due to COVID-19.
  • In your UI Online account, select Contact Us to request a change.
  • Call the UI Customer Service line at 1-800-300-5616, available from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (Pacific time), seven days a week

Retroactive Certification Process

How It Works

You must submit any retroactive certifications to determine if you were eligible to receive benefits during the waived certification period for enhanced benefits. For these waived weeks, use the retroactive certification application. Reporting wages in Ask EDD is not considered a certification. You must certify even if you did not work or earn wages.

If you do not retroactively certify, we will make a determination based on information available. If you were not eligible for benefits, you may receive a Notice of Overpayment, and you must repay the EDD.

Start Your Retroactive Certification

To retroactively certify, you will need your:

  • Last name
  • Date of birth
  • Social Security number

Challenges with CA EDD Payments Continue

The EDD is sending the following letter to people having challenges receiving the $600 payments and/or getting extended benefits. To help navigate the mandated requirements, the EDD provided the following guidance to assist workers. It all depends on when you exhausted your benefits, and when your benefit year expires.

1. If you received your last benefit payment for weeks you spent unemployed between February 2 and March 21, but are still within the one year that your claim is good for, you could be eligible for 13 weeks of PUA benefits for the weeks you are eligible for between February 2, 2020 and March 28, 2020. While you will not be able to apply for PUA through UI Online, the EDD will send you a Notice of Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Award and a separate document you’ll need to complete to give EDD additional details that we don’t already have from you to meet PUA requirements. Watch for further updates soon.

2. If you received your last benefit payment for weeks you spent unemployed on or after March 21 and are still within your benefit year, you will not meet federal requirements for PUA. But the EDD will automatically file an extension claim for you as soon as it’s available since we will already have your information needed. You will receive a notice from EDD when that claim has been filed and when you can certify for PEUC benefit payments.

3. If you ran out of benefits before February 2 and are still within your benefit year, you most likely will not be eligible for PUA because you have to verify your unemployment is a direct result of the pandemic. However, you may be eligible for the new federal 13-week extension. The EDD will notify you of how to apply as soon as further details are available.

4. If you have run out of your benefits AND your benefit year has expired, you are encouraged to reapply for benefits through UI Online. Based on the information you provide, the EDD will determine if you qualify for a new regular UI claim based on wage data or a PUA claim.

5. If you are unable to collect regular UI benefits due to a disqualification (such as you voluntarily quit, were fired or discharged from your employer), or you are serving a false statement penalty from a past claim, you could be eligible for PUA benefits. As with group one above, you will receive a Notice of Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Award and a separate document you’ll need to complete to give the EDD additional details that we don’t already have from you to meet PUA requirements.

Can I still collect unemployment if my hours have been reduced?

Yes, you could receive partial unemployment benefits if you are only able to work part time because of the pandemic. When you certify, continue to report your income, even if it is part time.

The first $25 or 25 percent of your wages, whichever is more, will not be deducted from your benefit amount, but the rest will.

For example, if you earned $100 in a week, we would not count $25 as wages and would only deduct $75 from your weekly benefit amount. For someone who has a weekly benefit amount of $450, they would be paid a reduced amount of $375.

If your weekly benefit amount is $450 but you earned at least $600 in that week, the full $450 would be deducted leaving $0 left for any unemployment benefits that week.

You can start collecting benefits, stop when you return to work, then re-open your claim (within one year from your claim start date) if you become unemployed or your hours are reduced again.

Can I file an Unemployment Insurance claim if I am self-employed, an independent contractor, or gig worker?

If you are self-employed, an independent contractor, or gig worker and are unable to work or have had your hours reduced due to COVID-19, you may be eligible for Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits under a few different scenarios:

  • You chose to contribute to UI Elective Coverage and paid the required contributions to be considered potentially eligible for benefits.
  • Your past employer made contributions on your behalf over the past 5 to 18 months.
  • You may have been misclassified as an independent contractor instead of an employee.

When filing for your UI claim, you will be asked for your last employer.

  • If you own your business or are self-employed, you should list yourself as your last employer.
  • If you are an independent contractor, you should list yourself as your last employer.
  • If you believe you are misclassified as an independent contractor instead of an employee, you should list the business you contract with as your last employer. Be sure to include:
    • The employer name, phone number, and address.
    • Type of work performed.
    • Dates worked.
    • Your gross wages and how you were paid (such as hourly or weekly).
  • If you are a gig worker, you should list your gig employer as your last employer.

For more detailed updates, visit Worker Resources or Employer Resources.

Filing a Claim with CA EDD

File a new claim if you have already applied for UI but are eligible for PUA because you are a business owner, independent contractor, self-employed worker, freelancer, or gig worker affected by COVID-19, and you have not already appealed a $0 award notice, been asked to verify your identity, or requested a wage investigation.

Filing a PEUC Claim

The PEUC extension is available until December 31, 2020. To make benefits available as quickly as possible, we are implementing the extension in two phases:

Beginning July 8, the EDDl start mailing notices to people who used all of their regular UI benefits, whose claims expired between July 6, 2019 and May 23, 2020, and who have not filed a new claim.

  • If you have enough wages to qualify for a new claim, we will process your claim. You will need to certify your eligibility every two weeks to keep receiving regular UI payments.
  • If you don’t qualify for a new claim, you will get a $0 award notice in the mail. Within a few days, you will get another notice showing that we automatically filed a PEUC extension for you. The notice will include the weeks that you need to certify for. You can also check your UI Online account for updates.

