I'm in the exact same boat as everyone else here! Just got my 1099-G last week for SDI benefits I received during a 3-month medical leave in 2024, and I was completely panicked thinking I'd owe a ton of money in taxes. This thread has been absolutely incredible - I had no idea that the taxability depends on who paid the SDI premiums! I dug out my old paystubs and confirmed that I had "CA SDI" deducted from every single paycheck, so it sounds like I'm in the clear for federal taxes. It's honestly ridiculous that EDD sends out these official-looking tax forms without any explanation about this crucial distinction. I've been stressing about this for days, but now I feel confident enough to tackle my taxes this weekend. Planning to use TurboTax and make sure to specify that I paid my own premiums. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences - this community has been way more helpful than hours of trying to navigate confusing government websites!

I'm going through this exact same situation right now! Just got my 1099-G form yesterday for SDI benefits I received last year after being out for 7 weeks following a medical procedure. Like everyone else here, I was completely freaked out thinking I'd owe federal taxes on the whole amount! But after reading through all these incredibly helpful responses, I checked my 2024 paystubs and confirmed I had "CA SDI" deducted from every single paycheck - so it sounds like since I paid the premiums myself, the benefits won't be federally taxable even though I need to report them. It's so frustrating that EDD doesn't include ANY explanation with the 1099-G about this whole premium situation! Would literally take them one page to explain this and save thousands of people the stress we're all going through. But I'm so grateful for this community - you all have been way more helpful than anything I could find on official websites. Planning to tackle TurboTax this weekend and make sure to tell it I paid my own SDI premiums. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences!

Hi there! I just wanted to add my experience since I went through this last year. You'll definitely get a 1099G form from EDD for your pregnancy disability benefits - they're required to send it by January 31st for the previous tax year. The benefits ARE federally taxable but NOT taxable for California state income tax, which is nice! One thing I learned the hard way is that it's really worth requesting tax withholding if you haven't already. You can call EDD and ask for form DE 4450 to have 10% withheld from your remaining payments - I wish I had done this from the start because I ended up owing about $800 in federal taxes that I wasn't expecting. Also, don't wait for the paper form in the mail - log into your EDD account online in late January and you can download your 1099G right away. Good luck with everything and congratulations on your pregnancy! 💕

Just wanted to chime in as someone who's currently dealing with this exact situation! I'm on pregnancy disability right now too (due in April) and was totally confused about the tax implications until I did some research. What I've learned is that yes, you'll definitely get a 1099G form from EDD and the SDI benefits are federally taxable but not for California state taxes. The key thing I wish I had known earlier is that you can request tax withholding even after you've started receiving benefits! I called EDD last week and requested the DE 4450 form to have 10% withheld from my remaining payments. It took about 45 minutes to get through (called right when they opened at 8am), but the rep was super helpful and said the withholding would start with my next payment. Honestly, having that peace of mind is worth it - I don't want to be surprised with a big tax bill next year when we'll have a new baby and all those expenses! Also, definitely plan to access your 1099G online through your EDD account in January rather than waiting for it in the mail. Hope this helps and congratulations on your pregnancy! 🤗

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this stress right after having your baby! I went through the exact same thing in January 2025. The payment stoppage after delivery is completely routine - EDD needs to verify your delivery info to determine if you're continuing on disability or transitioning to paid family leave. Since you submitted through the online portal this morning, you should expect to see movement in about 5-7 business days based on current processing times. The good news is they will backpay you for any missed payments, so you won't lose any money - it's just the cash flow timing that's stressful. A few tips that helped me: 1) Call your utility companies now to explain the EDD processing delay - most have policies for this exact situation, 2) Double-check with your OB's office that they submitted your updated medical certification with the correct delivery date/method, 3) Keep checking both your SDI online account AND your bank account, as sometimes the payment appears before the portal updates. This whole process is so poorly designed for new parents, but you're doing everything right. The payment will come through! Congratulations on your little one! 💕

I'm currently dealing with this exact same situation! Had my baby 4 days ago via C-section and my SDI payments stopped immediately after delivery. I submitted the birth information through the online portal yesterday and have been anxiously checking my account every few hours since then. Reading through all these experiences has been such a huge relief - I was starting to panic that I had done something wrong or that there was an issue with my claim! It's so reassuring to know that 5-7 business days seems to be the current standard processing time and that this payment stoppage is completely routine. The financial timing is definitely stressful though - I have several bills due next week that I was counting on this payment for. Based on everyone's advice here, I'm going to call my utility companies and credit card company tomorrow morning to explain the EDD processing delay and request extensions. I really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences and timelines. It's helping me stay calm during what's already such an overwhelming time with a newborn. The fact that so many new moms are dealing with this exact same bureaucratic hassle really shows how much the system needs improvement! Fingers crossed we all see our payments processed by early next week. Congratulations to all the new mamas here - we've got this! 💕

To all those having trouble reaching a human at California Disability. I just ran across this video that gave me a shortcut to reach a human. Hope it helps! https://youtu.be/1X-mEsLtbmQ

I've been through this exact situation before! The "Notice of Return to Certification Payment" is frustrating because it's so vague. In my experience, they're usually looking for one of three things: updated medical records from your doctor, the DE 2593 continuing eligibility form, or sometimes they want a new DE 2500A even if you think yours is current. Since your payments stopped, I'd recommend calling the SDI number first thing in the morning (around 8 AM) - that's when I've had the most luck getting through. Also, log into your online account and check if there's a specific document request that might not have been mailed to you. The system sometimes shows pending requirements that don't make it to the mail. Good luck!

This thread has been such a valuable resource! I'm about 5 weeks into my SDI claim and have been constantly worried about certification deadlines. Emma, your story is incredibly reassuring - the fact that your payment came through in just 2.5 days after a late submission really shows that the system isn't as unforgiving as I feared! The 20-day grace period information is absolutely crucial - I had no idea this existed and it's definitely not mentioned clearly in any of the materials I received from EDD. I've been using just one calendar reminder, but after reading everyone's strategies here, I'm going to set up multiple alerts (probably at 1 week out, 3 days out, and day of). It's amazing how much more helpful real community experiences are compared to trying to navigate EDD's confusing website alone. Thank you all for sharing your stories and creating such a supportive environment - it makes this whole process feel much more manageable!

This thread has been such an incredible resource! I just received my SDI approval letter a few days ago and have been feeling completely overwhelmed about managing certification deadlines properly. Emma, your experience is so reassuring - I was convinced that missing even one deadline would be catastrophic, but seeing that your payment still came through in just 2.5 days after a late submission gives me tremendous peace of mind! The information about the 20-day grace period is absolutely invaluable - it's frustrating that EDD doesn't make these crucial details more prominent in their official communications. Reading through everyone's strategies here, I'm definitely going to set up multiple calendar reminders (thinking 2 weeks out, 1 week out, 3 days out, and day of each deadline). It's amazing how much more helpful and reassuring real community experiences are compared to trying to decode EDD's confusing website alone. Thank you all for sharing your stories and creating such a supportive environment for those of us just starting this journey - it makes the whole process feel so much less intimidating!