Lost UI benefits + upcoming surgery - can I switch to EDD SDI?

yes u can go frm UI to disability, i did it last year when i hurt my back. as long as ur doctor fills out the medical certification form saying ur unable to work ur good. the benefit amount might be different tho

You CAN apply for SDI after UI, but there's a HUGE catch - you have to be PHYSICALLY ABLE to work while collecting UI but then have something happen that makes you disabled. If you were claiming UI benefits while already having the medical condition, EDD might investigate for fraud!!! Happened to my cousin and it was a NIGHTMARE to sort out. Make sure your doctor clearly documents when your condition began vs when you stopped UI.

Yes, you can absolutely transition from UI to SDI if you have a qualifying medical condition that prevents you from working. Here's what you need to know: 1. There's no waiting period between UI and SDI, you can apply right away 2. Make sure your doctor completes the medical certification (DE 2501) with accurate dates showing when you became unable to work 3. Your benefit calculation may be different for SDI than it was for UI 4. Be clear in your application that your medical condition arose after you were on UI Since you mentioned your gallbladder issues just started recently, make sure this is clearly documented. Apply online through SDI Online for fastest processing, and have your doctor submit their portion electronically if possible.

You don't need to formally close your UI claim before applying for SDI. Simply stop certifying for UI once you become disabled and apply for SDI. The EDD system will recognize you can't receive both benefits simultaneously. Just be sure your disability begin date is after your last UI payment received.

I went through something similar in 2023 when I needed back surgery after being on unemployment. Make EXTRA SURE that your doctor clearly documents that your disability started AFTER your UI claim period! I made the mistake of having overlapping dates and got hit with an eligibility interview and almost had to pay back benefits. It was so stressful on top of trying to recover from surgery. Also, the SDI benefit amount is calculated differently than UI was. For me it ended up being about $175 more per week than what I got on unemployment, which was a nice surprise at least!

What kind of accounting work do you do? My company is hiring remote accountants that could potentially work from home during recovery depending on the role. Just a thought if SDI doesn't work out or if you need something after recovery but before you can return to an office environment. DM me if interested.

@original poster - Yes, I had to do a phone interview while I was still on pain medication after surgery. I was so worried I'd say something wrong! But it worked out okay once I explained the timeline and had my doctor send additional documentation. The interviewer was actually pretty understanding.

Update: I applied for SDI online yesterday and made sure to clearly document that my gallbladder issues just started recently. My doctor submitted his portion today electronically. The system accepted my application without any errors, so now I'm just waiting. Thanks everyone for your advice! Will update if anything happens with my claim.

Second update: My claim is now showing as pending, and there's a note saying they need additional information from my doctor about the date my disability began. I tried calling EDD but couldn't get through. Should I just have my doctor submit another certification with clearer dates?

check ur disability paperwork online i bet theres a specific form they want ur doctor to fill out. sometimes they want a specific test result or more details about why u cant work. my doctor had to upload extra docs explaining my back injury in more detail

Final update: I used Claimyr and got through to an agent who explained exactly what additional documentation they needed. My doctor submitted it, and my claim was approved two days later! Now just waiting for the first payment to hit my account. Thanks everyone for your help during this stressful time!