Answering your questions about applying for and receiving California unemployment benefits

McClatchy reporter David Lightman took questions from readers this week about unemployment benefits — and the difficulty people have reaching the agency that manages the program.

There are two new efforts by the Employment Development Department to expedite claims: The department Tuesday launched a new program where people can get information about applying for benefits, including the federally funded Pandemic Unemployment Assistance. This program can provide benefits to gig workers, self-employed people and others.

The second new wrinkle is a toll-free line to answer general and technical questions, staffed 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. The number is 833-978-2511.

Readers, though, still see a confusing landscape.. How exactly do I apply? When do I see benefits? How long will it take to reach someone who can address my concerns and confusion?

Here are some of the questions we received and our attempts to provide answers. Some have been edited for brevity:

Q. I have worked for Lyft for almost five years and because of Covid-19 I can no longer work. Do I qualify for unemployment benefits?

A. My understanding is that you could qualify for the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program. The EDD’s application should be available Tuesday. Check its Q and A: https://edd.ca.gov/about_edd/coronavirus-2019/pandemic-unemployment-assistance/faqs.htm

Q. I was asked to file an appeal but not given an address to mail the appeal to. Can you help?

A. EDD advises “Mail your appeal to the return address shown on the decision notice.” For more: https://www.edd.ca.gov/unemployment/appeals.htm

Q. I was laid off my job after being there for three weeks due to Covid-19. Am I entitled to unemployment benefits? Because I was denied.

A. Sounds like you can apply under the same PUA program noted above. The new EDD web page should help you. Also check its Q and A:https://edd.ca.gov/about_edd/coronavirus-2019/pandemic-unemployment-assistance/faqs.htm

Q. 1. (edited) Do you round off the hours you worked?

2. What if you get tips and you don’t know how much you get until you receive your paycheck even though EDD asks for certification before getting paid?

3. What if you put your hours only and not your tips in the wage & already submitted? Is there a way to revise?

A. If you apply for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, the EDD says “You do not need to submit any documents to the EDD with your PUA application. You will enter your total income for the 2019 calendar year on the application. Initially, this will be used to pay the minimum benefits of $167 per week plus $600 per week from March 29-July 25.”

“If the income information you provide indicates that you meet an annual earnings threshold of $17,368 or more, the EDD will work as quickly as possible to verify your income using other resources available to the department in order to increase your PUA weekly benefit amount.,” the agency says.

If additional information is needed, the EDD will contact you. If needed, the EDD says it “will inform you of the documents you can submit. In general, you may submit items such as an annual tax return, 1099 forms, W-2s, pay stubs, or other documents that show your income.”For more: https://edd.ca.gov/about_edd/coronavirus-2019/pandemic-unemployment-assistance/faqs.htm

Q. For those who were already claiming UI but they exhausted their claim, there’s supposed to be a 13-week extension. Has EDD said when that’s supposed to begin and what the process is for that?

A. EDD says you can qualify for some Pandemic Unemployment Assistance benefits once “you have collected all unemployment benefits for which you were eligible and remain unemployed or partially unemployed as a direct result of a Covid-19 reason. This means that you were qualified for regular UI but have exhausted those benefits, as well as any extended benefits.”

Not sure in your case about when or if the extra 13 weeks kick in....might want to get in touch with your local congressman or senator.

Q. I filed for UI benefits on March 15. Finally this month I got a claim number from EDD with a statement of the weekly benefits I’m supposed to be receiving. It’s now April 27 and the problem is I have not received any UI benefits yet and it’s been more than a month since I filed my claim.

Every time I try to call EDD, I can’t get through to talk to anyone to ask what happened to my claim. I get disconnected. I’ve written emails to them but no one responds. How else can I get in contact with EDD to find out why they haven’t sent me any of my benefits?

A. There is an EDD chat in the lower right hard corner of its website. And I assume you’ve tried both numbers: 800-300-5616, which is the one you would want, and 833-978-2511, which handles more technical questions. The other thought is this: Has your bank received the money but simply has not recorded it yet?

If none of that works, try the Assembly member/state senator route. You can find them at http://findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov/

Q. The last day I worked was March 15 due to Covid-19. I filed for unemployment, and received a Notice of Unemployment Insurance Award with a mail date of 04/01/2020. On April 6, 2020, I mailed in my bi-weekly certification form for the last two weeks of March (that form arrived in the mail on Saturday, April 4). I have not received a payment, nor any other mail/correspondence from EDD since that time regarding my award or bi-weekly certification forms. I am calling all available phone numbers at least 3x a day and can NEVER get through to a live person! When will I receive payment?

A. Hate to keep repeating this advice, but it’s worked for many who have been frustrated trying to get through to EDD. Call or email your local Assembly member or state senator, who you can find at http://findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov/

Q. What about the tens of thousands of people with unexplained disqualifications in their files that haven’t been removed and now keep current claims from being processed? The explanations from EDD sound like they’re blaming people for not being able to use its broken system. “Ask EDD” and watching a video won’t fix that problem.

