Common Reasons You May Lose Eligibility For Unemployment In California

In December 2024, it was reported that 398,795 people were certified for Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits in California, and 49,015 initial claims were also processed.

Thus, if you’re getting unemployment benefits in California, you have to know what could jeopardize your eligibility.

Successfully being granted unemployment benefits does not simply mean you have to lose your job. Thus, Certain actions or inactions on your part could lead to disqualification. 

However, factors vary from failing to actively pursue work to misrepresenting income in one way or another.

This article will help you understand what disqualifies you from unemployment benefits in California.

Therefore, it is important to understand the reasons behind unemployment in California. 

What Causes Unemployment In California?

Several factors can disqualify you from receiving unemployment benefits in California.

1. Failing To Actively Search For Work Causes Unemployment In California

Unemployed individuals in California must actively search for work while claiming unemployment benefits.

Failure to abide by these terms can cause you to lose your benefits. You have to maintain a very detailed log of your applications, indicating the dates and the job titles you were looking at. 

The Employment Development Department (EDD) would have you declared ineligible for benefits if the agency declares that you are not making an active search for work. 

Have a schedule for going through job applications weekly and keep screenshots or confirmation emails as proof. 

This process helps you stay organized and demonstrates your persistence in case the EDD requests proof.

2. Not Meeting Weekly Certification Requirements Causes Unemployment In California

Each week, you must certify your unemployment and that you are able and available to work and actively seeking work. Late filings or false statements will cause the delay or denial of benefits.

Even one week of missed certifications can interrupt the payment of benefits and place the case Your case will be put on hold unless you reapply or file an appeal. 

You will not receive any financial assistance if your case is delayed. Therefore, put reminders on your calendar, or you can ask the EDD to send them to you via email or text.

3. Quitting Your Job Without Good Cause Is What Causes Unemployment In California

Resigning from a job without a valid reason can have a serious effect on your eligibility for unemployment benefits. 

Some of the reasonable causes you can quit a job are unsafe working conditions, harassment, or substantial changes in job duties. 

You may be denied unemployment if your reasons are not convincing enough.

The EDD will also look into whether you tried to work things out with your employer before quitting. 

For example, if you never reported harassment or sought a transfer, you may be rejected. The more proof you have of your attempts to fix the situation, the better your chances of eligibility.

4. Refusing Suitable Job Offers

Refusing suitable job offers can affect your unemployment claim in California. Unemployed people are expected to be active in job searches. 

Hence, your benefits may be withheld or deducted if you refuse a job without reasonable cause.

The EDD evaluates your experience, wages, and commuting distance when determining if a job is suitable. Refusing a job that meets these standards without a valid reason can trigger a claim review. Document any health issues or unsafe conditions that justify your refusal.

5. Reporting Income Inaccurately

Accurate reporting of income is key to the preservation of unemployment benefits in California. Hence, a slight discrepancy in your income could result in delayed benefits or outright disqualification. An investigation may even be launched against you.

Wrongful overpayment can affect your eligibility, so you need to keep track of all your part-time or freelance earnings and report them accurately.

6. Not Being Available For Work

If you aren’t actively job hunting or have turned down job offers, your benefits may be cut.  You need to be ready and able to take a job right away, which means having a way to get there, the proper skills, and time in your schedule. Therefore, failing to show your availability is just grounds to disqualify you from your benefits.

7. Failing To Attend Required Meetings Or Workshops

In California, missing a required meeting or workshop directly threatens your unemployment benefits. The state keeps track of your attendance, and denial of benefits may result from failure to attend or from a lower amount in your claim. Remember to inform the unemployment office should you have a legitimate excuse for missing a session.

8. Misrepresenting Your Employment Status

If you do not give the EDD correct information on your job status, you can lose your benefits. Therefore, the EDD may value that discrepancy very much and start an investigation. 

The best way to stay out of trouble is to tell the truth. If you’re unsure about what to report, you can ask the EDD or an attorney about what you are expected to do to preserve the right to collect the benefits.

How To Certify For The Unemployment Benefit? 

The process of certification involves answering a few questions that justify your unemployment to the authorities.

The authorities conduct this assessment every two weeks to determine their eligibility for benefits under the unemployment program quota. 

Therefore, the beneficiaries should answer the questions accurately, as providing incorrect answers can affect their payments.

1. How To Confirm The Benefit Of Payments?

The authorities send you a claim package in the mail confirming that you are eligible for the benefits.

The beneficiaries also receive a confirmation email; hence, the email immediately assures the receipt of the benefits.

The beneficiaries of the process should answer the questions properly and honestly. This ensures continued benefits and helps prevent any future problems. 

The beneficiaries, therefore, should certify for their first certification payment after they receive the opportunity for certification payments.

The first Certification period for the beneficiary starts two weeks after they file for the certification payment.

2. How To Start With Your Certification Benefits? 

The beneficiaries avail themselves of the benefits while following the steps:

Getting Certification for the benefits: Where to start from?

• The beneficiaries should log in to their myEDD account.
• The beneficiaries should follow the instructions in UI Online to complete the steps provided.
• Furthermore, the beneficiaries will have to submit their time.
• Certifying late or early affects eligibility. The authorities often deny certification in such situations.
• The beneficiaries should continue with the process every 14 days from the date of display mentioned on the claim form.

3. Reporting Accurately:

Unemployed people report accurately to the authorities that they meet the eligibility criteria to receive the benefits.