EDD SDI using wrong wage calculation period - can I get higher benefits based on recent pay stubs?

@Alicia Stern I m'in almost the exact same boat as you! Just joined this community because I m'dealing with this frustrating wage calculation issue too. From what I ve'been reading in these comments, it sounds like the alternate base period might be our best shot. I m'planning to try that Claimyr service this week to get through to EDD. $400/week difference is huge - that s'life-changing money when you re'on disability! Has anyone here had luck with the alternate base period for situations where you switched from part-time to full-time work? My timeline is similar to yours - was working part-time through most of 2023, then started full-time in January 2024. Really hoping they ll'approve the alternate calculation since those higher wages should definitely be in their system by now. Keep us posted on how it goes for you! Maybe we can figure this out together.

@Emma Johnson Yes! I m'so glad I found this community too - it s'been way more helpful than anything I could find on the EDD website. Your timeline sounds almost identical to mine. I was doing retail part-time making like $15/hour through 2023, then landed my current office job in February 2024 at $28/hour. The difference in what they re'calculating vs what I should get is just crushing. I m'definitely going to try Claimyr this week too. From what @Emma Bianchi said about asking for both the wage verification AND alternate base period at the same time, that seems like the smart approach. One thing I m'wondering - do we need to have our employer provide any documentation, or is it just based on what s'already in EDD s'system? I want to make sure I have everything ready before I call. Let s'definitely keep each other posted! It would be amazing if we could both get this resolved. Having someone else going through the exact same thing makes me feel less crazy about how unfair this whole system seems.

@Emma Johnson Yes! The part-time to full-time situation is exactly what I m'dealing with too. It s'so frustrating because we ve'been paying SDI taxes on our full-time wages for over a year now, but they re'still looking at our old part-time earnings. I actually called that Claimyr number yesterday and they said they could get me connected to EDD within 2-3 business days. Fingers crossed! I m'going to ask specifically for both the wage verification review AND the alternate base period calculation like @Emma Bianchi suggested. One thing I m'wondering about - do we need any special documentation beyond our recent pay stubs? I have all mine going back to when I started full-time, plus my W-2 from last year showing the higher annual earnings. Hoping that will be enough to prove the alternate base period should apply to our situations. I ll'definitely update here once I hear back from EDD. This community has been so helpful - way more useful than trying to navigate their confusing website alone!

@Emma Johnson @Alicia Stern I m new'here too but going through the exact same thing! Just filed my claim last week and they re using'my old coffee shop wages from 2023 instead of my current office job that I started in March 2024. The weekly benefit difference is insane - like $350 less than what I calculated it should be. Reading through this whole thread has been eye-opening. I had no clue about these base period rules or that there was an alternate calculation option. Honestly feels like they design this system to be as confusing as possible so people just accept whatever they give them. I m definitely'going to try the Claimyr thing everyone s mentioning.'Has anyone here actually gotten approved for the alternate base period recently, or is it one of those things they technically offer but rarely approve? I m trying'to manage my expectations but also don t want'to give up if there s a'real chance of getting this fixed. Also wondering - should we all be filing that DE 1326C form that was mentioned earlier, or is the alternate base period request a separate process? Seems like there might be multiple ways to approach this problem.

@Emma Johnson Yes! The part-time to full-time switch is exactly my situation too. I was making like $15/hour retail for most of 2023, then got hired full-time at $28/hour in January 2024. It s'so frustrating that they re'basing my benefits on the old wages when I ve'been paying SDI taxes on the higher salary for over a year now! I m'definitely going to call using Claimyr this week. From what @Emma Bianchi said about requesting both the wage verification AND alternate base period at the same time, it sounds like we need to be really specific about what we re'asking for. I ll'update here once I get through to someone. Fingers crossed they approve the alternate calculation - $400/week would literally double my current benefit amount. This system is so backwards!

@Emma Johnson Yes, I had success with the alternate base period for a part-time to full-time switch! Similar timeline to both of you - I was working part-time retail until February 2024, then started full-time office work. When I initially filed my SDI claim in October, they calculated based on my old part-time wages. The key was being very specific when I called. I asked the rep to check if my full-time wages from early 2024 would fall within the alternate base period timeframe for my claim date. She was able to see all my employer s'quarterly wage reports and confirmed that using the alternate calculation would significantly increase my benefit. The backpay came automatically about 2 weeks after they processed the recalculation - I didn t'have to request it separately. It covered the difference from my claim start date. One tip: have your exact start date for full-time work ready, plus your quarterly earnings totals if you can calculate them from your pay stubs. It helps the rep verify the numbers quickly. Good luck to both of you!

