EDD SDI eligibility after switching from W2 to 1099 during pregnancy base period - conflicting info!
I'm freaking out about my maternity disability coverage! I was a full-time employee (W2) from March 2022 until November 2024, then started my own business as a 1099 contractor. My baby is due in May 2025, and I'm getting totally contradictory info about whether I qualify for SDI. I've called EDD five times (seriously, FIVE calls) and gotten different answers each time: - Agent 1: Said I qualify because my base period would be Jan-Dec 2024, when I had 10 months of W2 income - Agent 2: Said I'm completely ineligible as a current 1099 worker - Agent 3: Wasn't sure but thought I might qualify for reduced benefits - Agent 4: Told me to just apply and see what happens - Agent 5: Said my case needs "special review" and couldn't give a definite answer During those 10 months as W2, I paid over $2,100 into SDI! Does that money just disappear? Has anyone been in this situation where you switched from employee to self-employed before pregnancy? Did you qualify for disability? I'm trying to budget and it's impossible without knowing if I'll have ANY income during recovery.
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Kelsey Chin
You should qualify based on your base period! For May 2025 birth, your base period is Jan-Dec 2024. Since you were W2 for 10 months, that's plenty. BUT make sure all your W2 wages were reported correctly by your employer. The EDD website explains base periods here: https://edd.ca.gov/en/disability/di_benefit_amounts
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Vincent Bimbach
•Thank you! So even though I'm 1099 now, the fact that I was W2 during most of the base period should make me eligible? That's such a relief to hear.
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Norah Quay
I was in almost the exact same situation last year! Left my job in October 2023 after working there 5+ years, started freelancing, and had my baby in February 2024. I absolutely qualified for SDI based on my previous W2 earnings. My base period was July 2022-June 2023 (all W2 income). The key thing to understand is that SDI eligibility is based on your BASE PERIOD, not your current employment status. It's completely possible to be self-employed when you give birth but still collect SDI based on your previous W2 earnings and contributions. For your May 2025 birth, your base period is January-December 2024. As long as you earned at least $300 in W2 wages during that period (which you definitely did with 10 months of employment), you should qualify!
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Vincent Bimbach
•Wow, this makes me feel so much better! Did you get the full benefit amount based on your W2 income, or was it reduced because you were freelancing when you applied?
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Norah Quay
•I got the full amount based on my W2 earnings during the base period! The benefit calculation doesn't consider what you're doing now - it only looks at those base period quarters. My highest quarter earnings determined my weekly benefit amount (around 60-70% of those wages).
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Leo McDonald
lol welcome to EDD where nobody knows anything and they just make stuff up. i swear they do ZERO training. i had 5 diff answers about my claim last year too
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Jessica Nolan
•RIGHT??? The absolute worst. I got hung up on THREE TIMES when trying to fix a wage reporting error for my disability claim. Ended up using Claimyr (claimyr.com) to finally get through to a tier 2 specialist who could actually help. They have a video demo here: https://youtu.be/1X-mEsLtbmQ?si=1hcSq3KFtCr4oAmd. Only way I got my claim fixed after weeks of trying.
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Leo McDonald
•omg saving that for later, thx! 🙏
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Angelina Farar
wait im confused about somethin... if you're having the baby in may 2025, why would jan-dec 2024 be your base period? shouldn't it be like... some part of 2024 and some part of 2025? can someone explain how base periods work?
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Sebastián Stevens
•The base period for SDI is a bit confusing because it's not the 12 months right before your claim. It works like this: 1) Take the quarter when your disability begins (for OP, that's Apr-Jun 2025) 2) Go back 5 quarters from that starting quarter 3) The 12 months/4 quarters before that is your base period So for a May 2025 birth: - Starting quarter: Apr-Jun 2025 - Go back 5 quarters: Jan-Mar 2024 - Base period: Jan-Dec 2024 This is why OP's 10 months of W2 work in 2024 should qualify her for benefits even though she's 1099 now!
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Kelsey Chin
dont forget to save some money aside just in case! the EDD are notirous for bungling claims and my SDI took 7 weeks to get approved after my c-section even though there was nothing wrong with my claim. ended up overdrafting our account and the EDD didnt care one bit.
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Vincent Bimbach
•That's good advice. I've been trying to build up savings, but it's been harder since going 1099. The lack of consistent information is making it really difficult to plan.
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Bethany Groves
THE EDD IS A COMPLETE JOKE! I went through HELL with them during my maternity leave. They lost my paperwork TWICE and then had the nerve to tell me I submitted it wrong when I had confirmation numbers!!! I was 8 months pregnant sobbing on the phone with these incompetent bureaucrats who couldn't care less that I had no income. THEY WORK FOR US, our tax dollars pay their salaries, and yet they treat us like we're criminals trying to scam the system. I'm still bitter about it 2 years later!!!
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Vincent Bimbach
•Oh no, that sounds horrible :( Did you eventually get your benefits? I'm worried about delays since I'll have zero income once the baby comes.
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Bethany Groves
•Yes but only after I contacted my state assembly member's office! They have staff specifically to help with EDD issues. Took 11 weeks total to get my first payment - I was already back to work part-time by then!
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KingKongZilla
The EDD agents who said you qualify were correct! As others have explained, it's all about your base period. Since you were W2 during most of 2024, that will be your qualifying period for a May 2025 birth. One thing to note: make sure you have your doctor submit the medical certification form (DE 2501) promptly. Pregnancy disability can start up to 4 weeks before your due date, so you'll need that ready. Also, remember that SDI has a 7-day waiting period before benefits begin. After your SDI pregnancy benefits end (usually 6-8 weeks depending on delivery type), you can transition to Paid Family Leave (PFL) for bonding time with your baby. PFL has no waiting period.
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Vincent Bimbach
•Thank you! I'm going to talk to my doctor about the DE 2501 at my next appointment. Do you know if PFL eligibility works the same way? Will I qualify for that too based on my 2024 W2 income even though I'll be filing for it in summer 2025?
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KingKongZilla
•Yes! PFL uses the exact same eligibility criteria and base period as SDI. It's essentially an extension of the same system, just for a different purpose (bonding instead of disability). Since you qualify for SDI, you'll definitely qualify for PFL too!
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Emily Sanjay
I went through something similar! I was W2 from 2019-2023, then went freelance in early 2024. Had my baby in August 2024 and was so stressed about SDI eligibility. Turns out I qualified just fine based on my 2023 W2 earnings during the base period. Here's what I learned: Apply online as soon as you can (4 weeks before due date). Don't stress too much about the conflicting phone info - the online system will automatically calculate your eligibility based on your actual wage records. If there are any issues, they'll send you a notice explaining what's needed. Also, keep detailed records of all your 2024 W2 paystubs just in case there are any wage reporting discrepancies. Sometimes employers mess up their quarterly reporting to EDD, which can cause delays. Having your own documentation speeds things up if you need to provide proof. You've got this! The $2,100 you paid in definitely wasn't for nothing.
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Maya Patel
•This is so reassuring to hear from someone who actually went through it! I'm definitely going to apply online rather than keep calling - sounds like the automated system is way more reliable than the phone agents. Good tip about keeping the paystubs too. Did you end up getting your full benefit amount, or were there any surprises with the calculation?
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