Can I apply for EDD SDI benefits based on wages from previous employers?

yea they look at ur base period not just current job. its like a year or so of wages i think? u should be fine

EDD uses what's called a "base period" to calculate your SDI benefits. The base period is the 12-month period ending just before the last completed calendar quarter prior to when you file your claim. So if you file in April-June 2025, your base period would be January-December 2024, which would include your previous higher-paying job. Your SDI benefit amount is based on the highest-paid quarter in your base period, so this should work in your favor if you had higher wages at your previous job. Just make sure you have your previous employer's information when you file your claim.

I went through something similar last year. Had only been at my new job for 4 months when I needed surgery. My benefits were calculated using my previous job's wages and it worked out fine! The system does this automatically when they check your wage records.

Be REALLY careful about this!!! I thought the same thing but when I filed my claim EDD only used my most recent employer's wages and my benefit amount was TINY!!! When I called to complain they said something about my previous employer not reporting my wages correctly or something. I spent WEEKS trying to get this fixed and almost lost my apartment!!!!!

I've helped many people with this exact situation. Your benefit amount is based on your highest quarter of earnings during the base period, which is typically the 12 months before the last completed calendar quarter. So yes, your previous job's wages will count if they fall within your base period. One tip: have your previous employer's information ready when you file, including company name, address, and dates of employment. Also, if you have your W-2 from your previous job, keep it handy in case there are any discrepancies with your wage record that need to be resolved. You can actually use the SDI benefit calculator on the EDD website to get an estimate of your weekly benefit amount: https://edd.ca.gov/en/disability/Disability_Insurance_Benefit_Calculator/

I had to reach EDD about a similar issue last month. Spent days trying to get through on the phone with no luck. Finally tried a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) which got me connected to a real agent in about 20 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/1X-mEsLtbmQ?si=1hcSq3KFtCr4oAmd. The agent was able to confirm that my previous wages were being included in my benefit calculation. Totally worth it to get a definitive answer instead of stressing for weeks.

Update: I filed my claim yesterday and included all my employment information from both jobs. The EDD representative I spoke with confirmed that they look at the base period wages, not just current employer. She said my benefit amount would be based on my highest-earning quarter, which would definitely be from my previous job. Thanks everyone for your help and advice! Such a relief.

Wait i'm confused... does this mean i can get disability even if i've been unemployed for a while? I worked all last year but lost my job in January and now have a medical condition...

Just want to add that you should also keep track of your doctors' appointments and medical records during your recovery. SDI requires ongoing medical certification to continue receiving benefits, so make sure your doctor is documenting your inability to work and expected recovery timeline. Also, if your recovery takes longer than the initial 8 weeks your doctor estimated, you'll need updated medical forms to extend your claim. It's better to stay on top of this paperwork from the beginning rather than scramble later when benefits might get interrupted.

One thing I'd add is to make sure you file your claim as soon as possible after your disability begins. There's a 7-day waiting period for SDI benefits, and the sooner you file, the sooner that clock starts ticking. Also, benefits are only paid from the date you file your claim forward - they don't backdate to when your disability actually started. So even if you're still gathering all your employment documents, it's better to file and then provide additional information later than to wait and potentially lose out on benefits for those extra days or weeks.

Just wanted to share my experience since I went through something very similar recently. I had been at my new job for only 3 months when I needed shoulder surgery, and I was terrified my benefits would be tiny. Turns out my previous job's wages (where I had worked for 2+ years) were automatically included in the calculation, and my weekly benefit amount was actually pretty decent - much better than I expected based on my short time at the new job. The key thing is that EDD pulls from their database automatically, so as long as your previous employer properly reported your wages, you should be good. I didn't have to do anything special beyond listing my employment history on the application. The whole process was much smoother than I anticipated, and I started receiving benefits within about 2-3 weeks of filing. Hope your recovery goes well!

I just wanted to chime in with some additional reassurance for anyone else reading this thread. I'm a former EDD worker and can confirm that the base period calculation is designed exactly for situations like yours. The system automatically pulls wage data from all employers who reported your earnings during the base period, which covers up to 18 months of work history depending on when you file. Your 3 years at the higher-paying job will definitely count as long as those wages fall within your base period. One thing to keep in mind is that SDI benefits replace about 60-70% of your wages up to the maximum weekly benefit amount, so having those higher wages in your calculation will make a significant difference. Also, don't stress too much about providing perfect employer information upfront - EDD has access to all reported wage data and will use it regardless. The most important thing is filing your claim promptly so you don't lose any potential benefit days. Wishing you a smooth recovery!

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm actually in a similar boat - been at my current job for only 4 months but need to take medical leave for a herniated disc. My previous job had much better pay, and I was panicking thinking I'd only get benefits based on my current lower salary. Reading everyone's experiences, especially from the former EDD worker, has been such a relief. It's amazing how the system is actually designed to handle these exact situations. For anyone else dealing with this - definitely don't wait to file like I was planning to do. The automatic wage calculation and base period system seems much more straightforward than I initially thought. Thanks to everyone who shared their stories and advice!

I'm new to this community but wanted to share my recent experience since it might help others in similar situations. I just went through the SDI application process after being at my current job for only 6 months when I needed surgery. Like many of you, I was really worried about my benefit amount being too low. The good news is that the system worked exactly as everyone described - they automatically included wages from my previous job where I had worked for over 4 years. My weekly benefit ended up being based on my highest-earning quarter from that previous job, which was a huge relief. One thing I'd add is that when you create your SDI Online account, you can actually see your wage history that EDD has on file, which helped me verify that all my previous earnings were properly recorded. The whole process took about 3 weeks from filing to receiving my first payment, and having all my employment information ready definitely helped speed things along. Don't let the fear of low benefits stop you from filing - the base period system really does protect workers who change jobs!

This thread is so reassuring! I've been stressing about this exact situation for weeks. I was injured at my new job (only been there 4 months) and my doctor says I need at least 6 weeks off. My previous job paid almost double what I'm making now, and I was terrified I'd only get benefits based on my current low wages. Reading about the base period system and seeing so many success stories from people in similar situations has given me so much hope. I especially appreciate the former EDD worker's explanation - it really helps to understand how the system actually works behind the scenes. I'm definitely going to file my claim this week and not wait any longer. Thank you all for sharing your experiences and advice!