Workers affected directly or indirectly by measures aimed at slowing the spread of the novel coronavirus can get assistance, according to the California Employment Development Department. 

“The EDD’s employment benefit programs are designed to help people recover some of the wages that they lose when they are unable to work or have had their hours reduced through no fault of their own,” EDD representatives said. 

“We are currently experiencing a large increase in claims filed in our programs and have staff working overtime to keep up with the demand.”

EDD has redirected some staff and hired other employees to assist with the expected spike in the claim-filing process.

Gov. Gavin Newsom recently announced the state would waive the one-week unpaid waiting period so people can get help the first week they are without work.

Help is available for workers unable to do their jobs due to illness or quarantine. Disability insurance claims offer short-term benefit payments to eligible employees who have a full or partial loss of wages due to a non-work-related illness, injury, or pregnancy, according to the EDD.

Caregivers with an ill or quarantined family member — certified by a medical professional — also can file a Paid Family Leave claim.

Paid Family Leave provides up to six weeks of benefit payments to eligible workers who have a full or partial loss of wages because they need time off work to care for a seriously ill family member or to bond with a new child.

Additionally, people having to miss work due to their child’s school closure and requirements to care for them also may be eligible for unemployment insurance benefits, according to EDD.

Unemployment insurance also may be an option for workers whose employers have reduced hours or shut down operations due to COVID-19.

In some cases, people who are self-employed may be eligible for assistance if an employer made contributions in the past five to 18 months. 

Information on various EDD programs and links to file claims can be found here.

Department of Motor Vehicles

DMV leaders have asked law enforcement officers to use discretion for 60 days in their enforcement of driver’s license and vehicle registration expiration dates as the state agency has allowed customers to avoid the office for two months.

The move is aimed at ensuring at-risk populations don’t have to visit a DMV office, including people 70 years of age and older who are required to take a knowledge test, individuals who are required to renew in the office since the last DMV visit was 15 years earlier, people needing vision testing and those with complex driving histories. 

The 60-day period also applies to vehicle registration renewals for customers ineligible to use other methods because of outdated insurance information, registration expired for 90 days or more, smog issues or recent transfers.

Dozens of DMV tasks can be handled online, through the mail, at 365 kiosks statewide or in DMV business partner locations.

All DMV offices remain open to process transactions that must be taken care of in an office, including REAL ID.

However, REAL ID customers can fill out the online application before going into an office. In 23 offices throughout the state, customers can upload their REAL ID documents before an office visit, and that option may be statewide by June.

For more information and access to online services, click here.

Franchise Tax Board

Several deadlines have been postponed for California taxpayers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the Franchise Tax Board. Affected taxpayers are granted an extension to file 2019 California tax returns and make certain payments until June 15, 2020.

This includes those filing partnership and LLC tax returns plus individual filers and those making quarterly estimated tax payment.

The FTB will also waive interest and any late filing or late payment penalties that would otherwise apply.

For more information, visit https://www.ftb.ca.gov/about-ftb/newsroom/covid-19/help-with-covid-19.html

Other COVID-19 State Actions