Confused about CA SDI eligibility with remote job that's been paying into MA system

Thank you for this info! That's a huge relief. Do you know if there's a minimum number of hours I need to work to qualify? Some weeks I only manage 15 hours because of baby care.

Oh that's good to know it can be fixed! Did you have to wait until everything was corrected before applying, or did you apply first and then fix it during the process?

I don't think this is accurate at all. If the employer has been taking deductions for MA and not CA, then OP is NOT eligible for CA disability benefits. The whole system is based on PAYING INTO IT. You can't just suddenly decide "oops I should have been paying into CA" and then get benefits. I went through something similar when I moved from Nevada and FIRST had to establish my base period wages in CA before I could claim anything!

They're related but different. SDI (State Disability Insurance) is for when you can't work due to non-work-related illness/injury, INCLUDING pregnancy disability. PFL (Paid Family Leave) is for bonding with a new child OR caring for a seriously ill family member. Both are funded by the same payroll deduction in California. So the OP is asking about PFL specifically, but the eligibility requirements depend on the SDI contributions.

Oh no, that sounds awful! Did you eventually get the full amount you were entitled to? I'm worried about waiting months for payment since we're already struggling with one income.

Yes I got the full payment but it took forever and lots of documentation. Start the process ASAP, don't wait! And keep calling EDD until you get someone helpful. Some reps told me it was impossible to fix and others actually helped me.

i tried calling EDD like 50 times last week and kept getting hung up on. dose this claimyr thing really work? seems 2 good to be true

Yes, it actually works! They use some system that automates the calling process and gets you in the queue. When I used it last month, I got connected in about 25 minutes. Just make sure you have your phone ready because they'll connect you directly to an EDD agent.

Good plan! One more tip: when you apply, use the "Additional Information" section to briefly explain that your employer incorrectly withheld for the wrong state and is in the process of correcting it. This might help avoid automatic denial. Good luck!

This is really helpful advice! I'm curious about the employer registration part - my company is so small (just 3 people) that I don't think they've ever dealt with CA employment law before. Do you know if there are any resources or services that can help small employers navigate this process? I'm worried my boss might panic when they realize all the compliance stuff they need to catch up on.

Yes! Small employers in this situation should definitely get help. The CA Employment Development Department has a Business Services Online portal that walks employers through registration and compliance requirements. There are also payroll companies like ADP, Paychex, or even smaller local firms that specialize in multi-state compliance - they can handle all the retroactive filings and ongoing requirements. Many CPAs who work with small businesses also know this stuff. The key is acting fast because penalties can add up quickly. Your boss might also want to consult an employment attorney just to make sure they're covering all their bases, especially since they've been non-compliant for 2 years. Better to invest in getting it right now than face bigger problems later!

Yes! Small employers often struggle with multi-state compliance. Your boss should definitely consult with a payroll service or employment attorney, but here are some immediate resources: 1. CA EDD has a "New Employer" section on their website with step-by-step guides 2. Many payroll companies like ADP (which you mentioned they already use) can handle the registration and corrections - they just need to be told to set up CA withholdings 3. The CA Department of Industrial Relations has a helpline for employers with compliance questions Since ADP is already involved in fixing this for 2025, they should be able to help with the retroactive corrections too. Your employer might face some penalties for late reporting, but it's much better to fix it now than wait. The key is acting quickly and being proactive about the corrections. Don't let your boss panic - this happens more often than you'd think with remote work arrangements, and there are established processes to fix it!

Yes, there are definitely resources for small employers! The CA EDD website has a whole section for new employers with step-by-step guides. They can also call the EDD Employer Customer Service line at (888) 745-3886 - they're usually pretty helpful with small businesses who are trying to get compliant. Another option is to have your employer contact a payroll service like ADP (which you mentioned they're already working with) or Paychex - they handle all the registration and compliance stuff automatically. Since your company is already working with ADP to fix things for 2025, ADP should be able to help them file the retroactive corrections too. Don't worry too much about your boss panicking - this happens more often than you'd think with remote workers, and the penalties for good-faith corrections are usually pretty minimal compared to what happens if you just ignore it. The key is being proactive about fixing it, which you're already doing!

Yes, there are definitely resources for small employers! The CA EDD website has a whole section for new employers, and they can walk through the registration process step by step. There's also the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) which offers free consulting for compliance issues like this. ADP (which you mentioned your employer already uses) should also be able to help with the CA registration and retroactive filings - that's literally what payroll companies are for! Your boss shouldn't panic too much - this kind of remote work compliance issue is becoming super common and the systems are set up to handle corrections. The penalties for late registration are usually pretty minimal for small employers, especially when it's an honest mistake due to remote work confusion.

Your employer can definitely get help with this! Since it's a compliance issue that affects their business legally, they should consider hiring a payroll service or employment attorney who specializes in multi-state compliance. Many payroll companies like ADP, Paychex, or smaller local firms can handle the CA registration and back-filing process. There are also HR consulting firms that specialize in helping small businesses with exactly this kind of situation. The CA EDD website has a "New Employer" section with step-by-step guides, and they even have a phone line specifically for employer questions. Your boss shouldn't panic - this happens more often than you'd think with remote work, and there are clear procedures to fix it. The key is acting quickly to minimize any penalties.