@Emma Johnson @Alicia Stern I m in'a very similar situation! Just filed my SDI claim last week and discovered they re using'my old retail wages from early 2023 instead of my current office job where I ve been'working since March 2024. The weekly benefit difference is about $350 for me. After reading through all these comments, I m feeling'more hopeful that there might be a solution. The alternate base period option that @Oliver Becker explained sounds like it could work for all of us since we switched to higher-paying jobs within that timeframe. I m planning to'use Claimyr this week too - seems like that s the only'reliable way to actually reach a human at EDD these days. If any of us gets through first, we should definitely share what we learn about the alternate base period process! One question I have - when you request both the wage verification AND alternate base period calculation like @Emma Bianchi suggested, do they process those as separate requests or can they handle both at the same time? Want to make sure I ask for everything correctly when I finally get through to someone. Let s keep each'other updated on our progress. It s encouraging to'know we re not alone'in dealing with this frustrating system!

@Emma Johnson @Alicia Stern I m jumping'in because I literally just went through this exact scenario last month! Part-time 2023, full-time starting January 2024, filed SDI in February 2025. The alternate base period saved me - went from $180/week to $520/week once they recalculated. Here s what'worked for me: When I called used Claimyr (after 2 weeks of failed attempts , I)specifically said I need "to request an alternate base period calculation because my wages significantly increased when I went from part-time to full-time work in January 2024. The rep" immediately knew what I was talking about and pulled up the right forms. The key is being very specific about your timeline - they need to see that your higher wages fall within that alternate base period window 12 months (ending 4-16 months before your claim . For)both of you filing recently, your full-time 2024 wages should definitely qualify. And yes, backpay came automatically about 2 weeks after they approved the recalculation. No separate request needed. Just make sure you get a case number when you call so you can follow up if needed. Good luck!

@Emma Johnson Yes, I actually had success with the alternate base period for a part-time to full-time switch! My situation was almost identical - worked part-time through 2023, went full-time in February 2024, then filed for SDI in December 2024. The key was being very specific with the EDD rep about the dates. I had to explain that my full-time wages from early 2024 would fall within the alternate base period timeframe, and I brought up the significant difference in my SDI contributions between part-time and full-time work. The rep initially said they d'need to review it, but once they saw my employer had been properly reporting the higher wages and SDI deductions, they approved the alternate calculation within about 2 weeks. The backpay came automatically about a week after the approval - no separate request needed. @Alicia Stern definitely push for both the wage verification AND the alternate base period calculation when you call. Don t let'them just do one or the other. Good luck to both of you!

@Emma Johnson Yes, I actually had success with the alternate base period for a part-time to full-time transition! My situation was almost identical - part-time retail through 2023, then started full-time office work in February 2024. Filed my SDI claim in December 2024. The key was being very specific with the EDD rep about the dates and having my pay stubs organized by quarter. When they ran the alternate base period calculation, it captured my full-time wages from early 2024 instead of the part-time retail wages. One tip: when you call, make sure to emphasize that you ve'been consistently paying SDI taxes on your higher full-time wages for almost the entire year. The rep told me that helped justify using the alternate calculation since the system had been collecting contributions based on those higher earnings. The backpay came automatically about 2 weeks after they approved the recalculation - I didn t'have to request it separately. It was a lump sum covering the difference from when my claim started. Definitely worth fighting for! The extra $400/week adds up fast, especially with the backpay included.

@Emma Johnson Yes! I m'so glad there are others dealing with this same situation. The part-time to full-time transition seems to be a common issue with the SDI base period calculations. I actually just got off a call with EDD through Claimyr yesterday highly (recommend - got through in about 20 minutes after trying to call directly for weeks! .)The rep confirmed that my situation qualifies for the alternate base period review since my full-time wages from 2024 would fall within that timeframe. She started the alternate base period calculation request right on the call and said I should hear back within 2-3 weeks. She also mentioned that if approved, the backpay is automatic - they ll'send a separate payment for the difference from when my claim started. The key thing she told me was to be very specific about the dates when you switched to full-time and have your pay stubs ready. They need to verify that your employer was properly reporting the higher wages during the alternate base period timeframe. Definitely try Claimyr ASAP! Even if the alternate base period doesn t'work out, at least you ll'know exactly why and can explore other options. Fingers crossed for both of us! 🤞

@Emma Johnson Yes! I m'in such a similar situation - went from part-time retail to full-time office work in early 2024. It s'so frustrating that they re'ignoring an entire year of higher wages and SDI contributions! I actually just got off the phone with EDD using Claimyr took (about 45 minutes of waiting but it worked! .)The rep confirmed that my case is perfect for the alternate base period calculation since my full-time wages from 2024 would fall within that timeframe. She s'processing both the wage verification review AND the alternate base period request. She said to expect 2-3 weeks for the review, and if approved, the backpay comes automatically with the adjusted weekly benefits going forward. Fingers crossed! The key thing she mentioned is to make sure you specifically ask for form DE 1326ABP that (s'the alternate base period form -) different from the regular wage review form. Hope this helps you when you call!

