EDD Failed To Fulfill Benefits & Improperly Denied Claims, New Report Says

The Legislative Analyst's Office's newest report highlights concerning details about the Employment Development Department's (EDD) improper denials and prolonging of claims. The LAO report found that the EDD did not distribute between $500 million and $1 billion annually in claims and that the department did not prioritizing benefit distribution during the Coronavirus pandemic. The report also says there was added pressure from the federal government to conduct lengthy reviews, adding more time to distributing the benefits. The LAO outlined multiple solutions in their report that suggest changing the programs design. Meanwhile the EDD says they are working to upgrade the technology and hire more workers.