The effective date of your UI claim is based on the date you file your claim online or the date you first contact the Employment Development Department (EDD). The effective date determines your base period, and as a result, your benefit amount. A base period is a 12-month period of earnings, divided into quarters. The base period is used to establish a claim and calculate an award. You may wish to review your wages during each quarter of the base period to determine the best time to file. You will not receive any benefits until you actually submit an application or call EDD to file a claim. To establish a valid claim, you must have earned at least (1) $1300 in one quarter of your base period, or (2) at least $900 in your highest quarter and total base period earnings of 1.25 times your high quarter earnings.