California EDD to stop freezing unemployment benefits and adopt 'pay now' policy
Becca Camping, a restaurant worker whose unemployment benefits were frozen after she was laid off last year because of the pandemic, visits Fisherman’s Wharf.
Shelly Ross, who runs cat-sitting services Tales of the Kitty, was among thousands of Californians whose unemployment benefits were frozen by the state this year.
Becca Camping, a restaurant worker whose unemployment benefits were frozen after she was laid off last year due to the pandemic, shops for fruit at Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco.
Becca Camping, a restaurant worker whose unemployment benefits were frozen after she was laid off last year because of the pandemic, rides a bus home from Fisherman’s Wharf.
One day, their unemployment benefits mysteriously stop coming. They urgently need the money for rent, food and other necessities. They call the Employment Development Department, but they can’t reach anyone to find out what happened. The agency’s website doesn’t give an explanation. Their bills pile up. Their savings — if they have any — evaporate. Some lose their housing. Some forego medical care. The freeze on benefits may last months on end.
Now EDD, under pressure by consumer advocates, will stop freezing benefits for people whose existing claims have eligiblity questions. Instead, EDD said Thursday, it is implementing a “pay now” policy to issue conditional payments while it investigates problems, rather than subjecting claimants to lengthy waits to get money flowing again.
