Can I get EDD SDI after job change if my new employer doesn't offer disability for first year?

Good news! You should still qualify for SDI based on your previous employment. There's something called the "base period" that EDD uses to determine eligibility. They look at wages paid about 5-18 months before your claim starts, not your current employment status. So if you've been working steadily and paying into SDI until recently, you'll likely qualify. You need to have earned at least $300 in your base period from employment covered by SDI. It sounds like you easily meet that requirement from your retail job. Don't delay your surgery - apply for SDI when your doctor certifies you can't work. Just make sure to explain your employment situation clearly on the application.

ya i think ur fine. my cousin switched jobs right b4 she needed surgery last year and still got disability from her old job. just apply when ur doctor says ur disabled, the worst they can do is deny you but i bet they wont

Just wondering - have you checked if you have any sick leave at your new job? Some school districts give you a certain amount right away. That could help cover at least part of your recovery time, even if it's not the full 6-8 weeks.

Your benefit amount will be based on your highest-earning quarter during the base period, which is likely from your previous job based on what you've shared. The weekly benefit amount is approximately 60-70% of your average weekly wage during your highest quarter, up to a maximum of $1,620 per week in 2025. One important thing to remember: There's a 7-day waiting period before SDI benefits begin. During this time, you'll need to use sick leave, vacation time, or go unpaid. After that waiting period, benefits can begin if you're still disabled according to your doctor's certification. Make sure when you file your claim that you list your previous employer where SDI was deducted, not just your current school district position.

When I had surgery two years ago I had the WORST time getting through to anyone at EDD to ask questions about my claim. Kept getting disconnected or sitting on hold for HOURS only to have the call drop. Super frustrating when you're already dealing with health issues!! Finally I used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to an actual person. They have this service that gets you connected to an EDD agent quickly instead of waiting on hold forever. Saved me so much stress! They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/1X-mEsLtbmQ?si=1hcSq3KFtCr4oAmd Might be worth checking out if you run into problems getting answers about your specific situation.

my friend works at EDD and she told me that TONS of school district employees end up in this exact situation because most districts don't participate in SDI. but she said as long as you paid into SDI in your "base period" you're fine. that's the quarters that count for eligibility. just apply and be honest about everything - don't try to hide that you changed jobs - and you should be ok!

THE SYSTEM IS RIGGED!! State employees and school employees don't pay into SDI but EVERYONE ELSE has to?? And then when you get a state job you're screwed until you work there a year?? What kind of sense does that make? The whole system needs to be overhauled to protect workers. Sorry for the rant but this makes me so mad. OP you should be fine with your previous contributions but it's ridiculous you even have to worry about this!

Update: I applied for SDI yesterday! The online application was actually easier than I expected. I listed both my current and previous employers and explained the situation in the comments section. My doctor already submitted his certification. Now I'm just waiting to see if I'm approved. Will let you all know what happens when I hear back! THANK YOU all for the help and advice!!!

I had almost the EXACT same situation last year! Left my job at a bank where I'd paid into SDI for years, took a job with the county which doesn't participate in state disability. Had to have emergency gallbladder surgery 3 months into my new job. Applied for SDI based on my previous employment and got approved! They used my bank job wages to calculate the benefit. The only hiccup was they initially thought I was still at the bank and kept trying to verify employment there. I had to call and explain I had a new job that doesn't participate in SDI. After that was sorted out, payments started coming regularly. Just be super clear about your employment situation from the beginning and you should be fine!

Philip, I'm glad to see you applied! Just wanted to add one more tip from my experience - since you're using sick time first, make sure to coordinate the timing carefully. You'll want to exhaust your sick leave before SDI kicks in, but don't let there be a gap where you're unpaid AND waiting for SDI to start. Also, keep all your documentation organized (doctor's notes, paystubs from retail job, sick leave usage records) in case EDD needs additional verification. Sometimes they'll ask for clarification on employment gaps or wage history. Best of luck with your surgery and recovery! The fact that you paid into SDI for 3 years should definitely work in your favor.

