Can I receive CA SDI pregnancy benefits after moving out-of-state? Still paid into system until April
I'm currently 32 weeks pregnant and just moved from San Diego to Nevada in May 2025 for my partner's new job. I was working in California until late April and had SDI deductions taken from all my paychecks while I was there. My doctor says I should stop working now due to some complications, so I applied for CA Pregnancy Disability last week. I already received the Notice of Computation showing I'd get about $1,250/week based on my highest quarter earnings, but then I also got this letter asking for proof of address. Since I submitted my Nevada address on the application, I'm freaking out that they're going to deny my claim even though I paid into the system during my base period. Does anyone know if you can collect California SDI benefits if you've moved out of state? Everything I find online is confusing and the EDD website doesn't clearly address this situation. I paid into the system for nearly 3 years before moving!
33 comments


Ellie Perry
yea u can still get it my sister moved to arizona last yr and still got her pregnancy disability from cali. as long as u paid into it during the base period ur fine
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Mohamed Anderson
•Oh thank god. Did she have to provide any special documentation or explain why she moved? I'm worried about this proof of address request they sent.
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Landon Morgan
Yes, you can absolutely receive California SDI benefits even if you've moved out of state! The key factor is whether you paid into the system during your base period, not where you currently live. Your base period for a claim filed now would be approximately January 2024 through December 2024. The proof of address request is standard procedure to verify your identity and ensure benefits are sent to the correct location. Just send them your current Nevada address documentation (utility bill, lease, etc.). Make sure to complete any forms they send promptly and keep detailed records of all communications. Since you're out of state, everything will need to be handled by mail or through your SDI Online account.
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Mohamed Anderson
•Thank you so much for this detailed explanation! That makes me feel much better. I'll send in my utility bill and lease agreement today. Do you know if this might delay my benefits? I'm already worried about making ends meet while on leave.
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Teresa Boyd
•THIS IS NOT 100% ACCURATE!! It depends when you FILED your claim, not when you worked!!! If you file AFTER moving, they can deny you! My cousin just went through THIS EXACT situation and EDD gave her the runaround for WEEKS before denying her claim!! The rules changed in 2023!!!!!
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Lourdes Fox
I went through something similar when I moved to Oregon last year while 28 weeks pregnant. I had worked in Sacramento for 5 years before relocating. The address verification is normal - they just need to know where to send your documents and payments. BUT make sure you have a California doctor who will complete the medical certification form (DE 2501). This tripped me up because my new Oregon doctor wasn't familiar with California's system. I had to coordinate with my previous OB in California to get the paperwork done correctly. Does your California doctor know you've moved? Are they willing to complete the paperwork?
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Mohamed Anderson
•I actually hadn't thought about the medical certification aspect! I've been seeing my new Nevada OB for a month now, but I do still have contact with my San Diego doctor who managed most of my pregnancy. I'll call her office tomorrow to see if she'll fill out the form. That's a really good point.
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Lourdes Fox
•Yes definitely call your California doctor ASAP! And let your new Nevada doctor know what's happening too - sometimes they can coordinate care notes to help with the certification. My California doctor was willing to fill out the forms based on my Oregon doctor's assessment, but I had to be very persistent about getting them to communicate.
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Bruno Simmons
To clarify some confusion in this thread: Yes, you can receive California SDI benefits if you no longer live in California, provided you paid SDI taxes during your base period. The EDD specifically states that benefits are payable regardless of residence at the time of claim. Regarding the proof of address request: This is for claim processing purposes and benefit delivery, not to verify California residency. They need to confirm where to send communications and payments. However, you do need a physician licensed in the United States to complete your medical certification. While ideally this would be your California doctor who has your pregnancy history, your Nevada doctor can also complete this certification. The important distinction is that eligibility depends on your contributions to the SDI fund, not your current residence. As long as you worked in California and had SDI withheld from your paychecks during the base period (roughly 5-17 months before your claim), you should be eligible. I recommend calling EDD directly to clarify any specific requirements for your situation.
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Aileen Rodriguez
•Good luck calling EDD directly! I spent 3 weeks trying to get through about my pregnancy disability claim and kept getting disconnected or waiting for hours. If you need to actually talk to someone at EDD, try using Claimyr.com - it got me connected to an agent in under 20 minutes when I was having issues with my medical certification. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/1X-mEsLtbmQ?si=1hcSq3KFtCr4oAmd. Seriously saved my sanity during an already stressful time.
