California reported $24 million in unemployment benefits for LA wildfire survivors

EDD reports aid to workers and employers

California’s Employment Development Department reported on August 5, 2025, that it had supported more than 13,000 Los Angeles County workers since the January firestorms and delivered over $24 million in unemployment benefits, including federal Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA). The update did not divide that total between regular state unemployment insurance and DUA. [1]

EDD also reported that more than 79,000 survivors visited local Disaster Recovery Centers for help. Those visits were part of a broader network of assistance: EDD teams at recovery centers and America’s Job Center of California locations connected survivors with unemployment, disability and Paid Family Leave support, job-search assistance and other resources. The visit total is not a count of unemployment claims. [1]

The department said it supported more than 3,000 employers by approving up to 60 additional days to file payroll reports and pay payroll taxes. It also reported awarding up to $20 million to the Los Angeles region for temporary employment and longer-term recovery and reemployment support. [1]

Regular unemployment and DUA have different rules

In a February 27 announcement, EDD said Los Angeles County workers could apply for regular unemployment benefits or federal DUA. DUA was for workers, including self-employed people, who were not eligible for regular benefits and lost work or had hours substantially reduced because of the disaster. Covered losses began the week of January 12, 2025. [2]

EDD first checks whether an applicant qualifies for regular unemployment before processing DUA. The agency said some applicants might receive a notice that they were ineligible for regular benefits while their DUA claim was being processed. DUA eligibility included qualifying circumstances such as disaster damage or destruction at a workplace, being unable to reach work because of the disaster, or a disaster-related injury that prevented work. The agency said the lost work had to be the person’s primary source of income. [2]

EDD’s February notice said eligible full-time DUA recipients could receive $186 to $450 per week for up to 26 weeks; part-time workers might also qualify. Required supporting documents were due within 21 days of filing. These program terms did not determine what any particular applicant would receive. [2]

The February deadline was an initial date

EDD’s February 27 release set March 10, 2025, as the DUA application deadline, with an exception for good cause, and said the last payable week would end July 12, 2025. These were the dates in that announcement. The August update reports cumulative support but does not describe later deadline changes or provide a breakdown of payments by program. [2] [1]