Hey Philip! I work in HR for a school district and deal with this situation pretty regularly. You're absolutely right to be concerned about the gap in disability coverage - it's unfortunately super common when people transition to public sector jobs. The good news is that everyone here is correct about SDI eligibility based on your previous employment. Since you paid into the system for 3 years at your retail job, you should definitely qualify. The base period calculation means your recent contributions absolutely count. One thing I'd add - make sure you understand your school district's policy on using sick leave concurrent with or before disability benefits. Some districts require you to exhaust all sick time first, others allow you to save some for when you return. Check with your HR department about this so you can plan accordingly. Also, once you're eligible for the district's disability program next year, you might want to compare the benefits. Sometimes the district plans are actually better than state SDI (higher wage replacement, longer benefit periods), so the wait might be worth it for future situations. Hope your surgery goes well and you get approved quickly!

Just wanted to share that I went through something very similar when I switched from private sector to working for the city. The transition period can be really stressful when you're dealing with a medical situation! One thing that helped me was keeping a detailed timeline of my employment dates, surgery date, and when I expected to return to work. EDD sometimes asks for clarification on employment transitions, so having everything documented made the process smoother. Also, don't hesitate to follow up if you don't hear back within their stated timeframe. Sometimes claims get stuck in the system and a simple phone call (or using one of those services others mentioned) can get things moving again. Sending positive thoughts for your surgery and a quick approval on your SDI claim! You've done everything right by applying promptly with all the documentation.

Philip, I'm so glad you applied and that everyone here has been so helpful! Your situation is actually more common than you might think - I see posts about employment transitions and SDI eligibility gaps pretty regularly in this community. One small addition to all the great advice you've received: when you do get approved (and I'm confident you will based on your 3 years of contributions), make sure to set up direct deposit if you haven't already. It can speed up your benefit payments significantly compared to waiting for paper checks in the mail. Also, since you mentioned your surgery can't really wait, don't second-guess your decision to move forward with it. Your health comes first, and you've done everything right by applying for benefits based on your previous employment. The system is designed to cover situations exactly like yours. Wishing you a successful surgery and smooth recovery! Keep us posted on how your claim progresses - your experience could really help other community members who find themselves in similar situations.

Philip, this is such a great example of why it's so important to understand your benefits before making job transitions! I'm a benefits coordinator and see this situation ALL the time - people don't realize the gap in disability coverage when moving from private sector to government jobs. You've gotten excellent advice here. Just to reinforce what others have said: your 3 years of SDI contributions at your retail job absolutely qualify you for benefits. The base period calculation works in your favor here. One quick tip I haven't seen mentioned yet - when you get your approval notice, pay close attention to the effective date of your claim. Sometimes there can be confusion about when benefits actually start, especially when you're using sick leave first. Make sure the dates align with your doctor's certification of when you became unable to work. Also, for future reference, always ask about disability coverage during job interviews! It's a legitimate question and can help you plan for situations like this. Some districts offer supplemental disability insurance you can purchase even as a new employee. Hope your surgery goes smoothly and you get approved quickly! You're handling this exactly right.

Philip, I'm really glad you took everyone's advice and applied! Your situation hits close to home for me - I went through something very similar when I transitioned from working at a private clinic to a county health department position a couple years ago. One thing I learned the hard way: keep checking your SDI Online account regularly, not just for approval status but also for any correspondence or requests for additional information. Sometimes EDD sends messages through the portal that don't trigger email notifications, and missing those can delay your claim processing. Also, since you mentioned your doctor is willing to complete paperwork, make sure they understand the timeline. If your recovery ends up being longer or shorter than the initial 6-8 weeks estimate, they'll need to submit updated certifications. Having a good relationship with your doctor's office staff can make this process much smoother. You've got this! The fact that you paid into SDI consistently for 3 years should definitely work in your favor. Focus on your health and recovery - you've done everything right on the benefits side.