Your employer can definitely get help with this! CA EDD has a specific helpline for employers dealing with payroll tax issues - it's (888) 745-3886. They also have online resources at edd.ca.gov under the "Employers" section. Since this involves correcting past quarters, your boss might want to consider hiring a payroll service or tax professional who specializes in multi-state compliance. Many small businesses use services like ADP or Paychex specifically because they handle all the state registration and compliance automatically. The good news is that CA EDD is usually pretty understanding when employers proactively reach out to fix mistakes rather than waiting to get caught!

Your employer can definitely get help with this! Since it's a complex multi-state payroll issue, I'd recommend they contact a payroll service like ADP (which you mentioned they're already working with) or Paychex - they handle CA registration and compliance all the time. For immediate help, the CA EDD has a dedicated employer hotline at (888) 745-3886 where they can walk small employers through the registration and correction process. There's also the CA Department of Industrial Relations website that has step-by-step guides for new employers. The key is to frame this as "we need to get compliant" rather than "we messed up" - it'll feel less overwhelming for your boss. Most small employers don't realize the complexities until they have remote workers in different states. Getting it sorted now will actually protect them from bigger issues down the road!

Yes, there are definitely resources for small employers! The CA EDD website has a "New Employer" section with step-by-step guides. Also, many payroll companies like ADP (which you mentioned your employer already uses) can handle all the registration and compliance stuff - they just need to set up CA as an additional state. Your employer might also want to consult with an employment attorney or CPA who specializes in multi-state payroll to make sure they get everything right going forward. The penalties for incorrect reporting can add up, so it's worth doing it properly from the start.

Yes! The CA EDD has a specific employer services department that helps with exactly this situation. Your boss can call the EDD Employer Services line at 1-888-745-3886 - they're actually pretty helpful with first-time registrations and corrections. Also, since you mentioned using ADP for payroll, they should be able to handle most of the compliance stuff automatically once they get the CA registration set up. ADP has dealt with this remote worker issue tons of times, so they'll know exactly what forms to file and how to handle the retroactive corrections. Your employer might also want to consult with a payroll tax professional just to make sure everything gets done right, especially since there could be penalties involved. But honestly, EDD is usually pretty understanding when employers come forward voluntarily to fix mistakes like this - it's way better than waiting for an audit to discover it!

Your employer can definitely get help with this! Since they're using ADP for payroll, ADP should be able to handle most of the CA compliance requirements once they know what needs to be done. ADP has experience with multi-state payroll issues like this. For the CA EDD registration and filing corrections, your employer might want to consult with a payroll specialist or employment attorney who deals with CA law. Many small business accounting firms also handle this type of compliance work. The CA EDD website actually has a "New Employer" section that walks through the registration process, and they have a helpline for employers too (though it can be hard to reach). Your employer shouldn't panic - this happens more often than you'd think with remote work situations, and there are clear procedures to fix it. The key is acting quickly once they understand the requirements. Penalties for late registration and incorrect withholding can add up, but EDD is usually reasonable about working with employers who are making good faith efforts to comply.

@NebulaNomad Your boss definitely shouldn't panic! Small employers deal with multi-state compliance issues more often than you'd think these days. Here are some resources that can help: 1. CA EDD has a dedicated helpline for employers (888-745-3886) and they're surprisingly helpful for situations like this 2. ADP (which you mentioned your employer already uses) should be able to handle most of the registration and correction process - they deal with this stuff all the time 3. The CA EDD website has a "New Employer" section with step-by-step guides 4. Your employer can also consult with a payroll attorney or CPA who specializes in multi-state employment issues The key thing is that CA EDD actually WANTS employers to get compliant and will usually work with them on penalty reductions if they're proactive about fixing things. It's much better to come forward voluntarily than wait for an audit to discover the issue. Since your company is already working with ADP to fix this for 2025, they should be able to help with the retroactive corrections too. ADP deals with remote worker compliance issues constantly now - they'll know exactly what forms to file.

Small employers can definitely get overwhelmed by this stuff! A few resources that might help your boss: 1. CA EDD has a dedicated Small Business Services unit - they can walk through the registration and correction process step by step 2. Many payroll companies like ADP (which you mentioned they already use) can handle the compliance filings for a fee 3. The CA Department of Industrial Relations has free webinars and guides for small employers You could also suggest they contact a CA employment attorney for a consultation - might be worth the cost to avoid penalties. Some attorneys specialize in helping small businesses get compliant with CA labor laws. The key is framing this as "we need to get compliant to protect the business" rather than just "Carmen needs her benefits." That usually gets small business owners moving faster!

Your employer can definitely get help with this! Since they're using ADP for payroll, ADP should be able to handle most of the CA compliance setup for them. ADP has teams that specialize in multi-state payroll issues and can walk small employers through the registration process. If your employer needs additional guidance, the CA EDD website has a "New Employer" section with step-by-step instructions, or they can call the EDD Taxpayer Assistance Center at 1-888-745-3886. There are also employment law attorneys who specialize in helping small businesses with compliance issues if things get really complicated. The key is to frame this as "we need to get compliant going forward" rather than "we messed up." Most small employers genuinely don't know about these requirements when they hire remote workers in different states, so EDD is usually pretty reasonable about helping them get set up properly.