Unemployment benefits in California
What California pays, for how long, and where to file. Plain numbers from the Department of Labor, with the date we last checked them.
Where to file in California
File with the California Employment Development Department. Do it in your first week out of work: In most states payments count from the week you file, not the week you were laid off, so do not wait.
Can you get benefits after a layoff?
Almost always, if the layoff was for lack of work and you earned enough in your base period (roughly the first four of the last five completed quarters). You stay eligible by being able to work, available for work and actively looking. Claims are most often denied after a quit without good cause or a firing for misconduct, and you can appeal a denial.
Benefits count as taxable income for federal tax, and in most states for state tax too. You can ask the agency to withhold federal tax so there is no surprise next April.
How long will your money last?
Runway calculator, prefilled with the California maximum benefit.
Why is nobody calling you back?
The job-search checker tells you whether it is your resume, your targeting or your volume.
Questions people ask about California
How much is unemployment in California?
California pays between $40 and $450 a week. Your amount depends on your past wages.
How long does unemployment last in California?
Between 14 and 26 weeks in a benefit year, depending on your situation.
Can I get unemployment in California after being laid off?
Usually yes. A layoff for lack of work is the clearest case of qualifying. You must have earned enough in your base period, be able to work, and keep looking for work while you claim.
Where do I file for unemployment in California?
Online with the California Employment Development Department: https://edd.ca.gov/en/unemployment/. File in the first week you are out of work; most states do not pay for weeks before you file.
Where these numbers come from
Benefit figures: U.S. Department of Labor, Significant Provisions of State UI Laws, July 2026 edition, checked October 14, 2026.
Unemployment rate: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, August 2026, seasonally adjusted.
Weekly claims: Department of Labor ETA 539 report, week ending September 26, 2026.
Filing link verified October 14, 2026. Figures can change when a state updates its law; the agency page is always the final word.