I'm an employment attorney who handles UI appeals. A few important things you should know: 1. Benefits exclusivity: You can't receive UI and SDI for the same period. That's firm. 2. Time frames: If you win your appeal, you can receive UI benefits for periods when you were able and available for work (before your disability). 3. Documentation needs: Bring crystal clear documentation to your hearing showing: - When you became disabled (medical certification date) - Your first SDI payment date - Any work search efforts during the UI claim period 4. After disability: You'll need to reopen your UI claim after your disability ends. Do this immediately when your doctor releases you to work. The most common mistake I see is poor preparation for the appeal hearing. Be organized with your dates and documentation. Speaking with an EDD representative before your hearing can help clarify exactly what you need to bring.

I went through something very similar recently! The key thing to understand is that you can absolutely get backpay for the UI weeks before your disability started - those are completely separate time periods. When I had my appeal hearing, I made a timeline showing exactly when I filed UI, when I was denied, when my disability began, and which weeks I was requesting payment for. The judge appreciated having everything laid out clearly. One thing that helped me was calling EDD a few days before my hearing to confirm they had received my SDI start date information. I also brought printed screenshots from my UI Online account showing my certification history up until my disability began. The transition back to UI after disability can be tricky - make sure to call them the day your doctor clears you to return to work. Don't wait! I learned that the hard way and had a gap in benefits while they reactivated my claim. Good luck with your appeal! It sounds like you have a solid case since you were properly unemployed and looking for work before your health issues began.

guys im in the same boat.filed in december, radio silence since then. this whole situation is giving me mad anxiety. how r we supposed to survive while they take their sweet time??

Two months is way too long! I went through something similar last year. Here's what finally got things moving for me: 1. Call the EDD disability line at 8am SHARP - they open at 8 and that's your best shot at getting through 2. When you get the automated menu, press 1-2-4 (that usually gets you to a human faster) 3. Have your Social Security number, claim number, and the exact dates you filed ready 4. Ask them to check if your claim is "pending" or if there's a "stop payment" flag 5. Request they email you a summary of your call Also, check if your doctor submitted the medical certification form properly - that's a common holdup. I had to bug my doctor's office twice because they "forgot" to send it. Don't give up! The system is broken but you deserve your benefits. Keep calling every day if you have to.

You've received some great advice here already. I just wanted to add one clarification about Section 1256 disqualifications. This section covers several issues, but the most common are: - Voluntarily quitting without good cause - Misconduct at your last job - Refusing suitable work - Not being able and available for work Based on your timeline, EDD is likely considering the gap between the state doctor's clearance (Jan 17) and your application for UI as a period where you voluntarily remained unemployed without good cause. When appealing, focus specifically on explaining why this wasn't voluntary - you were following the proper medical release procedures and applied for UI as soon as medically cleared. Include a clear timeline with documentation. Administrative Law Judges who hear these appeals are generally reasonable when presented with clear evidence. Good luck with your appeal!

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - just got released from disability last week and terrified about applying for UI because of stories like this. Can I ask what specific documentation you wish you had prepared differently before applying? I want to make sure I have everything in order to avoid the same nightmare you're going through. Also, has anyone had success getting the gap period covered retroactively once the appeal is won?

Update: I just got my payment today!! It was exactly 5 business days after the award letter. Showing as pending in my bank account but should clear tomorrow. Such a relief! Thanks everyone for the help.

Congratulations on getting your award letter! Based on what I've seen in this community, you should expect your first payment within 5-10 business days since you already completed the waiting period and have direct deposit set up. Since your disability started July 3rd and you applied July 6th, your first payment might be larger than usual because it could include backpay for those covered weeks (minus the 7-day waiting period). I'd recommend checking your SDI Online account daily - it usually updates with payment status before the money actually hits your bank account. If you don't see any movement by early next week, that's when I'd consider reaching out to EDD. Try not to stress too much - the award letter is the hardest part and you've already cleared that hurdle!

btw has anyone used those disability advocates that advertise on tv? r they legit or just scams?

Update: I finally got through to EDD today! After trying the Claimyr service that someone recommended, I was connected to a representative in about 15 minutes. The agent explained that my claim was denied because my doctor checked "patient can return to work with restrictions" instead of "patient cannot perform regular work" on the medical certification form. Since I was technically still working from home during my hospitalization (checking emails from my hospital bed), this created confusion in my claim. For anyone with a similar issue: make sure your doctor clearly indicates that you cannot perform your REGULAR work duties, even if you're able to do some modified work. The agent advised me to have my surgeon be very explicit about my complete inability to work during the post-surgery recovery period on the new certification. Thank you all for your help and advice! I feel much more prepared for my upcoming claim.