Can I receive both CA SDI and private long-term disability at the same time?

Yes, you can generally receive both SDI and private LTD benefits, but there's some important details to understand. Most private LTD policies are designed to supplement state disability, not duplicate it. What typically happens is the private insurer will offset their payments by what you receive from SDI.\n\nFor example: If your salary is $5,000/month, SDI pays $3,000 (60%), and your LTD covers 40% ($2,000), you'd likely receive $3,000 from SDI and then $2,000 from the private insurer, effectively getting 100% of your salary.\n\nHowever, some LTD policies have a maximum benefit cap regardless of what other benefits you're receiving. You should carefully review your employer's specific LTD policy documents - look for sections called \

Thank you! This is super helpful. I'll dig into the policy details to find that \

I went thru this last year!!! my job LTD plan paid me directly but it was only like 25% of my pay becuz they subtracted what EDD gave me. still better than just the state $ alone tho!! the paperwork was a PAIN but worth it. oh and my LTD company made me apply for SSDI too even tho i knew i wouldnt qualify but they MADE me do it anyway. so heads up about that.

Thanks for sharing your experience! Did you have to resubmit all your medical documentation to the private insurance, or were they able to use what was already submitted for your state claim? And how long did it take for them to approve you once you applied?

had to submit ALL new stuff. took like 3 weeks for approval, they called my dr twice. and they made me fill out a form EVERY MONTH. way more paperwork than EDD!!!

I manage benefits for a mid-sized company, and I can provide some insight. The relationship between SDI and private LTD is called \

not to hijack but my LTD plan says its non-integrated... does that mean I can get FULL benefits from both?? that would be amazing if true!

Non-integrated plans are rare these days, but yes, it would potentially allow you to collect both benefits without offset. However, I'd still recommend checking with your benefits administrator. Some plans are technically non-integrated but still include specific language about \

I've been on SDI for 4 months and dealing with the exact same issue. Trying to get through to EDD about this has been IMPOSSIBLE. I've called literally 50+ times over the past two weeks and can't get any human being to answer basic questions about how my private disability affects my state benefits.\n\nThe edd phone system is a nightmare maze that usually disconnects me. When I finally did get through once, I was on hold for an hour and then they hung up on me! I ended up using a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me through to an EDD representative in about 25 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/1X-mEsLtbmQ?si=1hcSq3KFtCr4oAmd\n\nThe EDD rep told me that state disability doesn't reduce your benefits because of private LTD - it's usually the private insurance that reduces their payment based on what you get from the state. So definitely apply for both! The EDD rep also told me to make sure I report the private disability payments when I certify each period, but it doesn't affect the state benefit calculation.

Thank you for sharing this! It's so frustrating how difficult it is to get information. I'll definitely check out that service if I need to actually speak with someone at EDD. Did you have to provide any documentation to EDD showing what your private disability was paying you?

No, they didn't ask for documentation - just to report the amount when I certify. But the private LTD company wanted copies of my EDD award notices to calculate their portion. Just be prepared that the private company will likely want more ongoing proof of disability than EDD does.

my neighbor got fired when she tried to claim both!!! be very careful companies don't like it when u try to get 'double benefits' they call it!!

That would be illegal. An employer cannot fire someone for claiming benefits they're legally entitled to - that would be grounds for a wrongful termination lawsuit. There must be more to that situation than just applying for both benefits, as it's a completely standard and legal practice to receive both state and private disability benefits simultaneously.

well idk the whole story but thats what she told me!! maybe there was more to it. just saying be careful!!

Make sure you read ALL the fine print on both SDI and the private LTD!!!! When I had surgery in 2024, I thought I would get both payments too, but what ACTUALLY happened was:\n\n1. SDI paid their 60% (about $3,400/month in my case)\n2. My private LTD was SUPPOSED to pay 66.7% of my salary\n3. BUT they subtracted what SDI paid, so they only gave me an extra 6.7% (about $380/month)\n\nSo I got about 66.7% total, NOT 100% like I originally thought!!!! 😡\n\nThe insurance companies are NOT your friends and they WILL find ways to pay you as little as possible!!!! They made me submit SO MUCH documentation every month and kept trying to say I could go back to work before my doctor said I was ready. The whole process is DESIGNED to be confusing and difficult!!!

That's exactly what I'm worried about - going through all the hassle for a minimal increase in benefits. But honestly, even an extra 6-7% would help right now. Every bit counts when you're on a reduced income. Thanks for sharing your experience.