If you qualify and your extension is filed you will be backdated to one of the following, whichever comes later:

  • March 29, 2020
  • The last certification date of your expired claim

Payments and Certifying for Unemployment

After your extension is filed, you will need to certify for benefit payments. Certifying is answering basic questions every two weeks that tells us you’re still unemployed and eligible to continue receiving payments. Payments will be the same as the weekly benefit amount from your regular UI claim.

If you have a PUA claim, you cannot collect PEUC at the same time. If you filed a PUA claim because you used all your UI benefits, we will stop your PUA claim as of March 29, and will transfer you automatically to a PEUC claim. If you still have false statement penalty weeks on your regular UI claim, you are not eligible for PEUC and you will continue on the PUA claim.

CA FED-ED Extension Submission

If you use all your PEUC benefits, you may qualify for a FED-ED extension.

Due to the impact of COVID-19, the following temporary exceptions are in place for all Unemployment Insurance claims until further notice:

  • Waiting Period – The 7-day waiting period is waived for claims beginning on or after January 19, 2020. After you submit your first two-week continued certification, you will be paid for the first week of your claim.
  • Work Search – You are not required to look for work each week to be eligible for benefits.

The individual files a claim for UI benefits using one of the following methods:

  • Access eApply4UI: (online is the recommended option)
    Answers to questions are entered online. After the application is completed the individual submits it online to the Department. Note: This is the fastest way to file your claim.
  • Contact EDD by phone:
    Individuals will speak to a Department representative who will ask a series of questions and record the responses.
  • Complete a paper UI Application:
    The application can be completed online and printed, or it can be printed and completed by hand. The application can then be faxed or mailed to the EDD for processing using the fax number or mailing address on the application.

CA Benefit Year End Considerations

  • If your benefit year has expired, you must file another unemployment claim. The EDD will send you a notice telling you to file a new claim if you are still unemployed. UI Online is still the fastest way to apply. If you are not actively claiming benefits and your year ends, you will need to still apply but won’t get a notice from the EDD.
  • Some other considerations around your BYE date and type of claim:
    • If you are currently collecting PEUC benefits and filed a new regular UI claim, we might continue paying benefits on your PEUC extension, instead of your regular UI claim if the weekly benefit amount on your PEUC extension is at least $25 more than the weekly benefit amount on your new regular UI claim.
    • The regular UI claim you recently qualified for will be on hold until you collect all available PEUC benefits, or until the PEUC extension ends.
    • Once you have collected all available benefits on your PEUC extension, and if you are still unemployed and eligible, we will automatically start paying benefits on your new regular UI claim. There is no need to contact the EDD.
    • If you qualify for a new unemployment claim, but the weekly benefit amount is less than what you were earning on your PEUC extension, you will finish collecting the rest of your PEUC extension and then we will switch you to your new unemployment claim.
    • If you don’t qualify for a new unemployment claim, you will continue collecting the rest of your PEUC claim and any extended weeks
  • If you don’t qualify for a new claim after the benefit year expires, two things will happen.
    • First, you will receive a $0 award notice in the mail saying there are not enough wages for a new claim.
    • A few days later, you will receive another notice showing that we automatically filed a PEUC extension on your original expired unemployment claim. You will also receive a text message about the filed extension. If you are already collecting PEUC benefits and filed a UI claim after that which you don’t qualify for, we will continue paying you under the PEUC extension.

Note: If you are on a Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) claim, you do not need to apply for a new claim.

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95 thoughts on “California (CA EDD) Unemployment Benefits After Expiry of Pandemic Enhanced Benefit Programs – Latest Updates and Payments”

  1. Hello, I applied for Unemployment in Oct 2022 and I was approved. I now have used all of my claim balance and I’m wondering is there an extension I can apply for?

    Reply
  2. I appealed my Notice of Determination with proof I searched for work. However I guess it wasn’t enough and EDD online shows DISQUALIFIED. I have been waiting nearly a year now but haven’t received anything about overpayment or having to pay anything back. I even called in and they said all they can see is that it shows “Disqualified” and that I need to speak to claims. They transferred me and I didn’t get to anyone. Online however shows action item where it says for me to reapply for benefits. I’m no longer seeking work and staying at home watching my kids 100% so I’m not trying to reapply for EDD since I’m now unemployed by choice. Anyone have any idea if I need to reapply still and if I will be advised if I will owe anything?

    Reply
  3. In December 2020, my job was eliminated after 19 years due to the pandemic when my employer closed one of our facilities. Even though I was a senior manager, I had the least amount of seniority, and I received no severance payment. I filed for unemployment and received 26 weeks CA EDD benefits, including PUA, through the end of September 2021. I have been actively seeking employment (manager level) and further honing my skills through various certifications. I am a college graduate, but to date I have had zero offers. I had my resume reviewed and removed all dates (is ageism is alive and well?). I have also had my LinkedIn profile redone. Recently, I reapplied for CA EDD and was deemed ineligible due to having zero income for the past 12-months. Do I have any other options? Thank you in advance.

    Reply
    • Hi Susan,

      I’m an older worker as well. During my underemployment/unemployment I worked on short-term projects outside of my area of expertise ie: Elections Assistant with the Registrar of Voters, Instacart, etc. This is called bridgework. It’s a stepping stone until you get your next full-time job. Volunteering is another way to get experience, and network to land a job. If you have an interest in teaching, you may be able to get a teaching credential or a substitute 30 day emergency teaching credential. Have you considered Management Consulting or working as an independent contractor? I know it’s a challenge to get back on your feet. Hang in there.

