If you have a Pending status for any weeks in your UI Online Claim History, we may need to determine your eligibility for unemployment or verify your identity. If we need to verify your identity, you will receive a notice to provide additional documentation. For more information, visit Respond to Your Request for Identity Verification.
To collect unemployment benefits, you must meet the eligibility requirements when you apply and when certifying for benefits.
If there is an issue and we can’t determine your eligibility based on the information you provided, we will email you instructions on how to complete an Eligibility Questionnaire online, mail you a Request for Eligibility Information (DE 4365FF), or schedule a phone interview. Check your UI Online homepage for notifications.
Note: If you misreport or fail to report information, you may be disqualified from benefits, required to repay benefits that you previously received, and assessed a 30 percent penalty.
We may schedule a phone interview with you. You will receive a Notification of Unemployment Insurance Benefits Eligibility Interview (DE 4800) with the date and time of the interview. It will also include questions you are likely to be asked during the phone interview. The date and time of the interview are also available on your UI Online homepage.
If you need to reschedule your interview, use UI Online or contact us. For instructions, review How to Reschedule Your Phone Interview (YouTube). You must reschedule at least one day before the interview.
Important: If you missed your scheduled appointment, please call back on the same day to avoid delay or denial of your benefit payments. If you call back on the same day that your interview was scheduled, a customer service representative will be able to transfer you.
If you miss your phone interview, we will make a decision based on available facts. This may result in your unemployment payments being delayed or denied.
The Notification of Unemployment Insurance Benefits Eligibility Interview (DE 4800) includes the questions the interviewer is most likely to ask. Be prepared to answer those questions.
An EDD representative will call you at the scheduled time. Your caller ID may show “St of CA EDD” or the UI Customer Service number 1-800-300-5616.
During your interview, you may be asked to provide additional information. The interviewer will give you instructions on how to submit any required information.
After the phone interview, if you are eligible for unemployment, we will process your payments if you have not already received a conditional payment.
If we determine that you are not eligible, you will receive a Notice of Determination (DE 1080CZ) with the reasons you were denied benefits and an Appeal Form (DE 1000M). If you disagree with the decision, you have the right to appeal the decision.
If you are eligible for unemployment benefits, we will process your payments if you have not already received a conditional payment.
If we determine that you are not eligible for unemployment benefits, you will receive a Notice of Determination (DE 1080CZ) with the reasons you were denied benefits and an Appeal Form (DE 1000M). If you disagree with the decision, you have the right to appeal the decision.
If you receive benefits but are later found ineligible, you may have an overpayment. An overpayment is when you receive benefits you are not eligible for. We will mail you either a Notice of Potential Overpayment (DE 1447), a Notice of Overpayment (DE 1444), or both. You will have the right to appeal this determination and overpayment. For more information, visit Overpayments and Penalties.
If you received at least one payment on your claim, but your payments have been pending for more than two weeks because of an eligibility issue, we may process a conditional payment as we continue reviewing the issue. We will mail a Notice of Conditional Payment Pending Eligibility Review (DE 5400) if a conditional payment is issued. If you continue to certify for benefits while we review, you may have to pay back any conditional payments you received if we later find you ineligible.
If you receive a conditional payment, there are two possible outcomes: