You can apply for Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits online at the State of California Employment Development Department (EDD) website(link is external). UI benefits are a government program that will provide unemployed workers with cash benefits (about 60% of wages) if they are eligible. If your claim is approved, a payment is made weekly on a Visa card that is mailed to you.
Only the EDD can determine if you are eligible for Unemployment Insurance. Note that in addition to being unemployed or having reduced work hours (1) through no fault of your own (such as due to COVID-19 shelter-in-place orders), and (2) being willing to return to work if offered, there are two other critical requirements to be eligible for UI benefits: (3) minimum earnings and (4) minimum amount of time worked in the U.S. Please refer to the EDD website for more information.