New Phone System to Handle Jobless Claims
Starting next Monday, the California Employment Development Department will process all unemployment insurance claims by Ventura County residents over the telephone.
Ventura and San Diego counties are the test areas for a new system that will eventually handle all unemployment insurance claims statewide by phone.
The EDD’s Simi Valley and Oxnard offices will remain open to provide other employment services for those seeking work, said Annette Havens, manager of the current telephone office in Ventura.
“No one is going to lose their job. In fact, we’re transferring staff into our regional center,” Havens said. “Our customers won’t have to wait in line. They can call us from home.”
Last January, the EDD closed its Ventura office to the public in favor of a telephone service system, and announced plans to close its Simi Valley office next year. That will make Oxnard the only EDD office open to the public in Ventura County.
The new regional telephone office, located in Ventura, will employ 60 workers. It will handle unemployment insurance claims from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The number will be 382-8720.
Callers should be prepared to provide their name, Social Security number, mailing address, and the name and mailing address of their last employer.
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