Register and Apply for Unemployment Insurance

Once you're eligible, your next step is to register and apply for unemployment.

Create an Account

It’s an important step to register for an online account with us. You can use our online services to report the information required for your unemployment claim.

Learn more about how to set up your UI Online account (PDF).

Get Your Information in Order

A little preparation goes a long way!

Identity Documents

We launched ID.me, a safe and easy way to verify your identity in UI Online. When you file a new claim, you will be redirected to the ID.me site where you will take a selfie (personal photo) and upload a photo of your ID to verify your identity.

For more information, review Top Nine Reasons Your Document May Get Rejected (PDF).

If we need additional information to verify your identity, you will need to join a video call with ID.me and provide either:

• Two primary documents
• One primary and two secondary documents

After your video call with ID.me, you need to finish your unemployment application. Log in to UI Online and return to your application. UI Online will take you to the ID.me login page. Log in to allow ID.me to share your identity information with the EDD. Select Allow and finish completing your unemployment application.

If you are unable to verify your identity through ID.me when applying online, you will need to file a claim by phone, fax, or mail.

For help with the ID.me verification process, you can:

• Speak to an ID.me video agent 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, through your ID.me account.
• Visit ID.me Support and submit a request for help.
• Review How to Set Up and Protect Your ID.me Account (PDF).

Prepare to Apply

Timing is important. Waiting to apply can delay your benefits.

File for unemployment in the first week that you lose your job or have your hours reduced. Your claim begins the Sunday of the week you applied for unemployment.

If you filed for unemployment within the last 52 weeks and have not exhausted your benefits, you must reopen your claim to restart your benefits.

Benefit Year End Date

A regular unemployment insurance benefit year ends 12 months after the claim started.

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 benefit calculator.

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 in the last 18 months to establish a new claim. Continue to certify for benefits, and we will notify you when your benefit weeks are processed.

To find your benefit year end date, log in to UI Online 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) for your claim ending date or review Benefit Year End.

Apply Now

Next Steps

There are important steps you must take so that your unemployment benefit payments are not delayed or denied. After you file, you will receive important documents from us within two weeks of filing for unemployment.

• Review these Important Next Steps – After You File a Claim for more information.
• Give us your eligibility information every two weeks.

This moves you into the next stage to Certify for Benefits.

Certify and Manage