The boost in unemployment benefits is part of the federal stimulus package approved by Congress.
IRS.gov: Payment info for non-filers
"Many Californians are feeling the effects of this pandemic, and this added benefit is very important to our workers so they have needed resources during this difficult time," Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a statement on Thursday.
California Employment Development Department: File an unemployment insurance claim
Californians may have developed some herd immunity to coronavirus last year, Stanford team theorizes
Newsom said the state processed 2.3 million new claims in the last month. That was more than all the claims filed in 2019.
The higher benefits are earmarked to last for four months.
Want to see unemployment numbers in a larger window? Click here