Step 1: Get Your Information in Order
Source: https://www.edd.ca.gov/en/unemployment/step-1-get-your-information-in-order
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:23
Step 1: Get Your Information in Order
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Step 1: Get Your Information in Order
Español
1
Get Your Information in Order
2
Apply
3
Register in CalJOBS
4
Review Benefit Documents
5
Certify for Benefits
6
Receive Your First Payment
7
Continue to Certify
8
End Your Benefits
Your application tells us who you are, where you worked, how much you earned, and why you are no longer working. Start by gathering this information:
Personal Information:
Your name, birth date, address, Social Security number, photo identification (such as driver's license, ID card, or passport), and another identity document (such as W2, utility bill, or birth certificate). To avoid delays, your information should match what’s on file with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) or Social Security Administration. View the full list of
acceptable documents for identity verification
.
Past 18 Months of Employment Information:
Employer names, mailing and physical addresses, dates worked, gross wages (total before taxes and deductions), hours worked, and how you were paid (such as weekly or monthly).
Most Recent Employer Information:
Contact information (name, address, and phone number) for your most recent employer and your immediate supervisor, the date when you last worked for this last employer, and gross wages in the “last week” you worked. Last week means Sunday until Saturday.
Reason You Aren’t Working (or had your hours cut):
If you voluntarily quit or were fired (sometimes called terminated, discharged, or let go) for misconduct, you may not be eligible for benefits.
Citizenship:
If you are registered with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) as a non-citizen, you’ll need your USCIS document, such as your Permanent Resident Card, Employment Authorization Card, or Refugee Travel Document.
Federal Employment:
If you worked for the federal government during the last 18 months, you’ll need your
Notice to Federal Employee About Unemployment Insurance
, Standard Form 8.
Military Service:
If you served in the military in the last 18 months, you’ll need your DD214 Member Copy 4.
If you have questions about gathering this information, take a look at our
How to Apply for Unemployment
(DE 2321)
guide or these
Frequently Asked Questions
.
If you were
incorrectly classified by your employer
as an independent contractor, you may still qualify for benefits.
Now you’re ready to apply!
Back to Unemployment Benefits
Go to Step 2
Skip to Virtual Chat
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Skip to Main Content
Step 1: Get Your Information in Order
Español
1
Get Your Information in Order
2
Apply
3
Register in CalJOBS
4
Review Benefit Documents
5
Certify for Benefits
6
Receive Your First Payment
7
Continue to Certify
8
End Your Benefits
Your application tells us who you are, where you worked, how much you earned, and why you are no longer working. Start by gathering this information:
Personal Information:
Your name, birth date, address, Social Security number, photo identification (such as driver's license, ID card, or passport), and another identity document (such as W2, utility bill, or birth certificate). To avoid delays, your information should match what’s on file with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) or Social Security Administration. View the full list of
acceptable documents for identity verification
.
Past 18 Months of Employment Information:
Employer names, mailing and physical addresses, dates worked, gross wages (total before taxes and deductions), hours worked, and how you were paid (such as weekly or monthly).
Most Recent Employer Information:
Contact information (name, address, and phone number) for your most recent employer and your immediate supervisor, the date when you last worked for this last employer, and gross wages in the “last week” you worked. Last week means Sunday until Saturday.
Reason You Aren’t Working (or had your hours cut):
If you voluntarily quit or were fired (sometimes called terminated, discharged, or let go) for misconduct, you may not be eligible for benefits.
Citizenship:
If you are registered with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) as a non-citizen, you’ll need your USCIS document, such as your Permanent Resident Card, Employment Authorization Card, or Refugee Travel Document.
Federal Employment:
If you worked for the federal government during the last 18 months, you’ll need your
Notice to Federal Employee About Unemployment Insurance
, Standard Form 8.
Military Service:
If you served in the military in the last 18 months, you’ll need your DD214 Member Copy 4.
If you have questions about gathering this information, take a look at our
How to Apply for Unemployment
(DE 2321)
guide or these
Frequently Asked Questions
.
If you were
incorrectly classified by your employer
as an independent contractor, you may still qualify for benefits.
Now you’re ready to apply!
Back to Unemployment Benefits
Go to Step 2
Skip to Virtual Chat
Leaving the EDD Website
You are about to leave our website.
Leave Website
Language Resources
منابع اللغة (Arabic)
լեզվական ռեսուրսները (Armenian)
منابع زبان (Farsi)
भाषा संसाधन (Hindi)
言語ソース (Japanese)
언어 자료 (Korean)
ធនធានភាសា (Mon-Khmer [Cambodian])
ਭਾਸ਼ਾ ਸਰੋਤ (Punjabi)
Языковые ресурсы (Russian)
语言资源 (Simplified Chinese)
Recursos en otros idiomas (Spanish)
Mga Resource ng Wika (Tagalog)
แหล่งข้อมูลด้านภาษา (Thai)
語言資源 (Traditional Chinese)
Nguồn Hỗ Trợ Ngôn Ngữ (Vietnamese)