Qualifying for apartment rental while on EDD SDI - no paystubs

Yes! I went through this exact nightmare last summer. What worked for me was getting an official benefits verification letter from EDD (not just the award letter). I also printed out 3 months of bank statements showing the regular disability deposits and highlighted them. The property manager initially pushed back, but I explained that disability income is protected under fair housing laws and can't be discriminated against. Eventually they accepted it, but I also offered to pay an extra security deposit to make them feel better. Good luck!

Thank you so much for this! I didn't know about the benefits verification letter being different from the award letter. How did you request that specifically? And did you mention the fair housing laws directly to them? I'm worried about coming across as threatening if I bring up legal stuff...

get a cosigner thats what i had to do. my parents signed for me when i was on disability for my car accident last year. landlords dont care about your situation they just want $$$ guaranteed

This is EXACTLY why the rental system is completely BROKEN!! I was on SDI for 8 months last year and faced the same discrimination when trying to find a place. Even though my disability payments were actually MORE than my regular income (I hit the max benefit amount), landlords acted like it wasn't \

thats terrible! did u try filing a complaint? my cousin works in property management and says landlords can get in big trouble for that kind of discrimination

No I didn't file a complaint because I was too busy dealing with my health issues and finding somewhere to live! Plus they never put anything in writing - they just made excuses like \

I'm a mortgage broker who also helps clients with rental applications occasionally. Here's what you need to do:\n\n1. Get an official benefit verification letter from EDD (call them directly)\n2. Print 3-6 months of bank statements showing consistent deposits\n3. Provide a letter explaining your situation including when you expect to return to work\n4. If possible, include documentation from your previous landlord showing on-time payment history\n5. Offer an additional security deposit (if you can afford it)\n\nLandlords are mainly concerned about risk - they want to know you can pay consistently for the duration of the lease. If your disability benefits end before your lease would, that's their main concern. Address that directly by showing sufficient savings or explaining your return-to-work timeline.\n\nAlso, remember that disability income IS protected under fair housing laws, but that doesn't mean every landlord understands this. Sometimes educating them politely with printed information from HUD's website can help.

This is incredibly helpful, thank you! I've been on hold with EDD for hours trying to get someone on the phone about the verification letter. Do you know if there's a faster way to reach them? My current landlord wants to start showing my place next week so I'm really pressed for time.

Have you tried using Claimyr to get through to EDD? I was in a similar situation last month trying to get verification documents for an apartment application, and after 3 days of failed calls, I found this service. It got me connected to an actual EDD agent in about 20 minutes instead of spending hours on hold. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/1X-mEsLtbmQ?si=1hcSq3KFtCr4oAmd \n\nThe agent I spoke with was able to send me the verification letter that same day, which really helped speed up my apartment application. Their website is claimyr.com if you want to check it out.

I've never heard of this! I'm definitely going to try it tomorrow. I've wasted so many hours on hold this week, it's ridiculous. Did they email you the verification letter or mail it?

They can email it to you! That's what I did - got it in my inbox about an hour after speaking with the representative. Just make sure you specifically ask for it to be emailed and confirm they have your correct email address.

Hey, I'm currently a leasing consultant at an apartment complex, so I might be able to give you some insider perspective. What most property management companies are looking for is stability of income that's at least 2.5-3x the monthly rent. With SDI, the concern is that it's temporary by nature.\n\nDo you know when you'll be returning to work? If yes, bring documentation from your doctor and employer confirming this. If you have a job you'll be returning to, a letter from your employer stating your position remains secure and your expected return date can really help.\n\nAlso, some properties will accept a larger security deposit or prepayment of several months' rent if your disability is expected to end before the lease term would. If you have savings to offer that, it might help your case.\n\nOne thing we often accept is called a

Thank you! I do have a job I'll be returning to, but my doctor hasn't given me a firm return date yet - just

when i was on disability i just had my brother pretend to be my employer and he wrote a fake employment letter lol. landlord never checked and i got the place. sometimes u gotta do what u gotta do

I would strongly advise against this approach. Providing false documentation on a rental application is fraud and could result in eviction, legal action, and damage to your rental history. There are legitimate ways to qualify while on disability.

