The California Employment Development Department (EDD) works with ID.me to create a highly secure identity verification process that ensures you—and only you—can access your benefits. ID.me's role in this is only for identity verification. ID.me does not approve claims or distribute payments to claimants.

This article explains how to verify your identity for California SDI and family leave benefits.

Before you verify for SDI or family benefits

To complete the verification process you’ll need:

• A mobile phone with a camera or a computer with a webcam
• An email address you have access to
• A primary identity document (such as a U.S. driver's license or state ID, U.S. passport, or U.S. passport card)
• Your Social Security number

Get started

Follow the steps below to verify your identity.

1. Visit the EDD website and select Benefits Login in the upper-right corner.
2. Log in to myEDD or select Create Account to register.
3. From myEDD Home, select SDI Online.
4. From SDI Online, select Register as a Claimant.

When you reach the Verify Your Identity page, select Verify with ID.me.

Already have an account?

Do not create another account if you already have one. Instead, sign in to share your information.

1. Select Sign In with ID.me, then sign in with your ID.me account and complete multi-factor authentication (MFA).
2. If required, follow the prompts to provide any additional information. Continue to the Verify your identity section for more information.
3. From the Authorize screen, review the information your organization will receive, and then select Allow to consent to share that information with them.

Creating an account for the first time?

If you have never created an ID.me account, you need to follow these steps: 

1. From the Sign In to ID.me screen, select Create an account.
2. Enter your personal email address and a strong password, then select Create account. Learn how to create a strong password.
3. Follow the prompts to finish setting up your ID.me account and to confirm ownership of your email.
4. Set up a multi-factor authentication (MFA) method.

After creating an account and securing it with MFA, follow the steps below to verify your identity.

Verify for California EDD

You can verify using Self-Service, which is a guided process, or with a live agent during a video call.

Self-Service

Upload a driver’s license, state ID, passport, or passport card and then take a selfie. This self-directed process guides you through each step on your screen, allowing you to complete your identity verification independently and at your own pace.

For steps to verify, visit Verifying your identity with Self-Service.

Video Call

Upload a government-issued photo ID, enter your personal information, then join a video call with a live agent. The agent then compares you to your identity document. 

For steps to verify, visit Verifying with a short video call.

Share your information

From the Authorize screen, review the information EDD will receive, and then select Allow to consent to share that information with them. Then, return to SDI Online and complete your registration form, then select Submit.

If you chose a video chat agent

After your video chat, if you have been logged out of SDI Online:

1. Follow the “How to verify” steps 1-5 above and sign in with your ID.me account.
2. On the Authorize California EDD page select Allow to share your information with the EDD.
3. Return to SDI Online and complete your registration form, then select Submit.

Who to contact for help

ID.me

ID.me can help if you have trouble with your account or verifying your identity. Common issues include:

• Signing in to your account
• Uploading documents or selfies
• Fixing rejected documents

EDD

EDD can best help with questions and next steps after you complete the verification process. For example, you may have questions about benefits or services you verified for. Before contacting them:

1. Confirm your verification was successful
2. Confirm you shared your information with the organization
3. Review our best practices and sample messages of how to request help from the organization you need to access.