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Help for Laid Off Workers

Losing a job means much more than just the loss of a paycheck. It can put your car, health care, and even your house on the line. While losing a job will inevitably be difficult, there are resources available to help make the transition a little easier. Find more resources for jobless Californians whose UI benefits have run out here.

1. Unemployment Insurance
 For workers who lose a job through no fault of their own, unemployment insurance (UI) provides partial income support to replace their lost wages. The program is administered by the Employment Development Department (EDD). Once you submit a claim for unemployment insurance, EDD will determine the amount of your check and the length of time you’ll be eligible for benefits. You should apply for UI benefits as soon as you lose your job. For complete information on Unemployment Insurance, click here.



2. Health Insurance
 There are several resources available to help laid off workers keep health care coverage and pay for the cost of it. For complete information on Health Insurance, click here.

3. Keeping Your Home
 Many families have fallen behind in their payments due to increases in an adjustable rate mortgage or job loss. The best thing to do is to call a housing counselor to see whether you can get help with a loan modification. It is also possible that new legislation passed at the state or federal level can help you. For complete information on avoiding foreclosure, click here.

4. Job Searches and Retraining Help
* There are a number of services available to help workers find new work or get training in a new field. Through the state’s one-stop career centers, the Employment Development Department can help connect you with available jobs and improve your job search skills. Go to http://www.edd.ca.gov/About_EDD/Economic_Slowdown.htm for a full list of resources.

*If you need to look for work in a new field because your skills are no longer in demand in California, there are programs available to help update your skills. Depending on your circumstances, you may be able to collect unemployment insurance benefits while getting retrained for a different kind of work. Click here for more information on retraining benefits.

 

Click here to download a PDF version of this page.

Additional Resources:

  • Workforce and Economic Development, a program of the California Labor Federation
  • Community Services Representatives. AFL-CIO community services representatives can connect union members with a comprehensive set of services available throughout the state.
  • Layoff check-list for workers. A list of the things workers should think about after receiving notice of a layoff, with links to helpful resources.
  • TAA (Trade Adjustment Act) funds. You may be eligible for Trade Adjustment Funds if your job loss was tied to increased competition from imports. In addition to extended UI benefits, TAA may provide for employment services and, if needed, classroom and/or on-the-job training, job search, and relocation allowances. (pdf)
  • UnemploymentLifeLine.com. Resources and Assistance from Working America, AFL-CIO
  • Help for Unions Facing Layoffs
  • AFL-CIO's Good Jobs Now! Gives workers, people who have lost their jobs and activists a chance to take action, share stories, find resources, and most importantly, be part of a grassroots movement to help the nation climb out of its 10-million jobs hole created by the recession.