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!