      Reply
  4. Hi, I have a unique issue as I had two claims open. One, was the very first one in Feb 2020. That one got lost in the shuffle I guess because it took two years for them to even acknowledge it’s existence. Then there was one in May of 2021. My wages were all mixed up and they used my wages from the most recent one to calculate my benefit amount. I was entitled to the pandemic relief but never issued the pandemic relief and now on my edd online they have the same payment showing for both claims, not separately as they should have been. I don’t want to seem greedy, but if I was entitled those benefits for the sake of my children and their well being, I sure as hell should have received them. I was going through an eviction at the time, they didn’t care. That’s the system for you though?! Lol

    Reply
  5. Ok. So I appealed the disqualification for unemployment. They disqualified my claim because I did not make $1300 from March 2020 – March 2021. My first claim I applied for was in March 14th 2020. They used the base period of May, June,July from my earnings in 2019. Based on those earnings I only made a small amount weekly. Edd told me, and I confirmed that that’s the base period used to qualify me. Now, I made a lot more money at the end of 2019. The last quarter was October, November, December of 2019. Edd did not use these earnings to qualify me for UI Benefits. Again, they only used the base period of May, June, July of 2019 to qualify me. I exhausted my original claim benefits in September of 2019. Edd qualified me under PEUC and extended my benefits to October of 2020. The 11 week extension. Then they put me under PUA benefits from October to December of 2020. But then the government approved additional weeks to March of 2021. So they put me back on PEUC and I went back to my small weekly amount I was getting from my original claim. Then Biden approved payments from March of 2021 to September of 2021. I filed a new claim. I was disqualified because from March 2020-March 2021, I didn’t make $1300 for that year. So they put me back on an extension from my original March 2020 claim with the same weekly small amount. I received all of that up until the funds ended on September 4th. But something kept bothering me about the denial. So I appealed the denial. Speaking to the administrative law judge, he explained why I was denied and how he can’t reverse the appeal. Because I didn’t make $1300 from March of 2020-March of 2021. BUT and it’s a huge BUT, they did not file a claim reflecting my earnings from October 2019-December of 2019. The last quarter of 2019. The last base period. He explained that EDD should have had me open a new claim, which I did in March 2021 and I was denied, and I should have received a higher weekly amount rather then getting all the extensions from my original small weekly claim from March of 2020. So, I called EDD, which took me half a day to get through to, waited about an hour and a half, and then I get this guy. Who thinks he’s already God, and he tells me otherwise. He says the administrative law judge was wrong and that I did not qualify for a new claim. Because I did not make $1300 between March 2020-March 2021. I explained to him, I understand that. But my earnings from October 2019-December 2019 have not been used to qualify me for any claim. I kept asking him when those earnings were used to qualify me, and he couldn’t answer. He’s only going based off of what the computer is telling him. So, can anyone tell me if I’m wrong and not getting it. If I’m wrong, along with the administrative law judge who explained all this to me, I will shut my mouth with my own foot. So please tell me that I’m wrong and explain this to me and why I’m not getting it. Cause I called EDD again, and she kept telling me the same exact thing, based off her computer. But could not tell me when my earnings from October 2019-December 2019 qualified me or disqualified me. Can anyone explain to me and tell me where I’m wrong?! And they’re right?! Cause had they used my earnings from the last quarter of 2019, my weekly benefit amount would have been a lot higher since I made a lot more then the quarter they used to qualify me in 2019. But all I kept getting were extensions. And a denial of benefits for not earning $1300 from March 2020-March 2021. Sorry for repeat and emphasis on dates, because I just want to be extremely clear. So can anyone help me with my issue? Thanks for your time.

    Reply
    • Hi Chris – From what I understand, there are two parts to being approved for a second (subsequent) unemployment claim. The first is earning enough wages during the base or alternate period AND earning at least $1,300 during your prior claim period, which for you is March 2020-March 2021. Of course the only problem with this is that during the claim period, most of us didn’t have jobs to go back to. I am thinking that this may be why you were disqualified. This rule has always been in place, but it was never written to take into consideration that something like the pandemic would occur. Hope this helps.

      Reply
  6. Please can anyone here help me with my claim because I just got my first payment on the 08/22/2021 and I was unable to reach my place of work since 03/15/2020 due to COVID-19 and now I have sent a request to backdate my claim to 12/06/2020 but I haven’t got any update yet please advise how long does it take to approve a backdating request to be pay back for all the previous weeks that I have been unemployed Thank you!

    Reply
    • Charles,you wait, and call everyday just like every oter person on unemployment. You are not unique and really, you need to deal with your claim yourself like everyone else has done. If you have done ANY researching online or heard any news item since 2020, you would know that you are in the same boat everyone is. Call, email, contact unemployment online every day. Dont be lazy and just send a public cry for assistance, you are not working if you are getting or applying for unemployment so you have the time to stay diligent on your claim and keep contacting them.

      Reply
      • Fool he’s asking for assistance, not your judgment. I’ve assisted many and hundreds of hours later, in some cases, a Claimant continues to wait. Many representatives give incorrect information to Claimants. Additionally, some Claimants have many other struggles to deal with, including a lack of internet & phone access. I know people that are in the streets because of this B.S. You’re not helpful!

        Reply
    • All I can say is stay on them! If you don’t pursue it, they will definitely sweep it under the rug. It took me a full two years to hear back from them and they STILL have yet to clear things up for me.

      Reply
  7. My claim was suspended July 4th and scheduled for a resolution no later than August 13th. I currently have 7 weeks pending and have called daily spending 2-3 hours calling each day. I only know it was suspended because that’s what I was told the last time I got through to someone a month ago. What can I do?

