EDD just approved my SDI claim but I just got a job offer - what happens now?
So I was out on medical leave for 3 months due to a back injury (herniated disc) and have been receiving SDI since early February. My doctor initially certified me through April 30th. I've been doing physical therapy and actually feeling much better lately. Here's my dilemma - I just got offered a really good job that starts April 15th! I wasn't even looking but a former colleague recommended me and the salary is $15k more than my previous position. My doctor says I'm cleared to work with some minor restrictions (no heavy lifting over 20lbs). Do I need to notify EDD immediately? Will I have to pay back the last two weeks of benefits if I start working before my certification period ends? I'm not trying to double-dip or anything sketchy, just confused about the process of transitioning back to work when it happens earlier than expected. Has anyone dealt with this before? What forms do I need to fill out?
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Joshua Hellan
Congrats on the new job! Yes, you MUST report this to EDD right away. Log into your SDI Online account and there should be an option to report your return to work date. If you start working on April 15th, your benefits will stop as of April 14th. You won't have to pay anything back as long as you report it before you actually start working.
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Olivia Kay
•Thank you! Just to be clear, if I report my return-to-work date now (before I actually start), I'll still receive benefits until April 14th? I'm a little nervous about any gap in income.
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Jibriel Kohn
be careful about working with restrictions!! i went back too early with "minor restrictions" and ended up re-injuring myself. make sure ur new employer knows about them and get EVERYTHING in writing
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Olivia Kay
•That's a really good point. I'll make sure to discuss the restrictions with HR before I start. The job is mostly desk work, but there are occasional team building events that might be physical.
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Edison Estevez
omg i just went thru this exact same thing!!! you need to fill out the DE 2525XX form (Notice of Returned to Work). if u dont report it and they find out later youll have to pay everything back plus penalties. learned this the hard way lol
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Emily Nguyen-Smith
•Just to clarify, there's no form called DE 2525XX. The correct process is to report your return to work date through your SDI Online account under 'Report Return to Work Date'. You can also call EDD directly to report it.
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James Johnson
You're getting some good advice here. The most important thing is to notify EDD before you start working. You can do this online through your SDI account or by calling the EDD SDI phone line. By the way, if you're having trouble reaching someone at EDD to confirm everything is properly recorded (those phone lines are notorious), I used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me through to an agent in about 15 minutes when I needed to sort out a similar situation. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/1X-mEsLtbmQ?si=1hcSq3KFtCr4oAmd Congratulations on the new job and your recovery!
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Olivia Kay
•Thank you for that tip! I've been trying to get through to EDD for days with no luck. I'll check out that service if I can't connect by tomorrow. Really appreciate all the helpful advice here.
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Sophia Rodriguez
So if ur starting a new job, make sure they know u were on disability. Some companies have policies about hiring people who were out on medical leave. Not trying to scare u but my cousin got hired then they found out she was on SDI right before and they rescinded the offer claiming she wasnt honest during inteview process.
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Mia Green
•This is not correct information. The Americans with Disabilities Act prohibits employers from discriminating against qualified individuals with disabilities. They cannot legally rescind a job offer simply because someone was previously on disability leave. If your cousin's offer was rescinded for this reason, they should consult with an employment attorney as that could be illegal discrimination.
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Olivia Kay
•Thanks for the concern, but the new employer actually knows about my situation. My former colleague who recommended me already explained my circumstances, and they're completely fine with the minor restrictions. I'm lucky in that regard!
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Emily Nguyen-Smith
To answer your specific questions: 1. Yes, you must notify EDD immediately when you have a return-to-work date. 2. You will NOT have to pay back benefits as long as you report your return before it happens. Benefits will stop the day before you start working. 3. The reporting process: Log into SDI Online → Select your claim → Click on "Report Return to Work Date" → Enter the date you'll start working. 4. If your doctor had certified you through April 30th, you will not receive benefits from April 15-30 once you report your return to work. 5. Make sure you keep documentation of when you reported your return to work date in case there are any questions later. Also, don't forget to arrange for continuation of health insurance if there's a gap between when your previous coverage ends and when your new employer's benefits begin.
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Olivia Kay
•This is incredibly helpful - thank you for the step-by-step instructions! I just logged in and reported my return to work date. I also took a screenshot of the confirmation page just to be safe. My new health insurance starts May 1st, so I'll need to pay COBRA for those two weeks in between.
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