California's Employment Development Department — known as the EDD — administers unemployment insurance, disability insurance, and paid family leave for the state. Because EDD is a large, multi-division agency, there is no single address that applies to every situation. The right address depends on what you're sending, why you're sending it, and which EDD program is involved.
The EDD handles several distinct programs and processes, each managed through different internal divisions and, in some cases, different physical locations. Sending documents to the wrong address can delay processing, cause a claim to go unacknowledged, or result in a missed deadline — particularly on appeals, where timing matters.
The main programs with separate mailing addresses include:
For most unemployment insurance correspondence — including appeals documents, written statements, and general claims-related mail — EDD directs claimants to:
Employment Development DepartmentPO Box 826880Sacramento, CA 94280-0001
However, this is a general address. Specific situations — such as submitting an appeal, responding to a Notice of Determination, or mailing overpayment information — may require a different address depending on the document type. 📋
EDD's notices and determination letters typically include the appropriate return address on the form itself. When in doubt, the address printed on the specific notice you received is the one to use.
If you've been denied unemployment benefits and are filing an appeal, the process involves the California Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board (CUIAB) — a separate agency from EDD. Appeals are not sent to EDD directly. The CUIAB has its own regional offices, and the correct address for submitting an appeal depends on which appeals office handles your geographic area.
The denial notice (called a Notice of Determination) typically includes instructions on where and how to submit your appeal, including the correct CUIAB office address. The deadline to appeal — generally 30 days from the mailing date of the determination — makes using the right address from the start important.
SDI and PFL claims use a different mailing address than UI claims. EDD's SDI Online system handles most SDI and PFL transactions electronically, but paper forms and correspondence typically go to:
Employment Development DepartmentPO Box 989777West Sacramento, CA 95798-9777
As with UI correspondence, the specific form or notice you're working with may carry its own return address. That address takes priority.
Employers submitting payroll tax documents, DE forms, or other business-related correspondence to EDD use a separate mailing address:
Employment Development DepartmentPO Box 826276Sacramento, CA 94230-6276
EDD's employer services division handles tax registration, quarterly wage reports, and employer account matters separately from the claimant-facing programs.
EDD strongly encourages claimants to manage their claims through UI Online, its web portal. Most actions that previously required mailing a document — certifying for benefits, responding to requests for information, submitting identity verification — can now be completed digitally. Processing through UI Online is generally faster than waiting for mailed correspondence to be received, sorted, and routed.
That said, some situations still require paper — particularly if EDD sends you a paper form that must be completed and returned, or if you're submitting documentation that isn't supported by the online system.
| Situation | Recommended First Step |
|---|---|
| General UI claim correspondence | Check the notice or form you received for a return address |
| Filing a UI appeal | Look at your Notice of Determination for CUIAB address |
| SDI or PFL paperwork | Use the SDI-specific PO Box or SDI Online |
| Employer tax documents | Use the employer tax PO Box |
| Identity verification | Follow EDD's specific instructions on your notice |
EDD's contact page at edd.ca.gov maintains current mailing addresses for each program and document type. Because addresses can change — particularly when EDD adjusts operations or opens new processing centers — the official website is the most reliable source for current information.
Even after you've sent something to the correct address, how quickly it gets processed depends on factors outside your control: current claim volume, staffing at the processing center, whether the document requires manual review or adjudication, and whether EDD needs additional information from you or your former employer.
If your correspondence relates to a pending determination — meaning EDD hasn't yet decided whether you're eligible — the timeline may also depend on whether your former employer has responded, whether there are conflicting facts to resolve, and where your claim is in the adjudication queue.
The specific address matters. The program you're dealing with, the document you're submitting, and the instructions on whatever notice prompted the mailing are the pieces that determine which of EDD's several addresses applies to your situation.