The California Employment Development Department (EDD) provides a variety of services to individuals and businesses affected by disasters in California. EDD staff assist at Local Assistance Centers or Disaster Recovery Centers established by the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) or federal authorities.
For additional information related to disaster related assistance for public health and services, visit California Health and Human Services Resource Guide.
Employer support services may also be available along with Disability Insurance (DI) and Paid Family Leave (PFL) benefits for eligible workers. For more information, visit Disaster-Related Services FAQs.
Generally, there is a one-week waiting period for individuals obtaining UI. Governor’s Emergency Proclamations waive the non-payable one-week waiting period for regular UI benefit payments to eligible individuals affected by current disasters. This means individuals can be paid benefits for the first week they are unemployed due to the disaster.
The UI program provides partial wage replacement benefits to workers who lose their jobs, or have their hours reduced, through no fault of their own. Learn more about the Unemployment Insurance program and eligibility requirements for collecting benefits.
Extensions for Employers to File and Pay Payroll Taxes
Employers directly affected by a disaster may request up to a 60-day extension of time from the EDD to file their state payroll reports and/or deposit state payroll taxes without penalty or interest. A written request for extension must be received within 60 days from the original delinquent date of the payment or return.
For more information about how to request an extension and other employer assistance available, visit Emergency and Disaster Assistance for Employers.
You can also learn about assistance available through the Internal Revenue Service’s Help During Disasters web page.
A Presidential Disaster Declaration can make federal Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) available for individuals effected by a disaster. DUA is a federal program that provides temporary unemployment assistance to individuals whose work or self-employment is interrupted due to a major natural disaster and who do not qualify for regular state-provided UI benefits, such as farmworkers, business owners and the self-employed.
If and when DUA benefits become available to disaster victims in California, the EDD will update this page and issue a news release with pertinent details and information.
Eligibility for DUA benefits generally applies to those individuals who become unemployed as a direct result of the disaster and meet at least one of these conditions:
Job Search Assistance
In disaster situations, our EDD Workforce Services representatives will often be available along with our UI and Tax representatives in Local Assistance Centers that may be established by the State OES. They can provide a wide range of job search assistance and employer support services, as well as other general support, referrals, and resources.
For California’s online job exchange system, visit CalJOBSSM.
Disability Insurance Benefits
Disability Insurance (DI) provides partial wage replacement benefits to eligible California workers who are unable to work due to a non-work-related illness, injury, or pregnancy. If you were injured by the disaster, you may be eligible for DI benefits.
To apply for DI benefits, submit a Claim for Disability Insurance (DI) Benefits (DE 2501) using SDI Online or by mail. If you need a paper version of the DE 2501, you can order the form through the Online Forms and Publications page or contact DI by phone.
Paid Family Leave Benefits
Paid Family Leave (PFL) provides benefits to individuals who lose wages when they need to take time off work to care for a seriously ill child, parent, parent-in-law, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, spouse, or registered domestic partner. If you need to care for a family member injured in the disaster, you may be eligible for PFL benefits.
To apply for PFL benefits, submit a Claim for Paid Family Leave (PFL) Benefits (DE 2501F) using SDI Online or by mail. If you need a paper version of the DE 2501F, you can order the form through the Online Forms and Publications page or contact PFL by phone.
In partnership with:
Funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration.
Funded in part through a grant with the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development.
Mike Daniel is the network director of the Orange County Inland Empire SBDC Network, which assists aspiring entrepreneurs and current business owners throughout Orange, San Bernardino and Riverside counties. Mike was formerly the director of the SBDC office at Long Beach City College. As business owner and entrepreneur himself, he started his career as the owner of a Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory location in Manhattan Beach and went on to open a second location in Long Beach in 2001. In 2007, Mike sold the Manhattan Beach store for an above-market offer then invested in several additional locations as a minority shareholder. Mike further expanded his candy empire with venture located in Shoreline Village in Long Beach called Sugar Daddies Sweet Shoppe, based on fill-it yourself candy options.
Mike has a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from California State University, Fullerton.
