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Lost your job in California? How unemployment works

California pays regular unemployment insurance through the California Employment Development Department. Weekly benefits run $40–$450 for up to 26 weeks. The most you can receive on a claim is the lower of 26 times the weekly amount or one half of base-period wages. 1 unpaid waiting week. Last checked .

What to do this week

  1. File your claim now. Apply as soon as you are unemployed or your hours are cut. Benefits usually start on the Sunday of the week you first apply. You can file online, by phone, in person. Open the EDD filing page or call 800-300-5616 (Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Pacific time, except state holidays. English 800-300-5616; Spanish 800-326-8937; Mandarin 866-303-0706; Cantonese 800-547-3506; Vietnamese 800-547-2058; Armenian 855-528-1518; Tagalog 866-395-1513; Korean 844-660-0877; TTY 800-815-9387.).
  2. Gather your records. The agency will ask for your last employers, dates and pay. To qualify: At least $1,300 in the highest quarter of the base period, or at least $900 in the highest quarter with total base-period wages of 1.25 times the highest quarter.
  3. Start certifying every week. Certify every two weeks online in myEDD (fastest), by phone at 866-333-4606, or by mailing a paper continued claim form. Most people must search for suitable work each week and register in CalJOBS within 21 days of notice; the award notice (DE 429Z) gives work search instructions and EDD does not set a number on its website pages. Keep a record of your job search.
  4. Line up other help. California SNAP income limits, California health coverage.

California unemployment at a glance

Agency
California Employment Development Department (EDD)
Weekly benefit
$40–$450 (table in force from January 2, 2005)
Most weeks
26 — The most you can receive on a claim is the lower of 26 times the weekly amount or one half of base-period wages.
Waiting week
Every claim has a one-week unpaid waiting period. You must certify and meet all eligibility rules for that week; the first certification usually covers the waiting week plus one payable week.
Appeal deadline
Appeal in writing within 30 days of the mailing date on the notice (DE 1080CZ or DE 1444CT). A late appeal can still be considered if you explain good cause.
Spanish / Chinese help
EDD pages in Spanish (https://edd.ca.gov/spanish/), Simplified Chinese (https://edd.ca.gov/simplified-chinese/) and Traditional Chinese (https://edd.ca.gov/traditional-chinese/), plus phone help in Cantonese and Mandarin.

How much you could get

The weekly amount is between $40 and $450. The benefit table for claims beginning on or after January 2, 2005 is still the one in use. How it is figured: The weekly amount comes from the EDD benefit table based on your wages in the highest base-period quarter, from $40 (for $900-$948.99) up to $450.

At the top of the table — $450 a week for 26 weeks — the most a claim can pay is $11,700. That is a ceiling, not a typical claim; most people get less because the amount follows past wages.

Who qualifies

  • Base period. Standard: the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters. Alternate: the last four completed quarters, used automatically if the standard base period has too few wages.
  • Work and wages. At least $1,300 in the highest quarter of the base period, or at least $900 in the highest quarter with total base-period wages of 1.25 times the highest quarter.
  • If you quit. If you quit you must show you had good cause; California law treats leaving to protect yourself or your family from domestic violence, or to accompany a spouse or partner who must relocate, as good cause.
  • If you were fired. If you were fired, your employer must show misconduct connected with the work; EDD presumes the discharge was not for misconduct unless the employer proves it.
  • Part-time, gig and self-employed work. If you work part-time you may get reduced benefits: your weekly amount is reduced by the smaller of wages over $25 or wages over 25%. People misclassified as independent contractors should still apply.

Weekly certification, taxes and appeals

How to file
Apply online in myEDD (fastest), by phone at 800-300-5616, or by fax or mail with the paper application DE 1101I. An America's Job Center of California can help with paper applications.
Weekly certification
Certify every two weeks online in myEDD (fastest), by phone at 866-333-4606, or by mailing a paper continued claim form.
Work search
Most people must search for suitable work each week and register in CalJOBS within 21 days of notice; the award notice (DE 429Z) gives work search instructions and EDD does not set a number on its website pages. Keep a record of your job search.
Taxes
Benefits are federally taxable and exempt from California income tax; you can choose 10% federal withholding each time you certify.
State withholding
No. California does not tax unemployment benefits.
If you are denied
EDD, using the address on the notice; the case then goes to the California Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board (Office of Appeals) Keep certifying every week while the appeal is pending.
Overpayments
Overpaid benefits must be repaid; a fraud overpayment adds a 30% penalty, and a non-fraud overpayment can be waived if it was not your fault and repayment would cause extraordinary hardship.

Good to know in California

  • The EDD fact sheet DE 8714AB that states the $1,300 and $900 wage tests is dated 2018; the same numbers are in Unemployment Insurance Code 1281.
  • EDD pages do not give a weekly work search count.

Sources

Legal and agency information, not legal advice. Rules and benefit tables change — confirm with EDD before you rely on a number. How we check: methodology.