If you are out of work or had your hours reduced because of the COVID-19 pandemic, you may be eligible to receive unemployment benefits from the new federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program. This benefit is for gig workers, freelancers, the self-employed, business owners, individuals with limited work history and others not usually eligible for regular Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits. The assistance is distributed by California’s Employment Development Department (EDD) and is available to all eligible CA residents who have authorization to work in the U.S.