Frequently Asked Questions On Unemployment
Frequently asked questions continue to change. The EDD website has an updated list here.
Can I file for unemployment if I am self-employed, an independent contractor or gig worker?
In certain cases, you may be eligible if you meet the following criteria:
- You chose to contribute to unemployment elective coverage and paid contributions to be considered potentially eligible for benefits.
- Your past employer made contributions on your behalf over the past five to 18 months.
- You may have been misclassified as an independent contractor instead of an employee.
- When filing for your unemployment claim, you will be asked for your last employer.
If you own your business or are self-employed, you should list yourself as your last employer. If you are an independent contractor, you should list yourself as your last employer. If you believe you are misclassified as an independent contractor instead of an employee, you should list the business you contract with as your last employer.
Be sure to include:
- Dates worked.
- Your gross wages and how you were paid .
- If you are a gig worker, you should list your gig employer as your last employer.
Would I qualify for benefits if I choose to stay home from work due to underlying health conditions and concerns about exposure to the virus?
You can be eligible for benefits if you choose to stay home. Once you file your claim, the department will contact you if they need more information.
What’s Changed During Covid
From stimulus checks and enhanced unemployment to tax extensions and relaxed rules, the government state and federal is pulling strings everywhere to respond to the COVID-19 crisis.
- Unemployment Insurance eligibility has been expanded and may include those who have to miss work to care for children. While benefits are typically capped at 26 weeks in a year, two new extensions allow for 13 and then 20 additional weeks.
- Pandemic Unemployment Assistance is a new federal program that provides unemployment benefits ranging from $167-$450 per week to those ineligible for typical unemployment insurance, like freelancers, independent contractors, gig workers and people with limited work histories. COVID-19-related job impacts qualify workers for this program.
The reason for the drastic measures is clear.
Millions of Californians have been hit hard by the pandemic, particularly workers who are young, female or non-white. One survey showed a third of state residents dont know how theyll pay next months rent. Another researcher estimated that the rate of household food insecurity has doubled.
How Do I Make Sure I Keep Getting Benefits
To continue receiving unemployment, you must certify for benefits every two weeks. You must continue to mee the EDDs eligibility requirements.
If you need a little extra help, you should check out the Users Guide to California Unemployment Insurance. If you need a little extra help after that, you can schedule a consultation. Of course, if you are applying for unemployment, you might have been wrongfully terminated, or not paid appropriately. While we do not typically handle unemployment claims, we do represent employees in harassment, discrimination, whistleblower retaliation, wrongful termination, unpaid overtime, meal and rest period, and other wage and hour violations, on a contingency fee basis. We offer a completely free, completely confidential case evaluation form. The case evaluation form goes directly to Johns inbox. John typically reviews and responds to every case evaluation form within 24-48 hours, even on weekends. If we think we can help you John might ask you for more information or want to schedule a consultation. If we decide we are not able to help you, we still want to provide you with resources to help you understand your rights, find an attorney, and even do it yourself. What do you have to lose? You can start the free case evaluation here: www.californiaemploymentlawfirm.com/case-evaluation
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Are You Available And Actively Searching For Work
To maintain your eligibility for unemployment benefits, you must be able to work, available to accept a job, and looking for work. If you are offered a suitable position, you must accept it.
Normally, you must conduct a reasonable search for work, and certify that you have done so. You should keep records of the employers you have contacted, the dates you made contact, and the outcome. The EDD may ask you to provide this information.
Learn more about the general unemployment claims process, including tips on filling out the forms. If your claim is denied, you have the right to appeal that decision learn how to appeal an unemployment denial in California.
Submit Your Unemployment Benefits Claim Application
There are two primary methods of filing a claim:
Via telephone
You may call the EDDs toll-free number i.e. 1 300-5616 326-8937. The claim filing department is open between the hours of 8:00 AM & 5:00 PM Monday to Friday. Be prepared to wait on hold for long periods of time in many cases. The EDD website contains several other phone numbers for speakers of other languages as well individuals that are deaf or hard of hearing.
Via the EDDs online portal
You can also choose to submit your claim online at . This method is generally the fastest option for submitting your application as you can type your answers and submit your claim instantly.
Once you submit your application whether through the internet or by phone, the EDD will mail your various documents, including:
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Unemployment For The Self
Levey described unemployment insurance as being comparable to car insurance. Payments have to be made to get coverage under the program.
In other words, somebody must have been contributing to these programs on your behalf in order to be able to qualify for benefits if that time comes, Levey said.
If a self-employed person hasn’t been paying into it with a self-coverage option, that person wouldn’t normally qualify.
