Benefit Year End
A benefit year for regular unemployment insurance ends 12 months after the claim started. Once your benefit year ends:
You cannot be paid for weeks of unemployment after your benefit year ends, even if you have a balance on your claim. Continue to certify for benefits if you have weeks available within your benefit year.
You can reapply for a new claim if you earned enough wages in the last 18 months and are still unemployed or working part time. Apply online, and we will notify you when your new claim is processed. This usually takes two to three weeks.
For more information, refer to the unemployment insurance benefits calculator. The calculator will help you determine if you’ve earned enough wages and provides an estimate of your weekly benefit amount.
If you served in the military, worked for a federal government agency, or worked in a state outside of California within the last 18 months, you must reapply for a new claim by phone, mail, or fax.
You do not need to reapply if you did not earn enough wages (paid by an employer) in the last 18 months to establish a new claim. To find your benefit year end date, log in to UI OnlineSM and view your Claim Summary. Your benefit year end date is 12 months after the start of your Benefit Year.
For more information, refer to your Notice of Unemployment Insurance Award (DE 429Z).
Find your claim type.
- Log in to UI Online.
- Select Claim Status Tracker.
- Review the Claim Details section; it will display your Claim Type.
Maximum Benefit Amount
Your claim balance is the maximum benefit amount for your claim. You may not be eligible to collect the full amount. For example, if you do not certify for certain weeks, you are not paid for those weeks, but it would still be included in your claim balance. Also, if you receive reduced weekly benefits because you are receiving some pay, there will be a balance left when your claim ends.
You cannot be paid for weeks of unemployment after your claim ends.
What Happens Next?
Once we process your claim, you will receive an email and a text message. This usually takes two to three weeks.