Update: Thank you everyone for the advice! I finally got through to EDD using Claimyr (thanks for that tip!), and they emailed me the proper verification letter within hours. I also got a letter from my employer confirming my job is secure when I return. The property manager said they needed to

That's fantastic news! So glad it worked out for you. The extra security deposit is pretty standard in these situations, but worth it to get a place you like. Congrats on the new apartment!

Good for you! Glad someone actually followed the law and accepted your disability income. That extra security deposit request is borderline discriminatory in my opinion, but at least you got the place!

Congratulations on getting approved! This thread is such a great resource for anyone dealing with rental applications while on disability. I'm currently in a similar situation - been on SDI for 3 months due to a work injury and will need to move soon. The Claimyr tip is gold, I've been dreading those endless hold times with EDD. It's frustrating that we have to jump through extra hoops and pay additional deposits when disability income is legally protected, but I'm glad you found a solution that worked. Thanks for sharing your success story - it gives me hope that I can navigate this process too!

This whole thread is incredibly valuable - I'm saving it for future reference! I went through a similar situation about 6 months ago when I was on SDI after knee surgery. What really helped me was creating a "rental application packet" that included everything mentioned here: the EDD verification letter, 3 months of bank statements with deposits highlighted, a letter from my surgeon about my recovery timeline, and a reference letter from my previous landlord. I also included a brief cover letter explaining my situation professionally. One thing I'd add is to be upfront about your disability status from the beginning when contacting properties - don't wait until you're filling out the application. I found that being transparent early on helped me avoid wasting time on places that weren't going to work with me. Some property managers were actually really understanding once I explained everything clearly. The key is presenting yourself as a responsible, prepared tenant who just happens to be temporarily receiving disability benefits rather than traditional employment income. Good luck to anyone else going through this process - it's stressful but definitely doable with the right documentation!

I'm going through this exact same situation right now! I've been on SDI since February after a workplace injury and just started looking for apartments. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been so reassuring - I was starting to think I'd never find a place that would accept disability income. The rental application packet idea is genius, and I'm definitely going to use the Claimyr service to get my verification letter since I've already spent hours on hold with EDD this week with no luck. It's really frustrating that we have to jump through extra hoops and pay additional deposits when disability income should be treated the same as any other reliable income source, but I'm grateful for all the practical advice here. Isabella, congratulations on getting your place! Your success story gives me hope that this process is manageable with the right documentation and approach.

I'm dealing with this exact situation right now too! Been on SDI since late January after a surgery complication and my lease is up in April. This thread has been incredibly helpful - I had no idea about the difference between the award letter and the benefits verification letter. I've been getting nowhere with just the award letter and bank statements. One thing I wanted to add that might help others: I found that smaller, privately-owned properties tend to be more flexible than big management companies. The larger companies often have strict corporate policies they can't bend, but individual landlords sometimes have more discretion to work with your situation. I've had better luck reaching out to "for rent by owner" listings rather than going through the big rental agencies. Also, if anyone is dealing with this in California specifically, I learned that under the Unruh Civil Rights Act, landlords can't discriminate based on source of income - which includes disability benefits. It doesn't mean they'll automatically accept you, but it's good to know your rights. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences, it makes this stressful process feel way less isolating!

This thread is incredibly timely for me! I've been on SDI since October after a shoulder injury and I'm starting to panic about my upcoming apartment search. My current place is month-to-month and rent is going up significantly, so I need to find something new by the end of next month. Reading through everyone's experiences has been both eye-opening and encouraging. I had no idea about the benefits verification letter being different from the award letter - I've just been using the award letter and wondering why I keep getting rejected or asked for additional documentation. The Claimyr service sounds like a game-changer too since I've literally spent entire days trying to get through to EDD with no success. What really strikes me is how many of us are dealing with this same challenge. It's frustrating that there isn't more standardized guidance from EDD about rental applications, since this seems to be such a common issue. But I'm grateful for communities like this where we can share real solutions that actually work. Isabella, congratulations on getting your place! Your journey from panic to success gives me hope. And thank you to everyone who shared specific tips - I'm going to start putting together that comprehensive documentation packet this weekend. It's nice to know I'm not alone in navigating this complicated process!