One important point nobody has mentioned: SDI is generally tax-free at the state level and may be partially or fully tax-free federally (depending on whether you paid the premiums with pre-tax or post-tax dollars). Private LTD benefits are typically taxable if your employer paid the premiums (which is most common).\n\nThis tax difference can significantly impact your actual take-home amount, so keep this in mind when comparing benefit percentages. A 60% tax-free benefit might be roughly equivalent to a 75-80% taxable benefit in terms of actual spending power.\n\nDefinitely apply for the LTD, but be prepared for the possibility that your total take-home might not be a full 100% of your previous net pay.

wait SDI isnt taxed?? i've been paying taxes on mine this whole time!

California SDI benefits are not subject to CA state income tax. For federal taxes, it depends on how you paid into the system. If your SDI contributions were taken from your paycheck after taxes, then your benefits would be tax-free federally. If your contributions were pre-tax, then your benefits would be subject to federal income tax. Most employee contributions in California are post-tax, meaning most people's SDI benefits are completely tax-free, but you should verify your specific situation.

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now and wanted to share what I've learned from my research. First, definitely apply for both - you're entitled to whatever benefits you've earned through your premiums and employer contributions. One thing I discovered that might help you is to request a "benefit estimate" from your employer's LTD carrier before you actually apply. Most insurers will provide this if you call them directly. This way you'll know exactly how much they plan to pay after the SDI offset, so you can decide if the paperwork is worth it. Also, timing matters! Since you're close to the 90-day mark, make sure you understand your LTD plan's definition of "elimination period." Some plans require you to be continuously disabled for 90 days, while others just require 90 days of disability within a certain timeframe. If there's any gap in your SDI claim, it could affect your LTD eligibility. Good luck with your recovery - back surgery is no joke! Take the time you need to heal properly.

Just wanted to add another perspective as someone who's been through this process twice (once for a broken leg in 2022, and again for a shoulder injury last year). The key thing I learned is to start your LTD application as soon as you hit that 90-day mark - don't wait! Even though the private insurance will offset your SDI payments, having that claim in the system protects you if your disability extends beyond the 52-week SDI limit. California SDI has a maximum duration, but private LTD can potentially continue much longer depending on your policy terms. Also, keep detailed records of EVERYTHING - every phone call, every form submitted, every medical appointment. The private insurers are much more aggressive about requesting updates and proof of ongoing disability than EDD is. I had to submit "proof of life" forms monthly and attend independent medical examinations twice with their chosen doctors. One last tip: if your employer offers any kind of benefits advocate or employee assistance program, use it! They can sometimes help navigate the LTD application process and act as a liaison with the insurance company. It saved me a lot of headaches during my second claim. Hope your recovery goes smoothly and you get back to 100% soon!

I'm currently going through this exact situation myself! Been on CA SDI for about 6 weeks now after a knee replacement, and I just submitted my LTD application last week since I hit the 90-day mark. One thing I want to add that I learned from my benefits coordinator - make sure you understand whether your LTD plan uses "own occupation" or "any occupation" definitions of disability. This becomes really important if your recovery takes longer than expected. SDI uses a pretty broad definition, but some LTD plans get stricter about what constitutes disability after the first 24 months. Also, I found out that some LTD plans have a "pre-existing condition" clause that could limit benefits if you had any related medical issues in the months before your coverage started. Worth checking if this applies to your back situation. The paperwork is definitely intense - they wanted way more detailed medical records than EDD ever asked for, plus employer verification forms and even financial documentation. But like others have said, even getting that extra 5-10% of salary can make a real difference when you're dealing with medical expenses on top of reduced income. Hope your back heals up well! L4/L5 issues are no joke - my dad had similar surgery a few years ago and it took longer than expected but he's doing great now.

I've been dealing with a very similar situation and wanted to share some practical advice from my experience. I'm currently receiving both CA SDI and private LTD after a workplace injury last year. Here's what actually happened in my case: My SDI pays about $2,800/month (roughly 60% of my previous salary), and my employer's LTD plan was supposed to cover 66% of my salary. However, the private insurer reduced their payment by exactly what I receive from SDI, so I ended up getting an additional $400/month from the LTD plan - bringing my total to about 66% of my original salary. A few things I wish I had known going in: 1. The private LTD application process is WAY more intensive than SDI - expect to submit medical records, employer forms, and detailed financial documentation 2. They required me to see their own "independent" medical examiner, which was honestly pretty stressful 3. The monthly reporting requirements are much more demanding than SDI's bi-weekly certification That said, it's absolutely worth applying! Even that extra few hundred dollars makes a real difference when you're dealing with medical expenses and living on reduced income. Plus, if your disability extends beyond SDI's 52-week maximum, having the LTD claim already established is crucial. One tip: Call your LTD carrier directly and ask for a benefit estimate before you apply. They can tell you exactly how much you'd receive after the SDI offset, which helps you decide if the paperwork hassle is worth it. Best of luck with your recovery - back surgery is tough but you'll get through this!