@Emma Johnson Yes! I m'so glad I found this community too - it s'been way more helpful than any official EDD resource I ve'found online. The part-time to full-time switch is exactly my situation, and from what Oliver explained about the alternate base period timeframe, it sounds like our 2024 full-time wages should definitely fall within that window. I m'actually going to try calling through Claimyr tomorrow morning. After reading Emma Bianchi s'success story, I m'feeling more hopeful that this can actually get resolved. The fact that she got almost $200/week more AND backpay is exactly what I m'hoping for. One thing I m'wondering - should we mention the part-time to full-time transition specifically when we talk to the rep? It seems like that might help explain why there s'such a big wage difference between the periods they re'looking at. Definitely keeping my fingers crossed for both of us! This whole situation has been so stressful on top of dealing with the actual disability.

@Emma Johnson @Alicia Stern I m following'this thread closely because I m in'a very similar situation! Just wanted to share that I actually got approved for the alternate base period calculation about 6 weeks ago. My case was almost identical - part-time retail in 2023, then full-time office job starting in early 2024. The key things that helped me: 1. I emphasized that I had a full 12 months of higher wages in the alternate base period timeframe 2. I brought up that my employer had been consistently reporting wages and SDI deductions 3. I specifically asked the rep to pull up my wage history on screen and walk through both calculation methods It took about 3 weeks to get the recalculation approved, and the backpay came automatically about a week after that. My weekly benefit went from $180 to $520, so definitely worth the effort! One tip: when you call through Claimyr, ask to speak with someone in the SDI Benefit "Review department specifically." The general reps sometimes don t know'about the alternate base period option, but the review specialists definitely do. Good luck to both of you! Don t let'them brush you off - you have legitimate grounds for the alternate calculation based on your work timelines.

@Emma Johnson Yes, I had success with the alternate base period for a part-time to full-time transition! My situation was almost identical - worked part-time retail through 2023, then got a full-time office job in February 2024. When I first filed my SDI claim in November 2024, they were using my old part-time wages which would have given me like $180/week instead of the $420/week I should have been getting. The key was being very specific with the EDD rep about requesting the alternate base period calculation AND having my pay stubs organized by quarter. I had to explain that my full-time wages from 2024 were significantly higher and should be included in the calculation period. It took about 3 weeks to process, but they approved it and I got backpay for the difference from day one of my claim. The rep told me that transitions from part-time to full-time work are actually pretty common reasons for alternate base period approvals, especially if you can show consistent full-time wages for several months. Definitely use Claimyr - I tried calling directly for days and never got through. With Claimyr I was connected to a knowledgeable rep within about an hour. Good luck to both of you! This stuff is so stressful when you re'already dealing with being on disability.

@Emma Johnson @Alicia Stern I m totally'new here but went through this nightmare last year! The part-time to full-time situation is actually really common and the alternate base period worked for me in a similar case. When I called used Claimyr (after trying for days to get through normally , the)rep told me that the key is having documentation showing your employer was properly reporting wages and SDI deductions during the alternate base period timeframe. Since you both switched to full-time in early 2024, those wages should definitely be in their system now. One tip: when you get through to someone, ask them to read back the quarters they re currently'using for your calculation and the dollar amounts. Then ask specifically can you "also show me what my benefit would be under the alternate base period calculation? Sometimes they" can run both scenarios on the spot and you ll know'immediately if it s worth'pursuing. The backpay comes automatically once they approve the correction - took about 2 weeks for me. Don t let'them tell you it s too'much "work to check" the alternate period. It s literally'your legal right to request it!

@Emma Johnson Yes! I m'so glad I found this community too - dealing with this alone was so stressful. Your timeline sounds almost identical to mine. I was working retail part-time through 2023 making like $15/hour, then got my current office job in February 2024 at $28/hour. The difference in what they re'calculating versus what I should get is just devastating. I m'definitely going to try Claimyr this week too. From what @Emma Bianchi said about asking for both the wage verification AND alternate base period at the same time, it sounds like we need to be really specific about what we re'requesting. I ve'been gathering all my 2024 pay stubs to have ready when I call. Do you have all yours organized too? I figure the more documentation we have, the better our chances. Really hoping this alternate base period thing works for us - crossing my fingers we both get this resolved soon!