This thread has been such a lifesaver! I'm currently dealing with this exact situation - been on SDI since late December after a workplace accident and my current lease ends in May. I've been losing sleep over how I'm going to qualify for a new place without traditional pay stubs. Reading through everyone's strategies here has given me so much clarity. I had no idea there was a difference between the award letter and the benefits verification letter - that explains why my initial inquiries haven't been going well. The Claimyr service sounds amazing too, especially since I've already wasted countless hours on hold with EDD trying to get basic information. What really resonates with me is how many people mentioned being upfront about the disability status from the beginning. I was trying to avoid mentioning it until later in the process, thinking it might hurt my chances, but it makes total sense that transparency early on saves everyone time and weeds out uncooperative landlords. I'm definitely going to put together that comprehensive documentation packet this weekend with everything mentioned here: proper verification letter, highlighted bank statements, medical timeline, and employer confirmation letter. It's frustrating that we have to work twice as hard to prove we're reliable tenants, but this community has shown me it's absolutely doable with the right approach. Thank you everyone for sharing your real-world solutions!

I'm currently going through this exact same situation and this thread has been incredibly valuable! I've been on SDI since early February after a back injury at work, and I need to find a new place by the end of April. Reading everyone's experiences has been both reassuring and educational - I had no idea about the difference between the award letter and the benefits verification letter, which explains why I've been struggling with my initial applications. The comprehensive documentation packet approach that several people mentioned seems like the way to go. I'm planning to gather everything this week: the proper EDD verification letter (definitely using that Claimyr service since I've already spent way too many hours on hold), bank statements with deposits highlighted, medical documentation about my recovery timeline, and hopefully a letter from my employer confirming my job security when I return. It's really frustrating that we have to work so much harder to prove we're reliable tenants when disability income is often more stable than many traditional jobs, but I'm grateful for all the practical advice shared here. The tip about focusing on smaller, privately-owned properties rather than big management companies is something I hadn't considered but makes total sense. Isabella, congratulations on getting your place! Your success story gives me hope that this stressful process is definitely manageable with the right preparation and documentation. Thank you to everyone who shared their real-world solutions - it's made this overwhelming situation feel much more doable!

This entire thread is absolutely incredible - I'm so grateful to have found it! I've been on SDI since mid-February after a workplace injury and I'm starting my apartment search next month. Reading through everyone's experiences has been both eye-opening and reassuring. I had no idea there were so many specific strategies for navigating rental applications while on disability. The biggest revelation for me has been learning about the difference between the award letter and the benefits verification letter. I've been planning to use just my award letter and was already worried it wouldn't be enough. Now I know exactly what documentation I need to gather, and the Claimyr service sounds like it will save me from those dreaded EDD hold times. What really strikes me is how many people are dealing with this challenge right now - it shows how common this situation is, yet there's so little official guidance available. It's frustrating that we have to work harder to prove our reliability as tenants when disability payments are often more consistent than traditional employment income, but this community has provided such valuable real-world solutions. The comprehensive documentation packet approach and focusing on smaller landlords rather than corporate management companies are strategies I definitely plan to use. Isabella, congratulations on your success - your journey from stress to getting approved gives me so much hope! Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and practical tips. This thread should honestly be pinned as a resource for anyone dealing with rental applications while on SDI!

I'm currently navigating this exact same situation and this thread has been absolutely invaluable! I've been on SDI since late January after a serious workplace injury, and my lease is up in just two months. Reading through everyone's experiences has transformed my approach completely - I was planning to just show up with my award letter and bank statements, not realizing there was a specific benefits verification letter I needed from EDD. The comprehensive documentation packet strategy that multiple people have mentioned seems like the winning approach. I'm putting together everything this weekend: the proper EDD verification letter (definitely using that Claimyr service after hearing so many success stories about it), highlighted bank statements, medical timeline from my doctor, and hopefully a letter from my employer about job security upon return. What really resonates with me is how many people emphasized being upfront about the disability status from the beginning. I was planning to avoid mentioning it until later in the application process, but the logic of weeding out uncooperative landlords early makes total sense. It's incredibly frustrating that we have to work twice as hard to prove we're reliable tenants when disability payments are often more stable than traditional employment, but this community has shown that success is absolutely achievable with the right preparation. Isabella, huge congratulations on getting your place! Your journey gives me so much hope for my own search. Thank you everyone for sharing these real-world solutions - this thread should definitely be a go-to resource for anyone dealing with rental applications while on SDI!