Can my husband qualify for SDI benefits due to accident-related anxiety/stress?

he shuld apply for UI not SDI. since his boss is cutting hours thats partial unemployment.

Your husband might indeed qualify for SDI benefits. For mental health conditions like anxiety and PTSD following an accident, he'll need: 1. A medical certification from a licensed psychologist or psychiatrist (not just a primary doctor) 2. Documentation showing the condition prevents him from performing his regular work duties 3. A treatment plan that indicates the expected duration of disability Mental health claims can be approved for SDI, but they typically require more documentation than physical injuries. Have him schedule an appointment with a mental health professional ASAP who can properly diagnose and document his condition. The doctor will need to complete the medical certification portion of the DE 2501 form.

I went thru something similar after a motorcycle accident last yr. Couldnt even look at my bike without shaking. Got SDI for 3 months while doing therapy. Best thing I ever did honestly. Make sure ur husband doesnt try to tough it out, mental health is serious!!

I process SDI claims, and yes, your husband could qualify, but there's a mandatory 7-day waiting period before benefits begin. Make sure his doctor clearly documents how his anxiety/PTSD specifically prevents him from performing his normal work functions. Vague statements like "patient is stressed" often lead to claim denials or delays. The medical provider should document specific symptoms (panic attacks, flashbacks, etc.) and how they interfere with work duties. Also, he should file ASAP - don't wait until after his hours are reduced, as this could complicate things with determining his benefit amount.

I tried calling EDD for weeks when I had a similar situation (work-related anxiety) and couldn't get through to anyone to ask questions. I finally 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 Talking to a real person at EDD made all the difference in getting my claim sorted out correctly. The rep explained exactly what documentation I needed for my mental health claim, which saved me weeks of back-and-forth.

To answer your question about the waiting period - yes, there's a 7-day waiting period for SDI benefits. This means your husband won't receive benefits for the first week of his disability. Benefits typically begin on the 8th day of disability. Also, be aware that his employer reducing his hours could actually help document the severity of his condition. If they're saying he can only handle 1-2 days of work, that supports the claim that his condition is affecting his ability to perform his regular work. Make sure to save that text message as evidence.

THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS RIGGED AGAINST MENTAL HEALTH!!! I filed for anxiety/depression and they denied me THREE TIMES saying it wasn't "severe enough" even with documentation from TWO doctors!!! Had to get a lawyer to finally get approved. EDD discriminates against invisible disabilities!!! Your husband should say his back hurts from the accident - they approve physical stuff NO QUESTIONS ASKED!!!

My wife's cousin's friend got SDI for anxiety after seeing a psycharist. Took like 5 weeks to get approved tho and they had to send in extra paperwork twice. Good luck!

Update: We took the advice here and my husband saw a psychiatrist yesterday. She diagnosed him with acute stress disorder and PTSD from the accident and said he definitely shouldn't be working right now. She's completing the medical certification forms today, and we're filing for SDI. I'll post again once we hear something about his claim. Thanks everyone for the help!