NR No. 23-48
Contact: Loree Levy/Aubrey Henry
916-654-9029
mediainquiries@edd.ca.gov
Future update adds Korean, Armenian, and Tagalog
SACRAMENTO – The Employment Development Department (EDD) is expanding language access options in its myEDD web portal and UI Online for unemployment benefits. Starting December 14, 2023, individuals can apply for unemployment benefits and manage their claims via applications translated into Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese as well as Vietnamese. This is in addition to the English and Spanish applications already offered. The EDD will launch another update to its online systems in March 2024 to further expand language access to individuals who prefer to apply with a Korean, Armenian, or Tagalog application. These seven languages represent the top languages spoken by working-age adults in California.
"This significant enhancement to myEDD and UI Online is an important milestone in our multilingual expansion to better serve California’s diverse communities," said EDD Director Nancy Farias. "We are committed to knocking down language access barriers and improving the EDD customer experience for everyone."
With this launch, unemployment customers can access the UI Online process in their preferred language, and they will receive real-time, in-language updates about the status of their claim, including payment notifications sent by email or text message.
The new Simplified and Traditional Chinese, and Vietnamese language options when logging in to myEDD will only be available to individuals applying for unemployment benefits in UI Online. They are not yet available when applying for Disability Insurance or Paid Family Leave benefits, or when accessing Benefit Overpayment Services.
Expanding UI Online access adds to the previously announced several actions EDD took to improve language accessibility in its programs and services, including:
- Requesting funds from the U.S. Department of Labor for these efforts.
- Creating dedicated phone lines in the seven top languages allowing customers to directly reach an agent to help with their claims.
- Launching in July 2022 an EDD Language Access Office and hiring its inaugural Language Access Officer.
- Increasing its website’s translated content, including vital program information, forms and publications, contact information, and access to interpreters in over 200 languages at no cost.
- Providing customers helpful how-to videos for UI Online in different languages.
About myEDD
The EDD launched myEDD this past June to replace its predecessor, Benefit Programs Online (BPO), with a more secure and user-friendly online access portal to its benefit services. The myEDD portal features multiple functional enhancements that were informed and influenced by customer and stakeholder input, such as a more secure login verification process, like online banking, that makes password recovery easier.
The launch of myEDD, along with follow-up service enhancements like these new language options, are part of EDDNext. The multi-year modernization effort is dedicated to completely transforming the EDD’s customer and employee experiences based on research and feedback.
Applying for unemployment benefits online
Individuals must first create a myEDD account and then register for UI Online, the fastest and most convenient way to apply and manage an unemployment claim. For languages other than English, customers should select the globe icon at the top of the myEDD login page, revealing a menu of currently available language options (see image below). They’ll log in to myEDD, select UI Online, and provide all requested information, including their first and last name, date of birth, Social Security number, and EDD Customer Account Number. Customers are also encouraged to indicate their preferred written and spoken language when applying online, which is another option recently made available to better track and serve customers seeking multilingual services.
Individuals can get answers to their questions and complete most claim-related tasks through UI Online. Within UI Online, customers can certify for benefits, check payment information, reopen an existing claim, update contact information, reschedule an eligibility phone interview, and send secure messages to unemployment customer service agents. The EDD has also established dedicated phone lines in the top seven languages for customers who need assistance navigating these additional claim processes in their preferred language.
For more information, please visit EDD Language Resources. The EDD will share new updates regarding language access improvements in future news releases and its bi-monthly newsletter, which offers the latest information on such efforts.