    Reply
  8. i really am confused at what is going on. I am currently on an extension. i was told when i got laid off 6/30/2021 to file a new claim so i did but then was told i still had some money to be distributed so have gotten some of that. was supposed to certify 8/22/2021 but have not been able to. Get alot of alerts saying no longer can find page. Dont understand because my last payment was on 8/11/2021. i am good at least to 9/4-11/2021. and them my regular unemployment should kick in
    Please respond asap thanx
    111

    Reply
  9. hello i am trying to help my friend find some answers maybe someone here can help… so they became unemployed last year due to covid but never applied for unemployment but would like to now. will they receive backpay for all the months since they stopped working in april 2020 until currently or will it just start now?

    Reply
  10. I am a hiring manager with a grocery store in California every business you look at they are all hiring people don’t wanna go to work because for some reason California thinks giving people free money is a better choice than getting a job please stop this free money so people can go back to work I personally have been doing hiring fairs once a month and I might get five people 90% of those peopleOr under 18 years old there’s a Lotta good people out there that can come to work please allow them to stop this free money

    Reply
    • People don’t want to go back to work for low wages, rude customers and high hours with low pay. People are realising that it’s not worth it to kill yourself working an ungodly amount of hours for next to nothing wages and having to put up with rude, disrespectful customers.Or,working part time for low wages because most of the places hiring want to pay you low wages, (minimum wage) and only part time. I don’t know a single business that’s hiring that is offering full time. People are starting to realize their mental health along with their physical health are more important. Raise the wages and I’ll garauntee you’ll have enough employees that are happy to work for you

      Reply
  11. Am in pua September 4th extension am in California do I certified every 2 weeks people telling me is every week what is it every week or every 2 weeks

    Reply
  12. I’m a little confused as to what to do. I filed for unemployment last year in JUNE, I was able to certify for one week (3/13/21) and now my balance is at zero. When I log into my account, the homepage says I have “received all benefits payable to you at this time. You cannot file another California Unemployment Insurance claim until your current benefit year ends.” Do I need to reopen my claim? Should I wait? Do I contact EDD? Thank you!

    Reply
    • You should contact EDD and see if a specialist can figure out why your account is in limbo and why they haven’t automatically filed an extension for you. It’s a problem on their end but I wouldn’t wait for them to figure it out as they may not. I am in the same boat as you and it’s beyond frustrating that they don’t explain anything to us. I have also sent in 7 or 8 emails and not one reply and Ive been doing this since early April. I have yet to get ahold of a representative though. I’ll update if I do or if I get an answer from an email. Until then we just got to keep calling to get ahold of someone. I’ll garauntee though that we are still eligible for an extension, they are just poorly ran and way behind

      Reply
  13. I contracted Covid-19, and am currently receiving peuc as of Feb 20, 2021. I will need to file for SDI as I am not recovering quickly. Can I continue to certify for PEUC while I am waiting for SDI determination, and will I receive the extra $300 weekly that I receive on PEUC?

    Reply
  14. Hello,

    I can’t seem to find a good answer. Hopefully someone can help?

    My UI claim started 3/29/2020 due being let go from my job because of COVID. My last day to certify on UI was December 27th and now it says:

    “Maximum Benefits Paid
    You have received all benefits payable to you at this time. You cannot file another California Unemployment Insurance claim until your current benefit year ends.”

    Will I still get the 11 week extension on January 2021? If so, when by?

    Reply
    • Hi I am in the exact same scenario as you, I’m hoping that I receive some sort of notice in the mail this week, as this is what my latest email from EDD said to look out for. Hopefully once we qualify we’ll receive backpay for the weeks we’ve missed!!

      Reply
      • When did you receive your notice to look for a letter? I received mine February 22 and still have not received a letter about PUEC.

        Reply
    • Hi. How do I get my weekly benefit amount increased? Also if I ha e excessive earnings will I still get the extra $300 in 2021? What is the minimum amt in benefits I have to get to receive extra $300?

      Reply
  15. My fiance tried to apply for unemployment and when he put his application in it said he has already applied and is already receiving benefits or something like that. So he tried to contact customer service and first sent an email explaining what happened.. but after a couple months no one got back to him. We found a phone number to report fraud, but that is such a joke, when you can it seriously says “due to covid19 we don’t have anyone here to take your call” and then hangs up on you. He tried calling customer service and after waiting on hold for over an hour and a half finally talked to someone, and they asked his ssn and bday obviously he knew that, but when they asked for his email and address or phone number he obviously didn’t know the answers because someone else signed up in his name and created different information in his name. And the customer service person pretty much treated him like he was the one trying to do something fraudulent, and told him to call the fraud line and report it, and after telling him we tried that and because of covid that department is closed, he said he didn’t know what else to do. A few days later he called bank of America edd customer service and actually talked to someone with half a brain and they were able to flag the card, and said he would have to call back in the morning and file a police report and stuff .. my question is, is he going to be able to get the money that is rightfully his? He has been unemployed since last March?

    Reply
    • I had exactly the same thing happen to me. I mean word for word of what you wrote. I am still trying to get this claim corrected. Why can’t Edd have someone to answer the hotline? What kind of hotline re routes your call to the claims line?

      Reply
  16. I have exhausted my claim online but they say I cannot certify for more benefits until April of next year when my claim ends. How do I get the extension?

    Reply
  17. I was self employed and stopped working 04/04, I just applied for Unemployment on 09/17(yes very late i did not know I was eligible) I just received my 1st payment on 09/27 for $167 and my benefit year start date says 09/16 does that mean I am not getting the PUA back pay? I did file under pandemic relief and I got a letter saying I did qualify for it how long until I receive the backpay?

    Reply
  18. Re: Back dating claim weeks, I’m not sure if my comments went through earlier so including this info. Took a couple weeks but worked for me:

    Visit Ask EDD (below) to request to backdate your claim if you think it has the wrong start date.

