Eligibility Requirements

Unemployment benefits are here to help support you and your family while you find a new job and develop your career. To get unemployment benefits, you must meet all the UI SDI Eligibility Requirements when you apply and when you certify for benefits.

UI SDI Online Eligibility Requirements

Requirements to Apply for Unemployment Benefits

When you apply for unemployment benefits, you must:

  • Have a Social Security number, or have authorization to work in the United States (if not a US citizen).
  • Have earned enough wages during the base period.
  • Be fully 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 right away.

The base period is a specific 12-month period that tells us if you earned enough to set up an unemployment claim. To learn more, review 

If you qualify, your weekly benefit amount will be between $40 and $450. You can use the unemployment benefit calculator to get an estimate of what you might receive.

If you think you are misclassified as an independent contractor, please apply. We will let you know if you qualify for benefits.

Requirements After You Apply

Weekly Benefits Certification Requirement

Certifying means answering questions every two weeks to show that you are still eligible for payments. To keep receiving benefits, you need to meet the requirements each week you certify. You must be:

  • Physically able and available to work.
  • Looking for work each week.
  • Ready and willing to accept work right away.

To get benefits when you are not working or are working part-time, you must certify for benefits each week by submitting a certification online, by phone, or by mail.

If your answers show you did not meet the eligibility requirements, we will need more information. We will either schedule you for a phone interview, email you a questionnaire, or mail a Request for Eligibility Information (DE 4365FF).

Note: You must serve a one-week unpaid waiting period on your claim before getting paid. You also need to certify and meet all eligibility requirements during this week.

Your first certification will usually include the one-week unpaid waiting period and one week of payment if you meet the 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 show they are trying to find a job. We suggest you keep a record of your job search dates and contacts. This may help you if we have to contact you about your eligibility for benefits. 

Important: Most people are required to register for CalJOBS and create an online resume for employers to see.

You need to do this within 21 days of receiving your Notice of Requirement to Register for Work (DE 8405) form. If you miss this step, your benefits could be delayed or stopped.

Requirements to Apply for Paid Family Leave Benefits

You may qualify for Paid Family Leave (PFL) if you can’t work and lose wages when you need time off work for family leave. If eligible, you can get benefit payments for up to eight weeks.

You may be eligible for PFL benefits if you:

  • Can’t do your regular work.
  • Have lost wages because you need to:
    • Provide care for a seriously ill family member.
    • Bond with a new child.
    • Support a family member in the US Armed Forces deploying to a foreign country. For more information about this eligibility, visit Paid Family Leave – Military Assist.
  • Are you working or looking for work at the time your family leave begins?
  • Earned at least $300 in your base period with State Disability Insurance withheld (shown as CASDI on your paystub).

Note: Citizenship and immigration status do not affect eligibility.

Requirements to Apply for Disability Insurance Benefits

You may qualify for Disability Insurance (DI) if you can’t work and lose wages when you need time off for:

  • Illness
  • Injury
  • Surgery
  • Pregnancy or childbirth

If eligible, you can get benefit payments for up to 52 weeks.

More Information

  • Citizenship and immigration status do not affect eligibility.
  • We will notify your employer that you submitted a DI claim. But your medical information is private, and we will not share it with your employer.
  • We may ask for an independent medical examination. This means we will get a second opinion to decide your initial or continuing eligibility.
  • School employees are not eligible for DI benefits when:
  • They are receiving full wages.
  • They are on a school break period unless they usually work another job during the school break for extra income.

Requirements to File a Claim

You may be eligible for DI benefits if you:

  • Can’t do your regular work for at least eight days.
  • Have lost wages because of your disability.
  • Are you working or looking for work at the time your disability begins?
  • Earned at least $300 with State Disability Insurance (SDI) deducted from your paycheck.

Note: State Disability Insurance (SDI) deductions are listed as CASDI on your pay stub.

How To File a New Disability Claim

Disability Insurance claims may be filed online using SDI Online. To use SDI Online, you must first complete a one-time account registration with myEDD.

SDI Online offers claimants, physicians/practitioners, and employers electronic and automated options that are easy to use and accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

To order a paper Claim for Disability Insurance (DI) Benefits (DE 2501) and file by mail, visit Online Forms and Publications via forms.edd.ca.gov/forms or call 1-800-480-3287 (English), 1-866-658-8846 (en español), or TTY 1-800-563-2441.

When calling via the California Relay Service (711), provide the Disability Insurance number (1-800-480-3287) to the operator.