EDD denied disability claim after CFRA leave - appeal help needed

The timing is really important here. If your disability began BEFORE your CFRA leave ended, you have a much stronger case. Having your doctor change the start date to Feb 15 makes sense if that's when your mental health symptoms actually began affecting your ability to work. For the appeal, you'll need: (1) medical documentation showing your condition began while you were still considered employed, (2) a letter from your psychiatrist explaining your condition in detail, and (3) any communication with your employer about your mental health before termination. I won this exact appeal last year when EDD initially denied my claim after FMLA ended.

omg i had almost identical situation!!!! took CFRA for my sick mom then got major deprression when she passed. my work fired me to and i couldnt get disability at first. the key is that u need to prove ur disability started BEFORE ur employment ended. if ur doctor has notes from feb 15 USE THOSE!! make sure he writes a detailed letter saying thats when ur disability actually started even if u didnt file right away. bring ALL ur medical records to the hearing

I had a really hard time reaching an actual person at EDD when I was dealing with my disability claim issues. I ended up using a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to an EDD representative in about 20 minutes instead of spending days trying to get through. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/1X-mEsLtbmQ?si=1hcSq3KFtCr4oAmd. Might be worth checking out before your appeal so you can talk to someone directly about your specific situation and be prepared.

The key issue here is establishing that your disability began during what EDD considers your "disability base period." For SDI eligibility, you need to be either: 1. Employed or actively looking for work when your disability begins, OR 2. Have your disability begin within 14 days after your last day of work Based on what you described, if your psychiatrist can verify your condition began by Feb 15 (before your CFRA ended on Feb 17), you should have a strong case. The medical records must clearly show you were unable to perform your regular/customary work due to your mental health condition on that date. Your psychiatric notes, prescription records, and therapy documentation from that period will be crucial. Also bring your termination paperwork to confirm your employment dates. DON'T wait until the hearing to submit these documents. Send them ahead of time through your SDI Online account.

EDD IS A COMPLETE JOKE!!!! They ALWAYS deny first claims especially for mental health!!! They don't care that you were grieving or that your employer basically fired you while you were struggling. My sister went through EXACT same thing and had to appeal TWICE before getting approved. The system is DESIGNED to make you give up!!!

To answer your follow-up question - it doesn't matter that you filed after termination as long as your disability actually began during your employment period. The key is when the disability started, not when you filed the paperwork. And yes, absolutely bring those Feb 15 treatment notes! That's exactly the kind of documentation that will help your case. At the hearing, the judge will likely ask: 1. When did your symptoms begin? 2. When did they become severe enough to prevent you from working? 3. Why didn't you file for SDI immediately? 4. What specific symptoms prevent you from working? Be honest but make sure to emphasize that your condition began while you were still employed/on CFRA. The judge should understand that people often delay filing when they're in crisis.

Regarding your follow-up question: Yes, you should absolutely mention both aspects of your situation at the hearing. Focus primarily on establishing that your condition became disabling by February 15, but you can also explain how the grief intensified after termination. The judge needs to understand the full timeline, including: 1. Initial onset of symptoms (January) 2. When symptoms became disabling (February 15 - this is the crucial date) 3. How termination worsened your condition 4. Why there was a delay in filing Just be careful not to make it sound like your disability only became severe after termination. The central argument must be that you were already disabled before your CFRA ended, even if you were trying to push through it.

kinda off topic but has anyone else noticed that SDI is wayyyy stricter about mental health claims than physical ones?? my husband broke his ankle and got approved in like 5 days. meanwhile my anxiety/depression claim took 2 months and they asked for extra documentation twice!!

Yes, you should definitely mention your boss's comment about you seeming "distracted." That's actually helpful evidence that your mental health was already affecting your work performance before termination. If you have any emails or texts that reference this conversation, bring copies. One more tip: In these appeals, how you present yourself matters. Be honest about your symptoms but stay focused and organized in your responses. Prepare a short (2-3 minute) summary of your timeline that clearly establishes when your disability began. Judges appreciate when claimants can clearly explain their situation without going off on tangents. Good luck with your appeal! The fact that you have treatment records from February 15 puts you in a strong position.