Tips for Your Phone Interview with EDD when Applying for Unemployment Benefits
A phone interview with an EDD agent is a common step in the process of applying for unemployment benefits. There can be a number of different reasons why such an interview would be necessary in order to complete your application for unemployment benefits, which include - unclear or conflicting information in your application, or a discrepancy between what you reported in your application and in the employer's response. Below are useful tips for your phone interview with EDD:
* During the interview you will be asked series of simple, direct questions about your employment status, reasons for your separation from your last place of employment, your current job search efforts, and alike. Make sure that your answers are direct, clear and concise. There is absolutely no reason to tell the EDD agent on the phone about how awful your employer was, how unfairly you were treated, etc., as that is not their concern. They only want to know the most basic facts about your separation from employment.
* Make sure that you don't misrepresent anything. If you resigned and you say that you were terminated - that's misrepresentation, and you will likely be disqualified from benefits regardless of any other circumstances as a punishment for not being truthful. If you don't remember something exactly, say so. It's much better than giving incorrect information and making a simple mistake look like a lie later.
* Be very polite and courteous to the agent you are speaking with. That person on the other side of the line is talking to dozens or more people like you every day. All of them are unemployed and many of them are unhappy. It's not an easy job, and their patience often runs thin. You can only benefit yourself but getting on their good side. There is no reason whatsoever to get defensive or argumentative with them.
* If you are denied unemployment after the interview, you will have the right to appeal. The process is fairly simple and straightforward, although legal representation can be a good idea in cases where the employer fights your right to unemployment, or if you feel uncomfortable speaking on your own behalf or for other reasons, depending on the unique facts of your termination.
* During the interview you will be asked series of simple, direct questions about your employment status, reasons for your separation from your last place of employment, your current job search efforts, and alike. Make sure that your answers are direct, clear and concise. There is absolutely no reason to tell the EDD agent on the phone about how awful your employer was, how unfairly you were treated, etc., as that is not their concern. They only want to know the most basic facts about your separation from employment.
* Make sure that you don't misrepresent anything. If you resigned and you say that you were terminated - that's misrepresentation, and you will likely be disqualified from benefits regardless of any other circumstances as a punishment for not being truthful. If you don't remember something exactly, say so. It's much better than giving incorrect information and making a simple mistake look like a lie later.
* Be very polite and courteous to the agent you are speaking with. That person on the other side of the line is talking to dozens or more people like you every day. All of them are unemployed and many of them are unhappy. It's not an easy job, and their patience often runs thin. You can only benefit yourself but getting on their good side. There is no reason whatsoever to get defensive or argumentative with them.
* If you are denied unemployment after the interview, you will have the right to appeal. The process is fairly simple and straightforward, although legal representation can be a good idea in cases where the employer fights your right to unemployment, or if you feel uncomfortable speaking on your own behalf or for other reasons, depending on the unique facts of your termination.
