Lost my job while on EDD SDI - can I keep collecting disability benefits?

Yes, you can absolutely continue receiving SDI benefits! Your disability claim is based on your medical condition and inability to work, not on whether you currently have a job. As long as your doctor continues to certify that you're unable to work due to your disability, you should continue receiving benefits for the full period your doctor certifies. The one thing to be aware of is that once your disability claim ends, you won't be able to return to your previous employer (obviously), but you may be eligible for unemployment benefits at that point if you're medically cleared to work but don't have a job. Just make sure your doctor is submitting all the necessary certification forms on time so there's no interruption in your benefits.

i was in almost the exact same situation in january. on disability for 3 months, company laid me off with 2 months of disability left. nothing changed with my benefits, still got paid the full amount until my doctor released me. dont stress about it ur fine

The previous posters are correct that you CAN continue receiving disability benefits even after losing your job. Your SDI eligibility is based on your medical condition and your inability to perform your regular or customary work - not on having a current employer. However, I would recommend informing EDD about your job loss to avoid any potential issues later. While it shouldn't affect your current disability claim, it might affect what happens after your disability ends. Usually, people transition back to their job after disability, but in your case, you'll likely need to file for unemployment benefits once you're medically cleared to work. One important thing to understand is that SDI and unemployment are mutually exclusive programs - you can't collect both simultaneously. You must be able and available for work to collect unemployment, while disability requires you to be unable to work due to a medical condition.

Dont liston to these people!!!! You ABSOLUTELY NEED TO TELL EDD or it's fraud!!! My sister didnt tell them when she lost her job during disability and they found out and made her repay EVERYTHING plus a penalty!!!! Call them ASAP before they find out some other way!!!

I had this happen in early 2025. Was on disability for a shoulder surgery, then got laid off about 8 weeks into my recovery. I continued getting my disability payments for the full 12 weeks my doctor certified. Then once I was medically cleared, I applied for unemployment benefits and explained I couldn't return to my previous job because I was laid off during my disability period. No issues at all. Just keep certifying normally and make sure your doctor continues submitting the required medical documentation on time. Your benefits are based on your wages from the base period before your disability started, not on your current employment status.

Has anyone actually tried CALLING EDD to get this question answered directly? I spent THREE DAYS trying to get through to them last month for a simple question about my certification. The phone system is absolutely broken - disconnects after 20 minutes of waiting, or says "too many callers" and hangs up on you. I finally used this service called Claimyr that got me through to an EDD agent in about 25 minutes. It was actually worth it because the agent was able to fix my issue right away. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/1X-mEsLtbmQ?si=1hcSq3KFtCr4oAmd and their website is claimyr.com if you want to check it out. Seriously saved me hours of frustration.

To summarize what most people have correctly stated: 1. You CAN continue receiving SDI benefits after job loss as long as you're still medically unable to work and your doctor continues certifying your condition. 2. Your SDI benefits are based on wages earned during your base period (typically 5-18 months before your claim started), not on current employment. 3. Once your disability ends and your doctor clears you to return to work, you would then apply for unemployment benefits rather than returning to your former employer. 4. While not required, it's generally good practice to inform EDD of significant changes to your circumstances, including job loss during a disability period. 5. Make sure all your medical certification forms are submitted on time to avoid any interruption in benefits. Your situation is actually quite common, especially during company restructuring periods, and the system is designed to handle these transitions.

Thank you everyone for the helpful answers! I was finally able to get through to an EDD representative who confirmed what most of you said - my disability benefits will continue as long as my doctor certifies I'm still unable to work, regardless of my employment status. The rep also mentioned that I should apply for unemployment once my disability ends (and I'm medically cleared to work). She said to make sure I mention in my unemployment application that I was on disability when I lost my job, as this affects how they evaluate my claim. For anyone wondering about the health insurance question - yes, that was a concern too. My employer is offering COBRA coverage, but it's ridiculously expensive. I'm looking into Covered California options now. Thanks again for all the guidance during this stressful time!

I'm glad you were able to get through to EDD and get official confirmation! That's such a relief. For the health insurance situation, definitely check out Covered California - you might qualify for a special enrollment period due to losing your employer coverage. Also, depending on your income while on disability, you might be eligible for premium assistance or even Medi-Cal. The Covered California website has a good calculator to estimate costs and subsidies. It's definitely worth exploring all your options before committing to expensive COBRA coverage. Wishing you a smooth recovery!

