Fraud, backlog continue to plague EDD

Unemployment-claim bottleneck at highest level in three months

California’s backlog of unemployment claims has reached its highest in about three months, soaring past 900,000, the state Employment Development Department reported

The EDD also acknowledged it is still seeking to validate the identities of 1.2 million California workers whose claims for unemployment benefits were linked to possible fraud — down from the 1.4 million workers whose accounts were originally suspended due to fraud concerns.

The dismal revelations arrive amid a surge in coronavirus-linked business shutdowns and hint that jobless California workers might have to endure a bitter winter and spring.

On the EDD fraud front, 200,000 workers of the original 1.4 million whose accounts were flagged for fraud are being directed to fill out a questionnaire to determine their eligibility or are being told that their claims were disqualified.

It wasn’t immediately clear what progress the EDD has made in the fraud investigation.

The state agency has not responded to recent requests for comment.

As of Jan. 20, the total number of unemployment claims trapped in the EDD backlog was about 941,020, an increase of 130,270 from Jan. 13, according to information the EDD posted on its jobless claims dashboard.

The most recent backlog amount was the highest number since Oct. 28, when the EDD logjam totaled 946,100.

The backlog consists of two categories:

• 916,530 initial unemployment claims. These consist of workers who filed a first-time unemployment claim but have been waiting more than 21 days to receive their first payment or be told they don’t qualify for any benefits.

• 24,490 continuing claims. These consist of workers who received at least one payment but have been waiting more than 21 days to receive an additional payment or notification from the EDD that they don’t qualify for further payments.

Unemployed workers have continued to complain of a glitchy website and an unresponsive call center. Those complaints have continued despite the EDD adding hundreds of workers and new technology designed to automate and