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Mohamed Anderson
•Thank you for this detailed information! I've been trying to call them since yesterday with no luck - just endless hold music. I'll check out that service if I can't get through by tomorrow. I'm collecting all my documentation now to make sure everything's in order.
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Zane Gray
Everyone here is missing something IMPORTANT. The rules DID change in 2023! You now have to be a CALIFORNIA RESIDENT when you FILE a disability claim, not just when you paid into it!!! I can't believe people are giving such wrong information here. My sister-in-law moved to Texas and tried to file CA disability and was DENIED even though she paid into it for YEARS. She fought it for months and still lost. They specifically said she wasn't eligible because she was no longer a CA resident when she filed!
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Mohamed Anderson
•Oh no, this is exactly what I'm afraid of! Do you know what section of the law changed? I've been searching the EDD website and can't find anything specific about residency requirements changing. Was there anything your sister-in-law could have done differently?
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Bruno Simmons
•I believe there's some confusion here. There was no change to California residency requirements for SDI in 2023. The California Unemployment Insurance Code Section 2608 specifically states that "disability benefits... shall be payable to an eligible individual who is unemployed and disabled, regardless of whether he or she is within or outside the state." It's possible your sister-in-law's claim was denied for other reasons (insufficient base period wages, incomplete medical certification, etc.) and the explanation was misunderstood. I'd encourage the original poster to proceed with their claim and provide the requested documentation.
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Maggie Martinez
Can we go back to the original question? The proof of address thing isn't about eligibility - it's about identity verification. EDD has been requesting this from EVERYBODY since the pandemic fraud issues. My disability claim in March needed the same thing even though I've lived at the same address in San Francisco for 6 years. It's just standard procedure now. Send whatever they're asking for, like utility bill or lease or whatever.
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Mohamed Anderson
•That makes sense! I was overthinking it because of the timing with my move. I'll send in the verification they requested right away. Thanks for the perspective.
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Landon Morgan
After reading all the comments, I want to officially confirm: You ARE eligible for CA SDI pregnancy benefits despite moving to Nevada. The key requirements are: 1. You paid into CA SDI during your base period (which you did through April 2025) 2. You have a qualifying medical condition (pregnancy with complications) 3. You have a licensed physician who can complete the medical certification The address verification is standard procedure and not related to eligibility requirements. If you have trouble reaching EDD by phone (which is common), be sure to keep detailed records of all your submission dates and documents. You can also request assistance through your state representative's office if you encounter unexpected delays or denials.
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Mohamed Anderson
•Thank you for this clear summary! I've submitted my address verification documents and contacted my previous doctor about completing the medical certification. I feel much better about my claim now. I'll update the thread once I hear back from EDD about my claim status for anyone who might have the same question in the future.
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Ian Armstrong
I went through this exact situation last year when I moved from LA to Phoenix while pregnant! You're absolutely eligible for CA SDI benefits - I received mine for the full 4 weeks before delivery and 6 weeks after, even though I was living in Arizona the entire time. The key is that you paid into the system during your base period, which you clearly did. The address verification request is totally normal - they've been doing this for everyone since 2020 due to fraud prevention. Just send them a utility bill or lease agreement from your Nevada address and you'll be fine. One tip: make sure your medical certification gets completed quickly. My Arizona doctor was unfamiliar with the CA forms, so I had to provide her with the instructions from the EDD website. The whole process took about 3 weeks from filing to receiving my first payment. Don't stress about the conflicting information in other comments - I literally just went through this successfully 8 months ago!
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Yuki Ito
•This is so reassuring to hear from someone who literally just went through the exact same situation! Thank you for sharing your experience. I'm definitely going to make sure my Nevada doctor has all the EDD instructions when I get the medical certification form. Did you have any issues with the timing of payments or was it pretty smooth once everything was submitted? I'm hoping to get this resolved quickly since I'm already at 32 weeks.
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Zainab Mahmoud
I'm currently going through a similar situation - moved from California to Oregon at 30 weeks pregnant and was worried about my SDI eligibility. After reading through all these responses, I called EDD this morning (took 2 hours on hold but finally got through) and they confirmed what several people have said here: as long as you paid into SDI during your base period, you're eligible regardless of where you live now. The representative told me the address verification is just for their records and benefit delivery - it has nothing to do with eligibility determination. She also mentioned that out-of-state claims sometimes take slightly longer to process (an extra week or two) but that's just due to additional verification steps, not because of any eligibility issues. One thing that helped me was having my California employment records handy when I called - they were able to verify my base period wages immediately and confirm my eligibility on the spot. Definitely keep all your CA pay stubs from 2024 just in case they need additional verification. Hope this helps ease your mind! You should be totally fine.