    Select Unemployment Insurance Benefits,
    then Claim Questions,
    then Backdate the Effective Date of my UI Claim Due to COVID-19.

    https://askedd.edd.ca.gov/

    Reply
  19. Hi there,

    I have a question regarding qualification for the $300 additional LWA Program. I am a California resident. Any insight is much appreciated. Here’s my scenario:

    I left my job as a server at a restaurant in February 2020 because I was planning on moving out of the country and doing freelance writing work. When Covid-19 started closing things down in March right when I was supposed to leave, I decided to stay in place. During this time I did some freelance writing for work.

    Around late July I began applying to find full-time employment in writing, and filed for unemployment while I looked for work. I’m currently still receiving unemployment and looking for full-time work. I do some freelance projects on the side, which I report, and the earnings are deducted from my unemployment benefits.

    My question is regarding the additional $300 LWA program. I’m unsure how to respond as my unemployment is from a situation that was caused from Covid-19 (not leaving the country because of the pandemic), however it’s an indirect result. Currently I’ve been unable to find work, and I don’t have a way of knowing if that’s directly because of the pandemic (ie: less hiring going on, more people looking for work).

    Does anyone have insight into if this situation qualifies in regards to the question: Were you unemployed or partially unemployed due to disruptions by COVID-19?

    Many thanks!

    Reply
    • they aren’t even giving that out , it ended Sept 15th. Those of us who really did lose our jobs due entirely and completely to covid and couldn’t find anything else didn’t even get all of the weeks we were entitled to due to CA’s gross negligence, why should you get anything? You’re talking about a question they would have asked you 2 months ago, the money is gone.

      Reply
  20. I get $167 a week but it saids disaster benifits do I still qualify for the extra $300 even thought I put the reason why was bcuz I have to stay with my kids right know that they are doing distance learning online does that qualify

    Reply
    • That’s what I put. I’m staying home with my grandson and taking care of him while my daughter works full time and I qualified

      Reply
  21. I was fired on July 2020 from my job and still filing for unemployment, my Unemployment is not due to COVID19. Do i qualify for the $300 (LWA) California program? I got a self attest LWA form on UI Online. Will I get the extra money if I fill it out? Or will I be penalized? Thank you.

    Reply
  22. I was fired in July 2020 from my job and currently receiving unemployment not related to COVID19. Do I qualify for the extra $300 of (LWA) that California is offering I got a self attest form on UI online? Will I receive the money if I fill it? Or will I be penalized for it? Thank you.

    Reply
  23. So i have a question. I dont have to certify weeks until september 13, 2020. I get $178 in regular unemployment. So for the LWA payments do i have to wait until next week for them to add my LWA payment? I do qualify for it. On my claim i put due to covid-19 and everytime i certify i put covid-19 also. They sit there and dont make it clear enough to know if its added at the same exact time as you certify. Because there are people that didnt have to certify this week and yet they already got a payment. Im in california.

    Reply
    • You receive the additional $300 as back pay for the weeks of August 1 until September 5th. They are not deposited with your usual weekly benefits upon certification. The 5 or 6 weeks of the extra $300 has been sent to people starting 9/7 but only 3 weeks of it in Ca sofar. You should have received $900 in 3 different payments of $300 already. They are sending the additional 2 weeks on the week of 9/28.
      So $600 more is going out this coming week.

      Reply
  24. Hello I’ll try to make this short filling my claim had it’s challenging area but got WBA of 200 because they were calculating my out of state wages. May 10, 2020 started my clAim by 8/01/20 my max benefit amount ran out. I was automatically put on PEUC. Ok 8/28/20 my wages got added up. Was given a new WBA of 450 with a much higher max benefit amount. They paid me the difference for every single week , it was 13 back payments. Ok so I’m still getting PEUC Because the suspended my claim , so I can receive the PEUC I got a hold of a edd rep asking them to suspend the Peuc instead of my wba , I get more money using my new calculated wages then Peuc. What do I do ??

    Reply
  25. My weekly benefit award amount is $110, I always mark yes to having Irs tax fee deducted so I only get $99 dollars back, do I still qualify for the 300 extra?

    Reply
  26. I’m wondering of the 300 added money is going to be added to the benefits for today’s payment. I get $319 every week but never received the additional money for today’s payment. Is the retroactive pay going to be paid separately or are we going to have to wait another 2 weeks? I’m sure I qualified because I received the 600 added money as well. But because today is a holiday as well im just wondering if the payments are separate.

    Reply
  27. I am currently collecting CALIFORNIA EDD for max $450/wk.
    What happens if i go to work PART TIME ABOUT 15 HOURS A WEEK as an independent contractor FILING TAX as a 1099?
    -how much hours a week can i work to NOT get my edd benefits reduced or cancelled?
    -WHAT HAPPEN TO ME IF I DONT REPORT MY PART TIME CONTRACT WORK ON THE WEEKLY CLAIM FORM?
    WILL I HAVE TO PAY THAT BACK WHEN I FILE OR PAY TAX IN APRIL NEXT YEAR?

    Reply
    • Your benefit amount is impacted by the amount of your earnings minus the first $25
      So if you earn $20 per hour and you work 15 hours in a week, you earn $300 that week. Your benefit will be reduced not by $300 but by $225 and you will only receive $225 from unemployment. You will end up with the same amount in your pocket when you combine the reduced ui amount and your part time wages.
      I wouldn’t recommend not reporting your wages because that would be considered fraud and may come at you later for overpayment. They will get you and possibly disqualify you from future public benefits, levy your job or bank account. Never a good idea to hold info from a government agency because they will find out and you can remember what I have shared with you here. Even in most desperate of times, dishonesty does not serve you well. Good luck.

