EDD SDI to Unemployment transition after layoff notice - will my weekly benefit amount change?

sorry that happening to u! my cousin went thru similar thing last year. pretty sure unemployment pays less than disability. good luck!

Yes, your weekly benefit amount will definitely be recalculated when you transition from SDI to UI. Unemployment and disability use different calculation methods: - SDI is based on your highest quarter earnings in your base period (typically 55% of those wages) - UI is based on your highest quarter, but caps out much lower than SDI The maximum weekly UI benefit in California for 2025 is $600, so if you're currently getting $1275 on SDI, you'll see a significant decrease when switching to unemployment. I recommend checking UI eligibility calculator on EDD's website to get a more accurate estimate. Also, make sure your layoff paperwork clearly shows you're being let go due to no fault of your own so there's no delay in UI approval.

Just wanted to add - if your doctor thinks you're still unable to work after your current SDI claim ends, you might be able to get an extension on your disability instead of immediately going to unemployment. The SDI extension process requires your doctor to submit additional medical certification showing you still can't work. But be careful - you can't collect both SDI and UI at the same time because UI requires you to certify that you're able to work, while SDI is based on you being unable to work. Talk to your doctor about your recovery timeline and whether an extension might be appropriate in your case.

The WHOLE system is designed to screw us over!! I went thru this exact situation in 2024 and my UI payment was LESS THAN HALF of what I got on disability!!! They use totally different formulas and the UI system hasnt been updated in YEARS to keep up with actual living costs!! AND get this - when you apply for UI theyll make you wait another week (the "waiting period") before you get any money! Double waiting periods!! What a joke!!! They hope people just give up.

When I transitioned from SDI to unemployment last year after my hip surgery, I tried calling EDD to get clarification on exactly this question but kept getting disconnected or waiting on hold for HOURS. I eventually used Claimyr.com to connect with an EDD agent quickly. It saved me so much frustration, and the agent explained exactly how my benefits would change and helped me time my applications to avoid any gaps. They have a video demo showing how it works: https://youtu.be/1X-mEsLtbmQ?si=1hcSq3KFtCr4oAmd Definitely worth it when you're dealing with a complex transition like going from SDI to UI after a layoff.

To answer the question about gaps: You can actually apply for UI as soon as your disability claim ends. There's potentially a one-week waiting period for UI (if you haven't claimed UI in the past year), but you can file your UI application while still on SDI to minimize any gap. Just be very clear about your availability date - that's the date you're able to return to work. This should match the end date of your disability claim. If you put an availability date that overlaps with your disability period, it can create problems with both claims.

I went thru this EXACT situation last year after my gallbladder surgery!!! My advice is START SAVING NOW if possible because my UI weekly benefit was about 40% less than what I was getting on disability. It was a huge shock to my budget. Also, when they calculate your UI benefits, they look at your earnings in a different way than SDI does, so you might get even less than you expect. One thing that helped me was that my doctor wrote a letter saying I needed work accommodations when I returned (no heavy lifting, limited standing, etc). This actually helped my UI claim because it showed I was able to work but had limitations, which is important for UI eligibility.

I'm currently dealing with almost the same situation! What I learned (after many frustrating calls to EDD) is that the base periods used for calculating SDI and UI can be different too, which affects your benefit amount. SDI looks at a different earnings period than UI might when they calculate your benefit. Also, I don't know if this applies to you, but when I talked to the disability office, they mentioned that if you're receiving any severance pay from your employer, it can affect your UI eligibility. Might be worth checking if you're getting any severance as part of your layoff package.