An Important Update on EDD

It has been nearly 10 months since we took the painful but crucial step of entering lockdown due to the unprecedented spread of the COVID-19. Since then, we’ve lost almost 30,000 lives in LA County alone to COVID, which has infected 22.3 million people nation-wide. 

COVID’s shockwaves have rippled through our economy, as millions of unemployed Californians struggle to pay bills as they navigate the process of getting aid through the complex Employment Development Department (EDD). 

Last week, my colleagues and I returned to the halls of the Capitol amidst the raging pandemic, historic violence at our nation’s capitol and threats from domestic terrorists groups. We are back to work because the people of California cannot wait. We were elected to provide and produce solutions for our constituents; and we’re moving full steam ahead to tackle these challenges. 

I want to take a moment to provide you with the latest information on the circumstances around the EDD system, and explain a recent action taken from the department that is currently impacting thousands in our district – an action I am not happy about.

At the end of last month, the federal government passed and signed the Continued Assistance Act of 2020, a follow-up to the CARES Act, which allows recipients of unemployment assistance to not only continue to receive those benefits, but for many to receive an additional $300 per week. For most people, this current round of benefits will last through March 13. Fortunately, even when those benefits end, people may be able to get Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) through April.

It is important to note that claims are paid retroactively, and that small business owners, independent contractors and self-employed workers who do not qualify for regular unemployment insurance (UI) can be eligible for PUA with proof of employment or self-employment.

I know for many in our district that this legislation could not have come soon enough. Unfortunately, although there have been improvements, the EDD system continues to be riddled with shortcomings. Because of the issues so many of you are experiencing, my office has spent nearly every hour of every day working to provide up-to-the-minute information, and connecting constituents to resources and assistance. 

In late December, 1.4 million Californians, including many of my constituents, received notice that their EDD payments have been suspended due to their accounts being flagged for fraud. This was devastating for those waiting for help. It was also infuriating to my office, partially being because EDD failed to notify legislative offices of this action.

In short, the EDD notification sent to the suspended accounts told constituents they needed to verify their identity as an attempt to stop the massive amounts of fraud in the EDD system. If you received this correspondence and have not yet responded, please follow the instructions and upload your ID documents to the website.

There are several reasons your identity may need to be verified, such as you having recently moved or changed addresses, having a phone number not associated with your name or address submitted, or the document photos you uploaded are not readable. Recently, I’ve learned many ID verification documents are not being received because people fail to upload both the front and back of their documents. If any of these conditions apply to you, please take a minute to re-upload and submit your documents. 

Every single day, my office and I continue to work on connecting the people of the 43^rd Assembly District to their benefits. We’ve been taking on hundreds of cases at a time, doing everything we can to advocate and fight for those who desperately need these funds to keep food on the table and a roof over their heads. I’m frustrated and dismayed at the many errors in the system and the myriad obstacles hard working Californians have experienced as they try to access these emergency benefits.

With the legislative session in full-swing, I’m working on tackling these issues alongside my colleagues in the legislature. I’m coauthoring Assembly Bill 74, introduced by Asm. Gonzalez in early December, which will allow those receiving EDD benefits to choose the option of receiving their funds via direct deposit from the state – circumventing the third-party role of Bank of America, which has created several issues on top of EDD’s problems.

Agencies such as EDD, which provide core public services, need to be better prepared for disasters and unexpected events, and funded accordingly. I will be fighting for greater investment in this agency, and other essential services, that can build resiliency for future disasters such as pandemics, wildfires and earthquakes. We cannot afford to repeat the same mistakes made in our response to this current global emergency. 

For as long as EDD creates obstacles, I will continue to dedicate all my efforts to helping each and every one of you who requests help. If you or your loved ones are experiencing any issues with EDD, or any other matter, please do not hesitate to reach out to my office for help. You can contact us at (818) 558-3043 or at Assemblymember.Friedman@assembly.ca.gov.