< Back to California Disability

Juan Moreno

Military ID but out-of-state license - can I still file for CA disability benefits?

Hi everyone, I'm stationed at Camp Pendleton but still have my Texas driver's license since that's my home of record. I injured my back during training last month and my military doctor recommended I file for CA disability since I'm not eligible for military disability benefits for this specific injury (not service-connected). When I tried starting my SDI application online, it asked for CA ID information. Does anyone know if I can still apply for CA disability with an out-of-state license? I've been living and working in California for 18 months, and all my wages have CA tax withheld including SDI contributions. Help appreciated!

Amy Fleming

•

Yes, you can still apply with an out-of-state license! The EDD has special procedures for military personnel. You'll need to provide your military ID, proof of California residence (like utility bills or your rental agreement), and proof of SDI contributions on your pay stubs. When completing the DE 2501 form, there's a section where you can explain your situation. Just note you're active military with out-of-state license but stationed and working in CA.

0 coins

Juan Moreno

•

Thank you so much! That's a relief. Do you know if this might delay my application processing time? My bills are starting to pile up.

0 coins

Alice Pierce

•

My cousin had same problem bcuz he was from florida but working here. jst call them and tell them ur situation they can help u over phone! but good luck getting thru lol took him like 2 days of calling

0 coins

Juan Moreno

•

Yeah I tried calling today and couldn't get through at all. Kept getting the "we're experiencing high call volume" message before it hung up on me. Frustrating!

0 coins

Esteban Tate

•

I feel your pain! I had to deal with the address verification nightmare when I moved from Oregon. Make sure you upload crystal clear photos of your military ID and proof of residence or they'll reject it without telling you and you'll be waiting forever wondering what's happening.

0 coins

Try using Claimyr to get through to an EDD agent quickly. I was in a similar situation (not military but had out-of-state ID) and spent days trying to reach someone. Claimyr got me connected to an agent in about 25 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/1X-mEsLtbmQ?si=1hcSq3KFtCr4oAmd. Their website is claimyr.com. The agent was able to verify my identity over the phone and push my application forward.

0 coins

Juan Moreno

•

Thanks for the recommendation! I'll check out that video. At this point I'm willing to try anything to get this resolved.

0 coins

Elin Robinson

•

does that actually work?? seems sketchy to me. but then again edd is impossible to reach so maybe worth it idk

0 coins

WRONG INFO ABOVE! Military personnel are actually supposed to file disability in their HOME STATE not where they're stationed!!!! I learned this the hard way and had to refile everything. Check with your JAG office before proceeding.

0 coins

Amy Fleming

•

That's not correct for California SDI. If you're physically working in California and having SDI deductions taken from your pay, you're eligible to file in California regardless of your home of record. Military personnel follow the same rules as civilian workers in this case. The key is whether SDI contributions were being deducted from your paychecks in California.

0 coins

Beth Ford

•

Make sure you're applying for the right program. SDI is for when you can't work due to non-work injury/illness. If your injury happened during military training, shouldn't you be applying for military benefits or workers comp instead of state disability? Just making sure you're on the right track because I got really confused about which program to apply for when I hurt my back.

0 coins

Juan Moreno

•

Thanks for checking! I already talked with our military benefits coordinator. Since this happened during weekend PT that wasn't officially supervised training, it doesn't qualify as service-connected. It's weird, but there's a whole category of injuries that fall into this gray area where we're directed to use state disability instead.

0 coins

Amy Fleming

•

One more important thing: Since you mentioned you've been in California for 18 months, make sure you have your last 18 months of pay stubs or income statements showing the SDI withholding. EDD might request these to verify you've made the required contributions during your base period. This is especially important since you have an out-of-state license.

0 coins

Juan Moreno

•

Great tip! I'll get those organized right away. My pay statements do show the CA-SDI deduction line item, so hopefully that helps prove my eligibility.

0 coins

Alice Pierce

•

My buddy is navy and he got disability when he busted his knee. He said the military gives u some papers to fill out for edd that explains ur situation. Did ur medical officer give u any special forms?

0 coins

Juan Moreno

•

They gave me a standard doctor's certification form that looks the same as the civilian one, but the doctor checked a box indicating military medical facility. Maybe that's what your buddy was referring to?

0 coins

Dylan Evans

•

Hey Juan! I went through something similar when I was stationed at Miramar with a Nevada license. The key thing that helped me was making sure I had documentation showing my "California domicile" even with the out-of-state license. Besides what Amy mentioned, I also included a letter from my commanding officer confirming my station assignment and duration in CA. The EDD rep told me they see this situation fairly often with military personnel and have processes in place to handle it. Just be prepared for potentially one extra step in the verification process, but it shouldn't significantly delay your claim once you have all the right documents together. Good luck with your back injury recovery!

0 coins

Thanks Dylan! That's really helpful to know it's a common situation. I hadn't thought about getting a letter from my CO - that's a great idea for extra documentation. Did you have any issues with the verification process taking longer, or was it pretty smooth once you had everything together? Also, hope your situation worked out okay too!

0 coins

Just wanted to add that if you're having trouble with the online application because of the CA ID requirement, you can also submit a paper application (DE 2501) by mail or fax. Sometimes this is easier for military personnel with out-of-state licenses because you can include a cover letter explaining your situation along with all your supporting documents. The paper form has more space to detail your circumstances than the online system. You can download it from the EDD website or pick one up at any EDD office. Make sure to include copies (not originals) of your military ID, proof of CA residence, and recent pay stubs showing SDI withholding.

0 coins

Ethan Wilson

•

This is really good advice about the paper application! I didn't even think about that option. The online system kept getting stuck when I tried to enter my Texas license info. A paper application with a cover letter sounds like it might be the way to go - I can explain everything clearly and include all my documents at once. Do you know if mailing it in typically takes longer to process than online applications, or is it about the same timeframe?

0 coins

California Disability AI

Expert Assistant
Secure

Powered by Claimyr AI

T
I
+
20,087 users helped today