Apply and Manage Your Claim with UI Online
UI Online is a fast, convenient, and secure way for Unemployment Insurance customers to access claim information, certify for benefits, report work and wages, view detailed payment information, and manage their claims 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Customers on Partial or Work-Sharing claims are currently unable to certify for benefits or reopen an existing claim using UI Online, but can access all other system features.
Only customers who have an existing unemployment claim and an EDD Customer Account Number can register for UI Online.
UI Eligibility Requirements
To get unemployment benefits, you must meet all the UI Eligibility Requirements when you apply and when you certify for benefits.
- Have a Social Security number.
- Have authorization to work in the United States (if not a US citizen).
- Have earned enough wages during a specific period of time based on your earnings over the past 18 months. This is called the base period.
- Totally or partially unemployed.
- Unemployed through no fault of your own.
- Physically able to work.
- Available for work.
- Looking for work each week.
- Ready and willing to accept work right away.
If you are unsure if you are eligible to receive unemployment benefits, apply. We will let you know if you meet eligibility requirements.
Even if you quit, were fired, or were incorrectly classified by your employer as an independent contractor, you may still qualify for benefits. There is no penalty for applying, even if we determine you are not eligible.
How to Register for UI Online
Log in to myEDD and select UI Online to start the registration. You may have been automatically registered for UI Online. If not, you’ll need to provide your:
- First and last name as it appears on your claim.
- Date of birth.
- Social Security number.
- EDD Customer Account Number.
Important: We automatically mail an EDD Customer Account Number to new customers within 10 days of filing a claim. If you have lost your EDD Customer Account Number, call us at 1-800-300-5616 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Pacific time), Monday through Friday, except on state holidays.
Once your UI Online registration is complete, you can:
- View tax information (Form 1099G) for the last five years
- Apply for benefits.
- Reopen your claim.
- Certify for benefits.
- Report work and wages.
- Update your payment preference.
- Update your address and phone number.
- View in-person and phone appointments.
- Ask questions.
- Monitor your online inbox.
How to Apply and Manage Your Claim with UI Online
Unemployment benefits are temporary income for eligible workers who lost their jobs (or had their hours reduced) through no fault of their own.
You get from $40 to $450 each week, depending on how much you earned in the past 18 months. Our Unemployment Benefit Calculator helps estimate your benefit amount.
It takes about three weeks to process your benefit application and make the first payment. To avoid confusion, please carefully read all emails and mail communications we send you. Contact us to fix any errors right away.
If you lost your job or had your work hours reduced, you may be eligible for unemployment benefits. The Unemployment Insurance program pays benefits to workers who lost their jobs and meet the program’s eligibility requirements.
Apply Online
The fastest way to apply for unemployment benefits is through the myEDD login page.
Apply by Phone
You can apply by phone, but it’s faster to apply online. Call Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific time:
English and Spanish: 1-800-300-5616
Armenian: 1-855-528-1518
Cantonese: 1-800-547-3506
Korean: 1-844-660-0877
Mandarin: 1-866-303-0706
Tagalog: 1-866-395-1513
Vietnamese: 1-800-547-2058
All Other Languages: 1-800-300-5616. Interpreter services are available free of charge.
California Relay Service (711): Provide the UI number (1-800-300-5616) to the operator.
TTY: 1-800-815-9387
Apply by Fax or Mail
You can fax or mail an Unemployment Insurance Application (DE 1101I) in English or Spanish. Online applications through myEDD are much faster.
You can contact your local America’s Job Center of California via edd.ca.gov/office_locator, at no cost, for help with completing and submitting your paper application. After you apply for benefits, you must continue to certify for benefits to get payments.