Just a heads-up - I went through this exact situation in 2024 after my knee surgery. The 1099G form from EDD for SDI benefits is different from the 1099G you might receive for unemployment benefits, though they look similar. Make sure you're reporting it correctly on your federal return. Also, depending on your total income for the year, you might want to consult with a tax professional about how the SDI benefits affect your tax bracket. In my case, the additional income from SDI pushed me into a higher tax bracket for a portion of my income, which I wasn't expecting. Regarding when you'll receive it - EDD is legally required to provide 1099G forms by January 31st for the previous tax year. If you have an SDI Online account, you can typically access it there about a week or two before the paper copy arrives in the mail.

Thank you all for your helpful responses! To summarize what I've learned: 1. I will receive a 1099G form from EDD by January 31, 2026 2. It will be available in my SDI Online account, possibly before I get the mailed copy 3. SDI benefits are taxable for FEDERAL taxes, but NOT for California state taxes 4. I should plan to set aside some money for potential federal tax liability 5. Next time (hopefully there won't be one), I can choose to have taxes withheld from SDI payments This has been incredibly helpful - I had no idea about any of this! I'll keep an eye out for the form in January.

Just went through this same thing! One tip that saved me time - when you create your UI Online account, you'll need your SSN and some personal info, but you might also need details from a recent pay stub or tax return to verify your identity. Have those handy before you start the account setup process. Also, once you're in, the 1099-G section shows all your forms by year, so you can easily grab forms for previous years if you need them for amended returns or other purposes. The whole process took me maybe 10 minutes once I had all my info ready!

For anyone still struggling with this - I just want to emphasize that you absolutely need to report your SDI benefits on your federal tax return even if you didn't receive the 1099-G form yet. The IRS considers disability benefits as taxable income, so don't skip reporting it just because you're missing the form. You should have records of your weekly benefit amounts that you can use to calculate the total. But definitely try to get that 1099-G from UI Online first since it will also show any federal taxes that were already withheld, which could mean a refund for you! Also, keep in mind that while SDI is taxable federally, it's not taxable for California state taxes, so don't include it on your state return.

This is such a helpful summary - thank you! And I agree, they should make this way more obvious on their website. Would have saved me a lot of worry!

Just wanted to chime in as someone who went through this exact situation! I was on SDI for 3 months after a car accident and was panicking about taxes too. Everyone here is absolutely right - no 1099 needed and it's not taxable income. What really helped me was printing out that payment history from SDI Online that others mentioned, just so I had documentation showing the dates and amounts in case I ever needed it for other purposes (like loan applications). The peace of mind was worth it! Also totally agree the EDD website could be WAY clearer about this - I spent hours searching before finding the answers here in this community.

That's great news that you got through to EDD and have some breathing room with the grace period! For what it's worth, I went through a similar extension process last year for anxiety/depression and it was approved without any issues once my therapist submitted the paperwork. The key thing that helped me was making sure my doctor included specific language about how my condition was "continuing from the original claim" rather than describing it as a new episode. It sounds like you're on the right track now - wishing you the best with your recovery and hope the extension goes smoothly!

I'm so glad you were able to get through to EDD and get some clarity on your situation! The 5-day grace period is definitely a game-changer - I wish I had known about that when I was dealing with my own disability extension last year. Just wanted to add that when you do get your psychiatrist to submit the paperwork, make sure they include specific details about your functional limitations and how your symptoms are preventing you from returning to work. EDD really likes to see concrete examples rather than just general statements about depression. Also, keep copies of everything for your records - sometimes paperwork gets "lost" in their system. You're doing all the right things by being proactive about this. Take care of yourself and don't feel guilty about needing this time to recover properly!

As someone who just went through the SDI application process myself, I want to emphasize how important it is to be thorough with your documentation when submitting the DE 2588 form. I had a similar situation where a previous work injury affected my earnings during the base period. What really helped my case was getting a letter from my doctor that specifically outlined the dates I was on work restrictions and how those restrictions impacted my ability to perform my regular job duties. The letter included details about reduced hours, modified duties, and the medical reasons for these limitations. Also, if you have any correspondence with your employer from that time period (emails about schedule changes, HR documentation of accommodations, etc.), include those as supporting evidence. The more you can document the connection between your medical condition and reduced earnings, the stronger your Special Base Period request will be. The whole process took about 3 weeks for me, but it was absolutely worth it - my WBA ended up being almost 40% higher than what it would have been under the standard calculation. Don't give up on this, Miguel - it sounds like you have a solid case for the special base period!

As someone new to this community who's been researching SDI options, this entire thread has been incredibly enlightening! Miguel, your proactive approach to researching the base period calculation before filing is really smart - most people probably just accept whatever WBA they're given without realizing there might be options. The information about the DE 2588 form and Special Base Period is something I hadn't come across in any of the official EDD materials I've been reading. Emma's success story with the 40% WBA increase really shows how impactful this can be for people who had legitimate medical reasons for reduced earnings during their base period. One thing that strikes me from reading everyone's experiences is how much the system seems to rely on people knowing to ask the right questions and submit the right forms. It's unfortunate that this isn't more clearly explained upfront, but threads like this are so valuable for helping people navigate the process. Miguel, I hope your Special Base Period request gets approved and your surgery goes smoothly. Thank you for sharing your journey - it's going to help a lot of people who find themselves in similar situations!