Can I apply for EDD SDI after quitting toxic job due to health issues?

just quit and apply for SDI, your doctor needs to sign off on your medical condition tho. i had a similar situation last yr, toxic workplace gave me panic attacks. doctor wrote that i had severe anxiety disorder and couldn't work, got approved in like 10 days. there's a 7 day waiting period before benefits start so plan for that

I'm a disability claims specialist and want to clarify some important points about your situation. While you can file for SDI after quitting a job, there are specific requirements to qualify: 1. Your medical condition must be certified by a doctor as preventing you from performing your regular or customary work. 2. You must have earned enough wages during your base period to establish a claim. 3. Your condition must be documented before you leave employment. EDD doesn't care about why you left your job (unlike unemployment insurance which has voluntary quit rules). What matters is that your doctor certifies your medical condition prevents you from working. Make sure your doctor fully documents your hypertension, anxiety, and insomnia, and specifically states these conditions prevent you from performing your normal work duties. There is a mandatory 7-day waiting period before benefits begin. Current SDI benefits pay approximately 60-70% of your wages up to a maximum benefit amount.

I went through almost exactly what you're describing last year, and it was honestly one of the most stressful experiences. My advice is to have your doctor complete the medical certification BEFORE you quit if possible. Here's what I did: 1. Had my doctor document my symptoms (anxiety, depression, insomnia) for several weeks 2. Got the medical certification form from my doctor (they submitted it directly) 3. Then submitted my SDI claim online 4. Quit my job the following day My claim was approved in about 2 weeks, but I've heard others taking 4+ weeks. The most important thing is having strong medical documentation showing your condition existed while employed. Also, remember EDD sometimes sends follow-up questionnaires about your condition, so keep a detailed record of all your symptoms, when they started, how they affect your ability to work, etc. Good luck with everything!

i had a claim for anxiety that got denied cuz they said my condition wasnt severe enough even tho my doctor said i couldnt work. then i appealed and got denied again. the whole system is rigged honestly, they just dont want to pay, especially for mental health stuff. good luck but dont get your hopes up.

If you're having trouble getting through to EDD on the phone (which is almost guaranteed unfortunately), I highly recommend using Claimyr. It got me connected to an actual SDI rep in under 25 minutes after I'd been trying for DAYS on my own. Their system basically calls EDD for you and then connects you when they get through. Saved my sanity! They have a video that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/1X-mEsLtbmQ?si=1hcSq3KFtCr4oAmd and their website is claimyr.com. Especially useful when you have specific questions about your claim that only a rep can answer.

Not to confuse things, but have you looked into filing a workplace harassment claim instead of/before going on disability? If your workplace is truly toxic and causing medical issues, you might have other options too. Just a thought.

WHATEVER YOU DO, DOCUMENT EVERYTHING!!!! Keep a journal of all toxic incidents, save emails/texts, get everything in writing from your doctor about your condition BEFORE quitting, and TAKE SCREENSHOTS of everything in your SDI account online. I learned this the hard way when they mysteriously "lost" my medical certification and denied my claim. Had to appeal and wait MONTHS for resolution. The system is designed to make you give up!!

One more thing I forgot to mention - when you file your claim online, there's a section where you can explain why you left your job. Be honest but concise - focus on the medical aspects rather than workplace drama. Say something like "departed employment due to medical condition that prevented me from performing job duties" rather than detailing conflicts with your supervisor. EDD is concerned with your medical eligibility, not workplace disputes.

oh and btw make sure ur doctor fills out that form right!!! my first claim got denied bc my doc didnt check some box about how long my condition would last. had to get him to redo it and resubmit. such a pain

My aunt filed for disability for similar reasons last year and while her claim was eventually approved, she had to wait almost 5 weeks to get her first payment. Just be prepared financially if you can. Good luck!

Hey Jamal, I went through something really similar about 6 months ago - toxic manager, stress-induced health issues, the whole nightmare. One thing that really helped me was keeping a detailed symptom diary that I could share with my doctor. I tracked my blood pressure readings, sleep patterns, anxiety episodes, etc. This gave my doctor concrete evidence to include in the medical certification. Also, if you haven't already, ask your doctor about getting a blood pressure monitor to use at home. Having those documented readings showing how your work stress is affecting your hypertension will strengthen your case significantly. My doctor said having that objective medical data made all the difference. One last tip - if you do decide to quit, try to give yourself a few days between leaving and filing your claim to decompress a bit. The application process can be stressful too, and you want to be in the right headspace to fill everything out accurately. Wishing you the best - you've got this!