Each state has a different process on how to apply for unemployment for those who are affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Here is the most current information from the state of California as of April 15, 2020.

NEW APPLICATION AVAILABLE APRIL 28, 2020
The state of California announced today that an application specifically for the Pandemic Unemployment Insurance will be made available on April 28, 2020. You will be able to certify your claim and get paid within 48 hours, so, the first payments are set to be disturbed on April 30, 2020.

You will get retroactive payments of $600 per week as far back as the first week of February depending when you were first affected by the pandemic.

You may have already applied and received an award of $0 and also received a continued claim form. If so, you will still have to wait and reapply on April 28 but you can use the same account you created to apply at that time.

We will send out updates as soon as they are made available.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE?
  • Business owners
  • Self-employed individuals 
  • Independent contractors
HOW MUCH DO I GET?
  • $600 per week for up to 39 weeks of benefits starting with weeks of unemployment beginning February 2, 2020, through the week ending December 31, 2020, depending on when you became directly impacted by the pandemic.