      Reply
  28. Call (833) 978-2511. Wait for recording to start in English, then when it starts to be Spanish press 1. Then wait for the recording to say “this number has been established…” and then press 2. Either you’ll be put on hold for someone, or you’ll be told to call back. Got through 2 days ago in 1 minute 30 seconds, and yesterday in 21 m minutes holding. Cheers all!

    Reply
    • those are new people and they have no clue. They can not edit or change anything in the system. In other words, they’re there just to babysit the callers but they can’t really do anything except for writing a request for claim representative to call you back, which you can do yourself on your UI online under contact us.

      Reply
  29. My hours were reduced during the pandemic. I applied back in April and I have yet to receive anything. My situation is a little different. I had income in the last 24-months from another state since I relocated to California. Everything that EDD asked from me was provided on my end. I also received a letter from the unemployment office from my previous state, I gave them the info that was required.

    Around mid-June, I finally received 3 letters from EDD regarding my application. First letter was letting me know about verification. When I faxed over my application and all other important documents, I sent in my State-ID, Passport, and my SSN card. Now mind you, ever since I moved to Cali, I never updated my State-ID or Drivers License.

    A week later, I called EDD until I finally was able to connect to someone. And Rep1 told me that my application is being handled from another department because I need to get verified, Rep1 also mentioned to me that process that’s about 2-3 weeks. They also mentioned they would make a note to my file that I am looking for my back dates from April and May. I asked Rep1 if there was anything they needed from me and I was told no, since my application is getting verified.

    The following week, I called again to check on the status of my application. I spoke to Rep2 and they told me my application is still getting verified. They also brought up that my file had a note that I was looking for my back dates, that Rep1 placed on my file. Rep2 told me they cannot do anything since its being handled by another department. I asked to speak to the department that is handling my application. Phone dialed and went complete silence. When I spoke to Rep2, I noted that was my week 3 of that “verification” time frame. It’s been 2-3 weeks when since I last spoke to Rep2. Now every time I call, I cannot even connect.

    I called the Unemployment office from my previous state to ask if they ever received my faxed from me verifying I worked in another state for income. I was told yes. I don’t know if the office is really delayed OR if what’s delaying my application is because the State-ID I sent over was from my previous state and not California ID. Who knows? I just fear that I wont be seeing any of the benefits as I had to work in the office during this pandemic.

    Any advise or suggestions? Any feedback is greatly appreciated.

    Reply
  30. Filed for UI back in April with claim year beginning 4/5/2020. My employment in the prior year was limited so I only ended up with 14 weeks of benefits that were exhausted as of 7/11/2020. My understanding is that under the pandemic assistance there is a 13 week extension available but it seems to be impossible to effect it.

    – The EDD COVID-19 information page says that as of 5/27/2020 they began reviewing claims where the benefit year started on or after 6/2/2019 and all benefits have been used and you can not file a new claim they will -automatically- (their emphasis on automatically) file the PEUC extension on your last claim.

    – When I go online to the portal I get this – “Claim Expired – Potentially Eligible for PEUC
    You are potentially eligible for a Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) extension under the CARES Act of 2020. The PEUC extension provides an additional 13 weeks of UI benefits. You have a valid claim that began on or after July 8, 2018, that is now expired. If you are unemployed or partially unemployed, file a new regular UI claim. If you file a new regular UI claim and the EDD determines you are not qualified, the EDD will automatically determine eligibility and file a PEUC extension on your prior regular UI claim that is now expired. No additional action will be required on your part to file the PEUC extension. Start filing a new claim now

    – When I click the link it just reloads the page and will not let me get to the page to file a new claim. Additionally, after certifying for benefits this morning for my final two weeks this notice popped up – “Maximum Benefits Paid. You have received all benefits payable to you at this time. You cannot file another California Unemployment Insurance claim until your current benefit year ends.”

    So which is it??? The web won’t let me file a new claim and it also says since I’m in my benefit year I cannot file another claim but do I need to file a new claim for that one to get the extension? Or do I just wait in limbo as eventually they will get to my current claim and extend it? Has anyone received an extension on a claim that has ended in this period? I’ve sent messages through the portal but they are never answered. This is probably a 2 minute conversation with someone at EDD to get sorted out but getting someone the phone at either number is literally impossible. They really could have done better on their call center instead of “we’re too busy call back later bye” forcing people to keep dialing in like they’re trying to buy concert tickets. Even the DMV gets it right – was over an hour wait on the phone when I dialed in. You can choose to mark you place in line and they will call you back. Took closer to two hours for them to call back but they did and got my problem there solved.

    Thanks in advance to anyone with any insight on the above!

    Reply
    • So i am in the exact same boat as you!! But i still have my last week to certify for. But i have been reading a lot online, and i know someone who has a contact at EDD and she says to be patient of course, but that the EDD has to update their system to automatically approve people who are in the same boat like us. So im hoping and praying it automatically goes through soon!! Good luck man, and if anything changes i will hop back on here and let you know.

      Reply
      • My UI claim started 3/29/2020 due being let go from my job because of COVID. My last day to certify on UI was December 27th and now it says: “Maximum Benefits Paid You have received all benefits payable to you at this time. You cannot file another California Unemployment Insurance claim until your current benefit year ends.”

        So we do just have to wait then??

        Reply
  31. I lost my self employment from March 17 due to Covid 19, but I am still working a part time essential job (W2) taking care of my mom 16 hours earn $264 a week, EDD said I don’t qualify for PUA because I have UI. However I can’t get UI because my weekly benefit amount is $98, I’m have excessive earnings. What should I do? Essential job must work but 3 months of self employment no income and no help from EDD

    Reply
  32. I lost my job at the start of March , I thought among many others it was bad to collect unemployment, until my father told me I needed to do it, it would help me get paid for the weeks I havnt worked and until I was able to find a job

    I’m receiving my $600/week + UI Benefits
    Starting from when I applied just last month
    But I was never able to certify for my previous weeks before I applied.

