Welcome to UI Online – a fast and convenient way to apply for Unemployment Insurance (UI)
benefits and manage your UI claim. In this video, we’ll show you how to file
a new claim with UI Online, the first step to receiving your UI benefit payments.
Once you’ve filed your claim, you can use UI Online at any time to request benefit payments,
get your latest claim and payment information, and more!
You’ll even receive important notifications to help you keep your claim on track.
So, let’s begin with what you will need to complete your UI application.
The process will be quicker if you gather all of this information before you start.
You’ll be asked for your personal information including your name, birthdate, full mailing
address and Social Security number. If you’re not a U.S. citizen, you’ll need
information from your employment authorization document.
You will also need to list your employment history for the last 18 months.
This includes the names, addresses, and phone numbers for each employer you worked for during
this time as well as the total income earned from each employer and the reasons why each
job ended. The EDD uses ID.me to protect your identity
and prevent fraud. You'll need an ID.me account in order to file
your claim online. To create an account, you'll need a mobile
phone with a camera and internet access. You'll need your Social Security Number, email
address and a photo ID such as a driver’s license, passport, passport card, or state
ID. Be prepared to upload a photo ID and take
a picture of yourself using your cell phone. If you don't have an ID.me account, you'll
be given the opportunity to create one once you start filing your claim.
Now that you’ve gathered the necessary information, here’s how to file your UI claim.
First, you will need to create a Benefit Programs Online login at www.edd.ca.gov/bpo.
If you already have one from a previous Unemployment Insurance, Disability Insurance, or Paid Family
Leave claim, you do NOT need to create another one, and can skip this step.
It’s a fast and simple process. Just provide your personal email address,
create a password, answer four security questions, and select your security image.
You’ll use this login to access UI Online and other EDD benefit systems.
To file a new claim, log into Benefit Programs Online using your email address
and password you’ve established. Select UI Online,
and then Apply for Unemployment to get started. You will only see the Apply for Unemployment
button, if you need to file a new claim. Otherwise, you’ll be navigated directly
to your UI Online homepage where you will find important claim information and notifications
such as when it’s time to certify for benefits or reopen an existing claim.
If you need to reopen an existing claim, the Reopen Your Claim button will appear.
After you review the instructions page, you'll be asked a series of questions
to help the EDD determine your eligibility to receive UI benefits.
To ensure your claim is filed quickly and accurately, you’ll be asked some questions
to help determine what type of claim is right for you.
It also allows us to gather the necessary information to file your claim.
Next you'll need to verify your identity. If you already have an ID.me account, log
in and follow the instructions. If you don't have an ID.me account, select
Create an ID.me account. ID.me will walk you through the process of
verifying your identity for EDD. Once your identity has been verified, you'll
automatically return back to UI Online so you can finish filing your claim.
The next series of screens will ask you for your personal information, last employer,
and employment history for the last 18 months. If your unemployment is due to COVID-19, select
the options related to COVID-19. Be careful to select the correct option. If
your employer has closed or “locked-up shop” because of COVID-19 this is not a Trade Dispute.
Trade Dispute is only selected if your separation is associated with a Labor Action and/or Union
Dispute. This system is very user friendly.
But if you need help, UI Online has a built-in help feature to assist you in completing the
required fields. Simply select the question mark Icon or the
help link in the upper right hand corner of the screen.
A progress bar at the top of each screen lets you know where you are at in the process at
all times. If additional information is needed, the system
will ask you clarifying questions to help avoid unnecessary follow-up phone interviews
and payment delays. Once you fill in all required information,
you’ll have an opportunity to review or make changes to your answers before submitting
your application. If you need more time to complete a screen
or to verify your information, you can use the Save as Draft feature and return to the
screen where you left off any time before 8 p.m., Saturday of the week you started your
application. If you return after this time, you’ll need
to start over. Once you have successfully submitted your
UI application, a confirmation page will display along with your confirmation number and helpful
information about the UI program. We recommend that you print this page for
future reference. So, what happens next?
After you file, you’ll be mailed information about the UI program and your claim.
You’ll also see updates on your UI Online account about when to move on to the next
step for receiving benefits – certifying. This is the process of reporting your eligibility
information to the EDD every two weeks and can be done online, by phone or by mail with
the continued claim form. Certifying for benefits with UI Online is
the fastest and most convenient way to process your bi-weekly certification forms, and you’ll
receive your eligible benefit payments sooner than mailing in the paper forms.
As an added convenience, UI Online users automatically receive email reminders when it’s time to
request their next benefit payment. Since you must certify your continued eligibility
for benefits every two weeks, we highly encourage you to use UI Online to get paid faster and
avoid payment delays. Remember, it’s your responsibility to certify
for benefits every two weeks, be able and available to work, and actively seek employment
for each week you wish to request benefit payments.
NOTE: If you are unemployed due to COVID-19, you are not required to seek work at this
time. It’s also your responsibility to follow
all rules related to receiving UI benefits. Be sure to read and respond to all requests
to avoid payment delays, penalties or disqualifications. We hope you found this video helpful and invite
you to learn more about UI Online at www.edd.ca.gov/UI_Online.