I'm really glad you got through to EDD and got official confirmation! That must be such a relief during an already stressful time. Your situation is actually more common than people realize - companies unfortunately sometimes use restructuring as an opportunity to eliminate positions while employees are on medical leave. One thing to keep in mind for your future unemployment claim: since you were laid off during your disability period through no fault of your own, you should have a pretty straightforward case when you apply for unemployment benefits once you're medically cleared. Make sure to keep documentation of your layoff notice and any communication from your employer about the "business restructuring" - this will help support your unemployment claim. Also, regarding health insurance - definitely explore all your options before going with COBRA. Sometimes the marketplace plans through Covered California can be significantly cheaper, especially if your income has dropped due to being on disability. You might also want to check if your employer offers any transitional health benefits or if there are any union benefits if you were part of one. Hope your recovery continues to go well and that you can focus on getting better without the added stress of worrying about benefits!

I went through almost the exact same situation in 2023! Was on SDI for a knee surgery, got laid off 6 weeks into my 10-week recovery period. I was terrified they'd cut off my benefits, but nothing changed - I kept receiving my full SDI payments until my doctor cleared me to return to work. The key thing is that SDI is medical-based, not employment-based. As long as your doctor keeps certifying that you can't work due to your medical condition, you'll continue getting benefits. I didn't even have to notify EDD about the layoff during my disability period, though I did mention it when I later applied for unemployment. One tip: start researching your post-disability options now. I wish I had started the unemployment application process earlier once my doctor cleared me, because there was about a 2-week gap between my SDI ending and my first unemployment payment. Also definitely look into Covered California for health insurance - I saved almost $400/month compared to COBRA. Your recovery is the priority right now. The benefits system is designed to support you through this, so try not to stress about it too much!

As someone who's worked in disability advocacy for over 8 years, I can confirm that your SDI benefits should absolutely continue! The key thing to understand is that State Disability Insurance is tied to your medical condition and inability to work - not to having a current employer. Your benefits are calculated based on wages you earned during your "base period" (typically 5-18 months before your disability started), so losing your job now doesn't affect those calculations. As long as your doctor continues to certify that you're unable to work due to your back injury, you'll keep receiving payments. What I always tell clients in your situation: focus on your recovery first. The system is designed to support you during medical leave, whether you have a job to return to or not. When your doctor eventually clears you to work, THEN you'll transition to unemployment benefits and start your job search. One practical tip: start keeping a folder with all your medical documentation, your layoff notice, and any correspondence from your employer. This will be helpful when you eventually apply for unemployment, as you'll need to show you were laid off through no fault of your own while on legitimate medical leave. You're going to get through this! Take care of your health - the administrative stuff will work itself out.

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - been on SDI for a workplace injury since January, and my company just went through "restructuring" last week. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly helpful! Just wanted to add that if you're dealing with a workers' comp case alongside your SDI (since you mentioned it was a work-related back injury), make sure to coordinate with your workers' comp attorney if you have one. Sometimes there can be complications when you lose your job during an active workers' comp claim, especially around medical coverage and return-to-work requirements. Also, regarding the health insurance gap - if you're currently receiving workers' comp benefits, your medical treatment related to the work injury should still be covered by workers' comp even after losing your job. But for non-injury related healthcare, you'll definitely want to get that Covered California coverage sorted out quickly. Hope your recovery goes smoothly and that the transition to unemployment benefits is seamless when the time comes!

Just want to echo what others have said and add my own experience - I was on SDI for depression/anxiety issues for about 4 months in 2024, and my company laid me off during month 3 due to "budget cuts." I panicked thinking I'd lose my benefits, but absolutely nothing changed. I continued receiving my full SDI payments for the remaining 6 weeks until my psychiatrist cleared me to return to work. The thing that helped me the most was understanding that SDI is essentially insurance YOU paid into through payroll deductions - it's not charity or welfare that depends on your employer's goodwill. You earned those benefits through your past work and contributions to the system. When I transitioned to unemployment after my SDI ended, the process was actually pretty straightforward. I just had to explain that I was laid off while on medical leave, and they processed my claim without any issues. The unemployment office was understanding about the situation. One thing I wish I'd done differently: I should have started preparing for the transition earlier. There's definitely a learning curve with the unemployment system, and starting that research while you're still on SDI (when you have a bit more mental bandwidth) makes the transition smoother. Hang in there - you're going to get through this! Focus on healing, and trust that the system is designed to support you during this time.

