New EDD Web-Cert^SM Now Available!

en Español

The Employment Development Department (EDD) has a new method for claimants to certify for Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits. The EDD Web-Cert^SM method will give most claimants the additional option to certify online instead of sending in the paper Continued Claim form, DE 4581. This is the first of several online upgrades being done to improve the overall customer experience with the UI Program.

EDD Web-Cert^SM allows you to certify for UI benefits 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

The questions asked on EDD Web-Cert^SM are the same questions on the paper Continued Claim form. The paper claim form will continue to be issued to you, regardless of which certification method you use during a certification period. However, if you choose to submit your Continued Claim form online, do not also submit a form through the mail. Submitting two forms (electronic and paper) could delay your benefits.

To certify using EDD Web-Cert^SM, you will be asked to register a User Name and Password. An e-mail address can be used as a User Name. EDD will never share your User Name or e-mail address with any other agency or business, and no e-mails will be sent to you regarding your certification.

While most claimants will be able to use the online option, claimants participating in the following UI programs will not be able to certify online at this time because more complex programming changes are required:

• Federal-State Extended Duration (FED-ED) extension
• California Training Benefits (CTB)
• Apprenticeship Training
• Trade Readjustment Allowance (TRA)
• Work Sharing Program (WS)
• Partials Program, DE 2063
• Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA)
• State Special School Benefits (SSSB)

In addition, if the conditions below apply to you, you cannot use the EDD Web-Cert^SM option. You must instead submit a paper Continued Claim form, DE 4581, for any weeks the following conditions exist:

• There is an address or phone number change
• You have performed work and/or earned wages during any week of the certifying period

Reminder: Continued Claim certifications must be submitted within 14 days of the week ending date or the last payment date, whichever is later. Also, do not submit your continued claim certification before the latest week ending date shown. Submitting the continued claim certification early or late (over 14 days) may result in a delay or denial of UI benefits.

Eventually, all claimants regardless of claim type or occasional conditions will be able to certify for benefits online. That ability will come with future enhancements to the EDD Web-Cert^SM.

EDD Web-Cert^SM Tips

Before You Start
Registration Information
Account Information
Password Recovery Questions
Claim History
Completing the On-line Continued Claim Certification
Using Public Computers

Before You Start

Information you will need before beginning the EDD Web-Cert^SM process:

• Your Notice of Unemployment Insurance Award, DE 429 - This was sent to you with your initial package from the EDD
• Your Guide to Benefits and Employment Services, DE 1275, handbook - This was also sent to you with your initial package from the EDD
• Your Continued Claim Form, DE 4581, for the week(s) you wish to claim benefits

Registration Information

You will be asked to register some personal and claim information. It is important that you remember your User Name, your Password, the security questions you chose, and the answers you provided.

• The phone number you register needs to be the one on your Unemployment Insurance Claim Record. You are not required to enter the area code.
• If you did not provide a phone number on your initial UI application, enter all zeros in the spaces provided.
• The Weekly Benefit Amount is the amount listed on line 4 of the Notice of Unemployment Insurance Award, DE 429. Please enter your Weekly Benefit Amount as shown on your award letter. This is the amount you would receive if you were paid unemployment benefits for only one week, before deductions. Enter only the dollar portion. Be advised that if you are receiving Federal stimulus money, this is not included in your Weekly Benefit Amount.

Account Information

Choose your own User Name that is a minimum of 8 characters in length. It can be any combination of letters, numbers, or special symbols. You may use an e-mail address as your User Name.

• The Password you choose must be at least 8 characters in length and contain at least
  • one uppercase letter and
  • one lowercase letter and
  • one number and
  • one special character from this list only: ! @ # . $ ^ ( ) - _ |
• Make sure you choose a User Name and Password that you can easily remember.

Password Recovery Questions

• At registration, you will be asked to choose three security questions and supply the appropriate response. Each response you provide must be unique and at least 3 characters long. For example, you cannot answer each question with the word, “No.”
• If you forget your Password, cannot login, and are unable to recover your Password with the security questions, you will need to submit a request to Ask EDD. Once on that page, from the dropdown menu choose:
  • The category “Unemployment Insurance Benefits” then
  • The topic “EDD Web-Cert^SM Forgot Password or User Name”

Claim History

• You will only be able to certify for the weeks indicated as “Ready to File” on the Claim History page. It would be helpful to have your paper Continued Claim form with you for your own reference.

Completing the On-line Continued Claim Certification

• Do not use the Back button on your computer’s Internet browser. Navigate only by using the buttons on the EDD Web-Cert^SM page. Otherwise, the application will close and you will not be allowed to certify on-line for that certification period.
• If you make a mistake, do not click “Refresh.” You will be given an opportunity to correct your mistake before submitting your responses. Once you click “Submit My answers” or “Submit My Weekly Claim” you will not be able to change the answers up to that point.
• Answer the questions only as they apply for the weeks indicated.
• All answers require a response. Your claim will not be accepted until all questions have been answered.
• Your claim has not been submitted until you are sent to the confirmation page that says, “You have successfully submitted your claim…”
• At this time, you will not receive a confirmation of your certification submission. If you want a record of your submitted claim, you will need to print a copy of the confirmation page.
• To avoid delays in processing your certification, please do not mail in your paper Continued Claim form if you file using EDD Web-Cert^SM.

Using Public Computers (One-Stop Career Centers, libraries, Internet cafés, etc.)

• Be sure to log out and close the browser when you are finished.

Continue to EDD Web-Cert^SM