Work Search Requirements for Extension Eligibility

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You must complete required tasks and activities to continue receiving your unemployment benefits. If you are collecting federal unemployment extension benefits, and do not meet one or more of these requirements, you may lose your benefits. Please note that the requirement to attend a Reemployment Eligibility Assessment only applies to you if you are collecting benefits on a first or second federal extension.

Work Search Requirements

As with regular state unemployment benefits, individuals on extensions must be “able to work, available to work, and actively seeking work” as a condition of eligibility. However you must now document your work search and it must begin prior to attending your scheduled in-person appointment.

You must complete work search related activities before going to your appointment. Activities include registering in CalJOBSSM, engaging in an active work search, and maintaining an active record of your work search.

Before you go to your in-person Reemployment Eligibility Appointment, "actively seeking work" means you must complete the following:

1. Register with CalJOBSSM
All individuals receiving federal unemployment extension benefits must register for work with the State employment service. In California, that means you must register with CalJOBSSM and maintain an active résumé on file.

Failure to register with CalJOBSSM prior to your in-person REA appointment may result in disqualification of your federal unemployment extension benefits.

To register with CalJOBSSM, follow the steps below:

  1. Go to the CalJOBSSM website.
  2. In the “Job Seeker” section, select “Register.”
  3. Follow the steps to register for CalJOBSSM.

To add or update a résumé in CalJOBSSM, follow the steps below:

  1. Go to the CalJOBSSM website.
  2. In the “Job Seeker” section. select “Login.”
  3. Post and/or update your résumé.

2. Search for work
To receive unemployment insurance benefits, including federal unemployment extension benefits, you must also engage in an active search for work each week for appropriate employment considering the labor market and your skills and capabilities. Your search should include at least three employer contacts as required by the EDD. Your work search must begin prior to attending a scheduled in-person REA appointment.

You must:

  • Continue to look for work each week.
  • Contact at least three employers each week.

3. Maintain a record of your work search
In addition to searching for work, you must maintain a detailed record of your work search contacts. For the two weeks prior to your REA appointment, you must complete the work search log attached to your Reemployment and Eligibility Assessment Questionnaire (DE 8531) English | Spanish.

For your ongoing work search records:

  • You must include all of the following information to show your work search for at least 3 contacts each week:
    • Date applied
    • Company name
    • Company address (Internet address is acceptable)
    • Person contacted
    • Type of work applied
    • Results of the contact
  • If you certify for benefits using the paper Continued Claim form (DE 4581), document your work search for each week in Section B on the back of your Continued Claim form.
  • If you certify for benefits online or by phone, you must separately maintain and keep record of your work search for each week. Be prepared to provide your work search to the EDD upon request.

Disqualifications:
You may be disqualified from receiving your federal unemployment extension benefits if:

  • You did not complete or update your résumé on CalJOBSSM.
  • You did not look for work.
  • You did not meet the minimum work search requirements.
  • You did not provide your work search to EDD upon request.

You will not be eligible to receive your federal unemployment extension benefits if you do not meet the above work search requirements.

If you are disqualified on your extension because you did not complete or update your résumé on CalJOBSSM, you will not be eligible to receive benefits until you complete or update your résumé on CalJOBSSM and contact the EDD to re-open your extension.

4. To save time at your in-person REA appointment, you may choose to complete some activities online prior to your appointment.

Failure to complete required REA Activities may affect your eligibility to receive federal unemployment extension benefits.

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Reemployment Services and Reemployment Eligibility Assessment Activities

During your scheduled in-person appointment, the following REA assessments, services, and activities will be provided at your designated One-Stop Career Center:

  • Review of your completed REA Eligibility Assessment Questionnaire (DE 8531). English | Spanish
  • Review of your continued eligibility for federal unemployment extension benefits.
  • Labor market and career information through materials or information intended to assist individuals in making occupational or career decisions.
  • Assessment of your skills that will focus on occupational skill level, aptitude, and individual abilities may be completed online.
  • Orientations, in groups or individually, to the services available at your designated One-Stop Career Centers. This may be completed online

Complete Activities Online

To save time at your in-person REA appointment, you may choose to complete the following online services prior to your appointment:

  • REA 2012 EUC Orientation: You can either complete the orientation online (preferred) or during your scheduled appointment. If you complete the orientation online, you must print a certificate of completion at the end of the online orientation and bring it to your scheduled appointment.
  • Assessment of Skills: Due to limited computer availability and to save time at your in-person REA appointment, you are encouraged to complete the assessment of skills online prior to your scheduled appointment. Be sure to keep a record of any job opportunities or careers that may interest you. Please use one of the following websites to access the assessment tools:
    • www.myskillsmyfuture.com: Enter a current or past job and select “Find my Career Matches” to search for new career opportunities to assist with your job search.
    • www.mynextmove.org: Search for careers using keywords, by industry, or answer questions to find careers you might enjoy.

You may print at least one page of the results and bring it with you to your scheduled appointment.

If you do not have access to a computer, you will be allowed to complete these activities at your scheduled in-person appointment.

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In-Person REA 2012 Appointment

Individuals who begin receiving federal unemployment extension Tier 1 benefits or who transition from Tier 1 to Tier 2 benefits on or after March 23, 2012, are required to report as scheduled at your designated One-Stop Career Center for an in-person REA appointment. The EDD will mail you an RES/REA packet containing the following:

If you are scheduled for a REA appointment, the REA appointment is mandatory. Failure to participate may result in delay and potential denial of your EUC benefits. You must complete the questionnaire, including your work search, and bring it to your scheduled appointment.

If your REA appointment is completed while receiving benefits on Tier 1, you will not have to complete another REA interview on Tier 2. If you have not completed an REA appointment on Tier 1 when you transition to Tier 2, you will be notified by mail of your scheduled REA appointment.

What to Bring to the Interview

You must bring the following required items to your scheduled appointment:

  • The contents of your REA packet, including the REA appointment notice (DE 8530) (required).
  • Your completed Reemployment and Eligibility Assessment Questionnaire (DE 8531) English | Spanish(required).
  • Documentary proof of legal status and proof of authorization to work (required).
  • Certificate of completion of the REA 2012 Orientation (if completed online prior to your appointment).

Go back to Reemployment and Eligibility Assessment 2012 page

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