I'm new to this community but wanted to share my recent experience since it sounds so similar to yours. I was on SDI for a shoulder injury from December 2024 through February 2025, and my company eliminated my position in January due to "cost-cutting measures." I was terrified about what would happen to my benefits. Turns out everyone here is right - your SDI continues as long as you're medically unable to work, regardless of employment status. I kept receiving my full benefits until my orthopedic surgeon cleared me. The EDD rep I spoke with explained that SDI is based on your medical condition and your base period wages (from before you got injured), not on having a current job. What really helped me was creating a timeline of important dates - when my disability started, when I was laid off, when my doctor estimated I'd be cleared to work, etc. This made it easier to plan for the transition to unemployment benefits and budget for any potential gaps. I'm glad you were able to get through to EDD and get official confirmation! That phone system is definitely a nightmare to navigate. Focus on your recovery - the benefits system has your back during this time.

I'm sorry you're going through this stressful situation! I went through something very similar last year - was on SDI for a knee surgery and got laid off halfway through my recovery period due to company downsizing. Just wanted to confirm what others have said - your SDI benefits will absolutely continue as long as your doctor certifies you're still unable to work. The layoff doesn't affect your disability payments at all since they're based on your medical condition and your past earnings, not your current employment status. One thing that really helped me was setting up a simple spreadsheet to track all my important dates and deadlines - certification dates, doctor appointments, when I expected to be cleared for work, etc. It made the whole process feel more manageable when everything was organized in one place. The transition to unemployment after SDI ended was smoother than I expected too. Just make sure to keep that documentation from your employer about the layoff - you'll need it when you apply for unemployment benefits once you're medically cleared. Focus on your recovery first - the system is designed to support you through situations exactly like this. Wishing you a speedy healing process!

I'm really glad you got the official confirmation from EDD and that your stress has been reduced! Your situation is unfortunately becoming more common - companies using "restructuring" as cover for layoffs while employees are on medical leave. Since you mentioned this was a work-related back injury, I'd definitely recommend documenting everything about the timing of your layoff relative to your expected return date. Companies aren't supposed to retaliate against employees for using workers' comp or disability benefits, and the timing here seems suspicious. Even if you don't pursue it legally, having that documentation could be valuable. For budgeting purposes, try to plan for about a 2-3 week gap between when your SDI ends and when unemployment payments start. The unemployment application process can take some time, especially when you have to explain the disability period. Start gathering your employment history, wage statements, and that layoff documentation now so you're ready to apply as soon as your doctor clears you. One silver lining - sometimes these forced career transitions end up opening doors to better opportunities. Focus on getting healthy first, then you can tackle the job search with a fresh perspective. You've got this!

I'm really sorry you're dealing with this difficult situation, but I'm glad you were able to get through to EDD and get official confirmation! As someone who works in employment law, I can tell you that unfortunately what happened to you is more common than it should be - companies sometimes use "restructuring" as an opportunity to eliminate positions while employees are on medical leave, especially workers' comp cases. A few additional things to keep in mind: First, since this was a work-related injury, make sure your workers' comp attorney (if you have one) is aware of the timing of your layoff. There could be potential issues around retaliation for filing a workers' comp claim, especially given that you were let go right before your expected return date. Second, keep detailed records of all communications with your former employer about the layoff - dates, reasons given, who you spoke with, etc. For the health insurance transition, definitely explore Covered California before committing to COBRA. Given that your income has likely decreased significantly while on SDI, you may qualify for substantial premium subsidies that could make marketplace plans much more affordable than COBRA continuation coverage. Most importantly, focus on your recovery. The benefits system is designed exactly for situations like yours, and it sounds like you have a good handle on the next steps. Wishing you a smooth healing process and successful transition back to work when you're ready!

I'm so glad you were able to get through to EDD and get official confirmation! That must have been such a relief after all the stress and uncertainty. Your situation really highlights how confusing these benefit systems can be when life throws you curveballs like getting laid off during a disability period. I wanted to add one thing that hasn't been mentioned much in this thread - if you're planning to look for work once you're medically cleared, you might want to start thinking about whether you'll need any workplace accommodations related to your back injury. Even after you're cleared to return to work, you may still have some limitations or need ergonomic adjustments. This is something to discuss with your doctor before you're released, and it could be relevant when you start interviewing for new positions. Also, regarding the workers' comp aspect that others have mentioned - definitely keep your attorney in the loop about the layoff timing. Sometimes there are additional benefits or protections available through workers' comp that people don't realize, especially when there are questions about potential retaliation. It sounds like you're getting great advice here and handling everything really well despite the circumstances. Focus on your healing, and remember that you've already navigated the hardest part - getting clear information about your benefits continuing. The rest will fall into place!