Unemployment Filing Guides

Unemployment Workshop (slide deck presentation - PDF)
Denials & Appeals (slide deck presentation - PDF)

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EDD Adds a New Hoop to Jump Through: the “Eligibilty Questionairre”

The California Employment Development Department has started sending out a new "Eligibility Questionnaire" to many filers. After you file, be on the lookout for this notice, either by email or postal mail, and be aware that you may have a very short time to respond. It's not clear yet exactly how the EDD is deciding who does and does not have to jump through this additional hoop, but it's becoming more common.

If You Filed and Have Not Heard Back From the EDD

The California Employment Development Department is apparently so overwhelmed that many folks are reporting that they filed weeks ago and still have not had any response from the EDD, even after multiple emails. If more than three weeks have gone by and the EDD has not processed your claim:

• Do not file again. This will not help, and may create more confusion.
• Call the EDD at 1-800-300-5616.
• If you cannot reach the EDD by phone, contact your California state senator or assemblymember.

There is one other option: you can try to contact the EDD by going to a local EDD office. The staff at a local EDD office have their own phone line that connects them with a live person at EDD. Sometimes, if you explain that you are desperate and cannot reach the EDD by phone — and if you get a nice person — they may call the EDD on their special phone line and then allow you to get on the line.

If You Receive a Notice of Overpayment

If you receive a notice of overpayment from the California Employment Development Department (EDD) that claims you were actually working when you were not, and tries to claw back the unemployment benefits money already paid to you, you will need to file an appeal to stop the EDD from trying to get the money back.

See How to Appeal a Notice of "Overpayment".