The EDD
What is the EDD?
In California the unemployment insurance (UI) program is administered by the Employment Development Department (EDD).
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The unemployment insurance program is a nationwide federal system established by the Social Security Act of 1935. It is a program to provide short term temporary income to help support a worker seeking employment. It is also intended to support the local economy where the unemployed workers reside.
The unemployment insurance program is administered by the individual states and territories. The federal government allows each state to administer the program in its own manner as long as it does so in conformity with federal law.
The UI benefits paid to individuals are entirely funded by a tax paid by employers. Workers do not directly contribute any money for unemployment benefits.
Eligibility to collect UI benefits is set by law. These laws are contained in the California UI Code. They are further defined, when necessary, in the California Code of Regulations.
EDD UI Offices
EDD uses a telephone and/or Internet system to provide unemployment insurance (UI) services to the public. There are no offices that are open to the public for UI except the appeals offices. There are three types of EDD offices an individual claiming benefits (claimant) may encounter:
Telephone Call Centers
These handle calls to file claims and to answer general UI questions. An individual can call a Call Center in order to file a new claim, to reopen an existing claim, or to ask questions about the UI program and/or about documents received from the Department. The telephone numbers for these offices are in the section Filing a Claim.
Adjudication Centers
These handle claims whenever there is a question of whether a claimant is eligible to receive benefits. Claimants would not contact these offices directly unless directed to do so by the Department. The Adjudication Centers contact the claimant by telephone when a determination of eligibility interview is scheduled.
Overpayment Office
This is the office that handles cases when a claimant has been overpaid benefits and it is necessary to repay the Department. A claimant should always contact the telephone number listed on the notice received. The Overpayment Office is the only office authorized to make arrangements for repayment or to provide information about the status of the case.