I'm currently dealing with almost the same situation! What I learned (after many frustrating calls to EDD) is that the base periods used for calculating SDI and UI can be different too, which affects your benefit amount. SDI looks at a different earnings period than UI might when they calculate your benefit. Also, I don't know if this applies to you, but when I talked to the disability office, they mentioned that if you're receiving any severance pay from your employer, it can affect your UI eligibility. Might be worth checking if you're getting any severance as part of your layoff package.

I'm really sorry you're going through this - getting laid off while recovering from surgery is incredibly stressful. I went through a similar transition about 6 months ago and can share what I learned. Unfortunately, everyone here is right that your UI benefits will be significantly lower than your SDI. In my case, I went from about $1100/week on disability to $520/week on unemployment. The calculation methods are completely different, and UI has much lower caps. A few things that might help: - Apply for UI about a week before your SDI ends to minimize gaps - Keep all your layoff paperwork showing it's due to "restructuring" not performance - Ask HR if they're offering any COBRA subsidies or other benefits during the transition - Look into local food banks or assistance programs to help bridge the income gap Also, definitely explore what @Caleb Bell mentioned about potentially extending your disability if your doctor thinks you're not ready to return to work. With back surgery complications, that might be worth considering. Hang in there - this is a tough situation but you'll get through it!

anyone else think its wild that in 2023 we still gotta jump through all these hoops just to get our benefits? smh

Hey Zainab! I went through something similar last year. For the direct deposit setup, make sure you have your routing and account numbers ready - sometimes the online system glitches out if you don't enter them perfectly the first time. Also, when you apply for PFL/baby bonding, you'll need your doctor to fill out the medical certification form (DE 2501). Start that process early because doctors can take forever to get paperwork back to you! Congrats on the upcoming baby! 🍼

good luck!! i had 2 go through the whole appeal thing last year and finally got approved. just make sure u turn it in on time!!

Just wanted to add my experience - I successfully appealed my SDI denial last fall and the date issue definitely tripped me up at first too! Like everyone else confirmed, you absolutely need the "date mailed" from your determination notice. But here's something that might help: when you submit your appeal, consider sending it certified mail so you have proof of delivery. EDD has to receive it within 30 days of that mailed date, not just postmarked. I almost missed my deadline because I assumed regular mail would be fine. Also, if you're close to the deadline like you are, you can actually submit the appeal online through EDD's website which gives you immediate confirmation. Good luck with your appeal - the process is stressful but don't give up!

lol good luck. EDD is a joke these days 🤡

I've been dealing with similar issues too! What I found helpful was clearing my browser cache and cookies before trying to update online - sometimes that fixes weird glitches. Also, if you're getting error messages, try screenshotting them. When I finally got through to a rep, having those screenshots helped them identify the specific issue faster. The whole system definitely needs an overhaul, but hang in there! 🤞

This thread is so helpful! I'm dealing with the exact same duplicate account nightmare right now - have an old UI account from 2018 and my new SDI claim is stuck because of it. I've been getting the runaround for 2 weeks with the same "we'll escalate it" promises. Reading through everyone's experiences, it sounds like I need to stop accepting vague responses and start demanding specifics. Going to call tomorrow and ask for: 1) Priority Processing Request due to financial hardship, 2) Identity Verification department specifically, 3) Escalation ticket number, and 4) Rep's name and ID number. Thank you all for sharing your strategies - finally feel like I have a real action plan instead of just hoping they'll eventually fix it!

I'm going through this exact same thing right now! Been stuck in the duplicate account loop for over 2 weeks. I have an old UI account from 2020 and my current SDI claim can't process because of the conflict. Every time I call, they give me the same "we'll escalate it and merge the accounts within 24 hours" line, but nothing ever happens. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful - I had no idea about requesting Priority Processing or specifically asking for the Identity Verification department. I'm definitely going to try the approach that worked for Lucy and demand specifics instead of accepting vague promises. It's so frustrating that we have to become experts on their internal processes just to get our legitimate claims processed! Thank you everyone for sharing what actually worked.