DCARA has important information to share with the community. Watch our video.

[Video Description: White Slide with the words “Unemployment Benefits Explained” in teal font appears on Screen. Screen fades to show Michael Schmidt with light brown hair and wears a light blue shirt. He is standing in front of a brick colored wooden wall with vertical lines.]

Due to COVID-19, many businesses have been disrupted. Your workplace might have suspended all operations. How can you continue to get your paychecks? You can apply for Unemployment Income (UI) or Disaster Unemployment Assistance. There are also two other benefits such as State Disability Insurance (SDI) or Paid Family Leave (PFL), only if they apply to you.

[Video description: Screen fades to show Byung Lim, a Korean American man with dark hair, wears a pair of black round glasses and a blue polo shirt.]

I’d like to explain what UI is and how you can qualify or apply for it. The Unemployment Insurance (UI) program pays benefits to workers who have lost their job and meet the program’s eligibility requirements. If you have become unemployed or partially unemployed, you may file a UI claim. Also, any cut wage hours or temporary layoffs are accepted.

[Teal Slide with the words “UI Claim Application form” in white font appears on Screen. Screen fades to show the following website information:
English https://www.edd.ca.gov/pdf_pub_ctr/1101i/de1101id.pdf
Spanish https://www.edd.ca.gov/pdf_pub_ctr/1101i/de1101ids.pdf]

[Teal Slide with the words “Pandemic Unemployment Assistance” in white font appears on Screen. Screen fades to another vlog by Byung.]

The group included self-employment or independent contracts with other companies, but they are not eligible for the UI. They can apply for the PUA, which begins Tuesday, April 28. More information about the PUA, go to:

https://edd.ca.gov/about_edd/coronavirus-2019/pandemic-unemployment-assistance.htm

Do you feel overwhelmed or confused, frustrated, struggling, or needing help? Employment Specialists are happy to help you. Understand that employment specialists cannot access application information related to the UI or PUA. we suggest contacting EDD Customer Service because they can access your information,

Need to contact them? There are two ways to contact the EDD.
Filing a claim or reopen claim:

– English: 1-800-300-5616
– Spanish: 1-800-326-8937
– TTY: 1-800-815-9387

Their limited hours: 8 am to 12 pm (Pacific Time) on Monday-Friday except for California state holiday.

Technical issue or general information? 833-978-2511 8 am to 8 pm (Pacific Time) on Monday to Sunday (Pacific Time), seven days a week.

Go to Frequently Answered Questions link: https://www.edd.ca.gov/unemployment/FAQs.htm

[Video description: Teal Slide with the words “Pandemic Unemployment Assistance” in white font appears on Screen. Screen fades to Mark Vanni with gray streaked hair, wears a pair of half-rim glasses and a black and gray polo shirt.]

Now, as for SDI, this is a different program from UI. State Disability Insurance (SDI) provides partial wage replacement benefits to eligible California workers who are unable to work due to a non-work-related illness, injury, or pregnancy. SDI contributions are paid by California workers through employee payroll deductions.

Next, we have Paid Family Leave (PFL), it provides partial wage replacement benefits to employees who need to take time off from work to care for a seriously ill family member (child, parent, parent-in-law, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, spouse, or registered domestic partner) or to bond with a new child entering the family through birth, adoption, or foster care placement.

[Teal Slide with the words “Benefit Programs Online” in white font appears on Screen with the following content: Go to https://edd.ca.gov/Benefit Programs Online.htm OR State Disability Insurance: 1-800-480-3287 and Paid Family Leave: 1-877-238-4373. Then Screen fades to Michael.]

If you need more information or services from any of our Employment Specialists, call HQ at 510-343-6670 or email info@dcara.org.

[Image Description: A flyer with light and white blue text showing a picture of illustrated hand holding the pencil on a notepad with a checklist on the right side on a dark blue background with following content:

Starting Today

Are you:
• Self-Employed
• Independent Contractor
• Business Owner

Starting today on April 28, you may be eligible for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program and start receiving benefits. Contact DCARA for more information.]