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File by phone:
To file in English, call 1-800-300-5616
To file in Spanish, call 1-800-326-8937
Out-of-state callers should dial 1-800-250-3913
File online
You may file a claim for unemployment benefits in California on the Internet
at eApply4UI.
An individual who files for unemployment insurance benefits must meet specific eligibility requirements before benefits can be paid. Individuals must:
Employers report wages to the Department for each employee. The Department uses this information to decide if an individual earned enough wages in a base period to establish a UI claim. A base period is a specific 12-month period. For example, if a claimant files a claim that begins in April, May or June the claim is calculated based on wages paid to the claimant between January 1 and December 31 of the prior year.
The reason an individual is out of work can affect his/her eligibility for benefits. A person who is laid off is out of work through no fault of his/her own. A person who quits work or is fired from work will be scheduled to a telephone interview because there is a separation issue that must be resolved. The Department interviewer obtains and documents information about the separation from the employer and claimant and decides, according to law and regulations, if the person is eligible to collect benefits. The Department mails a notice to the claimant who is not eligible for benefits. The Department mails a notice to the employer who responded timely to the notice of claim filed. The notice advises the employer about whether the claimant is eligible or not, and whether the employer's account will be charged for benefits paid to the former employee. Either party can disagree with an unfavorable decision and file an appeal.
Individuals must meet eligibility requirements each week that they claim benefits.
A person must be physically able to work, available for work and actively looking for work each week benefits are claimed. An individual must complete a claim form every two weeks, sign and date the form and return it to the Department for payment. If the information on the form shows that the individual did not meet eligibility requirements, the Department will schedule a telephone interview. Based on the information obtained, benefits may be reduced or denied. An individual who disagrees with our decision to reduce or deny benefits may file an appeal.
The first decision you must make before filing your claim is to decide how you will file it. We offer the following claim filing options:
After you have decided on a claim filing option, be prepared to provide the information we need to file your claim. Some information will be about your recent employment and about you personally for identification and statistical purposes, such as date of birth and years of education.
Because your time is valuable and we want the claim filing process to go as quickly as possible, we have identified critical items you should have immediately available regardless of which option you select to file your claim.
The telephone numbers listed here can be called for unemployment insurance services. Please notice that we have separate telephone numbers for English, Spanish, Chinese and Vietnamese speaking customers. Separate telephone numbers are also available for customers who call using a teletypewriter, and for those who call from outside California.
If you are calling to file a claim, you must call by Friday to receive credit for the week. Business hours (all times are Pacific Time) for calling the listed telephone numbers are:
Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, including holidays. Unemployment insurance check information (Interactive Recording):
(Inside California Only)
ENGLISH
Filing Claims
Check Information:
| General Information | 1-800-300-5616 |
ESPAÑOL
Presentación de Solicitudes
Información sobre su Cheque
| Información General | 1-800-326-8937 |
| 1-800-547-3506 | |
| 1-800-547-2058 |
| OUT OF STATE CALLERS | 1-800-250-3913 |
Customers calling from a state other than California, or who are calling from the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, or Canada can use this telephone number for unemployment insurance services. This telephone number cannot be used inside California.
| TELETYPEWRITER (TTY) USERS | 1-800-815-9387 |
Deaf
and hard of hearing callers can contact EDD:
Directly (without using the California Relay Service) by TTY using this telephone number. The TTY is a telecommunications
device for the deaf and hard of hearing. This telephone
number does not accept voice calls.
Indirectly: Through the California Relay Service. If
calling via the California Relay Service you must provide
the EDD telephone number to the California Relay Service
operator. (Customers calling outside of California should
use their state's relay service.)
We encourage deaf and hard of hearing callers to contact us by using the TTY toll-free number. This will put you in direct contact with an EDD customer service representative who can provide you with unemployment insurance services.
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Free Money to Pay for College
The Workforce Investment Act is a government-funded program with the goal of providing adults with the education, skills and training they need to get and retain jobs. The U.S. Department of Labor works with states to provide money for workers, so they can afford career training for jobs that are in demand in local markets.
Learn more about the benefits of the Workforce Invesment Act.