Who’s eligible for unemployment benefits in California and how to file for them

California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced on Wednesday additional unemployment benefits for the undocumented, independent contractors and gig workers, media outlets reported.

Newsom said in a press conference that 2.7 million Californians filed for unemployment in the last month, according to CNBC.

The federal government’s Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program will provide funds for self-employed people, gig workers and independent contractors in California, according to CNBC.

Undocumented immigrants will get aid through California’s $75 million Disaster Relief Fund using one-time benefits, and the state is also raising $50 million through “public-private partnership,” the outlet reported.

“Many Californians are one paycheck away from losing their homes or from being able to put food on their tables, and COVID-19 has only made these challenges worse,” Newsom said, according to San Jose Spotlight. “California is focused on getting relief dollars and unemployment assistance in the hands of those who need it as quickly as possible.”

Californians can apply for unemployment benefits if they are: partially or totally unemployed, unemployed through no fault of their own, physically able to work, available to work, and ready to accept work immediately, according to the state’s Employment Development Department.

Due to coronavirus, the seven-day waiting period for filing claims has been waived beginning or after Jan. 19, according to the EDD. People are also not required to look for work in order to get benefits.

You should file your claim the first week you lose your job or have reduced hours, according to the EDD. The claim will begin on the Sunday that the application was submitted.

To file for unemployment, Californians need: information on their last employer including company name, supervisor name, address and phone number; reason why they’re no longer working and last date worked; gross earnings in the last week worked; information on employers during the last 18 months (including name, address, dates of employment, gross wages, hours per week, hourly rate of pay, and reason for no longer working); citizenship status or information from employment authorization document; Standard Form 8 for federal employees; and DD 214 Member 4 copy for ex-military members.

Californians can apply for unemployment by phone, online, or by fax or mail, the EDD said.