Can I get EDD SDI benefits after being laid off? Unemployed with medical condition

yep u can get disability even if ur unemployed. i did this last yr. as long as ur doctor fills out the paperwork saying u cant work

Yes, you can absolutely apply for SDI even if you're unemployed. The key requirement is having a medical condition that prevents you from working - which your herniated disc would qualify for if your doctor certifies it. Since you haven't filed for unemployment yet, apply for SDI instead (you can't collect both simultaneously). Make sure your doctor completes the medical certification form properly showing your condition began in January (while you were still employed). EDD will use your base period wages from the previous 5-18 months to calculate your benefit amount. One important note: since you've been unemployed since February 8th, apply as soon as possible. There's a 7-day waiting period, and benefits aren't retroactive beyond the application date in most cases.

I tried this and got DENIED!!! EDD said I wasn't eligible because I wasn't working when I filed my claim. They kept saying I should apply for unemployment instead. This whole system is BROKEN and they just want to deny everyone. Good luck but don't get your hopes up!!

This reminds me of when my cousin tried to get disability after being laid off from his construction job. He had a shoulder injury he'd been working through for months. It took him forever to get benefits because he kept getting conflicting information about whether to file for UI or SDI. I think he finally got approved but had to appeal or something. Ask your doctor to be really specific about when your condition started and how it prevents you from working.

Have you been able to reach EDD directly to ask about your situation? After struggling to get through on the phone for weeks, I discovered a service called Claimyr that got me connected to an actual SDI representative in under 25 minutes. They basically call EDD for you and transfer you once they get through. It saved me so much frustration when I had a complicated disability claim situation last month. Their website is claimyr.com and they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/1X-mEsLtbmQ?si=1hcSq3KFtCr4oAmd. Highly recommend speaking directly with EDD about your specific situation since your case has that timeline element with the medical condition starting before termination.

To clarify some of the confusion here: You can receive SDI benefits while unemployed if you meet these requirements: 1. You were either working or actively looking for work when your disability began 2. You lost wages due to your disability (not just from being laid off) 3. You earned enough money during your base period to establish a claim 4. You have medical certification documenting your disability Your situation seems to qualify since your medical condition started in January while you were still employed, though you were trying to work through it. Make sure your doctor clearly documents this timeline. When you apply, be prepared to answer questions about when your disability began versus when your employment ended. Be honest about the February 8th termination, but also clear that your medical condition started before that date. Also, if approved, your benefit rate will be based on your previous wages, not affected by your current unemployment.

wait so if u get disability does that mean u cant get unemployment later?? im confused about how these work together

UPDATE: I wanted to let everyone know what happened. I applied for SDI and made sure my doctor documented that my condition started in January while I was still employed. I got approved! My weekly benefit amount is based on my wages from last year. It took about 10 days for the claim to be processed. I did have to call EDD once to clarify something on my application (used that Claimyr service someone mentioned - worked great). Thank you all for the helpful advice!