EDD denied my appeal after quitting job due to unpaid wages - doctor now says I have stress-related disability

You need to immediately contact EDD to explain the situation. UI and SDI are completely separate programs, and having active claims in both systems simultaneously can potentially trigger a fraud investigation. When your doctor certified you as disabled, you became ineligible for UI because you're no longer 'able and available for work' which is a UI requirement. Your best course of action is to: 1. Call the SDI office directly to confirm your disability claim was received 2. Inform the UI department that you've filed for SDI due to medical issues 3. Request that your UI claim be put on hold pending the SDI determination The medical certification (DE 2501) should establish your eligibility from the date your doctor certified, but understand there might be a gap between your last UI payment and first SDI payment. Document everything carefully!

i went thru similar thing last yr. dont withdraw ur UI appeal yet!! wait til SDI is approved first. the systems dont talk to each other that well (surprise lol). if ur doc backdated ur disability to when u were getting UI, u might have to repay some UI $ so keep that in mind

I'm dealing with the EXACT same situation right now!!! My employer stopped paying me for 6 weeks last year claiming "cash flow issues" but kept promising the money was coming. I finally quit in December and my mental health completely crashed. Panic attacks, couldn't sleep, the works. Initially got UI but my doctor put me on disability in January. Here's what I learned: YOU CANNOT RECEIVE UI AND SDI FOR THE SAME PERIOD!! This is super important. SDI requires you to be unable to do your regular or customary work, while UI requires you to be able and available to work. They're mutually exclusive. I recommend using Claimyr (claimyr.com) to actually get through to an EDD representative. I spent days trying to reach someone until I found their service. They got me connected to an EDD disability specialist within 30 minutes who explained everything. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/1X-mEsLtbmQ?si=1hcSq3KFtCr4oAmd The rep told me that once my SDI was approved, my UI claim would be automatically adjusted. But definitely notify both departments!

As someone who's helped many clients through this exact situation, I can clarify a few important points: 1. Acute stress disorder IS a qualifying medical condition for SDI benefits when properly certified by your doctor. 2. The transition from UI to SDI requires careful handling. You must inform BOTH departments. Call the SDI department at 1-800-480-3287 and the UI department at 1-800-300-5616. 3. Your UI appeal and SDI claim can proceed simultaneously, but benefits cannot overlap. If your doctor certified your disability beginning February 10th and your last UI payment was prior to that, you should be fine. 4. For the SDI claim, make sure your doctor clearly documented that your condition prevents you from performing your regular work duties. This is essential for approval. 5. Keep all documentation from both claims organized and accessible. The good news is that SDI benefits are typically processed faster than UI appeals, so you may see movement on that claim soon.

Wait, does this mean you can just switch to disability if your UI claim gets denied?? That seems like a loophole. Not judging you OP but I'm confused why stress from a UI appeal would qualify for disability?

NOBODY at EDD knows what they're doing! I had a similar situation where I needed to switch from UI to disability after a car accident and it was a NIGHTMARE. They kept sending me conflicting information and I ended up with NO BENEFITS for two months. Then they sent me an overpayment notice for $2,700 claiming I received UI and SDI for the same weeks which I NEVER DID! Had to appeal and it took FOREVER to resolve. My advice: DOCUMENT EVERYTHING. Get names of everyone you talk to, confirmation numbers, send everything certified mail, and keep copies of EVERYTHING you submit. The EDD systems are completely broken and they'll make this YOUR problem.

One important point that hasn't been mentioned: If your doctor backdated your disability to a period when you were receiving UI benefits, you may need to repay those UI benefits. However, you can request that the overpayment be offset by your SDI benefits for the same period. This is handled through the Benefit Overpayment Section. You'll need to submit a written request explaining the situation and asking for this consideration. Include all relevant documentation including your doctor's certification and the dates in question. Also, keep certifying for UI (if your claim is still active) until your SDI is officially approved. Just make sure to answer truthfully that you are not able and available for work due to medical reasons. This creates a clear record in the system about your status.

im confused...if the doctor says ur disabled now, how were u able to work before? sounds like the disability came at a convenient time when ur UI was being challenged...just saying what EDD might think

Quick update on my similar situation: my SDI was approved! Took about 3 weeks from application to first payment. The key was having my doctor clearly document how my symptoms prevented me from working. They backdated my claim to when my doctor first documented my condition, and I had to repay a small UI overpayment for one overlapping week. Still dealing with the UI appeal separately, but at least I have the SDI income now. Hang in there!