California Unemployment Insurance

Am I Eligible?

You must be

• fully or partially unemployed because of a layoff, furlough, reduced wages, or reduced hours.
• sure that your unemployment claim expired.

What do I need to file my claim?

Last Employer

• Last employer information including company name, supervisor’s name, address (mailing and physical location) and phone number. If you are self-employed, a business owner, or an independent contractor, list yourself as your last employer.
• Last date worked and the reason you are no longer working.
• Total gross earnings in the last week you worked, beginning with Sunday and ending with your last day of work. If you are self-employed or an independent contractor, you will need your net income (total after taxes).

Employment History

• Information on all employers you worked for during the past 18 months, including name, address (mailing and physical location), the dates of employment, gross wages earned, hours worked per week, hourly rate of pay, and the reason you are no longer working.
• If you are self-employed or an independent contractor, you will need your net income (total after taxes).
• Notice to Federal Employees About Unemployment Insurance,Standard Form 8 (former federal employees only).
• DD 214 Member 4 copy (ex-military only).

Identity Documents

• We launched ID.me, a safe and easy way to verify your identity in UI Online. When you file a new claim, you will be redirected to the ID.me site where you will take a selfie (personal photo) and upload a photo of your ID to verify your identity.
• For more information, review Top Nine Reasons Your Document May Get Rejected (PDF).
• If we need additional information to verify your identity, you will need to join a video call with ID.me and provide either:
• Two primary documents
• One primary and two secondary documents

How to apply for Unemployment Insurance Benefits?

File By Phone: Call to file a claim at the following toll-free numbers, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Pacific time), except on state holidays.

• 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
• TTY 1-800-815-9387

File Online: Log in to UI Online

• Sunday: 5 a.m. - 8:30 p.m.
• Monday:4 a.m. – 10 p.m.
• Tuesday – Friday: 2 a.m. – 10 p.m.
• Saturday: 2 a.m. – 8 p.m.

Note: To file a claim online, you must be at least 18 years old. If you are underage, you can file your claim by phone, fax, or mail.

For more information, read the FAQs to know more about how to file for a claim in California.