Can I switch from SDI to unemployment when my disability benefits run out?

Yes, you can apply for UI after your disability ends IF you're able to work and actively looking for jobs within your medical restrictions. The key is being 'able and available' for suitable work. You should get a note from your doctor clearly stating your work capabilities and restrictions. One catch - your previous employer might contest your UI claim if they offered you modified duty that met your restrictions and you declined it.

I went through something similar last year. You need to make sure your disability claim is completely closed before applying for UI. If you apply too early while still on SDI, you'll get denied. EDD considers these completely separate programs with different eligibility requirements. The system will flag if you're getting benefits from both programs at the same time.

My sister tried to do this and got DENIED for UI because she couldn't do her regular job!!! The EDD system is so broken. They said she was 'not able to perform her usual work' which is exactly why she was on disability in the first place! Make sure you say you can work FULL TIME even with restrictions or they'll deny you.

i did this last year after knee surgery. went from sdi to ui no problem. just waited til disability ended then applied online for unemployment. took like 3 weeks to get first payment tho so have some savings ready

If you're struggling to get through to EDD about this transition, try Claimyr.com. I was stuck in limbo for weeks between my disability ending and unemployment starting. Couldn't get anyone on the phone to answer my questions. Used Claimyr and got connected to an EDD agent in about 20 minutes who explained exactly what I needed to do. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/1X-mEsLtbmQ?si=1hcSq3KFtCr4oAmd that shows how it works. Saved me a ton of stress during an already difficult time.

I'm in the exact same situation right now!!! My disability runs out in 2 weeks and I've been stressing about what to do. My doctor says I can't go back to my regular nursing job (shoulder injury) but I could do telehealth nursing or something without patient lifting. Did anyone here have to get special medical documentation when switching from SDI to unemployment? My doctor is sooooo slow with paperwork.

The whole system is DESIGNED to make you give up!!! I tried doing exactly what you're planning and ended up with NO INCOME for 6 weeks while they "processed" my claim. Keep calling them EVERY DAY until they help you. Don't believe anyone who tells you it's easy to switch from SDI to UI - the departments don't communicate with each other AT ALL.

One important thing to know: your UI benefit amount might be different from your SDI amount. Unemployment is calculated based on your highest-earning quarter in the base period, while disability is based on a percentage of your wages. Also, UI has work search requirements - you'll need to certify every two weeks that you're looking for work within your restrictions. Keep detailed records of all job applications you submit.

My coworker had back problems too and he got unemployment after disability but then they suddenly cut him off saying he wasn't looking for work hard enough! He applied to like 5 jobs a week but they said that wasn't enough. The whole system is messed up.

Just wanted to add my experience - I successfully transitioned from SDI to UI last year after a work injury. The most important thing is timing and documentation. I waited until my last SDI payment cleared, then applied for UI immediately online. Had my doctor write a detailed letter about what I COULD do (not just what I couldn't), and that made all the difference. Also, start job searching before your disability ends so you have applications ready to report when you certify. The gap between benefits was only about 2 weeks for me, but definitely have some savings as backup. Don't let the horror stories scare you - it's definitely doable if you follow the process correctly!

I'm currently on SDI for a work injury and my benefits end in about 6 weeks. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been really helpful! I'm getting conflicting advice from different people about whether I need to wait for my disability to completely end before applying for UI. Some say apply immediately after the last payment, others say wait a few days to make sure there's no overlap. Has anyone had issues with EDD flagging an application as "too early" even if you apply the day after your last SDI payment posts? I want to minimize any gap in benefits but definitely don't want to get denied for applying at the wrong time.

I just went through this exact transition about 3 months ago and wanted to share what worked for me. The key thing that helped was getting my doctor to write a very specific "work capacity evaluation" letter that listed exactly what I COULD do (sit for 8 hours, use computer, lift up to 10 lbs, etc.) rather than just listing restrictions. When I applied for UI, I made sure to emphasize that I was "able and available for work within my medical limitations." I waited until exactly one business day after my final SDI payment posted to apply online. The whole process took about 3 weeks from application to first UI payment. One tip - start your job search while still on disability so you have legitimate work search activities to report right away. Document everything! Keep screenshots of job applications, emails with employers, etc. The transition can be smooth if you're prepared and have the right documentation. Don't let the negative stories discourage you - plenty of us have done this successfully!

I'm currently dealing with a similar situation and this thread has been incredibly informative! I'm about 3 weeks out from my SDI ending (also back injury from construction work) and have been stressing about the transition. Reading everyone's experiences, especially the success stories, has really helped calm my nerves. The advice about getting a "work capacity evaluation" from your doctor focusing on what you CAN do is brilliant - I never thought about framing it that way. I've already started looking at office jobs and data entry positions that would work with my lifting restrictions. One thing I'm curious about - for those who successfully made this transition, did you find that potential employers were understanding about the work restrictions when you disclosed them during interviews? I'm worried about being upfront about my limitations but I know I need to be honest. Also planning to have some savings ready for that gap period between benefits. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - it's made this whole process feel much more manageable!

I went through this exact transition about 8 months ago after a workplace injury. The most important things I learned: 1) Wait until your FINAL SDI payment has completely processed and shows in your account before applying for UI - don't rush this step or you risk denial for overlapping benefits. 2) Get your doctor to write a detailed letter focusing on your work capabilities, not just restrictions. Mine said I could do sedentary work, computer tasks, lifting under 15lbs, etc. 3) Start job searching NOW while still on disability so you have legitimate work search activities ready. 4) Apply for UI online the business day after your last SDI payment posts. 5) Be prepared for 2-4 weeks between your last disability payment and first unemployment check - have some savings if possible. The transition was smoother than I expected once I had proper documentation and timing. Don't let the horror stories discourage you - with the right preparation, it's definitely doable! Feel free to ask if you have specific questions about the process.

I'm currently going through this exact transition and wanted to share what I've learned so far since I'm about 2 weeks away from my SDI ending. After reading all these helpful responses, I scheduled an appointment with my doctor specifically to get that "work capacity evaluation" letter that several people mentioned. My doctor was really helpful once I explained what I needed - she focused on writing down everything I CAN do (desk work, computer use, sitting for extended periods, lifting up to 20lbs occasionally) rather than just listing my restrictions. I've also started applying for office jobs and customer service positions that would work with my limitations. One thing I discovered is that many companies are actually pretty open to remote work now, which is perfect for someone with physical restrictions. I'm keeping detailed spreadsheets of every application I submit with dates, company names, and position titles so I'll be ready to report my work search activities right away when I start certifying for UI. The waiting and uncertainty is definitely stressful, but reading everyone's success stories here has given me a lot more confidence that this transition is doable with proper preparation. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this community has been incredibly helpful!