How to file for unemployment in California
The fastest way to file for unemployment in California is online through Employment Development Department (EDD) at edd.ca.gov. California pays up to $450 per week, has one unpaid waiting week before benefits begin, and regular state benefits run up to 26 weeks. File the week your job ends, since claims generally do not backdate, and choose "laid off / no fault" as your reason.
HOW MUCH YOU CAN GET
Up to $450 / week
Roughly half your average weekly wage from your highest-earning recent quarter, up to the cap.
Minimum: $40/week. Effective July 2026. Your exact amount comes from your wage history; Employment Development Department (EDD) calculates it when you file.
Just laid off? Unemployment is one of five clocks
Severance review, COBRA, health coverage, and the rest: every first-week deadline in one place. Free, no account needed.
California unemployment at a glance
Agency
Employment Development Department (EDD)
Official portal
edd.ca.gov
Ways to file
Online · Phone · In person
Max weekly benefit
$450/week
Waiting week
One unpaid waiting week
Max benefit weeks
Up to 26 weeks
Claims are filed online through the myEDD / UI Online portal, or by phone at 1-800-300-5616.
File in the state where you worked, not where you live. Worked in more than one? Start with the agency where you live now.
Filing is always free. No real state or federal program charges a fee to file. If a site asks for payment, it's a scam.
How to file, step by step
1
Gather your documents (see the checklist below) before you start.
2
Go to the official state portal: edd.ca.gov.
3
Create an account and complete any identity verification the state requires.
4
File your initial claim. For the separation reason, choose "laid off / no fault," not "fired" or "quit."
5
Then certify each week (answer the weekly questions) to keep benefits coming, and set up direct deposit.
What to have ready
Your Social Security number and a government photo ID.
Employer details for the last 18 months: each company's name, address, and your dates there.
The reason you left each job. For this one, that's "laid off / no fault," not "fired" or "quit."
Your most recent pay stubs and last year's W-2.
Bank routing + account number, if you want benefits paid by direct deposit.
California unemployment FAQ
How do I file for unemployment in California?
File online through Employment Development Department (EDD) at edd.ca.gov. Have your Social Security number, photo ID, and 18 months of employer details ready, and choose "laid off / no fault" as your reason for leaving. You can also file by phone or in person.
How much is unemployment in California?
California pays up to $450 per week. Roughly half your average weekly wage from your highest-earning recent quarter, up to the cap. Figure effective July 2026; confirm your exact amount with Employment Development Department (EDD) when you file.
Does severance affect unemployment in California?
California treats true severance pay as not being wages for UI purposes (EDD TPU 460.35), so it neither reduces nor delays benefits, though wages in lieu of notice and salary-continuation-style payments are wages and do block or reduce benefits for the weeks they cover. File the week your job ends either way and answer the portal's questions honestly; the agency applies the rule. (Researched July 2026; confirm current treatment with Employment Development Department (EDD).)
Is there a waiting week for unemployment in California?
California: one unpaid waiting week. A waiting week is an unpaid first week of a claim; where it applies you still file and certify during it.
How many weeks of unemployment can I get in California?
California pays regular state benefits for up to 26 weeks. Federal extensions can change this in a downturn; confirm the current rule with Employment Development Department (EDD).
Official references
How unemployment insurance works (US DOL)
Plain-language overview of eligibility, the unpaid waiting week, and weekly certification.
Unemployment is taxable (IRS Topic 418)
Benefits count as income. Consider asking California to withhold so tax time isn't a surprise.
Keep going
The unemployment guide
Waiting weeks, weekly certification, and the timing that trips people up.
Not your state? See all states
The official place to file in every other state.
Reviewed July 2026. State rules change; confirm the current waiting week and benefit weeks on the official California portal (edd.ca.gov) before you rely on them.