EDD SDI eligibility after moving job from out-of-state to California - how long to qualify?

pretty sure its 6 months working in CA before u qualify... that's what happened with my cousin when he moved from texas

The information about 6 months isn't quite accurate. For SDI eligibility in California, you need to have earned at least $300 in wages during your base period that were subject to SDI withholding. The base period is the 12-month period that ends 5-17 months before you file your claim. Since you just started having SDI withheld in January 2025, you would need to establish your base period with these California wages. So the answer depends on when you might need to file a claim. If you filed immediately, you wouldn't qualify yet because you haven't established a CA base period with sufficient SDI-covered wages. But you don't need to wait 6 months - it's about meeting that minimum earnings threshold in your base period.

When I moved from Oregon to California in 2024, I got SUPER confused about this too!!! I called EDD like 5 times and got different answers every time!!! So frustrating!!! I think what the previous person said about the base period is correct, but also remember that base periods are WEIRD with EDD. Like they don't count the most recent 1-2 quarters sometimes?? So your January 2025 wages might not count right away depending on when you file. I think they've changed some stuff since COVID though.

The previous responses cover most of the important points, but I want to add something about the $300 minimum. While that's technically the minimum, it's actually more important to understand how your benefit amount is calculated. Your weekly benefit amount is based on your highest-earning quarter during the base period. So even if you qualify with just $300 in SDI-covered wages, your benefit might be very low. Ideally, you'd want to have at least a full quarter or two of solid California wages in your base period to receive a meaningful benefit amount. Since you're planning for surgery in September 2025, you might want to consider delaying it until late 2025 or early 2026 if possible, when more of your California wages would be counted in your base period calculation.

I've been trying to reach EDD for DAYS about a similar question (my situation is a bit different - I work remotely for a NY company but live in CA). The phone lines are always busy or they hang up on me! It's insane trying to get a straight answer about eligibility.

DONT WASTE UR TIME with all these complicated waiting periods!!!! EDD will FIND A WAY to deny ur claim no matter what!!! I had SDI deductions for YEARS and when I finally needed disability they said I "didn't qualify" because of some technicality about my earnings!!! THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS RIGGED!!!

Thanks everyone for the helpful responses! Based on what you've all shared, I'm going to see if I can push my surgery to January 2026 to make sure I have enough CA wages in my base period for a decent SDI benefit. I'll also probably try to talk to an EDD representative directly using that Claimyr service someone mentioned, just to confirm the exact timing. This has been really educational - the base period calculation is way more complicated than I expected!

One thing to keep in mind is that while you're planning the timing of your surgery, make sure to also consider the medical necessity aspect. If your doctor says the surgery is medically urgent, don't delay it just for SDI benefits - your health comes first! That said, if it's an elective procedure that can safely wait, the timing strategy everyone's discussed makes a lot of sense. Also, since you mentioned you're with the same company, you might want to check if they offer any short-term disability insurance as part of your benefits package that could supplement or bridge any gaps in SDI coverage.

Just wanted to add another perspective as someone who went through a similar move! I relocated from Texas to California in 2023 and had to navigate this same confusion. One thing that really helped me was keeping detailed records of all my CA wages and SDI deductions from day one - it made everything much clearer when I eventually needed to file. Also, don't forget that if you do end up needing disability benefits before you have enough CA wages built up, you might still be able to file for unemployment disability in your previous state if they have a program (though most states don't). The timing calculations everyone shared are spot-on, but I'd also suggest getting any medical documentation organized early since the application process itself can take time even once you're eligible.

As someone who just went through a similar interstate move situation last year, I wanted to share what I learned! The base period calculation is definitely the key thing to understand. When I moved from Arizona to CA in early 2024, I made the mistake of not factoring in how the base period timing would affect my benefits when I unexpectedly needed to file for disability in the fall. One thing that might help you is that EDD has a disability insurance eligibility calculator on their website that can give you a rough estimate of your benefit amount based on different wage scenarios. It's not perfect but it helped me visualize how waiting a few more months would significantly impact my weekly benefit amount. Also, since you mentioned you're still with the same company, definitely check if they have any FMLA or company-specific disability policies that might bridge the gap while you build up your CA base period wages. Some larger companies have really good short-term disability that kicks in immediately regardless of state eligibility requirements. Good luck with everything, and I hope your health issues don't require urgent surgery before you're ready!

Welcome to the community! I'm going through almost the exact same situation - relocated from Nevada to California in December 2024 for work and trying to understand SDI eligibility. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful! From what I'm gathering, the key takeaway is that it's not just about having SDI withheld for a certain amount of time, but about having enough wages in the specific base period when you file your claim. The base period timing seems really crucial for getting a decent benefit amount. One thing I'd add is that you might want to also check if your employer offers any Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) that could help with navigating these benefit questions. Some companies have specialists who can walk through scenarios like this. Also, if you're planning surgery, consider getting a pre-authorization or at least documentation from your doctor about the medical necessity and timeline - that might be helpful later if you need to justify timing to EDD or your employer's benefits team. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this thread is going to be super useful for people in similar cross-state situations!

This is such a comprehensive thread - thank you all for sharing your experiences! As someone who works in HR for a company that frequently relocates employees between states, I wanted to add a few practical tips that might help: 1. Request a detailed breakdown of your pay stubs showing SDI deductions from your payroll/HR team - this creates a clear paper trail 2. If your company uses a major payroll provider (ADP, Paychex, etc.), they often have specialists who understand multi-state disability scenarios and can provide guidance 3. Consider setting up a dedicated folder now to track all CA wage documentation, medical records, and correspondence - you'll thank yourself later if you need to file 4. Some companies offer "bridge" benefits during interstate moves specifically for situations like this - it's worth asking HR if they have any policies The advice about waiting until you have more quarters of CA wages in your base period is spot-on. Just make sure to balance that with your actual medical needs. Good luck with everything!

Just wanted to chime in as someone who went through this exact situation in 2023! Moved from Florida to California in January and needed surgery in August that year. The base period calculation really is the key - I ended up qualifying but my weekly benefit was pretty low because I only had about 6 months of CA wages in my base period at the time. One thing I didn't see mentioned is that you can actually request an estimate of your potential SDI benefits from EDD before you file a claim. I called and they were able to run the numbers based on my hypothetical filing date, which really helped me understand how much waiting a few more months would improve my benefit amount. Also, if you do end up filing sooner than ideal, remember that SDI benefits are coordinated with other benefits. So if your employer has short-term disability or if you qualify for any other programs, those can help fill the gap if your SDI amount is lower due to limited CA wage history. The organization tips from the HR person above are gold - I wish I had been that prepared! Keep all those records because EDD will definitely want to see detailed wage information when you file.

As someone who recently went through a similar interstate move (relocated from Oregon to California in late 2024), I can relate to the confusion around SDI eligibility! Reading through all these responses has been incredibly educational - I had no idea the base period calculation was so complex when I first started researching this. One thing I'd add that might be helpful: if you're working with the same employer across the move, they might be able to provide you with a projection of your California wages for the rest of 2025. This could help you model different surgery timing scenarios more accurately. My HR department was actually really helpful in running these numbers when I explained my situation. Also, since you mentioned Northern California specifically, depending on where you are, some areas have additional local disability resources or advocacy groups that can help navigate EDD if you run into issues. I found a local nonprofit that offers free consultations on disability benefits - might be worth looking into in your area. The consensus here about waiting until you have more CA wages in your base period definitely seems like the smart move if your medical situation allows for it. Thanks for asking this question - the responses have helped me understand my own situation better too!