Can undocumented immigrants qualify for EDD SDI disability benefits in California?

Yes, your husband should be eligible for California SDI benefits even if he's undocumented. California specifically allows workers without legal immigration status to collect disability benefits if they've paid into the system (which it sounds like your husband has). The key thing is that he has valid wages reported and SDI deductions taken from his paychecks. He'll need to get his doctor to fill out the medical certification portion of the disability claim (DE 2501). Make sure the doctor includes detailed information about why he can't perform his normal job duties and the expected recovery timeline.

My cousin was in the same boat last year. They DO need some kind of ID number but ITIN works!! He got benefits no problem actually. They care more about if the $$ was taken out of checks not about immigration stuff for disability.

BE CAREFUL! While it's true that undocumented workers can technically file for disability in CA, it's NOT always straightforward!!! My brother-in-law applied last year and had MASSIVE delays because his employer had been reporting his wages under a different name (using someone else's SSN). This created a HUGE mess with EDD that took MONTHS to resolve!!! Make SURE that however your husband's wages have been reported matches EXACTLY what he puts on his application!! If there are ANY discrepancies, it will trigger additional verification that can delay benefits for weeks or months.

i think u should talk to a lawyer before filing anything. my uncle tried to get disability and ended up with immigration problems later. not saying it will happen but better safe than sorry...

I went through this exact situation in 2025 when I broke my ankle. I'm also undocumented but have been paying taxes with my ITIN for years. I was able to successfully apply for SDI using my ITIN number. The most frustrating part was trying to get through to someone at EDD when I had questions. I kept calling for DAYS and could never reach a live person. Eventually I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get through to an actual EDD representative in about 20 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/1X-mEsLtbmQ?si=1hcSq3KFtCr4oAmd The EDD rep confirmed that undocumented workers who have paid into SDI are eligible for benefits. My claim was approved and I received benefits while I recovered. The key was having all my wage information match what my employer had reported.

Has ur husband applied for unemployment before? Cuz that's different from disability and he probably CANT get that as undocumented. I'm just saying this cuz my friend got confused between unemployment and disability and gave wrong advice to people. disability = SDI = for injuries/medical conditions. Unemployment = UI = for layoffs (requires work authorization). Lots of people mix them up!

make sure ur husband has all his doctor paperwork!!! thats the most important thing. my wife's claim got denied at first cuz the doctor didnt fill out the form right even tho she qualified otherwise.

Just wondering - did your husband's injury happen AT work? If so, he might need to file for workers' compensation instead of SDI. They're two different systems. Work injuries = workers' comp. Non-work injuries/illness = SDI.

IMPORTANT: If your husband files for SDI but should have filed for workers' comp, it could create SERIOUS problems later!!! Workers' comp typically pays MORE and covers medical costs too. Some employers try to avoid workers' comp claims because their insurance rates go up. This happened to my cousin who was pressured to use SDI instead of workers' comp. Later when his injury got worse, he had problems getting additional treatment covered. If the injury happened at work, he needs to insist on filing a workers' comp claim (DWC-1 form). The employer MUST provide this form when they hear about a work injury.

I'm glad you're getting good advice here! Just wanted to add that if you do end up filing for workers' comp (which sounds like the right path based on what others are saying), you can actually file both a workers' comp claim AND potentially get temporary SDI benefits while the workers' comp claim is being processed. Workers' comp claims can sometimes take a while to get approved, and SDI can provide some income in the meantime. Just make sure to be upfront with both agencies about filing for both - they'll coordinate to avoid any overpayments. Also, many areas have free legal clinics that help workers with comp claims, especially if your employer is being difficult about it. The California Department of Industrial Relations website has a list of resources by county. Hope your husband recovers quickly!

I've been following this thread and wanted to add something important - make sure your husband documents everything about his injury right away! Take photos of any visible injuries, get copies of all medical records, and write down exactly how the accident happened while it's still fresh in his memory. Since this was a work injury, his employer is also required to report it to their workers' comp insurance carrier within a certain timeframe. If they refuse to provide the workers' comp forms or report the injury, you can file directly with the California Division of Workers' Compensation. One more thing - don't let anyone pressure you into signing anything that says the injury wasn't work-related or that you won't file for workers' comp. Some employers unfortunately try to get injured workers to sign waivers, especially if they think the worker might not know their rights. Your husband has the same rights as any other worker in California, regardless of immigration status. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise!

