Resources for Employees

UPDATES: 

Resources and opportunities have been rapidly developing in response to COVID-19. In order to keep you abreast of changes, we’ve added this “Updates” section to the top of this page so you can easily find the most recent developments that impact you.

  • Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA)
    • is intended to help people that are otherwise ineligible for Unemployment Insurance (UI)
    • in general, independent contractors, self-employed, people with insufficient work history or those who have exhausted UI are eligible to apply
    • PUA is retroactive to February 2, 2020
    • PUA is available for p to 39 weeks, the last week of availability is December 26, 2020
    • Claims will accepted as of April 28, 2020
    • Generally, recipients will receive benefits within 4 – 7 days
    • For more information and to apply for benefits: https://edd.ca.gov

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We know that many members of our community are struggling due to layoffs and reduced work hours. There are a variety of resources available if you are in this circumstance. Please review the information below to see if you situation matches those described below.

Sick or Quarantined 

 If you are unable to work due to having or being exposed to COVID-19 you can file a Disability Insurance (DI) Claim here

  • DI provides short-term benefit payments to eligible workers who have full or partial loss of wages due to a non-work-related illness, injury or pregnancy.
  • Benefit amounts are approximately 60-70 percent of wages and range from $50 - $1,300 a week.

Caregiving 

  • If you are unable to work because you are caring for an ill or quarantined family member you can file a Paid Family Leave (PFL) claim here.
  • PFL provides up to six weeks of benefit payments to eligible workers who have a full or partial loss of wages because they need time off work to care for a seriously ill family member or to bond with a new child.
  • Benefit amounts approximately 60-70 percent of wages and range from $50 - $1,300 a week.
  • If you are eligible, the EDD processes and issues payments within a few weeks of receiving a claim.

School Closures 

  • If you are missing work to home school your child, you may be eligible for Unemployment Insurance benefits. Eligibility considerations include if you have no other care options and if you are unable to continue working your normal hours remotely. File a claim here and an EDD representative will decide if you are eligible.

Reduced Work Hours 

  • If your employer has reduced your hours or shut down operations due to COVID-19, you can file an Unemployment Insurance claim. UI, provides partial wage replacement benefit payments to workers who lose their job or have their hours reduced, through no fault of their own. If you are temporarily unemployed due to COVID-19 and expected to return to work with your employer within a few weeks, you are not required to actively seek work each week. However, you must remain able and available and ready to work during your unemployment for each week of benefits you claim and meet all other eligibility criteria. If you are eligible, benefits an range from $40-$450 per week. File a claim here.

Self Employed 

  • If you are self-employed, you may have benefits available from EDD employment insurance programs that you or your employer may have paid into over the past 5 – 18 months. You may have contributions from a prior job, or you could have been misclassified as an independent contractor instead of an employee.
  • Apply for the benefit program that best fits your situation and include details above your employment to help EDD process your claim.
  • Please review this resource for more information.

Below are some resources that are available to help you get reconnected with the workforce.

The California Employment Development Department (EDD) and the Labor Commissioners Office have provided guidelines for individuals unable to work due to illness, caring for a loved one who is ill, or who has reduced employment hours as a result of COVID-19. You may qualify for unemployment insurance, state disability or paid family leave depending on your specific circumstances.

As an employee, you can find out who is eligible, which benefits you may eligible for, what documentation is required to file for benefits, and how to file paperwork.

If you think you may be the victim of wage theft, you are encouraged to call the wage theft hotline: 1 844-522-6734. For all other inquires you are strongly encouraged to use the website as phonelines are significantly backed up.

For employers, learn more about the suspension of the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Act (WARN) and what that means for you and your business.