In a press release, EDD announced that the new iteration of the application features “fewer questions, less jargon, and simpler questions and instructions.”
These efforts align closely with the department’s ongoing internal modernization work, called EDDNext. That work includes updates to benefits applications, call centers, and the procedures and policies surrounding the claims process.
"We're simplifying California’s unemployment application to serve our customers better," EDD Director Nancy Farias said in the release. "This new application is easier to understand and faster to complete."
The recent changes to the application process include (as written in the press release):
- Added simpler explanations to technical terms
- Clarified questions that many people found confusing
- Reorganized questions to improve the overall customer experience
- Eliminated some questions and simplified instructions
- Replaced many open-ended questions with more specific drop-down options