    How do I receive retroactive pay???

    Do I need to contact them?

    Reply
    • Did you ever find out that is what happened to me as well and I’m wondering do I need to call and tell the to backdate it!?

      Reply
    • do you have a account on edd online..make a account online on the edd ..from there you can requaset a back paid for those weeks you missed on certification. and be patiences

      Reply
    • I believe the instructions to request retroactive UI benefits can be found here:

      edd.ca.gov/Unemployment/retro-certify.htm

      Reply
    • Visit Ask EDD (below) to request to backdate your claim if you think it has the wrong start date.
      Select Unemployment Insurance Benefits,
      then Claim Questions,
      then Backdate the Effective Date of my UI Claim Due to COVID-19.

      https://askedd.edd.ca.gov/

      Reply
    • Unfortunately you can’t get retroactively paid for months and months prior to the point of filing. I forget the exact limit, but I think it’s something like a month; it definitely doesn’t backdate to the start of your term of unemployment if you never signed up. I learned this the hard way…it’s a crappy system.

      Reply
  33. Currently, I am in California collecting $406/week plus $600 which is about the same as my pre Covid 40 hours weekly pay.

    I was told as long as that is $1 or more on my Unemployment Benefit, the $600 will kick in.

    I came across this post:
    https://savingtoinvest.com/working-reduced-hours-but-making-too-much-for-state-unemployment-insurance-and-so-may-not-qualify-for-the-600-stimulus-payment-uishole/

    If the 25% of the “under-employed” weekly pay is lower than $450, then I qualify for weekly unemployment plus $600. Is this accurate?

    Anyone in the same boat? Thanks in advance!

    Reply
    • It is. See the example in the post. You can make up to $600 p/week in CA and still get at least $1 of state UI. This then makes you eligible for the $600 FPUC.

      Reply
    • in California I’ve exhausted all my benefits but I’m trying to see if I qualify for extension of 13 weeks and what do I have to do they say u will get a message online before u use all your cash but untrue, should i refile my claim or wait, unfortunately I i dnt no what to do is anyone going through the same thing or have any advice

      Reply
      • Mine says exhausted as well, it also says I qualify for an extension and in another part to file a new claim. Not sure what to do :/

        Reply
        • Haley,
          Mine says the same .
          UI online main page has link that says “start new claim” yet I received an email that says the extension is automatic…
          I’m extremely confused . My last payment was on 12/19/2020.
          Please help :-(

  34. Hello, I applied for unemployment late, like May 17th, but have been unemployed since mid-march. So far, I have only received payment from when I applied, May 17 on to May 31st. Will I get retroactive/back pay from the time I was laid off even though I applied late? (I though applying for unemployment was bad for some reason, but I realized I needed the money thus, I applied super late) Please help. Thank you.

    Reply
      • Visit Ask EDD (below) to request to backdate your claim if you think it has the wrong start date.
        Select Unemployment Insurance Benefits,
        then Claim Questions,
        then Backdate the Effective Date of my UI Claim Due to COVID-19.

        https://askedd.edd.ca.gov/

        Reply
    • Having the same thing happen to me. I didn’t file until the middle of June and I’m self employed. They only are paying me from when I filed in June but I couldn’t work after 3-17. I need this backdated to the March date but don’t know how to tell EDD every time I try to submit a question I’ll get an EDD has reviewed your question and will reply within 5-7 business days but I haven’t gotten one answer From them. Also, why is it that the operators who are able to answer personal claim questions for your personal account only working from 8-12 pm? The other divisions like the fraud decision hours are 8-5. Seems like with all this backup EDD is experiencing they would use the fraud department workers to do the personal claim account questions and extend the hours from 8-5 as well. Seems silly that the division of the EDD that everyone needs to use is only open 4 hours a day.

      Reply
    • Unfortunately you can’t get retroactively paid for months and months prior to the point of filing. I forget the exact limit, but I think it’s something like a month; it definitely doesn’t backdate to the start of your term of unemployment if you never signed up.

      Reply
  35. Hello! Like almost everyone else I reopened my UI claim due to the C-19 Virus in March. It was to be exhausted 10/03/2020. I’ve got one more claim I can make. I’ve tried calling. I’ve tried emailing. What other options due I have? Can I open a new claim on line? How soon can I open the claim (if needed)? I just got my bills all caught up in payment and really do not want to go back into “catch up mod again.” I understand that there are people who are still in the “I want to get my bills caught up mod.” Been there. Any suggestions are appreciated. Thanks

    Reply
    • Contact your local State Assemblyman by email or phone. Let them know you haven’t been able to reach EDD. I contacted my Assemblyman’s office and their representative reached out to their EDD liaison on my behalf. Three weeks later, I was back-paid to March, 2020 with my UI benefits and the extra $600/week pandemic money.

      Reply
  36. I FINALLY got paid 9 weeks worth of back pay!!! Hope this helps someone out!

    So my claim was approved and started at the end of March. I filed my claims correctly, timely, and what have you, but wasn’t getting paid. All my claims just showed ‘pending’ and I even got the debit card as well.

    So I tried calling the 800 number for weeks on end with no luck, contacted my assembly member, wrote various emails/used the contact us option on UI Online, but still nothing.