I work in workers' comp administration and wanted to emphasize what others have said - this is definitely a workers' compensation case, not SDI! When an injury happens at work, workers' comp is the primary system that applies, regardless of how "serious" the employer thinks it is. Your husband's employer cannot legally determine whether an injury qualifies for workers' comp - that's up to the insurance company and medical professionals. A back injury serious enough to require 6+ weeks off work is absolutely significant enough for a workers' comp claim. Here's what you should do immediately: 1. Request the DWC-1 (workers' comp claim form) from his employer in writing 2. If they refuse, download it from the DWC website and file it yourself 3. Make sure he continues seeing his doctor and follows all treatment recommendations 4. Keep detailed records of all medical appointments and expenses Workers' comp will cover his medical treatment AND provide temporary disability payments (usually about 2/3 of his average weekly wage). This is typically much better than SDI benefits. The fact that his employer is steering him away from workers' comp is a red flag. Don't let them intimidate you - California law protects all workers, regardless of documentation status.

I've been reading through this thread and I'm really glad to see everyone helping clarify the workers' comp vs. SDI situation! As someone who went through a similar experience a few years ago, I wanted to add one more resource that might be helpful. If you end up needing legal assistance with the workers' comp claim (especially if the employer continues to be difficult), there are organizations like the California Applicants' Attorneys Association that have directories of lawyers who specialize in workers' comp cases. Many work on contingency, meaning they only get paid if you win your case. Also, once you file the workers' comp claim, make sure to keep copies of EVERYTHING - every form, every medical report, every communication with the insurance company. The paper trail is super important if there are any disputes later. Your husband is lucky to have someone advocating for him like this. The system can be confusing even for people who speak English as their first language and are familiar with these processes. Don't hesitate to ask questions if anything seems unclear - that's what these agencies are supposed to help with!

I'm really impressed by how this community came together to help you figure out the workers' comp vs. SDI situation! As someone new here, I wanted to add that if you need help communicating with your husband's employer about the workers' comp claim, many local immigrant resource centers and labor advocacy groups offer free assistance with workplace issues. They often have staff who speak multiple languages and understand the challenges undocumented workers face. The Cal/OSHA website also has information about worker rights in multiple languages, which might be helpful to reference when talking to the employer. Sometimes having official resources to point to can make employers take these situations more seriously. It sounds like you've gotten excellent advice here - definitely pursue the workers' comp route since this was a workplace injury. Don't let the employer discourage you from filing the proper claim. Your husband paid into the system and deserves the protection and benefits that come with that. Best of luck with his recovery and getting this sorted out!

I just wanted to say how helpful this entire thread has been! As someone who's new to understanding these benefits, seeing everyone work together to help clarify the workers' comp vs. SDI situation has been really educational. For anyone else reading this who might be in a similar situation - the key takeaway seems to be that if your injury happened AT work, you should file for workers' compensation (which covers medical costs AND pays about 2/3 of your wages) rather than just SDI. And importantly, undocumented workers have the same rights to workers' comp benefits in California as anyone else. The red flag here was the employer trying to steer away from workers' comp - that suggests they're trying to avoid their responsibility. Don't let employers make that decision for you! Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and expertise. This is exactly the kind of community support that makes a real difference for people navigating these complex systems for the first time.

This has been such an educational thread to follow! As someone new to this community, I'm really impressed by how everyone came together to help clarify such an important issue. I wanted to add one more resource that might be helpful - the California Labor Commissioner's office also has a multilingual helpline (1-844-522-6734) where workers can get information about their rights, including workers' compensation. They're specifically trained to help people understand the difference between various benefit programs. It's clear from this discussion that your husband's situation is definitely a workers' comp case, not SDI, since the injury happened at work. The fact that his employer is trying to discourage the workers' comp claim is unfortunately common but absolutely not legal. California's workers' compensation system is designed to protect ALL workers who get injured on the job, regardless of immigration status. Keep advocating for what's right - your husband paid into these systems through his work and deserves the full protection and benefits they provide. Wishing him a speedy recovery and hoping the claim process goes smoothly once you get it filed properly!

This thread has been incredibly informative! As a newcomer to this community, I'm amazed by how everyone worked together to help identify that this is actually a workers' compensation case rather than just an SDI claim. For anyone else who might find this thread in the future, here are the key points I learned: 1. **Work injury = Workers' Comp, NOT SDI** - If the injury happened at work, you should file for workers' compensation which typically provides better benefits (about 2/3 of wages PLUS medical coverage) 2. **All workers are protected in California** - Immigration status doesn't matter for workers' comp benefits if you've been paying into the system 3. **Employers can't decide what qualifies** - If an employer tries to steer you away from workers' comp, that's a red flag. They don't get to determine eligibility 4. **Resources available**: - DWC-1 form (can download yourself if employer won't provide) - California Division of Workers' Compensation: 1-800-736-7401 - Labor Commissioner's multilingual helpline: 1-844-522-6734 - Free legal clinics through California Department of Industrial Relations Thank you to everyone who shared their expertise and personal experiences. This is exactly the kind of community support that helps people navigate these complex systems and get the benefits they've earned!