Reemployment and Eligibility Assessment

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The U.S. Congress and President Obama have reauthorized the federal extensions of Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits for another year and the Reemployment and Eligibility Assessment program associated with those extensions. Please visit the New Developments on Federal Unemployment Extensions page for the latest information.

Federal legislation continues the requirements for the receipt of extension benefits. If you are starting Tier 1 or Tier 2 of an extension, it means you must report in-person to your scheduled appointment at your designated One-Stop Career Center for Reemployment and Eligibility Assessment Services (REA).

The Reemployment and Eligibility Assessment requires individuals to participate in reemployment activities in order to continue to receive unemployment benefits. Reemployment activities include skills assessments, orientation of services provided at local One-Stop Career Centers, and more to help prepare individuals to return to work.

Reemployment activities include:

  • skills assessments,
  • an overview of the services provided at local One-Stop Career Centers,
  • and more to help prepare individuals to return to work.

This information applies to you if you meet all of the following criteria:

  • You receive Federal Unemployment Extension benefits, and
  • You started or transitioned to Tier 1 or Tier 2 of Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) benefits on or after March 23, 2012.

If you meet the above criteria, you will receive an appointment notice in the mail with the location, date, and time of your scheduled REA appointment at the specified One-Stop Career Center.

Failure to appear and complete required activities may affect your eligibility to receive extension benefits. This may result in a delay of benefits and possible disqualification. If you fail to attend the scheduled or any subsequent REA appointments, you will be mailed the Request for Eligibility Information Due to Failure to Attend a Mandatory Appointment (DE 4365REAX) to complete and return within 10 calendar days providing the reason for not attending. Your extension benefits will be suspended until the requested information is received and your eligibility is determined.  The reason you did not attend may result in a disqualification until you report in-person to the One-Stop Career Center and complete the REA.

Work Search Requirements for Extension Eligibility

As with regular state unemployment benefits, individuals on unemployment extensions benefits must be “able to work, available to work, and actively seeking work” as a condition of eligibility. The Work Search Requirements for Extension Eligibility page contains detailed information on the required tasks and activities you must complete to continue receiving your unemployment benefits.

The Work Search Requirements for Extension Eligibility page contains additional details about the following information:

  • Work Search Requirements: Work search related activities you must complete before going to your appointment include: registering in CalJOBSSM, maintaining an active résumé on CalJOBSSM, engaging in active work search, and more.
  • Required Services Provided at Your Appointment: Review of your REA questionnaire, eligibility for benefits, and different work-related assessments and activities that will be provided at your scheduled appointment. You may complete some of these activities online to save time at your in-person REA appointment.
  • Mandatory In-Person Appointment: Information about your in-person appointment, such as what to bring, a general overview of the activities you will complete, and more.
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Requirements List

For your convenience, below is a list containing things you need to do before and during your appointment.

To continue receiving benefits, you must complete the following:

  1. Work Search Requirements: Your work search must begin prior to attending a scheduled in-person REA appointment and includes the following:
    • CalJOBSSM: Register in CalJOBSSM with a complete online résumé by the date of the REA appointment.
    • Reemployment and Eligibility Assessment Questionnaire (DE 8531): Complete the questionnaire.
    • Active Work Search: Engage in an active search for work each week that is appropriate employment in light of the labor market and an individual’s skills and capabilities, and includes at least three employer contacts each week, as required by the EDD.
    • Record of Work Search: Maintain a record of your work search including: date applied; company name; company address (Internet address is acceptable); person contacted; type of work applied; and results of contact.
    • Provide the Work Search Record to the EDD: When requested, provide the work search record to the EDD.


  2. Your Mandatory In-Person REA Appointment
    • Time: You should arrive no later than 15 minutes prior to your scheduled in-person REA appointment.
    • Interview Preparation: Complete work search activities (listed above). Bring the following required items to your scheduled session:
      • The contents of your REA packet including the REA appointment notice.
      • Your completed Reemployment and Eligibility Assessment Questionnaire (DE 8531).
      • Proof of legal status and authorization to work.
      • REA Overview Certificate of Completion (if completed online).
    • About Your Interview: EDD will mail you a notice with the specific date, time, and location, of your in-person appointment along with a Reemployment and Eligibility Assessment Questionnaire (DE 8531). If you are starting or transitioning to Tier 1 or Tier 2 of an extension, it means you must attend your scheduled appointment at your designated One-Stop Career Center for Reemployment and Eligibility Assessment Services (REA).
    • Required REA Activities During Appointment:
      • Review of your Reemployment and Eligibility Assessment Questionnaire (DE 8531).
          • Assessment of your skills (may be completed online prior to your appointment).
          • Orientation to the services available through the One-Stop Career Centers (may be completed online prior to your appointment: REA Overview online).
          • Labor market and career information.

Due to limited computer availability and to save time at your in-person REA appointment, you are encouraged to complete the following online activities prior to your appointment:

  • REA Overview: You may either review the presentation online (preferred) or during your scheduled appointment. You must print the certificate of completion immediately after the online orientation review is finished and bring it to your scheduled appointment.
  • Skills Assessment: You may take an assessment of your skills and complete career exploration at mySkills myFuture or My Next Move.
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REA Presentation

The REA presentation is a required component of the REA. You may either review the presentation online (preferred) or during your scheduled appointment.

The REA presentation provides employment related information to job seekers, such as services provided at your local One-Stop Career Center, available programs and trainings, and more.

After reviewing the presentation, you must print your certificate of completion at the end of the online presentation and bring it to your scheduled REA appointment.

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General Information and Related Publications

You will receive the following items at your scheduled in-person REA appointment:

  • REA Questionnaire (DE 8531): DE 8531 – English | DE 8531/S – Spanish
    EDD sends this form to all claimants who have been scheduled to attend a Reemployment And Eligibility Assessment (REA) appointment. You must complete the form prior to the REA appointment and bring the completed form to the REA appointments. For your convenience, you may complete this form online, print it, and bring it with you to your appointment.
  • California Training Benefits Fact Sheet (DE 8741U): DE 8714U – English | DE 8714U/S – Spanish
    A fact sheet providing eligibility information for the California Training Benefits program.
  • For Your Benefits: DE 2320
    Unemployment Insurance, Disability Insurance, Paid Family Leave, and Workforce Services benefits available.
  • Your New CalJOBSSM (DE 2456): DE 2456 – English | DE 2456 – Spanish
    Provides information on CalJOBSSM, including how to register, create and update your résumé, and how to search for jobs.

Items included in the REA packet you received in the mail:

If you fail to report for your scheduled and any rescheduled in-person REA appointment you will be mailed a form called: Request for Eligibility Information Due to Failure to Attend a Mandatory Appointment (DE 4365REAX). You must complete the form and return it to the address on the form within 10 calendar days. The reason provided on the form for failure to attend may affect your eligibility to receive extension benefits until you report to the One-Stop Career Center listed on your original appointment notice, complete the REA in-person appointment, and contact the Unemployment Insurance program to reopen your claim. Failure to respond to the notice may also result in disqualification of extension benefits until the REA appointment is completed.

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