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OUT OF A JOB. CALIFORNIA JUST RELEASED NEW HISTORIC UNEMPLOYMENT NUMBERS , THIS AFTERNOON. BRIAN: MORE THAN 660,000 UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIMS WERE PROCESSED LAST WEEK, BRINGING THE 4-WEEK TOTAL TO 2.7 MILLION CLAIMS. FOR SOME BETTER CONTEXT, THAT IS 2.3 MILLION MORE THAN THE HIGHEST MONTH IN THE LAST DECADE. KCRA 3’S VICKI GONZALEZ JOINS US WITH MORE ON WHAT NEW RESOURCES ARE TAKING SHAPE AND WHO IS HIRING RIGHT NOW. VICKI: THERE IS STILL A LOT IN MOTION. THE EDD IS LAUNCHING A SECONDARY CALL CENTER STARTING MONDAY, RUNNING SEVEN DAYS A WEEK FROM 8:00 A.M. TO 8:00 P.M.. IMPORTANT TO NOTE, THIS CALL CENTER IS JUST TO ANSWER QUESTIONS, NOT FILE CLAIMS. THE REASON FOR THAT IS SO THAT EMPLOYEES TASKED WITH FILING CLAIMS OF THE PHONE CAN STICK TO JUST THAT. DESPITE HISTORIC NUMBERS, AND CLAIMS PROCESSED, PEOPLE ARE STILL STRUGGLING TO FILE FOR A MYRIAD OF INDIVIDUAL CHALLENGES. EDD SAYS THE AVERAGE TURNAROUND TO GET A FIRST CHECK IS THREE WEEKS FROM FILING BUT THAT IS NOT HAPPENING FOR EVERYBODY. >> THE ONES THAT ALWAYS TAKE LONGER, IT DOESN’T MATTER WHETHER NOW OR A YEAR AGO, ARE THOSE CLAIMS WHICH DON’T MATCH OUR EDD WAGE RECORDS OR WE CAN’T VERIFY THAT PERSON’S IDENTITY. AND THOSE SITUATIONS ARE ALWAYS GOING TO REQUIRE SOME BACK AND FORTH WITH THE INDIVIDUAL. ONE THING I WILL SAY, IT IS HIGHLY IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO USE ONLINE RESOURCES. LIKE I SAID, WE’VE BEEN ABLE TO ADJUST SOME NORMAL ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS DUE TO THIS UNIQUE SITUATION, SO WE CAN AUTOMATE A LOT OF PROCESSING IN OUR SYSTEMS. WE CAN’T DO THAT ON PAPER FORMS. SO IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND, PLEASE USE OUR UI ONLINE SYSTEM. VICKI: ON THE FLIPSIDE, WE SPOKE WITH A SACRAMENT JOB PLACEMENT AGENCY TO TALK ABOUT WHO IS HIRING. ESSENTIALLY, POSITIONS ALL REVOLVING AROUND RESPONDING TO THE PANDEMIC, FROM WORKING ON PAID LEAVE TO SETTING UP REMOTE WORKING STATIONS AND EVEN TAKING PEOPLE’S TEMPERATURE BEFORE THEY ENTER THE WORKPLACE. >> WE SEE A SURGE OF APPLICATIONS. NOT NECESSARILY IN SPECIALTY AREAS THAT ARE HIRING. HUMAN RESOURCES IS A BIG NEED RIGHT NOW. ACCOUNTING IS ANOTHER AREA THAT IS HIRING. MEDICAL, CLINICAL SUPPORT. FOR APPLICANTS, IT IS A TOUGH TIME BEING OUT OF WORK. THERE ARE POSITIONS, THERE ARE SOME POSITIONS OUT THERE. IT’S JUST A MATTER OF THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX. VICKI: GOING BACK TO EDD, FOR THOSE WHO DON’T NORMALLY QUALIFY FOR UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS, THEY WILL BE LAUNCHING THE PANDEMIC UNEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM IN ABOUT TWO WEEKS. THAT IS GOING TO BE SPECIFICALLY FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO MIGHT BE BUSINESS OWNERS OR SELF OR INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS WHO ARE STILL GOING TO GET BENEFITS. FINALL WHAT IF YOUR UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS ARE SET TO EXPIRE? THERE’S ANOTHER PLAN IN MOTION, WORKING WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO EXTEND UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS FOR AN ADDITIONAL 13 WEEKS. THAT IS STILL IN MOTION. THE STATE IS GOING TO TRY TO GET THAT UP AND RUNNING AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, BUT NO DEFINITE TIMELINE RIGHT

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Unemployment in California reached a historic 2.7 million processed claims in the past four-week period during the COVID-19 outbreak, according to the Employment Development Department.That’s 2.3 million more than the highest month recorded in California in the past decade, which EDD reports was 375,735 unemployment insurance claims processed. More than 660,000 UI claims were processed in the week ending April 11, according to EDD. EDD said on average, a person will receive their first benefit check within three weeks of filing. But, others are struggling to file or have incomplete benefits for a myriad of individual challenges. “The ones that are always going to take longer -- doesn’t matter whether that’s now or a year ago -- are those claims which don’t match our EDD wage records or we can’t verify that person’s