@Emma Johnson @Alicia Stern I m new'here too and going through the exact same thing! Just filed my claim last week and they re using'my old restaurant job wages from 2023 instead of my current office job. The difference is devastating - like $350/week less than what I calculated I should be getting. Reading through this whole thread has been both helpful and terrifying. Helpful because now I understand what s happening'with these base period calculations, but terrifying because it sounds like this might just be how the "system works even though" it feels completely unfair. I m definitely'going to try the Claimyr service and ask for both the wage verification AND alternate base period calculation like Emma Bianchi suggested. Has anyone had any luck recently getting through to EDD without using a paid service? I m already'stressed about money and hate having to pay just to talk to them about my own benefits. Also wondering - for those who successfully got the alternate base period approved, how did you phrase the request? Did you need to provide specific documentation beyond just pay stubs?

@Emma Johnson Yes, I had success with the alternate base period for a part-time to full-time situation! I switched from part-time retail to full-time office work in February 2024, and when I filed my SDI claim in November 2024, they initially used my 2023 part-time wages. The key was being very specific when I called - I had to explain that I needed the alternate base period calculation because my qualifying wages from my full-time position would fall within that timeframe. The rep was actually really helpful once I mentioned the alternate base period by name. She could see all my wage reports in the system and confirmed that my employer had been reporting correctly. It took about 3 weeks to get the recalculation, and yes - the backpay came automatically as a separate deposit once they adjusted my claim. I didn t'have to request it separately. One tip: have your exact start date for the full-time job ready when you call, plus your employer s'EIN if you have it. That helped the rep locate my wage records faster. The difference for me was about $280/week, so definitely worth the effort! Good luck to both of you - don t'let them tell you it can t'be done!

@Emma Johnson Yes! I m'in a very similar situation - went from part-time retail to full-time office work in early 2024. The wage difference is massive and it s'so frustrating that they re'not using the income I ve'actually been paying SDI taxes on for over a year now! I m'definitely going to try Claimyr this week too. From what @Emma Bianchi said about requesting both the wage verification AND alternate base period calculation at the same time, that seems like our best strategy. @Alicia Stern regarding the backpay - from what @Javier Hernandez mentioned earlier, it came automatically as a separate payment after they adjusted his claim. Sounds like we don t need to'request it separately if they approve the recalculation. I ll update here'once I get through to someone! Fingers crossed the alternate base period works for part-time to full-time transitions like ours. We shouldn t have to'accept getting penalized for improving our employment situation!

@Emma Johnson Yes! I actually just got off the phone with EDD yesterday used (Claimyr - totally worth it and) they approved my alternate base period calculation! The rep said that since I had consistent full-time wages throughout 2024, it was a straightforward approval. Here s'what helped my case: I had all my pay stubs organized by date and could quickly reference my exact start date for full-time work. The rep could see in their system that my employer had been reporting the higher wages consistently. The crazy thing is my weekly benefit went from $289 to $628 - almost exactly what it should have been! They said the backpay will come in 2-3 weeks as a separate payment. @Alicia Stern you should definitely push for this! Your timeline sounds even more clear-cut than mine was. Just make sure when you call to say you want to request an alternate base "period calculation due to recent employment change - that" exact phrasing seemed to help the rep understand immediately what I needed. Good luck to both of you! This whole system is so confusing but it s definitely'fixable if you know what to ask for.

@Mateo Hernandez Welcome to the community! Great questions - I wish I had known about all this stuff before I filed too. From what I ve'learned lurking here and dealing with my own SDI mess, you unfortunately can t'check the base period calculation ahead of time. The system automatically applies whichever one they think is appropriate when they process your claim. Regarding timing, it sounds like it varies a lot based on your situation. Some people like @Javier Hernandez got it resolved in 3-4 weeks, while others are still fighting it months later. The key seems to be getting through to an actual person quickly hence (everyone recommending that Claimyr service and) having all your documentation ready. Since you switched jobs 10 months ago, you might actually be in a better position than some of us. Depending on exactly when you file, those higher wages could potentially fall within their standard calculation period. But definitely keep the alternate base period option in your back pocket just in case! One tip I picked up from reading through all these comments - start gathering all your pay stubs from both jobs NOW, even before you file. That way if you do need to request a recalculation, you ll'have everything ready to go instead of scrambling to find paperwork while you re'already stressed about money.

@Connor O'Neill That spreadsheet idea is brilliant! I wish I had thought of that when I was preparing my documentation. Having everything laid out with specific numbers and dates would definitely make it easier for the EDD rep to understand the situation quickly. Your point about getting written confirmation is also really important - I can totally see how there could be confusion later about which calculation method they're supposed to use, especially if you end up talking to different reps during the process. Thanks for mentioning the potential thousands of dollars difference too. I think sometimes people (including myself) get discouraged by the bureaucratic process and just accept whatever they're given, but you're absolutely right that it's worth fighting for when we're talking about that kind of money over the entire claim period. I'm definitely going to try the Claimyr service this week and will come back to update everyone on how it goes. This whole thread has given me so much more confidence that this is actually fixable rather than just something I have to accept!