A. Hard to comment on individual cases. Not sure this answers your question, but note the answer from https://edd.ca.gov/about_edd/coronavirus-2019/pandemic-unemployment-assistance/faqs.htm

If you believe you were misclassified as an independent contractor and you actually earned wages as an employee, then you will have the option to list your employer and proceed with a regular UI claim. In order to determine eligibility for UI benefits, the EDD will conduct a wage investigation.”And there is an appeals process: https://www.edd.ca.gov/unemployment/appeals.htm

Q. So was sending in the paper form (even though I already filed a claim online) the right thing to do? What can I do to have them recalculate my benefits? I’m just not sure what action to take...I have spent so many hours trying to get through on the phone line for a month — I just read the answer to Question 10 and it says they will send me a notice asking me to verify my identity, but I applied on March 31st and they never sent me anything like that. I have been waiting almost a month to receive benefits. Should I mail them a photocopy of my passport or something?

A. They’re swamped, so I’d be patient. But here’s another idea: Try calling your local Assembly member or state senator. To find them: http://findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov/

Q. I received a system email two weeks ago stating that I had provided a false statement. I have no idea what was false and there is no way to contact a real person to get answers.

A. Have you tried calling the EDD’s line to help people with claims and payments at 1-800-300-5616? I know people have said it’s tough to get through, so here’s another idea: Try calling your local Assembly member or state senator. Here’s how to find ‘em: http://findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov/

Q.. My son was fired from his job before Covid-19. He applied for unemployment and was denied. He is trying to talk to an agent about why he was fired. He believes it was retaliatory because he had complained about an unsafe work environment that was getting progressively worse.

A. Depending on his individual circumstances, he could apply for regular benefits or the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance benefits. Take a look at these guidelines: https://edd.ca.gov/Unemployment/Filing_a_Claim.htm

And try calling the EDD’s help line at 1-833-978-2511. It may take a while to get through, so be patient. It’s staffed from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Q.. I was employed full-time until March 31st, at which point I was laid off through no fault of my own. I worked for the company for six months and applied right after I lost my job, but was sent a notice that I qualify for $0 benefits. I have tried emailing and calling, asking them to recalculate, but haven’t been able to get through. I just printed and sent in a new paper claim, thinking maybe they needed my pay stubs and W2. What is going on? Did I not work long enough to qualify?

A. Seems you should be okay for benefits. Check this website..https://edd.ca.gov/about_edd/coronavirus-2019/pandemic-unemployment-assistance/faqs.htm

Q. I filed a claim in early April. I have a company that I did some work with who paid $175 into EDD in 2018. Going forward I’ve been a tour director who has lost all my tours up until September 2020 and maybe beyond. My UI claim shows I have no money available for benefits but made me certify for two weeks with no reward. I’ve refiled a claim stating that I’m self employed and furnished my 2019 1099 income. My question is will I qualify for the new PUA benefit?

A. Take a look at the questions and answers on this website: https://edd.ca.gov/about_edd/coronavirus-2019/pandemic-unemployment-assistance/faqs.htm

Q. I had been receiving unemployment since October 2019 as the place I was employed closed. On April 5 my benefits ran out. How do I apply for an extension? It won’t let me though my online account. I have tried to call daily numerous times, tried sending emails, call my local Calworks office. What do I do?? I’ve tried everything I can think of. Thank you!!!

A. Have you gone to the EDD website to try to apply? First, take a look at the site that explains filing a claim...https://www.edd.ca.gov/Unemployment/Filing_a_Claim.htm

Next, if you think you qualify for the special federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, have a look at this q and a ... https://edd.ca.gov/about_edd/coronavirus-2019/pandemic-unemployment-assistance/faqs.htm

If none of that works, try contacting your local Assembly member or state senator. You can find them through this site: http://www.legislature.ca.gov/your_legislator.html

Q. I applied for my unemployment on March 19th and was told I would receive paperwork by March 29th. I haven’t received nor heard anything and I need some income. No one is answering the phone and when I try to go back in the system, it says I need my EDD number which I’ve never received.

A. Have you tried 800-300-5616? If you can’t get through at all to EDD, try your Assembly member or state senator. Find them at http://www.legislature.ca.gov/your_legislator.html

Q. When will EDD accept requests for benefits from independent contractors?

A. Check the new EDD program, launched today at 10 a.m.

Q. I am a teacher for a nonprofit organization that didn’t pay into unemployment but with the CARES act took out a loan to help us get unemployment benefits. When I filed March 13 it came back that I would receive $0 for the next year and $0 weekly. I thought It was because I filed too early since I was paid til the first of April so I refiled again.

When I log in I’m still seeing $0 from the first claim and no info from my second. I understand from my employer that on April 28 we will have money to collect unemployment benefits but how? Do I wait for EDD to handle the two claims I already filed or refile a third time?

A. Hard to assess an individual case like this. You should take a look at the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program, which is more liberal about who can qualify and how. The EDD has a new program to help that went on line at 10 a.m. today. In the meantime, take a look at that PUA Q and A: https://edd.ca.gov/about_edd/coronavirus-2019/pandemic-unemployment-assistance/faqs.htm