EDD denied SDI for school cafeteria worker during summer break - ADHD/anxiety child care options?

this isnt disability, you need to apply for PAID FAMILY LEAVE (PFL) not SDI. totally different program for caregivers. start over with the right form!

The previous comment is partially correct, but there's a bit more nuance here. Your wife needs to apply for Paid Family Leave (PFL), not State Disability Insurance (SDI). PFL is specifically for when you need time off work to care for a seriously ill family member, including children with serious health conditions like severe ADHD and anxiety disorders. However, there are a few important things to know: 1. PFL requires a medical certification from your son's doctor confirming his condition requires caregiving 2. School employees often have special rules regarding benefits during scheduled breaks 3. She'll need to have earned enough wages during the base period to qualify The denial you received is because SDI is for your own disability, not for caregiving. File a new claim through SDI Online but select the PFL option instead. Make sure your son's doctor completes form DE 2501F thoroughly explaining why his condition requires full-time supervision.

I WENT THROUGH THIS EXACT NIGHTMARE last summer!!!! School cafeteria worker too (different district probably). EDD has these stupid "reasonable assurance" rules for school employees during breaks that make everything 10x harder. They denied my first PFL application too even though my daughter needed care. Had to appeal THREE TIMES and finally got approved in OCTOBER when school was already back!! The system is BROKEN for school workers!!

my sister works for a school too and she just applies for unemployment during summers instead of bothering with disability stuff. way easier

Have you tried calling EDD directly to speak with a representative? They might be able to guide you through the correct application process for your specific situation. I had a similar issue (though not school-related) and was able to resolve it by speaking directly with an EDD representative who explained exactly what I needed to do. I know getting through to EDD can be nearly impossible though! I used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) to connect with an EDD rep quickly instead of dealing with busy signals and disconnections for days. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/1X-mEsLtbmQ?si=1hcSq3KFtCr4oAmd Once I got through to a real person, they helped me understand which program was right for my situation and how to properly file the claim with all required documentation.

You mentioned your son has ADHD and anxiety - has he been assessed for regional center services? My daughter qualified and we get respite care hours that actually PAY my wife as his caregiver during summer. Might be another option to look into while you sort out the PFL situation. The intake process takes a while tho.

I'm really confused by some of the advice here. PFL has a maximum of 8 weeks in a 12-month period. That won't even cover the whole summer break. And don't school cafeteria workers usually qualify for unemployment during scheduled breaks? Something doesn't add up in the advice you're getting.

did u try appealing the denial?? u have 30 days to do it!

Have you contacted your local Department of Rehabilitation? They might have resources for families with children who have disabilities including potential employment solutions that accommodate caregiving needs.

UPDATE: I got through to EDD this morning using that Claimyr service someone suggested (took 20 minutes instead of days of trying). The rep confirmed I should withdraw the SDI claim and file for PFL instead. She also mentioned that school employees with "reasonable assurance" of returning DO face additional scrutiny but PFL can still be approved with strong medical documentation. My wife's starting the PFL application today and we've scheduled an appointment with a benefits counselor at the regional center next week to discuss additional options. Thank you all for the help and guidance! Will update when we hear about the PFL claim.

So glad you were able to get through to EDD and get on the right track! Just wanted to add - when you're working with your son's psychiatrist on the medical certification, ask them to specifically mention things like safety risks, need for constant redirection, inability to be left alone, etc. EDD looks for concrete examples of why supervision is medically necessary, not just the diagnosis itself. Also, if your son has an IEP or 504 plan at school that documents his needs, include copies of those too - it helps show the consistency of his condition across different settings. Rooting for you both!