Disaster Unemployment Assistance is the caveat to this situation. Under this program, the self-employed are eligible. The federal government would have to make this program available.
In general, it provides unemployment benefits to people who became unemployed as a direct result of a president-declared major disaster.
How To File A Claim
The fastest way to apply for benefits is through UI OnlineSM, just as you would for regular UI benefits. You can also apply for PUA by phone, mail, or fax.
If you qualify for regular UI, do not file a PUA claim at this time. If you filed for UI and received a notice that you have $0 in benefits available, visit Step 1 in Unemployment Claims for what to do next.
After you file, refer to our step-by-step claims process. Youll learn what to expect and the actions you need to take during your claim to receive benefit payments.
Note: If you have a PUA claim, your claim type in UI Online will display as Disaster Assistance.
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Protect Yourself Against Covid
Visit the York Region website for information and resources on how to protect yourself against COVID-19 or call Health Connection at 1-800-361-5653. York Region reports daily on COVID-19 data related to number of cases, assessment centres, lab results and outbreaks.
Masks or face coverings are required inside enclosed public spaces in Richmond Hill and throughout York Region/Ontario. This includes City of Richmond Hill facilities. Masks or face coverings are recommended outdoors when you can’t physically distance more than two metres. Exceptions include people who cannot wear a mask for medical reasons, children under the age of five or those who require accommodation in accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code. Learn more at York.ca/MandatoryMasks.
- Grocery stores, convenience stores, discount and big box retailers selling groceries
- Tattoo studios, body piercing shops, aesthetics salons, and hairdressing and barber shops
- Public pools, spas, beaches, splash pads and wading pools
Community Standards Officers are patrolling the City to enforce provincial COVID-19 regulations and any resident and/or business not in compliance could be fined.
Unemployment Insurance Benefits: A Covid
As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, more than 16 million Americans have filed for unemployment in the last three weeksapproximately 10% of the domestic workforce. This unprecedented number has challenged our unemployment insurance system. This article discusses how unemployment agencies will administer benefits provided under various federal and state laws recently enacted in response to COVID-19.
How Does Unemployment Insurance Work and Who Oversees It?
The unemployment insurance program provides financial benefits for workers who are unemployed through no fault of their own. The basic unemployment insurance program is administered by the states, and overseen by the U.S. Department of Labor. The basic program in most states provides up to 26 weeks of benefits to unemployed workers, replacing about half of their previous wages, on average. States provide most of the funding to workers based on employment taxes collected from employers in their state. The federal government pays some of the administrative costs for the unemployment insurance program. Although states are subject to a few federal requirements, they are generally able to set their own eligibility criteria and benefit levels. Accordingly, the rules vary state by state.
What New Laws Impact the Unemployment Insurance Program?
Families First Coronavirus Response Act & Unemployment Claims
Coronavirus, Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act & Unemployment Compensation
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How To File For Disaster Unemployment
Federal Disaster Unemployment Assistance benefits are available for those who lost their jobs or businesses as a result of the wildfires beginning on August 14, 2020.
An provides disaster unemployment to those who do not qualify for the current state Unemployment Insurance.
A press release from the EDD encourages individuals to apply through the EDD and the deadline for filing a claim related to the fires is September 28, 2020.
Benefits are available to those in the following counties:
- Lake
- Yolo
These unemployment benefits are available to those who meet any of the following criteria:
- Worked or were a business owner or self-employed, or were scheduled to begin work or self-employment, in the disaster area.
- Cannot reach work because of the disaster or can no longer work because of physical damage or destruction to the place of employment as a direct result of the disaster.
- Can establish that the work or self-employment they can no longer perform was their primary source of income.
- Cannot perform work or self-employment because of an injury as a direct result of the disaster.
- Became the head of their households because of a death caused by the disaster.
- Have applied for and used all regular unemployment benefits from any state, or do not qualify for regular unemployment benefits and remain unemployed as a direct result of the disaster.
To receive benefits, documentation must be submitted within 21 days from the day the DUA application is filed. Documentation includes:
Service Changes Due To Covid
We urge you not to visit Service Canada Centres unless absolutely necessary.
Ask us to help you with the following programs by using eServiceCanada:
- Employment Insurance
- Canada Pension Plan , Old Age Security , Guaranteed Income Supplement benefits
- Social Insurance Numbers
- immediate request for a Passport Service
- Veterans Affairs Canada Services
- view my records of employment
- view EI publications
- obtain a copy of your T4E
- update your mailing address and telephone number
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What’s Open Closed And Coming Soon
As our gradual, safe reopening continues, City staff have been working behind the scenes to prepare additional facilities and activities for residents to enjoy, in addition to the many facilities, amenities and programs already available.
