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Identity Verification for Unemployment

You must verify your identity when applying for unemployment benefits. If we can’t confirm your identity with the information you provided when you applied, we will ask for more documents. This can happen whether you applied online or by phone, fax, or mail.

ID.me Verification Process

The ID.me verification process is only used if you apply online.

When you first apply for unemployment benefits through UI Online, you will be redirected to the ID.me site. You will need to provide your Social Security number, take a selfie (a photo of yourself), and upload a photo of your ID to verify your identity.

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

  • Two primary documents
  • One primary and two secondary documents

ID.me primary documents include:

  • Driver license (US or foreign)
  • Passport or passport card (US or foreign)
  • US Permanent Resident Card (I-551)
  • Employment Authorization Card (I-766) issued by US Citizenship and Immigration Services
  • Certificate of Naturalization (Form N-550 or N-570)
  • Federal or state ID
  • Veteran health ID card
  • Transportation Security Administration (TSA) ID Card
  • Department of Homeland Security Trusted Traveler cards (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI)
  • National ID card (only if you live outside of the US)
  • Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12) Personal Identity Verification card

ID.me secondary documents include:

  • US health insurance card
  • Social Security card
  • US birth certificate
  • School documents (ID with photograph, school record, report card)
  • US voter registration card
  • US citizen ID card (Form I-197)
  • Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (DD214)
  • National Guard Report of Separation and Record of Service (NGB Form 22)
  • Foreign birth document
    • Certificate of Birth Abroad (FS-545)
    • Certification of Report of Birth (DS-1350)
    • Consular Report of Birth Abroad (FS-240)
  • Border crossing card
  • Native American tribal document
  • Tribal-issued photo ID card
  • Canadian Indian and Northern Affairs card
  • US Coast Guard Merchant Mariner card

To help you submit your ID.me documents correctly, see Top Nine Reasons Your Document May Get Rejected (PDF).

After Your ID.me Video Call

After your video call with ID.me, finish your unemployment application:

  1. Log in to UI Online and go back to your application.
    • UI Online will take you to the ID.me login page.
  2. Log in to ID.me so your identity information can be shared with the EDD.
  3. Select Allow and finish completing your application.

If you can't verify your identity through ID.me online, you will need to apply for unemployment benefits by phone, fax, or mail.

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

Requests for Additional Identity Verification

No matter how you applied for unemployment benefits, we may need more information to verify your identity. Depending on your application method, we will ask you to:

  1. Complete this request in UI Online or
  2. Respond to the Request for Identity Verification (DE 1326C) mailed to you.

If asked to use UI Online, visit your UI Online homepage and select Upload Identity Documents. You will only see this option if there has been an issue verifying your identity.

For us to verify your identity, you must provide two documents:

  • One photo identification document
  • One other identity document

Your photo identification must show your name, date of birth, and photograph. You can use any document from the following list:

  • State identification (ID) card
  • Driver license
  • US passport or passport card
  • US military card (front and back)
  • Military dependent’s ID card (front and back)
  • Permanent Resident Card
  • Certificate of Citizenship
  • Certificate of Naturalization
  • Employment Authorization Document
  • Foreign passport

You can use any document from the following list.

Employment Record
  • W-2 from last year
  • A pay stub or payment statement that shows:
    • An issue date within 12 months prior to the date you applied for unemployment
    • Your first name (or initial) and last name
    • At least the last four digits of your Social Security number or your employee identification number
    • Your employer’s name
    • The pay-period dates or date the payment was issued
Address Verification
  • Any bill or financial statement showing your name and residence address
    • Utility bill (electricity, gas, garbage, water, or sewer)
    • Cable TV or internet bill
    • Telephone bill
    • Bank statement
    • Property tax bill
    • Mortgage statement
  • Lease or rental agreement showing your name and residence address
  • Registration for a PO Box or private mailbox
Social Secuity Number

Important: A Social Security card will not satisfy this requirement.

  • Social Security statement (all pages)
  • Notice to Third Party of Social Security Number Assignments (SSA-7028)
  • Report of Confidential Social Security Benefit Information (SSA-2458)
Date of Birth
  • Official birth certificate (with official translation, if any)

Watch How to Verify Your Identity with UI Online (YouTube) for help.

Submission Deadline

You have 10 calendar days from the Mail Date on the Request for Identity Verification (DE 1326C) to send in proof of your identity.

If you need more time, you must call 1-866-401-2849 or mail a request to the address at the top of the Request for Identity Verification (DE 1326C). We must receive your request within 10 calendars days of the Mail Date on the paper form.

Penalties

If we do not receive your correct identification documents or a request for more time, or we are not able to verify your identity:

  • You will not be eligible for benefits.
  • You will receive a disqualification notice (Notice of Determination) in the mail.
  • You will need to file an appeal to get benefits.
  • You may get another request to verify your identity.

Avoid Common Mistakes

To speed up processing and avoid delays or penalties:

  • Make sure our information matches. Your name, date of birth, and Social Security number must match the information on file with the Social Security Administration (SSA) or the DMV. For example, you may have changed your name but didn’t notify the DMV.
  • Submit the correct documentation. Provide documents with your correct name or date of birth, like an official birth certificate.

Note: We can't update your information with the SSA, the DMV, or your employer. Contact them directly to make changes.