I'm new to this community but facing almost the exact same situation! I'm a CA resident who's been working remotely for a company in North Carolina for about 10 months now. They also refuse to withhold CA SDI, claiming they only handle NC state requirements since that's where their corporate office is located, even though I'm physically working from my home office in Oakland every single day. I've been really worried about this because I'm actually pregnant and will need both disability benefits for recovery and paid family leave for bonding time. Reading through this entire thread has been such a relief - I had no idea about Form DE 2588 or that previous California employment could still help with eligibility! I worked in California for about 5 years before taking this remote position, so based on everyone's experiences here, it sounds like I might be in a decent position. Luca's success story and Tony's point about both SDI and PFL eligibility really give me hope that this can work out with proper documentation. I'm starting my documentation collection immediately - emails mentioning my home office to HR, utility bills, lease agreement, prenatal appointment receipts showing my CA address, home office setup expenses, and those workspace photos that were suggested. The advice about being proactive rather than scrambling when you actually need the benefits is so important, especially with a baby coming! This community has been such an incredible resource - the real-world experiences and practical guidance here are exactly what you can't find anywhere in official EDD materials. Thank you all for sharing your stories and creating such a supportive space for those of us trying to navigate this confusing remote work SDI maze!

I'm new to this community but dealing with a nearly identical situation! I'm a CA resident who's been working remotely for a company based in Utah for about 14 months now. They also refuse to withhold CA SDI, saying they only handle Utah state taxes since that's where I'm "performing work" according to their payroll department, even though I'm sitting at my home office in Fresno every single day. I've been really stressed about this because I have a chronic autoimmune condition that could flare up and require disability leave at any time. Reading through this entire thread has been incredibly reassuring - I had absolutely no clue about Form DE 2588 or that my previous California work history might still help with eligibility! I worked in California for about 4.5 years before taking this remote job, so based on all the experiences shared here, it sounds like I might still have some viable options. Luca's success story is especially encouraging - knowing someone actually navigated this process and got partial benefits approved makes it feel much more achievable. I'm going to start collecting all my documentation right away - emails where I've mentioned working from my CA home office, utility bills, lease agreement, medical appointments showing my CA address, home office equipment receipts, and maybe even those workspace photos that were suggested. The advice about being proactive instead of waiting until you're in crisis mode really resonates with me given my health situation. This community has been such a valuable find - the real-world experiences and practical tips here are exactly what you can't locate anywhere in the official EDD resources. Thank you everyone for sharing your stories and building such a helpful resource for those of us trying to figure out this complex remote work SDI puzzle!

PSA: If you're having trouble with your SDI claim, make sure you've submitted all the required medical documentation. I found out the hard way that my claim was held up because my doctor hadn't sent in the right forms.

Thanks for starting this thread Paolo! I'm in the exact same boat - been trying to reach EDD for over a week about my SDI claim status and it's like they don't exist. The automated system just hangs up on me after an hour of waiting. Has anyone had any luck with the callback feature on their website? I keep seeing it but not sure if it actually works or if it's just another dead end.

I think everyone's covered the main points, but I wanted to add: make sure you save copies of EVERYTHING. Screenshots of your last UI certification, your SDI application confirmation, doctor's notes, etc. I had an issue with my claim last year where they claimed they never received my doctor's certification (even though I had confirmation it was submitted). Having my own copies of everything saved me weeks of stress. Also, your UI weekly amount and SDI amount will likely be different since they're calculated differently. The SDI is usually about 60-70% of your wages, calculated differently than UI. Just be prepared for a potential change in your benefit amount!

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet - when you transition from UI to SDI, make sure to check if your employer offers any supplemental disability benefits that could stack with SDI! Some employers have private short-term disability policies that can provide additional coverage during pregnancy leave. Also, don't forget that once you're on SDI for pregnancy, you'll automatically be eligible for Paid Family Leave (PFL) after delivery for bonding time with your baby. The transition from SDI to PFL is usually much smoother than UI to SDI since you're already in the state disability system. Good luck with your pregnancy and the benefit transition!

idk about the legal stuff, but congrats on the baby! 🎈👶 hope everything works out for you

I went through this exact situation about 6 months ago! Here's what worked for me: 1. Contact your WC adjuster FIRST - tell them you need to pause for maternity leave 2. Get a letter from your OB stating your due date and that you're medically able to work (for SDI eligibility) 3. Apply for SDI online through EDD about 1-2 weeks before you want benefits to start 4. Keep your WC case open but "paused" - don't close it completely The timing is crucial - I had about a 5-day gap between my last WC payment and first SDI payment, but that's pretty normal. After your 8 weeks of SDI, you can apply for PFL if you want bonding time. One heads up: EDD moves slow, so apply early and follow up weekly. Document everything! Feel free to DM me if you need more specific help navigating the process.

Update us on what happens!!! So many people face this EXACT situation and EDD does NOTHING to help!! The whole 52-week limit is arbitrary and cruel - how can they expect people to magically recover from major surgery in exactly 52 weeks???

I'm so sorry you're going through this - the timing couldn't have been worse with your surgery happening right as your benefits ended. I went through something similar with a knee replacement that got delayed multiple times due to COVID. A few thoughts that might help: 1. Definitely pursue what Sean mentioned about surgical complications being a potentially new condition. Document everything with your surgeon about the additional nerve compression they found. 2. Contact your local America's Job Center for disability-to-work transition services - they sometimes have emergency assistance programs while you're waiting for other benefits. 3. Look into your county's General Relief program immediately. It's usually small amounts ($200-400/month) but can help with basic needs while you sort out other options. 4. If you had any employer-provided short or long-term disability insurance, now would be the time to file those claims even if you think you missed deadlines - some have appeal processes. The system really does fail people in your exact situation. Don't give up - there are usually a few more options than what the first EDD rep tells you. Keep pushing for answers and document every conversation you have with them going forward.