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One additional tip - if your husband is helping you with the online portion, make sure he selects "Yes" when asked if someone is helping you complete the form. There's a specific section for this in the SDI Online application. If he doesn't select this option, the system may flag it as potentially fraudulent activity since the login patterns and possibly the IP address will be different from your normal access patterns. Also, EDD now allows representatives to help with forms, but there are specific guidelines. The person must: - Be present with you during the application process - Only enter information you provide - Document that they assisted you This is all perfectly legal when dealing with a physical disability that prevents form completion. I've helped several clients through this exact process in my work as a disability advocate.
my cousin had something similar happen when she broke her arm she just had her boyfriend fill everything out it was fine nobody from edd ever questioned it they just care about getting the doctors form
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.
Great summary! One additional tip: If you're worried about owing taxes next year, you can make an estimated tax payment to the IRS before the end of the year to cover the potential liability from your SDI benefits. This might help avoid an underpayment penalty if your total tax due exceeds a certain threshold. The IRS has an online payment system that makes this pretty straightforward.
when i had my last baby i had to call ELEVEN TIMES before someone picked up to help me with my claim!!! this was after getting kicked off midway through the online application because the website kept crashing. edd is seriously the WORST and needs a complete overhaul!!!!
One more important thing: if it turns out you aren't eligible for SDI, make sure you look into the Paid Family Leave for self-employed individuals. If you did pay into that program before your delivery, you could still get the 8 weeks of bonding time benefits. For future reference, that's why the Disability Insurance Elective Coverage (DIEC) program exists - it allows self-employed people to opt into the state disability system. Something to consider for the future if you're planning to stay self-employed.
I just went through this exact situation in August! Yes, you'll get your final partial payment automatically - mine came about 10 days after my SDI ended. For the PFL transition, definitely don't wait until your SDI ends to apply. I made that mistake and had a 3-week gap with no income while waiting for approval. Also important: your weekly benefit amount might be different for PFL than what you were getting for SDI. Mine decreased by about $75/week which I wasn't expecting. Just something to budget for!
random question but does anyone know if bonding with baby PFL is different than caring for family member PFL? having baby next month but confused about all this
Yes, they're different subcategories of PFL. Bonding claims are generally simpler as you just need proof of relationship (birth certificate). For care claims like the OP is asking about, you need medical certification of the family member's condition. Same benefit amounts though, and both are accessed through the same PFL application process.
Yara Abboud
My wife got disability after her surgery in Feb and they sent a new card even tho she had one from maternity leave in 2023. Think they always send new ones for new claims. The card took about 9 days to arrive after they approved her but every situation is probly different
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Dmitry Smirnov
•That's reassuring to hear. I'm hoping mine comes quickly after approval too. Thanks for sharing your experience!
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PixelPioneer
I'm so sorry about your lymphoma diagnosis. I went through breast cancer treatment last year and had to navigate the whole SDI system. One thing to know is that if your treatment will last longer than the initial claim period (which is usually around 6-8 weeks depending on what your doctor certified), you'll need to get extension forms completed. Don't wait until the last minute for those! The BofA card will come automatically, but I highly recommend setting up the automatic transfer feature once you get it. You can set it to automatically move funds from the card to your regular bank account as soon as payments hit. Made things much easier during treatment when I had limited energy to deal with financial tasks. Wishing you healing and strength!
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Dmitry Smirnov
•Thank you so much for the kind words and excellent advice. I didn't know about the automatic transfer feature or that I'd need to be proactive about extensions. My treatment plan is for 4 months minimum, so I'll definitely need extensions. This is incredibly helpful!
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