This column was originally published by Capitol Weekly.
Recent weeks have reminded us just how quickly stability can vanish. While the government shutdown has ended, layoffs continue to ripple across California and families find themselves navigating sudden uncertainty.
For many, unemployment benefits are the safety net that keeps them afloat when jobs disappear or hours vanish. Moments like this test how well our systems protect people when paychecks stop.
When someone is focused on looking for their next job, the last thing they should worry about is whether they correctly filled out paperwork, but each month the tens of thousands of Californians who are receiving unemployment benefits must report any wages they earn at the same time.
At the Employment Development Department, we hear often that this reporting requirement is one of the most common sources of confusion. Most people want to do the right thing but may struggle to know how to report income when paychecks vary or when it is unclear what to count as wages. These are honest mistakes, yet too often lead to payment delays or larger problems down the road.
Through a recent enhancement to EDD’s wage reporting tool, we are making it easier for Californians to report their earnings accurately and get the benefits they deserve. We designed the online tool to walk individuals through the wage-reporting process step by step. It uses plain language, practical examples, and a built-in calculator to help users understand what information is needed and when to report it.
Every public agency shares a responsibility to make government work better for the people it serves. For EDD, that means reducing stress, clarifying the process and helping people feel confident they are doing things the right way. When wages earned are entered more accurately, EDD can pay the appropriate amount of unemployment benefits faster and without interruption. That stability supports not just one family, but entire communities during a period of economic strain like we’re facing right now.
This initiative is part of the broader EDDNext effort, which is modernizing California’s unemployment system and EDD’s other programs and services so they are more responsive to you, the people we serve. We are simplifying applications, improving communication and expanding our self-service tools in multiple languages. Every improvement is driven by direct feedback from our customers.
Listening to our customers has become an essential tool for change. Meaningful improvements often come from small but careful shifts, such as replacing technical terms with clear language, designing forms that are easier to navigate, or adding translation features so every Californian can access support. These changes may appear modest to some, but they build trust and ease access for everyone.
We know technology is not a cure-all and many people still want to talk with a person. That is why we are also strengthening our support channels so that online tools and real human assistance work together, especially when demand surges in times of economic uncertainty.
There is still much work ahead. And with each move toward clarity and simplicity we move ever closer to the system Californians deserve — a system that is easy to navigate, not just for experts and employers, but for anyone needing help during one of life’s hardest transitions.
Our job is to make sure help is clear, fast and reliable when people need it most. Because when Californians can access the benefits they are eligible for with confidence, they can focus on what matters: finding the next opportunity and rebuilding their future.
Todd Swenson is the deputy director of the Unemployment Insurance Program at California’s Employment Development Department.
Capitol Weekly covers California government and politics in order to enlighten and educate Californians about public policy and state governance, and to provide a platform for engagement with public officials, advocates and political interests.
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