    A few days ago I was getting very desperate since rent is due soon so I looked all over and stumbled upon a YouTube video that had a method of calling the 833 number and as soon as the automated voice starts, you hit 1 then 2 on the dial pad right away and most of the time you’ll get the “thank you for calling we are getting too many calls” yada yada yada and then it hangs up. You continue to do this (unfortunately in my case it took a couple hours) and then you’ll here “all of our representatives are with other clients” or something like that and that’s how you know you got through! I waited on hold for about an hour and a half, and explained to the EDD employee that all of my claims for the last 9 weeks are all ‘pending’ and she told me that I had a problem with ID verification, which made no sense because I sent in my ID, birth certificate, and 2019 W2 as verification as my ID is out of state. The employee said I was suppose to be sent an ID verification form in early April that I never received. She also said she would have a specialist call back sometime in the next week as she couldn’t do much for me on her end at that time.

    So I think I’m SOL seeing how long the ID verification process was taking for a lot of people on here and then all of the sudden, I get a No Called ID call today (05/29) and it was the specialist. She said she was able to push all of my ‘pending’ payments to ‘paid’ as there wasn’t an ID problem at all! On my UI Online it shows all of my payments for the last 9 weeks are all finally paid and should expect payment in the next day or so!!!!!!

    DONT GIVE UP!! There is a light at the end of this very dark tunnel!!!

    TLDR: All of my claims showed ‘pending’ for the last 9 weeks and then I called using the 833 method above I describe, talked to an EDD employee who set up a call back with a specialist that could better help me, got a call back the next day and the specialist told me she was able to push all of my ‘pending’ claims to ‘paid’.

    Reply
    • Does that include the $600 dollars. Or is that the UI only? I am in your situation. It is so very very long. I have 10 or so back weeks. Seems just today 3 weeks are approved. It is so low. And my rent is behind and it is not enough to get me current. So crazy.

      Reply
    • When you applied for unemployment, did it automatically allow you to certify your retroactive weeks prior to applying for unemployment?

      Reply
    • Thanks for the encouragement, Mark!
      Hopefully EDD are getting back on track.
      I have been doing everything I can (sending message and letters ti EDD, trying to contact district members, etc.) and I am happy to hear you have some resolution! I’m not giving up :)

      Reply
      • So what happens when ive already been collecting unemployment since the beginning and am approved for the fed ed extension but then not receive additional addon money on the 7th of September. Never received any notice or email or anything. I get 319 a week so I supposedly qualify. I didn’t receive addition benefits for weeks ending 08/01 and 08/08. But Monday 09/07 was my payday and still just got my regular pay. When that was the day they were doing it. Now its 4 days later and still nothing. Sent emails and everything and I dont get a response. I understand they are really busy but maybe they should have a button u check to see if ur qualified and just waiting for payment or even an estimated payment date. I have already used my regular pay for bills and even food stamps only gave me 16 dollars to live on for a month. This system is really messed um. Maybe someone has more inside info to help with this?

        Reply
  37. Okay so my final payment was March 4th of 2020. Does that mean my benefits will get an extension for 13 weeks?. I did receive one payment of 600 dollars and 275 of my regular payment for the week ending in March 4th 2020

    Reply
  38. I started my unemployment weekof march 22 they withheld the one week because that was not implemented yet I received my edd card and one week payment on 4/6of April and have no t received anything else since then I have emailed the at least 7 times and did not get a response to any of my emails . they have not said anything is wrong. but the people who just applied are receiving there 600. why am I not receiving my reg unemployment.its almost 5 weeks.

    Reply
    • Are you signing on to the UI online and certifying every two weeks? Did you get your BofA debit card

      Reply
  39. I am self employed and filed for unemployment on 3/21/2020. My first two weeks of certification said disqualified. Do i have to reapply since the self employed provision didn’t start until 4/28/2020?

    Reply
    • I made the same mistake and reapplyed a few days ago. It still says disqualified for weeks 4/1 & 4/11 or something to that effect. I created the company that I have done 1099 work for for the last year and a half under “company not listed” and then included that companies EIN in the space they provide ” 150 characters”. So far no appointmen and no response from EDD. I hope they fix this issue asap! I have lost my primary and only source of income due to the Coronavirus. I have a newborn baby and the bills continue to pile with no help in sight! Its frustrating watching people like my cousin who worked less than 3 months at a new job making min. wage prior to this pandemic get approved for benefits because of “reduced hours due to covid-19” without a second thought. So she now gets almost $800/wk in benefits plus she can continue to work part time and collect a paycheck. Funny she never made over $300 in a week working fulltime prior to this and now she is easily clearing over $1,000/ week because of it and I can’t work whatsoever “nonessential” due to it and I dont even have pocket lint in my pocket! #brokensystem

      Reply
  40. During the corona virus i applied for my unemployment. EDD took my unemployment money and the care pay for overpayments from 2016
    This left me with 0 money
    Now i can understand if they took some but they took all of it. Its a killing virus out here and im a diabetic with a heart condition. So i have no food no
    money nothing

    Reply
  41. I was let go in early feb. so I am already on unemployment and I got an offer from a job which then immediately furloughed their employees in march. My original claim does not include this info about the new job. Do I need to file a new claim or does the extra aid get added automatically? I have yet to see any extra aid.

    Reply
  42. if i am receiving disability and will open my UIB after i finish my benefits is their an extension we can apply for due to the virus

    Reply
    • Yes, the PUA allows you to extend your current year UI benefits by an additional 13 weeks once you exhaust your standard 26 weeks.

      Reply
  43. How long until I can open my unemployment claim again. I lost my previous job 9/2017, I received 3 weeks unemployment, took a job 10/2017 and am now out of work again. Can I still collect from the first claim?

    Reply

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