EDD must now expand language access to non-English speakers

A group of California advocates are claiming victory after reaching a settlement with the EDD over providing more language services to non-English speakers. Among the key provisions is $21 million to enhance multilingual services.

California EDD freezes 345,000 disability insurance claims

California's Employment Development Department has frozen 345,000 claims for disability benefits while it investigates fraud and a widespread identity theft scam. The EDD's suspicions were piqued by a sudden surge in applications for benefits.

California’s unemployment fraud reaches at least $20 billion

State officials blamed nearly all of that fraud on a hastily approved expansion of unemployment benefits by Congress that let people who were self-employed get weekly checks from the government with few safeguards to stop people from getting benefits who were not eligible to receive them.

California hiring slows in September; jobless rate at 7.5%

In California, new coronavirus cases are at their lowest point since the start of the pandemic, schools have fully reopened and the more generous unemployment benefits from the federal government have expired — all signs of what should have been a robust economic recovery in September.