Filing for Unemployment

CA Unemployment Insurance is an insurance policy run by the state. You can file a claim on it if you have become unemployed due to loss of work. For every job you work as an employee, you pay into a fund, when you file your unemployment claim, you will draw on that fund until it is depleted or until you find work again.

This is always an option when you're in between jobs. It can be much easier if you open your claim, even when you have work coming up. Then you just tell them that you're working, and you don't get any money, but when you aren't working you're able to get money quickly.

You can either register for an account or login at this page. UI Online

Process

Once you have logged in you will create a new claim. You'll need the following items to file a new claim.

• Employers you've worked for over the last 18 months
• Start Date for each employer
• End Date for each employer
• Hourly wage
• Average hours worked per week
• Your personal Information, (SSN, DL, ETC)

Start the claim and fill in all of the information it asks of you.

Last Employer Information

If you are asked what happened with your last employer, if you finished a job and you don't have any other work coming up, you want to enter Laid Off and the reason for that is Lack of Work.

Employment Info

Then it will ask you about all of your previous employers for the past 18 months. Remember that for most purposes the payroll company is considered the employer, not the production company. You'll enter in all your info you had collected earlier. Only fill in required fields as it will speed up this process and will not slow down how quickly your claim is put through.

Don't stress too much about this part because they will research it all internally either way and will double check your work.

Job Classification

You will be asked to classify your job.

• Select Private Employer
• Add a business type, select Services
• Select Motion Picture
• Click Add Work Type
• For SLT or Gaffer enter Lighting Equipment Operator

Certifying your Claim

You are required to certify your claim weekly. The correct answers to this are.

• Were you too sick or injured to work? No
• Was there any reason (other than sickness or injury) that you could not have accepted full-time work each workday? No
• Did you look for work? Yes
• Did you refuse any work? No
• Did you begin attending any kind of school or training? No
• Did you work or earn any money, whether you were paid or not? No
• Did you receive any other income this week based on work performed? No

If you don't answer like this, there is a high chance you will receive either reduced benefits or not be paid at all for that week.

Certification Notes

• You must report things like Holiday pay.

They will give you a section to say what the payment was for and why you received it.

• Must report self employed income.

If you do a job where you are a classified as an independent contract you must report that income. Employers will use DE542 form to report who they hire to EDD.

• Do not Report income on Rentals

Rental income is non-earned money and does not have to be reported.

• Do not report income from Safety Training Payments

If you take safety classes through contract services, that money is a stipend and does not have to be reported.

EDD Debit Card

After you enter in all of your information and get your claim started, you will have to wait for your customer number and first claim form to fill out. It's recommended you just wait for your customer number so you can fill out your first claim form online. They will come at two separate times, roughly 2 weeks after you file your claim.

Then shortly after that you will receive an EDD debit card from Bank of America.

Create an account online and setup automatic transfers to your bank account. This will transfer all money from your EDD debit card automatically to your bank account whenever there is a balance. This is the simplest way to get quick access to your money.

Taking Part Time Work

Whether you were laid off and do occasional odd jobs or you are still employed at reduced pay and hours, you can collect benefits if you meet these requirements.

For example, let's say you would be eligible for a $450 weekly unemployment check if you were fully unemployed. You get a job for 1 day, and you earn $320. To calculate your reduced benefit, you subtract 25% of your wages, then subtract that amount from your maximum benefit. 450 - (320*.75) = 210.

When you have taken part time work, recertify for benefits as you normally would and answer the questions truthfully.

Make sure to check the box that says "Keep my Claim Open".