California EDD language access expanded to include Tagalog

LOS ANGELES – California’s Employment Development Department (EDD) is expanding language access options, which will include Tagalog starting March 2024.

By that time, California residents can apply for unemployment benefits in the myEDD web portal and UI Online and manage their claims via application forms translated into Tagalog, Korean and Armenian, EDD has announced.

This is in addition to the Spanish, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese and Vietnamese application forms already being offered.

These seven languages represent the top languages spoken by working-age adults in California.

Users can opt to view the EDD website in Tagalog and Cebuano. Starting in March 2024, they can also access an unemployment benefits application form in Tagalog. Screenshot of the EDD website in Tagalog

“This significant enhancement to myEDD and UI Online is an important milestone in our multilingual expansion to better serve California’s diverse communities,” said EDD Director Nancy Farias.

“We are committed to knocking down language access barriers and improving the EDD customer experience for everyone.”

Applicants can access the UI Online process in their preferred language, and they will receive real-time, in-language updates about the status of their claim, including payment notifications sent by email or text message.

The new Simplified and Traditional Chinese, and Vietnamese language options when logging into myEDD will only be available to individuals applying for unemployment benefits in UI Online. They are not yet available when applying for disability insurance or paid family leave benefits, or when accessing benefit overpayment services.

Expanding UI Online access adds to the previously announced several actions EDD has taken to improve language accessibility in its programs and services, including:

• Requesting funds from the US Department of Labor for these efforts
• Creating dedicated phone lines in the seven top languages allowing customers to directly reach an agent to help with their claims
• Launching in July 2022 an EDD Language Access Office and hiring its inaugural Language Access Officer
• Increasing its website’s translated content, including vital program information, forms and publications, contact information and access to interpreters in over 200 languages at no cost
• Providing customers helpful how-to-videos for UI Online in different languages