EDD Adds Three New Languages For Access And Support

The Employment Development Department (EDD) announced in recent days that they will be expanding the number of languages used to access EDD benefits and other services.

Specifically, Armenian, Korean, and Tagalog will be added to the current roster of  English, Spanish, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, and Vietnamese, covering the eight most common languages in the state. According to the EDD, additional language options are currently only available for unemployment benefits but will be added to our disability, paid family leave applications, and benefit Overpayment services.

The EDD noted that, according to recent Census data, 43.9% of Californians above the age of five speak a language other than English at home. When that percentage is broken down, 28.2% speak Spanish, 9.9% speak Asian and Pacific Islander languages, and 4.6% speak Indo-European languages. The Department further noted that the addition of three more languages would help overcome trust barriers with the communities who rely on vital services, reduce errors in the benefits application which speeds payments, and would improve the customer experience for all Californians.

EDD Director Nancy Farias said last week that “Through EDDNext we continue improving the customer experience, including better service for California’s diverse communities. This major boost to customer service will help millions of Californians in the top eight most frequently spoken languages.”

While California is not alone in offering other languages for unemployment services, the additions this month of Armenian, Korean, and Tagalog makes it the state with the most language options for unemployment. In comparison, Texas only offers services in English and Spanish. Florida offers only English, Creole, and Spanish. California also just beat out New York, which currently offers the equivalent services in 7 languages, although there have been pushes in recent years to expand their system to as many as 13 languages to help keep home health care aids in between jobs from leaving the state. In fact, most unemployment systems across the country are currently looking at language expansion.

Going into other languages

“The big reason is that no one wants to lose more vital workers, such as teachers, medical professionals, and others who are part of the segment of population who  don’t have English as their first language,” explained Ray Schwarz, a translation researcher to the Globe on Wednesday. “Many states used to have German and Italian options a hundred years ago for unemployment because they didn’t want to lose doctors and other medical staff after hospitals began desperately staffing more after the Spanish flu.

“Look at what we have today. Teacher shortages. Healthcare staff shortages. Trucker shortages. A lot of these fields are being filled by people who don’t have English as a first language, just like they were a hundred years ago. And just like then, states are expanding language options to help retain. Like with this EDD announcement, they’re saying that it is for better understanding and things like that, but if you read into it, they don’t want to lose more people in vital areas. Unemployment can help keep people in the state in between jobs, especially more transient jobs like truck drivers and seasonal workers.

“And for California, losing so many people in the last several years, this can help keep people in. And no, this won’t increase the number of people going on unemployment as they had other language services beforehand to get it. And no, it won’t hurt English language acquisition because English is still needed in most facets of life still. English language proficiency still takes up to 7 years after all to really get. California just doesn’t want to lose more people, and this is one way.”

Other EDD services are expected to be available in the new languages soon.