I'm currently navigating a similar situation and wanted to share some additional considerations that might be helpful. I've been on CA SDI for about 8 weeks following a herniated disc repair (L5-S1), and I'm approaching my 90-day LTD eligibility period. One thing I discovered that others haven't mentioned is the importance of understanding your LTD plan's "benefit period" - how long they'll actually pay benefits. Some plans only cover 2 years for certain conditions, while others may go up to age 65 depending on the disability type. Since back injuries can sometimes have unpredictable recovery timelines, this could be a crucial factor in your decision. Also, I learned that some LTD carriers require you to apply for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) as a condition of receiving benefits, even if you think you won't qualify. They do this to potentially offset their payments further. It's worth checking if your plan has this requirement before you apply. The tax implications that Yuki mentioned are really important too. My benefits counselor told me that if you're getting both SDI (tax-free) and LTD (likely taxable), you might want to set aside some money for taxes on the LTD portion to avoid a surprise bill next April. From everything I've researched and been told by others in similar situations, it sounds like applying is worth it even for a modest increase. The paperwork is daunting, but the financial cushion during recovery can really help reduce stress and let you focus on healing properly. Hope your recovery goes smoothly!

I went through this exact situation about 6 months ago after a car accident left me with multiple injuries. Here's what I learned that might help you: You can definitely receive both benefits, but like others mentioned, the private LTD will typically offset what you get from SDI. In my case, I was getting about $2,400/month from SDI (60% of salary), and my employer's LTD plan covered 70% total. So the private insurer paid me an additional $400/month to bring me up to that 70% level. A few practical tips from my experience: 1. Start the LTD application NOW, even before you hit the 90-day mark. The paperwork can take weeks to process, and you want benefits to start as soon as you're eligible. 2. Get copies of ALL your medical records upfront. The private insurer will want everything - surgical notes, PT progress reports, imaging results, everything. 3. Be prepared for them to be much more invasive than EDD. They called my doctor's office multiple times and required detailed functional capacity evaluations. The good news is that once approved, the LTD payments were actually more reliable than SDI in my experience. No bi-weekly certifications, just monthly forms that are pretty straightforward. One heads up - they made me apply for SSDI even though my injuries weren't permanent. It was annoying but required for continued benefits. The whole SSDI process took about 4 months and I was denied (as expected), but at least that box was checked. Even getting just a few hundred extra per month made a huge difference when dealing with medical bills and reduced income. Definitely worth the hassle! Hope your recovery goes well.

I'm a newcomer to this community but wanted to share what I learned when I went through a similar situation last year. I had rotator cuff surgery and was on CA SDI for about 5 months, plus my employer's LTD plan. The key thing that helped me was understanding that these benefits are designed to work together, not compete with each other. California SDI provides a baseline level of income replacement, and private LTD plans are structured to supplement that up to their maximum benefit level. In my case, SDI paid about 55% of my salary, and my company's LTD plan had a 66% benefit level. The private insurer paid me the difference to get me up to that 66% - so I got an extra 11% of my salary from the LTD plan. A few things that made the process smoother for me: - I called the LTD carrier directly and spoke with a claims specialist before applying. They walked me through exactly how the benefit calculation would work with my SDI payments. - I kept a simple spreadsheet tracking all my medical appointments, treatments, and any communications with both EDD and the private insurer. - My doctor's office was really helpful in providing detailed reports for the LTD application, since they already had experience with these types of claims. The paperwork was definitely more intensive than the SDI application, but the extra income made a real difference during my recovery period. Even if it's only a few hundred dollars more per month, it can help cover those unexpected medical expenses and reduce financial stress while you're healing. Best of luck with your recovery and the application process!

