Do I need to wait for a tax form from EDD SDI to file taxes? Haven't received anything!
Getting stressed about tax filing! I was on SDI for 4 months in 2024 after breaking my ankle and getting surgery (bad timing - right when I was supposed to start a new position). Before the disability, I was working part-time and collecting some UI benefits to supplement. I've already received my W-2 from my employer and the 1099-G from unemployment, but NOTHING from disability payments yet. It's already February 2025 and I really need to file my taxes soon because I'm expecting a decent refund to pay off some medical bills. Does CA EDD even send tax forms for disability benefits? Or are they not taxable? I'm so confused about whether I need to wait for something in the mail or if I can go ahead and file now. Has anyone dealt with this before?
16 comments
Join the conversation
Katherine Ziminski
SDI benefits aren't subject to federal or state income tax, so you won't get a tax form for those payments. That's why you haven't received anything from the disability program. You can go ahead and file your taxes with just your W-2 and 1099-G from unemployment.
0 coins
Kaiya Rivera
•Really?? That's such a relief! I've been checking my mail every day waiting for something. So I don't need to report the disability income anywhere on my tax forms? That seems too good to be true!
0 coins
Noah Irving
wait your supposed to get a w2 from unemployment??? i never got one and i already filed my taxes omg
0 coins
Vanessa Chang
•It's not a W-2, it's a 1099-G for unemployment. And yes, UI benefits ARE taxable (unlike disability). You need to report that income or you could get audited. You should be able to download it from your UI Online account or request a copy.
0 coins
Madison King
So glad I saw this post because I've been wondering the same thing! I was on disability for pregnancy last year and haven't gotten any tax forms either. Was starting to panic because my husband is bugging me daily about getting our taxes done.
0 coins
Katherine Ziminski
•Yes, this applies to all types of SDI including pregnancy disability. None of the California state disability payments are subject to income tax. You don't need to report them or wait for any forms related to those payments.
0 coins
Julian Paolo
The EDD system is SUCH a mess!! I was on disability for 8 months in 2024 and when I called about tax forms they kept transferring me around and nobody could give me a straight answer. Wasted 3 hours of my life I'll never get back. The left hand never knows what the right is doing with that agency.
0 coins
Ella Knight
•If you ever need to contact EDD again, I discovered this service called Claimyr that can get you through to an actual EDD agent without the endless waiting. I used it when my disability claim was delayed and got through in about 20 minutes instead of spending days calling. They have a video that shows how it works at https://youtu.be/1X-mEsLtbmQ?si=1hcSq3KFtCr4oAmd. Their website is claimyr.com. Really saved my sanity!
0 coins
William Schwarz
To provide some additional clarity: California State Disability Insurance (SDI) benefits are not considered taxable income under either federal or state tax laws. This is different from UI benefits which are taxable and require reporting via the 1099-G form. For your reference, here's what you need to know about the various benefit types and taxation: 1. SDI (State Disability Insurance) - NOT taxable 2. PFL (Paid Family Leave) - NOT taxable 3. UI (Unemployment Insurance) - IS taxable (you'll receive a 1099-G) So yes, you can file your taxes without waiting for anything related to your disability benefits. You don't need to report those payments as income.
0 coins
Kaiya Rivera
•This is incredibly helpful, thank you! I had no idea there was this difference between UI and SDI taxation. That definitely speeds up my filing process!
0 coins
Lauren Johnson
i had the same question last year and ended up waiting until april to file because i thought i was missing something lol. wish i'd known sooner, could have gotten my refund earlier!
0 coins
Kaiya Rivera
•Right?? I was about to do the same thing, just keep waiting and waiting! So glad I asked here instead of assuming.
0 coins
Vanessa Chang
Quick warning though - make sure you're actually on SDI and not some other type of disability insurance. If you have private disability insurance or disability through your employer (like short-term disability), those might have different tax implications. Only the state program (SDI) has the tax-free benefit.
0 coins
Kaiya Rivera
•Good point! Mine was definitely California SDI - I filed through the EDD portal and got the payments on the EDD debit card. So I should be good with the tax-free status.
0 coins
Jacinda Yu
Just wanted to add that if you're still unsure about your specific situation, you can always double-check by logging into your EDD online account. It should clearly show whether your payments came from the SDI program or another source. I was in a similar boat last year - had both UI and SDI at different times and was confused about which forms I needed. The online account breakdown really helped me sort it out. Also, if you used a tax preparer before, they're usually pretty familiar with CA disability benefits and can confirm you don't need to report SDI income.
0 coins
Javier Cruz
•That's really smart advice about checking the EDD online account! I didn't even think to look there for confirmation of what type of benefits I received. I should probably screenshot or print that info for my records too, just in case I need it later. Thanks for the tip about tax preparers being familiar with this - makes me feel more confident about moving forward with filing!
0 coins