Can I switch from EDD unemployment to disability after filing? Haven't been paid yet

Yes, you can apply for SDI even after filing for UI, especially if you haven't received any UI payments yet. The key is timing and documentation. Your therapist will need to complete the medical certification (Form DE 2501) confirming your condition prevents you from performing your regular work. Make sure they date the disability as starting BEFORE your UI claim was filed - this shows you were actually disabled when you lost your job, not just unemployed. Call EDD and explain you need to withdraw your UI claim because you've been diagnosed with a medical condition that prevents you from working. They'll flag your UI application so you don't have to certify. Then file your SDI claim right away through SDI Online. Just be prepared - they might question the timing, so having strong medical documentation from your therapist is crucial.

same thing happened to me!!! I filed UI then my doc wanted me on disability. UI is for when ur able to work but cant find a job. SDI is when ur unable to work due to medical condition. u cant get both at same time but you CAN switch before getting payments. your therapist needs to fill out that form saying when your condition started

Actually, this could be problematic. When you filed for unemployment, you certified that you were ABLE and AVAILABLE to work. Disability is for when you CANNOT work due to a medical condition. EDD might flag this as fraud if the disability claim overlaps with your unemployment application dates. They're very strict about this contradiction!!

I tried calling EDD for WEEKS about my disability claim and could never get through. Kept getting disconnected or put on hold forever. Finally I used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to an actual EDD representative in about 20 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/1X-mEsLtbmQ?si=1hcSq3KFtCr4oAmd I was able to explain my situation to the rep and got everything sorted out. Sometimes you really need to speak to an actual person to resolve these complicated situations, especially when switching between different benefit types.

Be aware that your mental health conditions MUST prevent you from performing your regular/customary work to qualify for SDI. Just having anxiety/depression isn't automatically qualifying - it has to be severe enough that you can't work. Your therapist needs to clearly document this on the medical certification form. Also, SDI has a 7-day unpaid waiting period before benefits start, and you'll need to have earned enough in your base period to qualify (similar to UI). If you earned enough in the previous 18 months, you should be fine qualification-wise. I switched from UI to SDI last year (for physical not mental health) and it worked out fine, but documentation is everything!

EDD makes EVERYTHING complicated on purpose!! Their whole system is designed to deny people benefits!! I went through this same exact situation in 2022 and they made my life HELL for 3 months before finally approving my claim. They kept sending me letters saying I was committing fraud, then they'd say no wait we made a mistake, then more letters about fraud!!!! The system is completely BROKEN!!!! 😡😡😡

I handle these situations frequently for clients. Here's what you need to know: 1. You can withdraw your UI claim if you haven't certified or received benefits yet. Call the UI line and request withdrawal. 2. Have your therapist complete the DE 2501 medical certification form with a disability start date that coincides with or precedes your job loss date. 3. Your withdrawal request should explicitly state you're unable to work due to your medical condition and were unable to work at the time of filing UI (you just didn't realize UI wasn't appropriate). 4. Keep copies of all communications with EDD. 5. Be prepared to explain in your disability application that you initially filed for UI before receiving proper medical advice about your condition. This situation happens more often than people realize, especially with mental health conditions where people often try to push through before recognizing they need medical leave. As long as you're transparent and have proper documentation, this should be manageable.

just FYI disability pays based on ur highest quarter of earnings in the past 18 months so if u were making good $ it might be way more than $280 extra

Wait im confused... did the therapist only mention disability AFTER you got fired? Or were you seeing them while employed? Because that timing matters A LOT to EDD. If you only started therapy after losing your job they might say your condition was caused by job loss not by the job itself.

my sister went thru this exact thing! the key thing is get that UI claim withdrawn ASAP. she sent a written withdrawal request AND called (took like 50 tries to get thru). once she got the UI claim withdrawn she applied for SDI and got approved in like 2 weeks. def worth doing if SDI pays more!

I noticed you mentioned your work caused your mental health issues. If your condition was directly caused by your job, you might want to look into filing a workers' compensation claim instead of or in addition to SDI. Stress/anxiety/depression can qualify for workers' comp if work was a substantial contributing factor. The benefit of workers' comp is there's no unpaid waiting period and it can cover your medical treatment costs too. Might be worth discussing with your therapist and possibly a workers' comp attorney.