Can I get unemployment after pregnancy disability if my position was eliminated?
I've been out on pregnancy disability for almost 4 months (thank goodness for California SDI!). My doctor just cleared me to return to work next week, but I just got a call from HR saying my position has been eliminated due to department restructuring! I'm completely panicking right now. Does anyone know if I can apply for unemployment benefits after being on SDI? Or does being on disability somehow disqualify me? I've never been in this situation before and have a newborn to support now. Any advice would be so appreciated!
20 comments
Join the conversation
Ian Armstrong
OMG the same thing happened to my sister last year!!! Companies can be so heartless. I think she was able to get unemployment after her maternity disability but I'm not 100% sure. Something about needing to be 'able and available' for work which you should be now if doc cleared you?
0 coins
Molly Chambers
•Thanks for responding! Did your sister have to do anything special when applying? I'm worried they'll see I was just on disability and automatically deny me.
0 coins
Eli Butler
Yes, you absolutely CAN apply for unemployment after your SDI pregnancy disability ends if your position was eliminated. The key is timing - you need to be medically cleared to work (which you are), able and available for work, and actively seeking employment. Your previous SDI claim doesn't disqualify you as long as you're now able to work. Make sure you apply for UI as soon as your SDI ends - don't wait or there could be a gap in benefits.
0 coins
Marcus Patterson
•Listen to this person!! I messed up and waited too long after my disability ended before applying for unemployment and had to fight with EDD for weeks to backdate my claim. DON'T make my mistake
0 coins
Lydia Bailey
You should also check if youre eligible for Paid Family Leave after your SDI! You can get 8 weeks to bond with your baby before you even need to worry about unemployment.
0 coins
Molly Chambers
•Oh! I completely forgot about PFL! That would give me some breathing room to figure out the job situation. Do you know if I apply for that the same way I did for SDI?
0 coins
Eli Butler
•Yes, you apply for PFL through the same SDI Online portal you used for your pregnancy disability claim. The transition from SDI to PFL is pretty seamless. After PFL ends, that's when you'd apply for unemployment if you're still jobless. Just remember that each program has different eligibility requirements: SDI is for your medical recovery, PFL is for bonding with your baby, and UI is for when you're able to work but unemployed through no fault of your own (like position elimination).
0 coins
Mateo Warren
Wait is your company big enough to have FMLA protection?? If they have 50+ employees and you worked there over a year, they CANT eliminate your position while youre on protected leave! That might be illegal!! You should talk to a lawyer!!!
0 coins
Molly Chambers
•We're definitely under 50 employees (small tech startup), so I don't think FMLA applies in my case unfortunately. But thank you for mentioning it - that's good info for others reading this thread!
0 coins
Sofia Price
I went through this exact nightmare scenario in 2023 after my pregnancy. Here's what you need to know: 1. First, transition from SDI to PFL for baby bonding (8 weeks) 2. After PFL, apply for unemployment immediately 3. When you apply for UI, make sure to clearly explain your availability for work 4. You'll need to certify every two weeks that you're looking for work The most frustrating part was trying to get through to EDD when I had questions about transitioning between programs. I spent DAYS getting disconnected or waiting on hold. Finally found a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to an actual EDD rep in under 20 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/1X-mEsLtbmQ?si=1hcSq3KFtCr4oAmd It was so worth it to actually talk to someone who could explain my benefits and fix an issue with my claim.
0 coins
Molly Chambers
•Thank you so much for the detailed steps! I'll definitely check out that service if I run into problems. The idea of spending hours on hold with a fussy newborn sounds impossible.
0 coins
Alice Coleman
The EDD system is DESIGNED to confuse people and deny benefits!! I bet they'll find some reason to deny your claim even though you DESERVE those benefits after your company threw you away!!! The whole system is broken and they don't care about new mothers AT ALL.
0 coins
Eli Butler
•While EDD can certainly be frustrating to navigate, they do have specific provisions for situations exactly like this. The transition between benefit programs is actually quite well established in California. The key is understanding each program's purpose and applying at the right time with the right documentation.
0 coins
Marcus Patterson
quick question did u get the debit card for ur SDI already? cuz when u switch to PFL or UI they use the same card to deposit ur $$$ so dont lose it
0 coins
Molly Chambers
•Yes, I have the EDD debit card! Good to know they'll use the same one for different benefits. One less thing to worry about!
0 coins
Owen Jenkins
when i had my baby last year my doctor gave me extra time on disability bc of postpartum depression maybe ask your doctor if you can extend your disability? just a thought if your not ready to work yet
0 coins
Molly Chambers
•That's a good point about possibly extending disability if I wasn't ready, but honestly I was looking forward to getting back to work! Just didn't expect to be job hunting with a newborn. But thank you for mentioning this option for others who might need it.
0 coins
Eli Butler
One more important thing to note: your UI benefit amount might be different from what you received on SDI. Unemployment is calculated based on your highest-earning quarter during your base period (typically 5-18 months before filing), while SDI is based on a percentage of your regular wages. Make sure to check the EDD website for the UI benefit calculator so you can budget accordingly.
0 coins
Molly Chambers
•Thank you for this information! I'll definitely check the calculator. Do you know if they look at my income before I went on disability? My base period would include several months where I was working full-time.
0 coins
Eli Butler
•Yes, they'll look at your income before disability. For UI claims filed in 2025, the standard base period would typically be the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you file for UI. Since those quarters would be when you were working full-time (pre-disability), that works in your favor for calculating your benefit amount.
0 coins