Can I get EDD disability while fighting for workplace accommodation? Might resign

Yes, you might qualify for SDI (State Disability Insurance) while on LOA if your doctor certifies that you can't do your regular or customary work due to your medical condition. The key is having medical documentation that shows you're unable to perform your normal job duties. For your second question, generally if you resign voluntarily, you wouldn't qualify for unemployment. BUT if you can prove you resigned because they failed to provide reasonable accommodation for a documented disability, that could potentially be considered "good cause" for leaving, which might make you eligible. Document EVERYTHING with your employer - all accommodation requests, their responses, etc. This will be crucial evidence if you need to file either type of claim.

same thing happened to me last yr... my job was being all weird about my back injury accommodations so i went on leave. applied for sdi right away and got it no problem. just have ur doctor fill out the right form

For SDI, your doctor needs to certify that you're unable to do your "regular or customary work" due to disability. This doesn't necessarily mean you're completely unable to work at all - it means you can't do YOUR SPECIFIC JOB without accommodations. If your employer is refusing reasonable accommodations, you should: 1. File a complaint with DFEH/EEOC for ADA violations 2. Apply for SDI while that process plays out 3. Consider consulting with an employment attorney If you end up resigning, make it crystal clear in writing that you're resigning because they failed to accommodate your disability. This will help with your UI claim, though be prepared for a fight - your employer will likely contest it.

The EDD system is RIDICULOUS when it comes to these situations!!! I went through something similar in 2023 and it was a NIGHTMARE trying to get anyone to understand that I was willing to work BUT ONLY with accommodations!!! My employer basically forced me out by saying they "couldn't" accommodate me (BS!!!) and then when I applied for unemployment they told EDD I "abandoned" my position!!! I had to go through THREE APPEALS before someone finally understood! DOCUMENT EVERYTHING and be prepared for a fight!!

my sister had kinda the same thing last year and she got unemployment after she quit because her boss wouldn't let her work from home even tho her doctor said she needed to. she had to appeal tho

@OP - Yes, I finally won after the THIRD appeal, took almost 5 months!!! By then I was in serious financial trouble. I wish I'd tried for disability first instead of unemployment because apparently that's easier to get approved quickly.

Have you tried calling EDD directly to ask about your situation? I know it can be nearly impossible to get through to them, but I found a service called Claimyr that can connect you with an EDD agent usually within an hour. It saved me so much frustration when I was trying to sort out my disability claim earlier this year. Their website is claimyr.com and they have a video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/1X-mEsLtbmQ?si=1hcSq3KFtCr4oAmd Honestly, getting direct answers from an actual EDD agent was what finally helped me understand my options. Worth considering if you're getting desperate.

Just to clarify something important here: SDI and unemployment serve different purposes and have different eligibility requirements: - SDI: For when you CAN'T work due to disability (certified by doctor) - UI: For when you CAN work but lost your job through no fault of your own You generally can't collect both simultaneously. Right now, while on LOA, SDI sounds more appropriate if your doctor will certify. If you end up leaving your job and are able to work (with accommodations) but can't find employment, that's when UI might apply. Also - there's Paid Family Leave (PFL) which is like SDI but is for caregiving or bonding with new child. That wouldn't apply here based on what you've described.

I'm actually going through this exact situation right now! Been on SDI for 3 months while fighting with my company about accommodations. My advice: 1) Get your doctor to be VERY specific about what you can and cannot do 2) Send accommodation requests in writing 3) Apply for SDI ASAP while this gets sorted - the process can take a few weeks so don't wait The SDI payments have been a lifesaver while I'm sorting everything out. My doctor wrote that I cannot perform my regular duties WITHOUT the specific accommodations, which qualified me.

One more important point: If you do end up needing to file for unemployment after resigning, you'll need to demonstrate that you made reasonable efforts to resolve the accommodation issues before quitting. This means: 1. Formal written accommodation requests 2. Following your company's ADA/accommodation process completely 3. Attempting to work with HR on alternatives 4. Documenting any interactive process meetings Quitting should be your last resort after you've exhausted all other options. This strengthens your case for "good cause" resignation. In the meantime, pursue SDI if your doctor supports it.

btw make sure u fax the disability forms dont mail them they get lost i learned that the hard way lol