Can I claim EDD pregnancy disability with county job if I previously paid into SDI?

congrats on baby! most county jobs r exempt from sdi so u cant use it now. doesnt matter that u paid b4, only current job counts

Your HR is correct - county employees are typically exempt from SDI contributions unless your specific county has elected to participate (very few do). While you did contribute previously through your retail job, SDI eligibility is based on your current employment status during the disability period, not past contributions. The base period earnings would only apply if you were currently in SDI-covered employment. Your county likely offers their own short-term disability plan and FMLA/CFRA protection instead.

You could try applying anyway - sometimes the rules have exceptions. My sister-in-law worked for a school district (also usually exempt) but was able to get partial SDI benefits because she had a second weekend job that did pay into the system. Do you have any side gigs or part-time work besides your county job?

I had the exact same situation last year! Worked at Macy's for 4 years then got a county job. Had my baby in March and tried to apply for SDI. Got denied because current job didn't pay into it. what a waste of all that money I paid into the system!!! ended up just using the county's leave program which was only like 55% of my pay and ran out fast.

Have you tried actually calling EDD directly to ask about your specific situation? Their website never has clear answers for unique cases like yours. I've been trying to reach them about my own disability claim for WEEKS with no luck - constant busy signals and disconnections. I finally used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to an actual EDD rep in under 25 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/1X-mEsLtbmQ?si=1hcSq3KFtCr4oAmd. The rep I spoke with was super knowledgeable about special cases and exceptions to the normal rules. Might be worth trying to get a definitive answer straight from EDD.

Let me clarify some important points about SDI and county employment to help you understand your options: 1. As others mentioned, most county employees are exempt from SDI unless your county has specifically opted in to the program. 2. Your past contributions to SDI from retail work don't typically qualify you for benefits now because eligibility is based on current employment status. 3. However, there IS an exception that might apply: if you left your retail job less than 18 months ago and became disabled (pregnancy counts) within that period, you MIGHT still qualify under what's called the "inactive claim" provision. This is rare but worth investigating. 4. If you start a second job that pays into SDI, you could potentially qualify for benefits based only on those earnings. 5. Another option: some counties allow employees to individually opt-in to SDI even when the county doesn't participate as a whole. Check if your county offers this option. I recommend requesting a formal determination from EDD rather than relying solely on HR's understanding.

Just wanted to add... check if your county offers short term disability insurance you can purchase! My county had a voluntary plan through Standard Insurance that I WISH I had signed up for before getting pregnant. My coworker got 60% of her salary for 12 weeks through that plan. Too late for me but maybe not for you!

The whole system is SO UNFAIR for pregnant women!!! I've had friends who worked for counties, school districts, and federal jobs and ALL of them struggled with maternity leave compared to private sector friends. One of my friends even quit her county job at 6 months pregnant and got a corporate job JUST to get better maternity benefits!! Can you believe that?? In 2025 we're still forcing women to choose between careers and starting families. Makes me SO ANGRY.

I'm in a similar situation! Just started with my city government 6 months ago and found out I'm pregnant. Like you, I had no idea about the SDI exemption when I took the job. From what I've learned so far, definitely explore that inactive claim option that Ethan mentioned - it sounds like you might have a real shot since you're within the 18-month window! Also, I'd suggest documenting everything when you call EDD. Write down the rep's name, date, and exactly what they tell you in case you need to reference it later. The rules seem to have so many exceptions that even HR departments don't know about them all. Fingers crossed we both find some better options than just the basic county leave!