While the main Municipal Offices remain closed to the public until September, residents can access many City services online, by phone or by appointment. The Access Richmond Hill contact centre is available to respond to general inquiries by email at or by phone at 905-771-8800, Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Residents can also report a problem , and/or submit a general inquiry using our online portal. In-person services are currently not available.
Please note that facilities and programs are subject to change based on provincial COVID-19 restrictions.
For updates, subscribe to this webpage by clicking “Receive Email Updates” below. You can also follow us on and .
Do I Qualify For Unemployment Benefits
In order to have unemployment benefits deposited each week into your bank account you must be:
- Totally or partially unemployed
- Unemployed through no fault of your own
- Physically able to work and actively seeking a job
- Ready, willing and to accept work immediately
Parents who miss work due to their child’s school being closed may also be eligible for unemployment benefits or paid sick days during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In order to receive unemployment benefits, you must have earned a minimum of $1,300 in the highest quarter of your base period. You can also qualify with $900 in your highest quarter and a total of 1.25 times your high quarter earnings. A base period is defined as the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before your claim.
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The Criteria Include Climate Crime Rate Life Expectancy And Economic Conditions Such As Cost Of Living Job Opportunities And Taxes
How to apply for unemployment in california for veterans. Library Sections We have a number of sections that offer services to state government public libraries and the general public. Rather your first payment would apply to the second week of your unemployment claim. En español The flood of job losses tied to the coronavirus outbreak has affected workers scrambling to apply for unemployment benefits many for the first time.
Any data provided in section A will remain anonymous and will only be used if more information is needed regarding the information provided in the report. The web pages currently in English on the EDD website are the official and accurate source for the program information and services the EDD provides. Underserved includes the following.
The Pandemic Unemployment Assistance PUA program was put in place primarily for those out-of-work Americans who are not eligible for regular state unemployment benefits and are unemployed partially unemployed or unable or unavailable to work because of certain health or economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. Wage and Hour Division District Office Locations. The EDD Disabled Veterans Outreach Program DVOP specialists and Local Veterans Employment Representatives LVER staff are located at the Americas Job Centers of California to coordinate along with partner agencies a wide array of services including but not limited to employment services job training vocational education supportive.
How Long Can I Collect Unemployment Benefits
California normally allows unemployment recipients to receive checks for up to 26 weeks. However, the CARES Act extends that period by 13 weeks, allowing you to collect unemployment benefits for up to 39 weeks.
You should file your claim as soon as you lose your job or have your hours reduced. While the normal one-week waiting period has been waived, claims are taking longer to process due to high demand.
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Register For Ui Online
To create your UI Online account, you must be logged in to Benefit Programs Online. Once you are logged in, select UI Online and provide the following information:
- First and last name as it appears on your claim
- Date of birth
Important: Your EDD Customer Account Number is automatically mailed to new customers within 10 days of filing a claim. If you have lost your EDD Customer Account Number, call us at 1-800-300-5616 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. , seven days per week, except on .
Common Occurrences For Employees In California You May Be Entitled To Further Compensation
Did you know that many unemployed people may have suffered from labor violations such as wrongful termination, workplace discrimination, unpaid overtime, unpaid wages, missing breaks, and other labor violations during their last employment? We know that you are here for different information, but we also want you to know that you MAY be entitled to compensation due to labor violations during your last employment.
If you feel like you were wrongfully terminated then please dont hesitate to schedule a 100% FREE consultation or click HERE.
If you feel like you were discriminated against in the workplace then please dont hesitate to schedule a 100% FREE consultation or click HERE.
If you feel like you are owed unpaid wages from a previous employer then please dont hesitate to schedule a 100% FREE consultation or click HERE.
A Notice of Unemployment Insurance Claim Filed will also be mailed to your current employer, by the EDD. The employer will get 10 days to submit any facts which may impact your eligibility for benefits. If an employer fails to respond, he will lose the right to oppose or otherwise challenge your claim.
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Create A Benefit Programs Online Account
Before you can use UI Online, you must first create a Benefit Programs Online account.
Important: Once you submit your registration, you are not done yet. You will receive an automated email to confirm your account, which includes a link. Select this link to complete your registration. For security purposes, the link will expire within 48 hours.
If you dont get this message in your inbox, check your spam or junk mail folder.
Edd Won’t Stop During The Coronavirus Pandemic
Levey says it is all hands on deck at the EDD because they are seeing a surge in unemployment claims and filings. She says they have people on overtime, have redirected staff, and are considering bringing in people from retirement and making new hires to get through all the claims.
With all the closures of businesses going on, she says the EDD wont be one of them. Theyre an essential service and people will get paid, one way or the other.
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