As someone who just went through this process recently, I wanted to add a perspective that might help. I was on CA SDI for a workplace back injury and applied for my employer's LTD plan around the 90-day mark. The most important thing I learned is to manage your expectations about the total benefit amount. Like others have mentioned, you won't get 100% of your salary - the private LTD will reduce their payment by what you receive from SDI. In my case, SDI was paying about 58% of my salary, and the LTD plan's maximum was 60%, so I only got an additional 2% from the private insurer. However, even that small increase helped, and more importantly, having the LTD claim established protected me when my recovery took longer than expected. SDI has that 52-week limit, but my LTD coverage could potentially continue much longer if needed. Some practical advice: - Request a benefits estimate from the LTD carrier before applying so you know exactly what to expect - Start gathering all your medical documentation now - they'll want much more detail than EDD required - Be prepared for monthly reporting requirements that are more intensive than SDI's bi-weekly certifications - They may require you to apply for SSDI even if you don't think you'll qualify The paperwork is definitely a hassle, but the financial cushion during recovery is worth it. Plus, you've already paid into both systems through your premiums and payroll deductions, so you're entitled to whatever benefits you qualify for. Hope your back surgery recovery goes smoothly - take the time you need to heal properly!

I'm new to this community and going through a very similar situation right now! I've been on CA SDI for about 6 weeks after a workplace injury and I'm approaching my LTD eligibility window. This thread has been incredibly helpful - I had no idea about the benefit offset structure before reading everyone's experiences. A few questions for those who've been through this: 1. For those who called the LTD carrier for a benefit estimate, did you need any specific information handy when you called (like your SDI award letter or salary details)? 2. Has anyone dealt with a situation where their employer's HR department was less than helpful? Mine has been pretty unresponsive about LTD plan details, so I'm wondering if going directly to the insurance carrier is always the better approach. 3. I keep seeing mentions of "independent medical examinations" - how intrusive are these really? My injury is legitimate and well-documented, but the idea of having to prove my disability to yet another doctor is honestly stressing me out. Thanks to everyone who has shared their real-world experiences and actual numbers. It's so much more valuable than the vague information you get from official websites. This community seems like such a great resource for navigating these complex benefit systems!

I'm also new to this community and currently navigating a similar situation! I've been on CA SDI for about 7 weeks following a work-related injury and just learned about the potential to stack LTD benefits on top of it. Reading through everyone's experiences has been incredibly eye-opening - I had initially thought I might get close to 100% salary replacement by combining both benefits, but now I understand the offset structure much better. Even getting an additional 5-10% of salary would be meaningful right now with all the medical expenses adding up. A couple of follow-up questions based on what I've read: Has anyone dealt with a situation where their injury occurred right around when they started a new job? I'm wondering if there are any waiting period issues I should be aware of with the LTD plan, especially since I'd only been employed for about 2 months when my injury happened. Also, for those who mentioned the monthly reporting requirements for LTD being more intensive - what kind of information do they typically want? Is it mostly medical updates, or do they also ask about daily activities and functional limitations? Thanks so much to everyone who has shared their real experiences and actual benefit amounts. It's incredibly helpful to hear concrete examples rather than trying to decipher insurance policy language. This community is such a valuable resource for navigating these complex systems! I'm planning to call for that benefit estimate this week before diving into the full application process. Fingers crossed the extra paperwork will be worth it for some additional financial cushion during recovery.

I'm new to this community and just went through a very similar experience that I wanted to share! I was on CA SDI for about 4 months after a herniated disc surgery (L3-L4) and also applied for my employer's LTD benefits. Here's what actually happened with my benefits: SDI was paying me about $2,900/month (roughly 62% of my salary), and my employer's LTD plan had a maximum of 66%. The private insurer paid me an additional $200/month to bring me up to that 66% total - so while it wasn't a huge increase, every bit helped with the physical therapy copays and prescription costs. A few things I learned that might help you: 1. **Definitely call for that benefit estimate first** - I wish I had done this before spending hours on paperwork. The LTD carrier was actually really helpful in explaining exactly how the coordination would work. 2. **The medical documentation requirements are intense** - They wanted detailed functional capacity evaluations, updated imaging reports, and monthly progress notes from my surgeon. Way more than EDD ever requested. 3. **Start early but be patient** - I submitted my LTD application about 2 weeks before my 90-day mark, and it still took another month to get approved and start receiving payments. The monthly reporting is definitely more demanding than SDI's bi-weekly certifications - they want specific details about pain levels, daily activities, treatment compliance, and work restrictions. But once you get into a routine with it, it's manageable. One unexpected benefit: having the LTD claim established gave me peace of mind about the SDI time limits. My recovery ended up taking longer than initially expected, so knowing I had that longer-term coverage was really valuable. Hope this helps, and wishing you a smooth recovery! Back injuries are tough but you'll get through this.