Your Guide to Unemployment

Recording from the 05/03/23 Unemployment Workshop

A step-by-step guide to applying for benefits

Are you a part-time faculty member? Use this step-by-step guide from the CFT Part-Time Faculty Committee to apply for unemployment benefits during summer and holiday breaks.

Even if you have received a tentative offer of employment for the next semester, you are entitled to apply for unemployment benefits over the break immediately upon completion of your last working day of the semester.

When Should I File a Claim?

You should file your claim as soon as possible in the first week when you are out of work or had your hours reduced. Your claim will be considered filed the Sunday of the week your application is submitted. To ensure speedy processing (and payment) you will want to file the day after your last day of work. A delay in filing your claim may result in a delay of payment of your benefits.

Note:  If you are working for more than one employer and are applying for “total unemployment” benefits you may want to wait to file a claim until after the last day of work from all employers or apply for partial unemployment benefits and report wages you continue to earn from your other employer(s).

Union wins benefit for part-time faculty

Adjunct instructors are considered at-will employees, because despite the “tentative assignment offer” one may receive, this is not legally considered a “reasonable assurance of employment.”

This means over the winter and summer breaks, adjuncts who are either fully unemployed or underemployed can be entitled to unemployment benefits through the Employment Development Department. The benefit provides you a percentage of your income each week.

How to apply for unemployment benefits

• To file a claim, go to the EDD Unemployment Insurance landing page and create a log-in.

• Below you will find information about eligibility and step-by-step instructions to apply for unemployment benefits online. Complete the online application fully. If you have questions about completing the form or the process, please contact CCFF.

Tips for Contacting Your Legislators if You are Having Problems at EDD 

For part-time faculty facing hurdles in securing unemployment benefits 

20 tips for how to handle EDD interviews

Tips for phone or personal interviews

When applying for unemployment benefits, applicants are often required to take part in a telephone interview conducted by the Employment Development Department. Occasionally applicants are asked to report to EDD in person for a personal interview.

Here are some pointers about interviews.