Can new employee qualify for SDI after only 2 months? Alternative Base Period question
I just hired someone at my small business who started on May 15, 2025, and now they're facing a serious family emergency (parent hospitalized unexpectedly). They mentioned they might need to take time off soon to help care for their parent, possibly for several weeks. I want to support them, but we're too small for FMLA to apply. I suggested they might check into EDD SDI benefits, but then realized they've only worked for us for about 6 weeks. Would they even qualify since they haven't been employed very long? I vaguely remember hearing about an 'Alternative Base Period' that might help newer workers qualify, but I don't know if that works for disability claims or just unemployment. If they filed for SDI in mid-July, could their May/June 2025 wages count toward eligibility? And would they qualify for PFL instead since it's caring for a family member? I'd like to give them accurate information when we discuss their options.
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Santiago Diaz
Yes, the Alternative Base Period (ABP) does apply to SDI claims! Normally, the base period for a July 2025 claim would be Jan-Dec 2024, which wouldn't include any of their work with you. But the ABP allows the EDD to look at more recent earnings if someone doesn't qualify under the standard base period. For a July 2025 claim, the ABP would include earnings from April 2024 through March 2025, then potentially the most recent completed quarter (April-June 2025). Two important things your employee should know: 1. They need to have earned at least $300 in their base period to qualify for SDI/PFL 2. Since this is for caring for a family member, they should apply for Paid Family Leave (PFL) rather than regular disability The weekly benefit amount will be based on their highest quarter of earnings in the base period.
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Riya Sharma
•Thanks for explaining! So if they've only worked since May 15, do you think they'd meet that $300 minimum? They make about $4,200/month, so they would have earned around $6,300 with us before needing to take time off in July. But would the ABP actually count those months, or am I misunderstanding how it works?
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Millie Long
ABP is confusing!! i thought it was only 4 unemployment not disability??? anyone else know for sure??
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KaiEsmeralda
•I had to deal with this EXACT situation last year when I switched jobs and then broke my ankle just two months later. The EDD rep told me that YES, Alternative Base Period absolutely applies to SDI claims too, not just unemployment. It saved me because I wouldn't have qualified under the regular base period. Your employee should definitely apply!
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Debra Bai
Like the previous person said, they should file for PFL, not SDI, since they're caring for a family member. I think they would qualify based on what you described. The $300 minimum is super low so they should easily meet that requirement with just a few weeks of work. One thing to note though - PFL has a 7-day waiting period before benefits kick in, and EDD can take 2-3 weeks to process the claim. They should file as soon as they know they'll need to take time off.
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Gabriel Freeman
•Actually, the 7-day waiting period for PFL was eliminated in 2021! There's no waiting period for PFL claims now, which is great news for the employee. However, you're right about the processing time - it can still take 2-3 weeks for EDD to review and approve a claim. One other thing to consider is that for PFL, they'll need a medical certification from the family member's doctor confirming the need for care. They should start gathering that documentation ASAP.
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Laura Lopez
I went thru this when I only worked 3 months at my job then needed surgery. ABP saved me! But calling EDD to figure out the details was IMPOSSIBLE. I spent days trying to get someone on the phone. Try the Claimyr service (claimyr.com) - they got me connected to an EDD agent in like 20 minutes instead of spending days calling. They have a video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/1X-mEsLtbmQ?si=1hcSq3KFtCr4oAmd. Worth every penny when you're desperate to talk to someone who can actually help.
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Victoria Brown
•Does this Claimyr thing really work? I spent LITERALLY 6 HOURS on hold last month trying to fix an issue with my disability claim. Six. Hours. And then got disconnected! I almost threw my phone out the window.
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Laura Lopez
•Yep, it saved my sanity. I was ready to give up after calling for 3 days straight with no luck. The service connected me to an actual EDD rep who fixed my ABP issue in one call.
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Riya Sharma
Thank you all for the helpful information! I'll let my employee know about PFL being the right program instead of SDI. Good to know there's no waiting period too. One last question - does anyone know roughly what percentage of their regular wages they might receive on PFL? They're worried about making ends meet during this family emergency.
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Santiago Diaz
•For PFL claims filed in 2025, they'll receive approximately 60-70% of their weekly wages, up to a maximum weekly benefit amount of $1,565. The exact percentage depends on their income level - lower-income workers get a higher percentage. Since they're earning about $4,200/month, they'd likely receive around 60% of their weekly wage. There's a calculator on the EDD website where they can estimate their benefit amount: https://edd.ca.gov/en/disability/PFL_Calculator/
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KaiEsmeralda
When your employee files, tell them to specifically mention they need the Alternative Base Period considered if they don't qualify under the standard base period. Sometimes the EDD system doesn't automatically check that, and they'll just get a denial. Been there, had to appeal, what a headache!
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Riya Sharma
•That's really good to know! I'll make sure they mention the ABP specifically when they apply. I appreciate everyone's help with this. I'll let them know about the PFL option and the resources you've shared.
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Victoria Brown
Sorry but this is why our system is so broken. People work for 5 minutes and expect full benefits???? I paid into SDI for YEARS before I ever needed to use it. Now premiums keep going up because everyone uses it like an ATM machine. Just saying. 😒
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Debra Bai
•The employee has been paying into SDI at their previous jobs too, not just at this current one. The ABP just lets them access benefits they've already paid for, even if they recently changed jobs. And they're facing a legitimate family emergency - that's exactly what the system is designed for.
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Victoria Brown
•OK fair point, I guess I assumed they never worked before. Still think the system gets abused a lot though.
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Cynthia Love
As someone who's navigated the ABP system, I want to emphasize something important that might help your employee: when they file their PFL claim, they should be prepared with documentation from ALL their previous employers in the base period, not just your company. The EDD will need wage records to calculate their benefit amount properly. Also, since they're dealing with a family emergency, remind them that they can file the claim online at edd.ca.gov, which is often faster than calling. The online system will automatically prompt them about the ABP if they don't qualify under the standard base period. One more tip: if their parent is hospitalized, they should get a letter from the hospital or doctor as soon as possible. The EDD requires medical certification for PFL claims, and having this ready will speed up the process significantly.
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Grace Patel
•This is really helpful advice! I'm new to understanding how all these EDD programs work, but it sounds like having all the documentation ready upfront can make a huge difference. Quick question - when you mention wage records from previous employers, does the employee need to gather those themselves, or can the EDD access that information directly? I want to make sure I give them the right guidance about what they need to prepare.
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