State unemployment call center hours extended; fund created to help immigrant families during crisis

Gov. Gavin Newsom recently announced that California will boost staffing at its Economic Development Department and extend a state unemployment call center’s hours to make it easier for residents to apply for unemployment benefits during the novel coronavirus pandemic.

Newsom signed an executive order extending the call center’s hours from 8 a.m. to noon Monday to Friday to seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. The call center, which has taken calls from state residents since 2013, began operating with its new hours on April 20.