identity,” said Loree Levy with the EDD. “Those situations are always going to involve that back and forth with the individual.” The EDD is launching a secondary call center Monday, which will operate seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. The new call center is not to file claims but rather to answer questions. More than 1,300 state employees have been relocated to the secondary call center to deal with the demand. However, Levy explained the best way to navigate filing is online, including the EDD FAQ page. “It’s really highly important for people to use online resources,” Levy explained. “We’ve been able to adjust some normal eligibility because of this unique situation, so we can automate a lot of processing in our systems. We can’t do that on paper forms. So, it’s really important for people to understand -- please use our UI online system.”The EDD is also preparing a Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program, which is scheduled to launch April 28 to provide unemployment benefits for those that typically don’t qualify for regular state UI benefits, including business owners, the self-employed and independent contractors. For those whose unemployment benefits are set to expire, there is an upcoming 13-week UI extension called Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC). The EDD explained this is federally funded and will be operational just as soon as possible. Workers should monitor the EDD’s website for continuing updates.Over the four-week period between March 15 and April 11, the EDD has paid out over $975 million in unemployment benefits, according to a press release. On Sunday, the EDD also began automatically adding an extra $600 in federal funds to each week of regular benefits a worker is eligible to receive. Below are the latest questions the EDD is responding to. The FAQ website can be found here.I used a third-party vendor to file my claim, will this expedite my claim?No, the EDD is not affiliated in any way with any other third-party vendors offering help with submitting UI applications for benefits. We encourage everyone impacted by COVID-19 to seek assistance directly on the EDD COVID-19 webpage through your computer or mobile phone and utilize the various online resources we have for the fastest processing possible.What is the best method to submit a UI claim?Using the EDD’s UI Online system is the best option for fastest processing due to the fact that we’ve been able to adjust usual eligibility requirements helping us process large volumes of claims automatically through the system. Using paper forms should be considered a last resort since EDD cannot auto process these forms, which can slow down the payment of benefits.I need help, are services available in multiple languages?UI Online is available in English and Spanish and there are a variety of video tutorials in five different languages to help people use the system. Customer service representatives are available in English, Spanish, Cantonese, Mandarin and Vietnamese.How soon could I receive benefits?Please visit our Step-by-Step chart to inform claimants of what to expect after they submit a UI application in order to continually receive benefit payments.Will I be eligible for unemployment benefits if I answer no to the question about looking for work?Given the unique economic situation and lack of available work created by COVID-19, the EDD has been able to adjust our usual eligibility requirements. You will not be penalized if you answer “no” to the question about looking for work and will be paid benefits for that week if you meet all other eligibility requirements. Can I still qualify for benefits if my EDD notice shows that I have $0 in benefits available?Generally, a mailed notice showing a $0 benefit award available may mean that we have no wage records reported by an employer to support an unemployment claim, or we need to verify your identity for the reported wages that belong to you. Employers, not workers, pay for unemployment benefits through a contribution paid on behalf of each employee.Visit the EDD FAQs for more information about how to proceed in this situation, and for other helpful information being continually updated as details become available.