Can I file for SDI after being terminated while on medical leave for autoimmune condition?

You should absolutely apply for SDI benefits if your condition prevents you from working! The fact that your employer handled this poorly doesn't affect your eligibility for disability. Since your doctor advised you to take time off, you qualify for SDI regardless of what your employer did. You'll need your doctor to complete the medical certification (DE 2501) for your disability claim. Don't wait - SDI claims can be filed retroactively but only up to 49 days after your disability began. The termination is a separate issue that doesn't prevent you from receiving disability benefits if you're medically unable to work.

omg this happened to my cousin last yr!!! company told her she could take time off for her back surgery then fired her when she was still recovering. she got disability payments and then filed for wrongful termination i think? not sure how it turned out but def apply for SDI asap!!!

You need to file for SDI immediately. Your medical condition qualifies you regardless of employment status. Once your doctor completes the medical certification portion, EDD will process your claim based on your medical eligibility, not your employment status. Regarding the termination, you may have a case for wrongful termination under FMLA/CFRA if your company has 50+ employees and you worked there for at least a year. I'd consult with an employment attorney about that separate issue. Don't apply for unemployment though - that's for people who are able and available to work, which contradicts your medical condition. Focus on SDI first since there's a time limit to apply.

U should call EDD directly to ask about THIS SPECIFIC situation. Their website is confusing af and everyones situation is different. I spent 3 WEEKS trying to figure out if i could get benefits after quitting for medical reasons and wasted so much time reading forums when i could have just talked to someone!! But calling is IMPOSSIBLE unless you know the trick.

This is actually a pretty common scenario unfortunately. Many employers try to avoid dealing properly with medical leaves. Here's what you need to know: 1. For SDI: File immediately. You have a 7-day waiting period before benefits kick in, and there's a 49-day retroactive filing limit. 2. Documentation: Have your doctor document that your condition began in January and continues to prevent you from working. 3. Base period: Your SDI benefit amount is based on your highest-paid quarter in the 18 months before your disability started, so being fired now doesn't affect the benefit amount. 4. Legal protection: Since your employer verbally approved leave but didn't provide paperwork, document EVERYTHING from now on. Write down dates of conversations, save emails, etc. You can't collect unemployment and SDI simultaneously, so if you're still unable to work due to your condition, SDI is the appropriate benefit.

THE SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO SCREW WORKERS!!! Companies get away with this garbage ALL THE TIME!! They string you along making you think your job is safe while you're dealing with health issues, then BAM - you're fired with no warning. And EDD makes everything 10x more complicated than it needs to be. You'll probably get denied the first time no matter what you apply for because that's what they DO. Then you have to appeal and wait MONTHS for benefits you deserved from day one!!!!!

did u get anything in writing from your boss? even texts or emails might help ur case if u decide to fight the termination. also make sure to tell your doctor exactly what happened so they can help with the disability paperwork

One more important point: make sure to file your SDI claim under the correct program. Since this is a medical condition preventing you from working, you want standard SDI (not Paid Family Leave). When you complete the application, be very specific about your first day of disability (when your doctor advised you to stop working) and be consistent with that date in all paperwork. Also, your doctor needs to certify that your condition prevents you from performing your regular or customary work - not just that you have rheumatoid arthritis. The medical certification needs to clearly explain your functional limitations.

Update us once you've filed your SDI claim. The first payment typically arrives within 14 days after your claim is approved, and it can be retroactive to your disability start date (minus the 7-day waiting period). Just remember that SDI only replaces about 60-70% of your wages, capped at a maximum weekly benefit amount of $1,620 in 2025.