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Connor Murphy
•This is incredibly helpful! Thank you for actually calling and getting official confirmation from EDD. I've been so stressed about this whole situation, but hearing that they confirmed eligibility regardless of current residence makes me feel so much better. I definitely have all my 2024 CA pay stubs saved, so I'll make sure to have those ready if they need additional verification. It's good to know that out-of-state claims might take a bit longer - I'd rather know what to expect than be surprised by delays. Really appreciate you sharing what the EDD representative told you!
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Luca Marino
I'm in a very similar situation - just moved from the Bay Area to Colorado at 29 weeks pregnant and was panicking about my SDI eligibility! Reading through everyone's experiences here has been so helpful. I paid into CA SDI for over 4 years before moving, so it sounds like I should be fine based on what everyone is saying. One thing I wanted to add that might help others: when I called my previous California OB about completing the medical certification, her office told me they handle out-of-state SDI forms regularly and it's pretty routine for them. So don't be afraid to reach out to your CA doctor even if you've moved - they're usually familiar with the process. Also, for anyone struggling to get through to EDD by phone, I found that calling right when they open at 8am Pacific time gave me the best chance of getting through quickly. Still took about 45 minutes on hold, but that's way better than the 3+ hours I was waiting when calling later in the day. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this thread has been a lifesaver for my peace of mind!
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Yuki Nakamura
•This thread has been such a relief to find! I'm actually in almost the exact same boat - 34 weeks pregnant and just moved from Sacramento to Texas last month. I've been losing sleep over whether I'd be eligible for CA SDI since I already submitted my application with my Texas address. Reading everyone's experiences, especially the recent confirmations from people who called EDD directly, has really put my mind at ease. I'm definitely going to reach out to my California doctor about the medical certification - thanks for the tip about them handling out-of-state forms regularly. And that 8am calling strategy is gold! I tried calling yesterday afternoon and gave up after 2 hours. Going to try first thing Monday morning. Really grateful for this community sharing real experiences instead of just speculation!
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Nalani Liu
I'm a newcomer here but wanted to share my recent experience since it's directly relevant to your situation! I just went through this exact scenario - moved from San Francisco to Portland at 28 weeks pregnant in February and successfully received my full CA SDI pregnancy benefits. The confusion in some of these comments is understandable, but I can confirm from personal experience that you absolutely CAN receive benefits after moving out of state. I worked with an EDD supervisor who walked me through the eligibility requirements, and residence at time of filing is NOT a factor - only your base period contributions matter. A few practical tips from my experience: - Send that address verification ASAP (I used my Oregon lease and utility bill) - Your Nevada doctor can complete the medical certification, but give them the EDD instructions from the website since they might not be familiar with CA forms - Keep copies of everything and track submission dates - Consider setting up the SDI Online account for faster communication The whole process took about 3 weeks for me, and I received benefits for my full leave period. Don't let the conflicting information stress you out - you paid into the system and you're entitled to these benefits regardless of where you live now! Feel free to ask if you have any other questions about the process. Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy! 💙
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Connor Murphy
•Thank you so much for sharing your recent experience! This is exactly what I needed to hear from someone who just went through the same situation. I'm definitely going to submit my address verification documents today and start working on getting the medical certification sorted out with my Nevada doctor. It's such a relief to know that you successfully received your full benefits after moving out of state. I've been so worried about this, especially with all the conflicting information online. Your practical tips are really helpful too - I'll make sure to set up the SDI Online account and keep detailed records of everything. Thanks for taking the time to share your experience and congrats on getting through your pregnancy leave successfully! 💙
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Beth Ford
I just want to echo what several others have shared - you absolutely can receive CA SDI pregnancy benefits after moving out of state! I'm currently going through this myself after relocating from Orange County to Denver at 30 weeks pregnant. The key thing that helped me was understanding that the "proof of address" request isn't about eligibility - it's just for their records and to know where to send your payments. I was initially panicked when I got that same letter, but after submitting my Colorado lease agreement and utility bill, everything moved forward smoothly. One thing I'd add is to make sure you respond to any EDD requests quickly. I've heard processing can be slower for out-of-state claims, so being prompt with documentation helps avoid unnecessary delays. Also, if you're having trouble reaching EDD by phone, try their online messaging system through SDI Online - I got responses within 2-3 business days that way. You paid into the system during your base period, you have a qualifying medical condition, and you're following the proper application process. You should be good to go! Best of luck with the rest of your pregnancy! 🙏
