EDD SDI after switching to self-employment - qualify with previous W2 income?

Your situation is actually pretty common! EDD looks at your base period (typically the 12-18 months before your claim) to determine eligibility. Since you paid into SDI during some of those quarters, you might qualify for at least partial benefits based on those wages.\n\nThe self-employment questionnaire is to confirm a few things:\n1. That you're actually experiencing a loss of income (they want to make sure you're not still earning your full self-employment income while collecting benefits)\n2. That you have a legitimate disability (pregnancy/childbirth counts, of course)\n3. The dates you've been unable to work\n\nBecause you weren't paying into the Voluntary Plan as a self-employed person, they won't count any of your self-employment income toward your benefit calculation. They'll only use the W2 wages from your base period. As long as you earned at least $300 during your base period from W2 employment where SDI was deducted, you technically meet the minimum eligibility requirement.

Thank you so much for explaining this! Do you know if there's any documentation I should provide about my self-employment income? I'm worried because my income has been higher as a consultant than it was at my W2 job, but it's also less consistent month-to-month. Would that hurt my case?

i went thru something kinda similar last yr. was w2 then went freelance but didnt do the voluntary SDI thing. had surgery and applied for benefits. they sent me that self employemnt form too which freaked me out but i still got approved! just for way less $ than when i was at my company job lol. they only counted my old w2 wages for the calculation

This is misleading information. If you didn't pay into the Voluntary Disability Insurance program as a self-employed person, you DON'T qualify for SDI benefits unless you're within the base period of your last W2 employment where you WERE paying into SDI. The base period is a specific timeframe - it's the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters before you filed your claim. If your W2 employment falls outside this period, you will be denied regardless of how long you previously contributed to SDI.

um that's literally what i said?? i was in the base period so i got approved. never said everyone would get approved no matter what. read my comment again

When I called EDD about my SDI claim they told me to wait 4-6 weeks just for a response about my appeal! How did you actually get through to someone? I've called probably 50 times in the last week and either get a message saying they're too busy or I get disconnected after being on hold forever. This is driving me CRAZY especially with a newborn to take care of!!

I had the same problem trying to reach EDD about my SDI claim last month. I finally had success using Claimyr (claimyr.com) - they have a system that basically calls EDD for you and connects you when they get through to a representative. Saved me hours of frustration and I finally got my claim sorted out. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/1X-mEsLtbmQ?si=1hcSq3KFtCr4oAmd\n\nIt was worth it for me because I had already wasted so much time trying to get through on my own.

Thanks for the recommendation! I'm desperate at this point so I'll check it out. Anything is better than hearing that stupid recording telling me they're too busy over and over!

Based on what you've described, you should qualify for SDI benefits, but there are some important factors to understand:\n\n1. Base Period: EDD will look at the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters before you filed your claim. Since you filed in 2025 and left your W2 job about 9 months ago, your base period likely includes quarters where you were paying into SDI.\n\n2. Self-Employment Form: The additional form about self-employment is standard procedure. They need to verify that you've actually lost income due to your disability (childbirth). They're checking that you're not still earning full self-employment income while collecting benefits.\n\n3. Benefit Calculation: Your weekly benefit amount will be based ONLY on the W2 wages in your base period where SDI was deducted - none of your self-employment income will be counted toward your benefit amount.\n\n4. Documentation: Keep records of your pre-disability self-employment earnings, as they may request proof of income loss. Most importantly, make sure your medical provider has submitted complete certification of your disability.\n\nThe \

Thank you for such a detailed explanation! I'm starting to understand this better. I've been keeping good records of my self-employment income (invoices, bank statements, etc). Should I proactively send those in or wait until they specifically ask for them?

I'm in the exact same boat!!! Left my corporate job after 6 years to freelance, then got pregnant. Applied for SDI since I had all those years paying into it. They sent me the self-employment questionnaire too and I'm STILL waiting for a decision 6 weeks later. This system is a nightmare. Have you checked your payment history on the SDI Online portal? Sometimes they approve you but don't actually notify you - the payments just start showing up.

I've been checking the portal obsessively! So far it still shows my claim as pending. I've also been checking my bank account every day hoping for a deposit. So frustrating. If you don't mind me asking, did you have any income from your freelance work during your pregnancy?

EDD is the WORST AGENCY EVER!!!!! I've been fighting with them for 3 months about my disability claim. They lost my paperwork TWICE, and no one can give me a straight answer about anything. I paid into the system for 15 YEARS and now that I actually need it, they treat me like I'm trying to commit fraud or something. I honestly think they deny claims hoping people will just give up. DO NOT GIVE UP!!! Keep calling, keep appealing, and document EVERYTHING.

Oh no, that sounds horrible! I'm so sorry you're going through that. I'm definitely keeping records of everything - screenshots of the online portal, copies of all the forms I've submitted, and notes from phone calls. Did you ever consider contacting your state representative's office? I've heard they can sometimes help with EDD issues.

One important thing to know: For self-employment questions, what EDD is primarily concerned with is determining if you're still able to work and earn income from your business despite your disability.\n\nWith pregnancy/childbirth claims, this is usually pretty straightforward since it's obvious you can't perform your normal work duties immediately after giving birth. But they still need to confirm that you're experiencing a loss of income.\n\nYou asked about providing documentation - it's better to have it ready but wait until they specifically request it. Sending too much unrequested documentation can actually slow down your claim processing.\n\nRegarding your benefit amount - don't be surprised if it's lower than you expected. Since they'll only count the W2 wages from your base period (and not any of your self-employment income), your weekly benefit amount might be less than what you'd receive if all your current earnings were counted.

Actually this isnt totally accurate. My wife had a similar situation when she had our daughter. EDD will sometimes look at self employment income BEFORE the disability if you can show loss of income. They dont add it to W2 wages but if you didnt have enough in your base period sometimes they count it.

That's incorrect. EDD SDI will ONLY count self-employment income if the person was paying into the Voluntary Disability Insurance program. They won't count any self-employment income where SDI taxes weren't paid, regardless of income loss. Your wife's situation must have been different or involved PFL rather than SDI, or perhaps she had elected voluntary coverage.

off topic but congrats on the baby!!! i had my first last year and let me tell you the EDD stress on top of newborn sleep deprivation is THE WORST. hope u have good support!!

Thank you! ❤️ It is definitely challenging juggling all of this with a newborn. My mother is staying with us for a few weeks which is a huge help, but I'm still so anxious about the financial situation. Appreciate the kind words!