Jacques Gene at his home in Cool, near Sacramento, with his 7-year-old son Wyatt. They are among the hundreds of thousands of Californians who are bracing for pandemic aid to end, as federal unemployment benefits expire and the state lifts its eviction moratorium. Photo by Hector Amezcua for CalMatters
Jacques Gene at his home in Cool, near Sacramento, with his 7-year-old son Wyatt. They are among the hundreds of thousands of Californians who are bracing for pandemic aid to end, as federal unemployment benefits expire and the state lifts its eviction moratorium. Photo by Hector Amezcua for CalMatters

In summary

Elizabeth and Nicole talk about unemployment as California continues to grapple with a spike in coronavirus cases and new restrictions in the ninth month of the pandemic.

Under Gov. Gavin Newsom’s most recent pandemic restrictions and stay-at-home order, more Californians could lose their jobs. This episode is all about unemployment — from the state’s issues with claims to Californians’ personal struggles.

Co-host Elizabeth Aguilera talks with CalMatters economy reporter Lauren Hepler about the Employment Development Department’s issues handling unemployment claims, including a massive processing backlog and recent fraud scandals. Then co-host Nicole Nixon sits down with a few Californians to understand the challenges they’re facing to get by on unemployment checks, and the support they found through a Facebook group.

Listen to the seventh episode of “California State of Mind” here.

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