Skidgel v. Cal. Unemployment Ins. Appeals Bd.

**What Happened** This case involved caregivers who work for California's In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) program and provide care to their own family members - such as their children, parents, or spouses. These caregivers wanted to receive unemployment insurance benefits, but the California Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board denied their claims. **What the Court Decided** The California Supreme Court ruled against the caregivers. The court upheld a previous decision called Caldera and confirmed that IHSS caregivers who take care of family members cannot receive unemployment insurance benefits. The court found that specific sections of California's unemployment insurance law (sections 631 and 683) exclude these family caregivers from coverage. **Why This Matters for Workers** This ruling affects thousands of Californians who care for disabled or elderly family members through the IHSS program. These caregivers - who often provide essential, full-time care - cannot collect unemployment benefits if they lose their caregiving work. This creates a financial safety net gap for family caregivers, who may struggle to find other work due to their ongoing family care responsibilities. Workers in similar family caregiver roles should understand they may not have access to standard unemployment protections.