Can I qualify for EDD unemployment after SDI if my job relocated 21+ miles away?

i think ur good to file for UI after SDI ends. my cousin had something like this happen last yr when her office moved from san jose to freemont and EDD approved her because the commute was too long. just make sure u say EXACTLY why u cant take the job back because of the distance and ur medical condition. they'll prob ask for some proof from ur doctor tho.

You might have a case here, but EDD is SUPER picky about this!! When you file for UI after SDI, they're going to contact your employer who will probably say "we have a job waiting for you" and then you'll have to prove why you can't accept it. The key factor is whether the new commute is "substantially less favorable" than your original employment agreement. Get documentation from your doctor specifically stating that the increased commute would aggravate your medical condition. Also document the exact mileage change, estimated commute times, etc. I had to fight EDD for 3 months when something similar happened to me!!

wait im confused—are you still technically employed? or did they fire you? because if your still employed but just on disability leave the unemployment rules are different. you might need to officially quit first before u can get UI. i went thru something kinda similar but with a schedule change not a location change

Just went through a similar situation after my SDI ended in January 2025. My workplace moved from Oakland to San Francisco while I was out on disability, and with my back condition, I couldn't handle the longer commute on BART. Here's what worked for me: 1. I had my doctor write a VERY specific letter explaining how the extended commute would exacerbate my medical condition 2. I documented the change in commute time (including screenshots from Google Maps during typical commute hours) 3. I calculated the additional costs I would incur (transit passes, etc.) 4. I formally notified my employer IN WRITING that I couldn't return due to the location change + my medical condition 5. When I applied for UI, I made sure to specify that my job conditions had materially changed EDD initially denied my claim, but I appealed and won. The key was proving the commute was substantially different from what I'd originally agreed to when taking the job. Have you tried reaching EDD to ask about your specific situation? Good luck getting through though...

You absolutely CAN collect UI in this situation but it's more complicated coming directly from SDI. I'm a former disability claims specialist. When your SDI ends, you have two choices: 1. Attempt to return to work, find the commute is impossible due to your condition, then quit and file for UI 2. Contact your employer before SDI ends, explain the situation, and ask them to confirm in writing that your position now requires a 22-mile commute Option 2 is better because you won't have that gap between income sources. The legal standard is whether the work is "suitable" given your circumstances. A 13-mile increase in commute distance (and likely much longer time in traffic) can be considered a material change in employment conditions. Make sure you specify on your UI application that you had "good cause" to refuse the work due to both the increased commute AND your medical condition. Be prepared for a phone interview with EDD where they'll ask detailed questions.

Ugh the EDD system is such a mess when transitioning between benefits!! I was on disability for 6 months last year and then couldn't go back to my job. The rules say you need to be ABLE and AVAILABLE for work to get unemployment, so if your anxiety is still preventing you from working AT ALL, you might get denied. But if you're able to work, just not with that specific commute, then you should qualify. My advice - make sure your doctor updates your medical status to show you're recovered enough to work in general, just with certain restrictions (like limited commute time).

did anyone else notice that the SDI to UI transition got way harder after covid? my brother tried this in 2023 and they made him jump thru like 50 hoops to prove he couldnt go back to his old job after disability. the whole system is designed to deny people i swear

Based on the information you've provided, you likely have valid grounds for UI eligibility after your SDI benefits expire. California law recognizes that a significant change in commute can constitute "good cause" for refusing work, especially when combined with a documented medical condition. Here's the process you should follow: 1. Request a letter from your treating physician specifically addressing: - Your anxiety diagnosis - How a 22-mile commute in traffic would affect your condition - That you are able to work in general, but with commute limitations 2. Send a formal letter to your employer explaining that due to your documented medical condition, you cannot accept the position at the new location. Request written confirmation of the relocation's distance. 3. When filing for UI, select "job was no longer suitable" as your reason for separation. 4. During your EDD interview, emphasize that: - You are able and available for suitable work - The job materially changed when it relocated - The new commute would exacerbate your documented medical condition The key regulatory standard is whether the new position represents a "material change" from your original employment agreement. A 13-mile increase in commute distance generally meets this threshold, particularly when combined with medical considerations.

I went through almost the exact same situation in 2024! My employer relocated from downtown to the suburbs while I was on SDI for depression/anxiety, and the commute went from 15 minutes to over an hour in traffic. Here's what I learned: EDD approved my UI claim, but it took some persistence. The key things that helped me: 1. I got a letter from my psychiatrist that specifically mentioned how long commutes trigger my anxiety and would interfere with my recovery 2. I documented everything - screenshots of Google Maps showing travel times during rush hour, gas cost calculations, etc. 3. I made it clear to EDD that I was willing and able to work, just not at that specific location due to the material change in job conditions The tricky part is that EDD will ask if you're "able and available" for work. You need to show that yes, you can work, but this particular job is no longer suitable due to the relocation + your medical condition. Don't let them frame it as you being unable to work period - that's different. Also, start the process NOW while you're still on SDI. Get all your documentation ready so you can file for UI immediately when your disability benefits end. The transition can be smoother than people think if you're prepared!