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Marcelle Drum
•This is such valuable information, thank you! I really appreciate you mentioning the online messaging system through SDI Online - I hadn't thought about that option and it sounds much more reliable than trying to get through by phone. I'm definitely going to set that up today along with submitting my address verification documents. It's so reassuring to hear from multiple people who have successfully gone through this exact situation recently. The fact that you're currently going through it in Denver and everything is moving forward smoothly gives me a lot of confidence. I'll make sure to respond quickly to any requests they send. Thanks for the encouragement and best of luck with the rest of your pregnancy too! 🙏
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Hunter Edmunds
Just wanted to add my experience as another data point! I moved from Los Angeles to Seattle at 35 weeks pregnant last year and successfully received my full CA SDI pregnancy benefits. Like others have mentioned, the address verification request is completely standard - I submitted my Washington state utility bill and lease, and it was processed without any issues. One thing that really helped me was calling EDD early in the morning (around 8 AM Pacific) when wait times were shorter. The representative I spoke with was very knowledgeable and confirmed that as long as you paid SDI taxes during your base period (which you clearly did through April), your current residence doesn't affect eligibility at all. For the medical certification, my new Seattle doctor was actually familiar with CA SDI forms since they'd helped other patients who had moved from California. But if your Nevada doctor isn't familiar, just provide them with the instructions from the EDD website - most doctors are happy to complete it once they understand the requirements. You're going to be fine! The system is designed to protect workers who paid into it, regardless of where life takes them afterward. Focus on your health and your baby - the benefits will come through! 💕
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CosmicCowboy
•Thank you so much for sharing another successful experience! It's incredibly reassuring to hear from so many people who have gone through this exact situation and received their benefits without issues. The 8 AM calling tip seems to be a common theme - I'll definitely try that if I need to reach them by phone. I'm feeling so much more confident about my claim now after reading all these real experiences. It's amazing how this community has come together to help clarify what can be such a confusing and stressful situation. I really appreciate everyone taking the time to share their stories - it's made such a difference in my peace of mind during an already overwhelming time! 💕
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Skylar Neal
Hey! I'm new to this community but wanted to share my experience since it's so similar to yours. I moved from San Jose to Arizona at 31 weeks pregnant earlier this year and was terrified about losing my CA SDI eligibility. After reading through all these responses, I can confirm what everyone is saying - you're absolutely eligible! I successfully received my full pregnancy disability benefits (4 weeks before delivery + 6 weeks after) even though I was living in Phoenix the entire time. The address verification they're asking for is just standard procedure now - nothing to worry about. I sent them my Arizona lease and electric bill, and it was processed within a week. The whole claim took about 2.5 weeks from start to finish. One tip: make sure to keep checking your SDI Online account regularly for any updates or additional requests. Sometimes they post important information there before sending physical mail, which can help speed things up. You've got this! The fact that you paid into the system for 3 years definitely covers you. Try not to stress too much and focus on staying healthy for you and your baby! 🤱
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Zara Mirza
•Thank you so much for sharing your recent experience! It's such a relief to hear from someone who just went through this exact situation in Arizona. The timeline you mentioned (2.5 weeks from start to finish) is really helpful to know - I was wondering how long the whole process would take. I definitely will keep checking the SDI Online account regularly for updates, that's a great tip I hadn't thought of. Reading all these success stories from people who moved to different states has really eased my anxiety about this whole situation. It's amazing how supportive this community is! Thanks for the encouragement - I'm feeling so much more confident about my claim now. 🤱
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Gemma Andrews
I'm so glad I found this thread! I'm currently 29 weeks pregnant and just moved from California to Florida last month for my husband's military transfer. I've been absolutely panicking about whether I'd still be eligible for CA SDI pregnancy benefits since I paid into the system for almost 4 years before moving. Reading everyone's experiences here has been incredibly reassuring - especially hearing from people who successfully received benefits after moving to Nevada, Arizona, Texas, Colorado, and other states. It sounds like the key is really just that you paid into SDI during your base period, which I definitely did through my move date. I haven't applied yet because I was so worried about being denied, but after reading all these success stories, I'm going to submit my application this week. My Florida OB said she'd be happy to complete any medical certification forms once I get them. Thank you to everyone who shared their real experiences rather than just speculation - this has made such a huge difference in my stress levels during an already overwhelming time with the move and pregnancy! 💙
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