I’ve Lost My Job – How Do I Get Unemployment Benefits? (2018)

Losing your job and being unemployed is no fun. But that doesn’t mean you have to lose your sense of humor. Go here to watch cartoonist Odd Todd’s take on losing his job.

Now you’ve hopefully gained some perspective. Back to the task at hand.

Benefits

To help you get back on your feet and into your next job, the federal government has established the Unemployment Insurance (UI) Program. This is a federal program which is administered through the states and is designed to assist unemployed workers who are between jobs. The program provides weekly payments which help cover food, rent, clothing, job search, and education costs, etc. The program’s benefits are financed by employers who make unemployment insurance-related tax contributions. In California, the Employment Development Dept (EDD) is the agency responsible for administering the UI program.

Eligibility

You must be:

— Out of work due to no fault of your own

— Physically able to work

— Actively seeking work

— Ready to accept work

If you resign or quit your job, you won’t be eligible for UI benefits unless you can convince the EDD that your employer effectively forced you to quit through, for example, intolerable conditions. This isn’t generally easy to prove.

On the other hand, if you are fired or laid off, you will generally be entitled to benefits unless your employer can convince the EDD that you were terminated for “gross misconduct”. “Gross misconduct” refers to extreme intentional behavior that harms the employer, e.g., destroying or stealing company property, showing up to work drunk, physically assaulting a co-worker, etc.

If you are not physically able to work due to a NON-WORK RELATED illness or injury or a medically disabling condition from pregnancy or childbirth, then you must apply to California’s State Disability Insurance (SDI) program. SDI provides short-term benefits to eligible workers.

If you are not physically able to work due to a WORK RELATED illness or injury, then you may be eligible to file a workers compensation claim. If this is your case, you should contact an attorney right away.

Applying

You should apply as soon as possible after your employment ends. To begin a claim, you must submit an application to the EDD. You can go to their website and apply for UI benefits online by going here. Filling out the online application takes about 30 minutes. Or you can apply by phone. Call 800-300-5616 for instructions in English or 800-326-8937 for instructions in Espanol.

Usually within 2 weeks after you file your claim, the EDD will call you and your employer to collect more information, particularly regarding the circumstances of your termination. The EDD will then issue and mail a Notice of Determination and/or Ruling to both you and your employer.

Note, you should expect a “waiting period” of several weeks before you actually begin receiving payments.

Appealing

If the EDD denies your application, you can appeal. Your employer can also appeal if the EDD grants you UI benefits.

To appeal, you must mail in your appeal within 20 calendar days after the Notice of Determination and/or Ruling was mailed. You can find the form on the EDD website. The Office of Appeals will then set a hearing, notifying you and your employer 10 days in advance. At the hearing, an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) will hear your evidence. These hearings tend to be informal and last 30 minutes to an hour. Afterwards, the ALJ will issue a written decision, usually pretty quickly. If you don’t like that decision, you can appeal that by filing a “Writ of Mandate” with the Superior Court within 6 months after the Appeals Board’s written decision was mailed out.

Do I Need a Lawyer at the Appeal Hearing?

Probably not. The amounts involved in UI hearings are usually too small to justify the expense of an attorney. But don’t worry. You’re not expected to know the law or act like a lawyer at the hearing. Nor should you try to. You’re bound to annoy the ALJ by doing that. Just follow the ALJ’s lead. She’ll know how to lead the process and ask you the right questions.

BUT, if you intend to sue your employer in Superior Court for a larger claim such as discrimination, harassment, retaliation or medical leave interference, then you should talk to a lawyer BEFORE going to the hearing. This is because any statements made at the hearing can later be used as admissible evidence in your lawsuit. An attorney can prevent you from saying something that hurts your case. At the same time, your attorney can try to elicit damaging statements from your employer’s representative at the hearing. This can be surprisingly effective since many employers let their guard down at these hearings.

Some Quick Facts

— The UI benefit amount is calculated based upon your reported quarterly earnings over the course of a one year period preceding your application submission date. If your wages were too low, it’s possible you may not qualify for any UI benefits.

— While you receive UI benefits you can also request California Training Benefits. You may be eligible if you contact the EDD before 16 weeks of benefits have been paid or before your benefits are exhausted.

— You are required to look for work each week you receive UI benefits. It is usually a good idea to keep a written record of your job search.

— You are required to register with California’s Job Search assistance website within 21 days of applying.

— The length of time you can receive UI benefits is set by the federal government and changes from time to time. Usually, it’s 6 months or less.

Conclusion

If you’re scared by the above, don’t be! Thousands of people apply for UI benefits successfully every day. You can too. And it’s definitely worth the effort. Don’t put it off, do it right away.