EDD SDI overpayment notice for pregnancy leave - employer applied sick time I didn't authorize

same thing happend to me last yr! my work did the EXACT same thing with vacation time i didnt ask them 2 use. ended up having to repay like $1400 to EDD. its total bs but they dont care whose fault it is, u still gotta pay

You definitely need to report that bonus to EDD. According to their rules, any income received during your disability period has to be reported, even if it was earned before your disability started. You report it for the week you actually receive the payment. For the overpayment issue - this is unfortunately common. Many employers automatically apply sick leave during the waiting period. You can try to appeal, but honestly, since it's spelled out in your company's policy, EDD will likely side with them. The fastest resolution is usually to set up a payment plan with EDD.

I had something similar happen during my maternity leave last year and it was a NIGHTMARE trying to get through to EDD to explain the situation. I kept getting disconnected or waiting on hold for hours! Has anyone found a reliable way to actually talk to a live person there????

Having worked with many clients who've faced this exact situation, here's what you need to understand: 1. Regarding the overpayment: California EDD regulations state that if you receive wages during your waiting period (including sick pay, PTO, etc.), you're not eligible for SDI benefits for those same days. Since your employer's policy about automatically applying sick time was in writing, even if you didn't read it, you'll likely need to repay. 2. About your bonus: Yes, you MUST report this. Use the "Report Wages" function in your SDI Online account. Report it for the benefit week when you physically received the payment, not when it was earned. Bonuses count as wages and will reduce your benefit for that week. 3. Important documentation: Keep copies of all communication with your employer about this sick time issue. If you decide to appeal, you'll need evidence showing you specifically requested not to use sick time. Most efficient resolution: Call EDD directly to set up a repayment plan for the overpayment amount. They can typically offer installment plans that won't cause financial hardship.

EDD IS THE WORST!!!! They are DELIBERATELY confusing about these rules to catch people in overpayments. I had THREE different overpayment notices during my pregnancy disability and PFL last year. They make it IMPOSSIBLE to talk to anyone who can actually help. The whole system is designed to make you give up and just pay whatever they say you owe even when it's THEIR MISTAKE not yours!!!!

wait so does SDI and PFL have different rules on this? im planning to take pregnancy disability then baby bonding leave next year and now im worried about all these complications...

Just to clarify about reporting the bonus - when you report it through SDI Online, it will likely reduce your benefit amount for that week only. Bonuses are considered wages in the week they're received. The reduction follows this formula: If your weekly SDI benefit is $X and your bonus minus $100 is greater than $X, you'll receive no benefit that week. If your bonus minus $100 is less than your weekly benefit, you'll receive the difference. For example, if your weekly SDI benefit is $1,400 and your bonus was $5,900, you'd receive no benefit for that week (since $5,900 - $100 = $5,800, which exceeds $1,400). It won't affect your benefits for other weeks though, so don't worry about it impacting your entire claim.

wait i just reread ur post - ur still on pregnancy disability? not baby bonding leave yet? make sure u know the difference cuz i got confused and it caused problems with my claim!

I went through almost the exact same situation when I was on pregnancy disability last year! My employer also automatically applied sick time during my waiting period without asking, and I got hit with a $900 overpayment notice. What helped me was documenting everything - I found the email where I specifically told HR I wanted to save my sick days, and I also had them put in writing that their policy wasn't clearly communicated to employees. I did appeal, and while it took about 6 weeks, they actually reduced the overpayment amount by about 40% because I could prove I wasn't properly informed about their automatic sick leave policy. For your bonus, definitely report it ASAP through the SDI Online portal. I had a similar situation with a year-end bonus and the key is reporting it quickly to avoid any issues. The system will automatically calculate how it affects that week's benefit. One tip that really helped me - document EVERYTHING going forward. Take screenshots of your communications with both your employer and EDD, and keep copies of all notices. If anything else comes up during your PFL period, you'll be prepared!