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December 14, 2020 - EDD says Californians impacted by stay-at-home orders who had an unemployment claim earlier in the pandemic but stopped collecting when they returned to work, are encouraged to reopen their claim if they once again find themselves out of work or with reduced hours.
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If you stop certifying for continued benefits, and it’s been more than 120 days since you last certified for benefits, your Unemployment Insurance (UI) claim becomes inactive. You must reopen your claim to request benefit payments.
You can reopen your claim if it was filed within the last 52 weeks and you have not exhausted your benefits. If your benefit year has ended, you must file a new claim.
Important: Waiting to reopen or file a new claim can delay benefit payments.
How to Reopen a Claim
- Online
UI OnlineSM is the fastest and most convenient way to reopen your claim. You can reopen your claim 24 hours a day, 7 days a week following the steps below:
Step 1: Access your UI Online account.
Log in to Benefit Programs Online and select UI Online.
Step 2: Select Reopen Your Claim.
Select Reopen Your Claim from the Notifications section of your UI Online home page. This link will only appear if you need to reopen your claim.
Note: If you don’t see Reopen Your Claim, you may have past certifications that you need to complete before you can certify for new weeks. Select Certify for Benefits to complete the certifications. This tells us that you did not need benefits during the break in your claim and you want to restart your benefits. Report your work and earnings for any past weeks in which you worked.
Step 3: Answer all questions.
You will be asked a series of questions to help the Employment Development Department (EDD) determine your eligibility to receive UI benefits. If additional information is needed, a phone interview will be scheduled.
Step 4: Review and submit your answers.
After you have answered all the questions and have verified your answers, select Submit to reopen your claim.
If you successfully submitted your request, the Confirmation page will display. Print or save a copy for your records.
Step 5: Check your status.
Access your UI Online homepage to check the status of your request. If you successfully reopened your claim, you will be advised when to certify for benefits. If additional information is needed, a phone interview will be scheduled. The date and time will be sent by mail and will also appear in the Notifications section of your UI Online homepage. It may take up to 10 days to reopen your claim if it needs to be reviewed by an EDD representative.
- By Phone
Representatives are available at the following toll-free numbers, seven days a week, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (Pacific time) except on state holidays.
English and Spanish 1-800-300-5616
Cantonese 1-800-547-3506
Mandarin 1-866-303-0706
Vietnamese 1-800-547-2058
TTY 1-800-815-9387
- By Fax or Mail
Reopen your UI claim by accessing the paper Unemployment Insurance Application. For faster and secure processing, fax the completed application to the number listed on the form. If you decide to mail your application, use the address on the form and allow additional time for processing.
What to Expect After You Reopen Your Claim
You will receive important information about your claim by mail. Be sure to read and respond to all requests to avoid payment delays.
You will also receive a separate mailing with a Continued Claim Form (DE 4581). You must submit this form every two weeks to request your benefit payments. This process, known as certifying for benefits, provides the EDD with information to determine your eligibility.
You may certify for benefits online, by phone, or by mail. (Allow at least 10 days for processing if certifying by mail.)
Important: If you have opted out of receiving the paper Continued Claim Form (DE 4581) you will not receive a paper form in the mail. Instead, you will receive an email notification when it’s time to submit your certifications through UI Online.
Resources
For more information visit the following web pages:
- UI Online: Reopen Your Claim (YouTube)
- FAQ - Eligibility: Frequently asked questions about the UI eligibility requirements.
- Contact UI: Still need help? Contact us online, by mail, or by phone.
Source: EDD