Philip, I'm so glad you found this community and got such helpful advice! Your situation really resonates with me because I went through something almost identical when I switched from retail to working for the state. The gap in disability coverage is honestly one of those things nobody warns you about when making these career transitions. It sounds like you've handled everything perfectly - applying right away, being transparent about your employment situation, and keeping all your documentation organized. The fact that you consistently paid into SDI for 3 years at your retail job puts you in a really strong position for approval. One small thing I'd add that I learned from my experience: once you're approved and receiving benefits, keep track of when your benefit year ends. If you have any ongoing health issues or need additional time off in the future, you'll want to know whether you're still within the same benefit year or if you need to file a new claim. The timing can affect your benefit calculations. Wishing you all the best with your surgery and recovery! You've got a great support system here, and it sounds like you're going to be just fine financially while you heal.

Philip, I'm so glad you applied and are getting such great support here! As someone who works in disability case management, I just wanted to add a quick tip about the timeline. Since you mentioned your surgery is in late March and you've already applied, that timing should work well - EDD typically processes initial SDI claims within 14 days if all documentation is complete. One thing to keep in mind: if your surgery date changes for any reason, make sure to update EDD immediately. The disability start date needs to align with when your doctor certifies you're unable to work, not necessarily when you first applied. Also, don't be surprised if they contact your previous retail employer to verify your wages and SDI contributions - that's totally normal and actually a good sign that they're processing your claim based on that employment history. You're doing everything right by being proactive about this! Focus on your health and recovery - the financial piece should fall into place given your solid work history with SDI contributions.

Philip, I'm really glad to see how this conversation has developed and that you got your application submitted! As someone who's been through a similar employment transition (private sector to government), I just wanted to add one more reassuring voice to the chorus. The advice you've received here is spot-on, especially about your SDI eligibility based on your retail job contributions. I had a gap of about 2 months between leaving my private sector job and needing medical leave at my new government position, and I was still approved without any issues. One thing that really helped me was keeping a simple spreadsheet with key dates - last day at retail job, first day at school district, surgery date, expected return date, etc. It made it so much easier when EDD had questions about my employment timeline. Also, don't stress too much about the process now that you've submitted everything. You've paid into the system for years, you have legitimate medical need, and you've been transparent about your employment situation. That's exactly what SDI is designed for! Best of luck with your surgery - sounds like you have great support here and you're well-prepared financially. Keep us posted on how everything goes!

Philip, what an incredible journey this has been to follow! As someone new to this community, I'm amazed by the wealth of knowledge and support you've received here. Your situation really highlights how confusing the transition between different disability insurance systems can be. I'm currently considering a move from private sector to a school district myself, and honestly, I had no idea about this potential gap in disability coverage. Your post has been incredibly educational - I'm definitely going to ask about this during my interview process now! It sounds like you've done everything absolutely right by applying based on your retail job contributions. Three years of paying into SDI should definitely work in your favor. The fact that so many people here have been through similar situations and had positive outcomes is really encouraging. I hope your surgery goes smoothly and your recovery is quick! Thank you for sharing your experience with the community - posts like this are invaluable for people navigating these complex benefit transitions. Please keep us updated on your approval status!

Philip, I've been following your thread and I'm so impressed with how you've handled this situation! As someone who recently went through a similar career transition (left a corporate job to work for the city), I can totally relate to that panic when you realize there's a gap in disability coverage. Your story is actually giving me confidence about my own situation - I've been putting off a knee surgery that I probably need because I wasn't sure about my SDI eligibility. Like you, I paid into the system for several years at my previous job before switching to municipal employment. Reading about your experience and all the helpful responses here is making me think I should stop delaying and just apply when I'm ready for surgery. It's so great that you took action quickly and applied with all your documentation. The fact that you were transparent about your employment transition from the start shows you're handling this exactly right. I'm really hopeful you'll get approved soon - three years of consistent SDI contributions should definitely work in your favor! Thanks for sharing your journey with the community. Posts like yours are so valuable for those of us navigating these tricky benefit transitions. Wishing you a successful surgery and speedy recovery!