EDD SDI for flight attendant on medical leave - CA resident based at DFW

Yes, you CAN file for SDI in California since you're a CA resident, even if your employer is headquartered in another state! I'm a former flight attendant who went through this exact situation last year. The key is whether CA disability insurance contributions were being withheld from your paychecks (look for "CASDI" on your pay stub). If they were, you're covered by California's system regardless of where your airline is based. You'll need to file a DE 2501 claim form, and your doctor needs to complete the medical certification portion. Your employer doesn't actually fill out the initial claim form - they'll be contacted by EDD after you submit your claim. You can file online through SDI Online which is much faster than paper forms.

i went through something similar but with united instead. califrnia is super good about this stuff compared to texas!! just make sure ur doctor fills everything out COMPLETELY. my first try got rejected because my doctor didnt put the specific diagnosis code they wanted.

The airline industry is THE WORST with disability leave information. When I tried getting info from my airline about disability, they kept sending me to our union rep who knew NOTHING. Complete runaround. I ended up just filing directly with California EDD and it worked out fine. Just be prepared for EDD to contact your airline's HR to verify your employment status and wages. BTW - there's a 7-day waiting period before benefits kick in, so you won't get paid for the first week of your disability. Just so you're prepared for that.

I'm dealing with something similar right now and have been TOTALLY frustrated trying to reach anyone at EDD to clarify my situation. I've called over 40 times in the past week and either get disconnected or sit on hold for hours only to have the call drop. Anyone have tips for actually getting through to a human at EDD? I'm about to lose my mind!

Did you know they'll backdate your claim to when your disability actually started? So even though you're filing late, you should still get benefits from the start of your leave (minus the waiting period). That really helped me when I was in a similar situation last year. Good luck!!

my coworker had this exact thing happen but she was based in chicago. she said she still had to get her airline to fill out some form about her job duties?? did anyone else have to do that??

WATCH OUT for the medical certification part - my claim was delayed for THREE WEEKS because my doctor didn't properly complete Section B. Make sure they include SPECIFIC start/end dates of your disability and that they sign and date the form correctly. I had to hound my doctor's office multiple times to fix errors.

OP, one important thing to consider for airline employees: You need to calculate your base period correctly for maximum benefits. California looks at wages earned 5-18 months before your disability claim. So for your November 2024 disability start date, they'll look at July-December 2023 and all of 2024 up through June for calculating your weekly benefit amount. Make sure all those quarters have your highest possible earnings reported. Also, if you've been on other leaves or had reduced flying time during the base period, your benefit amount might be lower than expected. You can request an alternate base period calculation in some cases if that would result in a higher benefit amount. Just be sure to mention this when filing.

I've helped several flight crew members with cross-state disability claims. Here's what you need to know: 1. File through SDI Online at edd.ca.gov/disability 2. Have your doctor complete their portion ASAP (they can do this electronically) 3. You'll need your last day worked and first day of disability very specifically documented 4. Be prepared to provide proof of CA residency if questioned (driver's license, voter registration, tax returns, etc.) 5. Know that your first certification period will likely be 7-10 days after filing The tricky part with airlines is that sometimes payroll doesn't properly code disability-related absences. If your airline uses a third-party leave administrator like Sedgwick or MetLife, get documentation from them about your approved leave period to submit with your claim if there are any questions.