EDD benefits expiring in California

SACRAMENTO – EDD continues to remind Californians that most federal extended unemployment programs expire September 4 and the Federal-State Extended Duration (FED-ED) extension ends September 11.

September 4, 2021 at 11:59 p.m. is the expiration for most federal unemployment benefits:

• Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA)

• Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC)

• Pandemic Additional Compensation (PAC) (also known as Federal Pandemic

Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) supplement)

• Mixed Earner Unemployment Compensation (MEUC).

Federal rules allow those who still have FED-ED weeks available to continue receiving benefits as late as 11:59 p.m. on September 11, 2021. Similarly, if a claimant’s PEUC benefits end September 4—and that person has not already had a FED-ED extension and now qualifies for one—EDD will transfer them to FED-ED until September 11.

Claimants should continue to certify for benefits if eligible. Any weeks of unemployment that occurred before these programs expire can still be paid retroactively if a claimant is later determined to be eligible for those weeks of benefits.

The federal government does not allow benefit payments for weeks of unemployment after federal unemployment programs end, even if claimants have balances left on their claim. A person who has no income in the past 18 months does not have enough wages to qualify for a new regular state unemployment insurance claim. EDD has a calculator to estimate any potential benefit available.

The federal programs extending unemployment benefits in California expire for an estimated 2.2 million people. Another approximately 500,000 Californians will continue on regular state unemployment insurance, but without the $300 federal PAC supplement. EDD is sending claimants whose federal benefits are ending a second round of notices this month with links to other vital benefit programs that continue beyond September 4.

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Additional Public Benefit Programs

While the federal programs extending unemployment benefits in California expire this month, the American Rescue Plan and California Comeback Plan substantially expanded other vital benefits that continue to help eligible California families. EDD is supporting a partnership, #TogetherWeBenefit, with other state agencies and departments and county and community organizations to actively raise awareness about these other benefit programs:

• Over $234 per person per month for food via CalFresh (GetCalFresh.org or by phone at 1-877-847-3663), whether a person is working or not.

• Money for rent and utilities—including 100 percent rent and utilities—via Housing is Key (HousingIsKey.com or by phone at 1-833-430-2122).

• Free or low-cost health insurance through Covered California or Medi-Cal (CoveredCA.com or by phone at 1-800-300-1506). Californians who received unemployment insurance in 2021 may be eligible for Covered California’s best coverage for $1 per month. Individuals already enrolled in Medi-Cal or a Covered California health plan should report any loss of unemployment benefits to Covered California because this will lower health coverage costs.

• Cash aid for families with children (CalWORKs) through county human services agencies at BenefitsCal.org (where people can also apply for food assistance [CalFresh], and free health coverage [Medi-Cal]).

• Golden State Stimulus payments for millions of qualified residents who file taxes, even if not required. (By phone at 1-800-845-6500). Filing taxes may also qualify you for the child tax credit under the American Rescue Plan.

This summer, EDD posted links to these vital benefit programs on UI Online—the unemployment insurance online portal. The referral links through UI Online boosted food aid applications to CalFresh by over 125,000 applications and represented nearly 20 percent of all applications, highlighting the value of cross- agency collaboration.

A video with information about these benefit programs is posted on YouTube. Fact sheets with information about how to apply for these programs are available on the EDD Federal Provisions for Unemployment webpage in Armenian, English, Korean, Simplified Chinese, Spanish, Tagalog, Traditional Chinese, and Vietnamese.

EDD provides resources to help people find jobs and job training at the Job Seekers: Returning to Work webpage. This includes CalJOBS, one of California’s largest job boards with more than a million job postings from over 30,000 employers. Fact sheets with additional information are available in Armenian, English, Korean, Simplified Chinese, Spanish, Tagalog, Traditional Chinese, and Vietnamese. Californians can also access services at the states jobs centers.

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Mixed Earner Unemployment Compensation Application Assistance

Following June’s launch of the Mixed Earner Unemployment Compensation (MEUC) application, EDD is processing and paying thousands of applications. Claimants have until September 6, 2021 to apply. MEUC payments are retroactive to December 27, 2020, and eligible claimants can receive up to a total of 36 weeks of payments. These benefits are payable for any weeks in which an individual was unemployed and met requirements—even if they have since gone back to work.

Individuals who have difficulty applying or believe they are eligible to apply and do not have a personalized application link will be able to contact EDD at a dedicated MEUC telephone line. This telephone line should not be used for regular unemployment claim inquiries.

Work Sharing Program Application Improvements for Employers

EDD created an online resource for employers who are reopening business and hiring, including a Fact Sheet with information about the valuable, no-cost programs, resources and services available. That fact sheet is also available in eight languages.

EDD took action to strengthen the state's Work Sharing program—an innovative unemployment insurance program that helps employers with reduced business keep valued employees who would have been laid off during the pandemic and avoid the costs of recruiting and training new employees when conditions improve. The Department has automated application processing of Working Sharing plans and weekly certifications to make it easier for employers to participate.

The federal government fully funds the program until September 4, when federal unemployment benefit programs are scheduled to expire. Employers are encouraged to apply now for this valuable program.

September 4 is also the expiration of the federal program that partially reimbursed employers who do not contribute to the state’s unemployment insurance trust fund, which means those employers will resume paying the full cost of benefits paid to former employees.