evidence: Signs of Imbalance in the UI Program. In this report, we highlight five key signs of the state’s imbalanced UI program. First, the department improperly denies many UI applications. More than half of EDD denials are overturned on appeal, while less than one‑quarter are overturned in the rest of the country. Second, UI claims are regularly delayed by weeks and often months, especially during downturns. Third, the administration’s assessment—conducted during the height of the pandemic—laid out how difficult the UI program is for workers. Fourth, we catalog state rules and application steps that make it unreasonably difficult for workers to prove eligibility and time‑consuming to apply for benefits. Finally, we highlight several concerning steps taken by EDD in recent years that suggest that ensuring eligible workers get benefits is not among its top priorities.