Eligibility Requirements
To receive unemployment benefits, you must meet all eligibility requirements when applying and when certifying for benefits.
Requirements to Apply
When applying for unemployment benefits, you must:
- Have earned enough wages during the base period.
- Be totally or partially unemployed.
- Be unemployed through no fault of your own.
- Be physically able and available to work.
- Be looking for work each week.
- Be ready and willing to accept work immediately.
The base period is a specific 12-month term the EDD uses to see if you earned enough wages for an unemployment claim. To learn how we determine your base period, review How Unemployment Benefits are Computed (DE 8714AB) (PDF).
If you are eligible for unemployment benefits, your weekly benefit amount will range from $40 to $450. To get an estimate of what you will receive, use the unemployment benefit calculator.
For more information about how we calculate benefits, review the following resources:
- How Unemployment Benefits are Computed (DE 8714AB) (PDF)
- A Guide to Benefits and Employment Services (DE 1275A) (PDF)
- California Employer’s Guide (DE 44) (PDF)
If you believe that you are misclassified as an independent contractor, we encourage you to apply. We will let you know if you’re eligible for benefits.
Weekly Benefits Certification Requirement
You must meet eligibility requirements for each week that you certify for benefits. You must be:
- Physically able and available to work.
- Looking for work each week.
- Ready and willing to accept work immediately.
To receive benefits for weeks when you are not working or are working part time, you must certify for benefits by submitting a certification online, by phone, or by mail.
Certifying is the process of answering questions every two weeks that tell us you’re still unemployed and eligible to continue receiving benefit payments. Your claim or your payment could be delayed if you answer questions incorrectly or if you do not certify for benefits. For help answering these questions, visit Understanding the Certification Questions or review Unemployment Benefit Certification Question Information (YouTube).
If the information provided on your certification shows that you did not meet eligibility requirements, we will need more information to determine your eligibility. We will either schedule you for a phone interview, send an Eligibility Questionnaire to you by email, or send you a Request for Eligibility Information (DE 4365FF) by regular mail. For more information about determining eligibility, visit Determinations and Eligibility.
Note: You must serve a one-week unpaid waiting period on your claim before you are paid unemployment benefits. The waiting period can only be served if you certify for benefits and meet all eligibility requirements for that week. Your first certification will usually include the one-week unpaid waiting period and one week of payment if you meet eligibility requirements for both weeks. Certify for benefits every two weeks to continue receiving benefit payments.
Work Search Requirement
To be eligible for benefits, most people are required to search for suitable work and demonstrate their efforts to find a new job. We advise you to keep a record of your work search dates and employer contact information for future use and potential eligibility interviews.
Your work search instructions are listed on your Notice of Unemployment Insurance Award (DE 429Z). For more information, visit Job Seekers: Returning to Work.
Important: Most customers are required to register for CalJOBS and create an online resume that can be viewed by employers. You must meet this requirement within 21 days of receiving your Notice of Requirement to Register for Work (DE 8405) form. Failure to meet this requirement can result in a delay or loss of benefits. Watch How to Register for CalJOBS and Post a Resume (YouTube) for more information.
What Happens If You Quit or Get Fired
If you quit your job or are fired by your employer, we will need to determine your eligibility. We will either schedule a phone interview to discuss your claim and circumstances, email you with instructions on how to complete an Eligibility Questionnaire online, or mail you a paper questionnaire, Request for Eligibility Information (DE 4365FF). If you quit, you must prove good cause for quitting. If you are fired, your employer must prove there was misconduct. For more information about determining eligibility, visit Determinations and Eligibility.
Additional Resources
- Filing a Claim – Claim Process: A step-by-step explanation of what happens when filing a claim for unemployment benefits.
- Benefit Determination Guide: Information about unemployment law based on state and federal regulations.
- FAQs: Answers to frequently asked questions about eligibility.
- Unemployment Insurance – After You Apply: Information about important steps you must take to make sure your benefit payments are not delayed or denied.