What should I do after I file for unemployment insurance benefits with EDD?

Monitor Email and Postal Service

You should receive an email message with the subject “New Online Account Created.” That means your registration was automatically completed in UI Online, where you can certify for your first benefit payment.

If you do not receive an email and have not filed an unemployment claim in the past several years, you will receive a letter with an EDD Customer Account Number (EDDCAN) in the mail. Use the EDDCAN to finish registering for full UI Online access.

Note: Regardless of how you file, you will receive important EDD information in the mail about two weeks after applying. This includes a notice telling you what you could receive in weekly payments, if eligible.

Certify for Benefits

After completing UI Online registration, you must “certify” for your first benefit payment. Certifying is answering basic questions every two weeks that tells us you’re still unemployed and eligible to continue receiving payments. It is required to receive unemployment.

You will receive an email and a reminder on your UI Online account homepage when you log in if there are weeks you need to certify for. We have video tutorials in four different languages to help you complete this legally required step so you can keep collecting unemployment benefits.

Note: If you have not looked for work, you will still be paid benefits for that week if you meet all other eligibility requirements.

Visit COVID-19: Unemployment Claims for complete details about steps to take after filing your claim.