As Job Losses Continue, Lawmakers Criticize California’s Unemployment Agency

More than 6 million workers have filed for unemployment in California since the pandemic began. California’s unemployment agency, the EDD, has  awarded $24 billion in benefits since mid-March, but many applicants have experienced long waiting periods and some have received no benefits at all. Last week, lawmakers from both sides of the aisle criticized the EDD, calling for an audit of the agency and for Gov. Gavin Newsom to intervene. We’ll discuss how California is handling the record number of unemployment claims and we’ll take your questions on unemployment benefits.