If you are a Californian who is currently receiving unemployment benefits, there is more help on the way. The EDD just announced a major benefit extension. The extension comes along in the form of a program known as the Federal-State Extended Duration benefits or 'Fed-Ed.' Fed-Ed usually becomes available when a state experiences high or prolonged periods of unemployment. This will be the second time that these benefits have been activated for California. The state previously became eligible for 13 weeks of these benefits and now they are adding a 7 week extension to that time frame for regular state unemployment insurance.
Currently people on unemployment assistance receive 26 weeks of regular state benefits, followed by 13 weeks of Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (provided by the Cares Act) After that, people can still collect up to an additional 20 weeks of Fed-Ed if they remain unemployed, for a total of 59 weeks of unemployment benefits.
According to the EDD website, "The EDD is sweeping the system to identify those who have collected all of their PEUC benefits for implementing the FED-ED extension as follows: • For individuals who meet the slightly different eligibility requirements of the FED-ED extension, the EDD will automatically file a FED-ED extension and mail a notice of eligibility to the claimant. Claimants will then need to complete the usual bi-weekly certification to determine eligibility for payment."