SDI Claim: Confused about start dates and using PTO during waiting period
Hey everyone, I'm filing for SDI and I'm a bit confused about the dates. My disability starts on November 4th, and I'm planning to use PTO during the 7-day waiting period. When I fill out the form, should I put November 4th or November 11th as the start date for my claim? Also, how do I indicate that I'm using PTO during the waiting period? Will this affect my benefits? Any advice would be really appreciated!
28 comments


Tom Maxon
I found a way to solve SDI claim date confusion, watch this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Gw1T7LXPqY
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Sophie Hernandez
I've been through this before, so here's what you need to know: • Put November 11th as your claim start date if you're using PTO during the waiting period. • Answer 'Yes' to the question about employer pay during disability leave. • Under 'Other Type of Pay,' specify that you're using PTO for the waiting period. • This won't delay your benefits or affect your claim negatively. • You can file your claim starting November 11th, after the waiting period ends. • For the PTO dates, input November 4th to November 10th. Hope this helps! Let me know if you have any other questions.
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Emily Thompson
•Thank you so much! This is really helpful. Just to clarify, even if I use PTO during the waiting period, I should still put November 11th as the start date?
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Sophie Hernandez
•Yep, that's right! November 11th is when your actual SDI benefits would start, after the waiting period. The PTO is just covering that gap.
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Emily Thompson
•Got it, thanks again! 🙏
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Daniela Rossi
Ugh, the SDI system is such a pain 🤦♀️ I remember going through this and it was so confusing. Good luck!
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Ryan Kim
•Tell me about it! I swear they make it complicated on purpose 🙄
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Daniela Rossi
•Right?? It's like they want us to mess up so they can deny claims 😤
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Zoe Walker
Quick tip: make sure you keep detailed records of all your PTO usage and communications with your employer. It might come in handy if there are any issues later on.
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Elijah Brown
I'm in the same boat, due date is coming up and I'm stressing about all this paperwork. Anyone know if using holiday time during the waiting period causes any issues?
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Maria Gonzalez
•Nah, you should be good. I used a combo of PTO and a holiday during my waiting period and it didn't cause any problems. Just make sure to report it accurately!
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Elijah Brown
•Oh thank goodness, that's a relief! Thanks for sharing your experience 😊
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Natalie Chen
Hey guys, I found a way to actually get someone on the phone at SDI! I used this site's (claimyr.com) calling tool that dials the phone menu, stays on hold, waits for a live agent to pick up, then sends the call to my phone. It does cost $20, but it works. Check out this video: https://youtu.be/1X-mEsLtbmQ
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Santiago Martinez
•Wow, really? That sounds too good to be true. Has anyone else tried this?
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Natalie Chen
•I know it sounds sketchy, but I swear it's legit. Saved me hours of hold time!
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Samantha Johnson
•$20 tho? Idk man, seems steep just to talk to someone...
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Natalie Chen
•Trust me, after spending days trying to get through, it was worth every penny. Time is money, ya know?
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Nick Kravitz
Pro tip: If you're using the online system, save your progress frequently! I lost all my info once because the session timed out 😭
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Hannah White
•Omg yes! This happened to me too. So frustrating!
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Michael Green
Does anyone know if theres a way to expedite the process? My rent is due soon and I'm getting nervous about the timing...
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Mateo Silva
•Unfortunately, there's no real way to speed it up. Best bet is to file as soon as you're eligible and make sure all your info is correct to avoid delays.
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Michael Green
•Ugh, that's what I was afraid of. Guess I'll have to talk to my landlord 😓
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Victoria Jones
Just a heads up, sometimes they might ask for additional documentation even after you submit everything. Keep an eye on your mail and email!
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Cameron Black
lol remember when we thought adulting would be fun? Now we're all here trying to figure out disability paperwork 🤣
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Jessica Nguyen
•Right?? I miss the days when my biggest worry was what to wear to school 😂
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Cameron Black
•For real! Wanna trade? I'll do your homework if you fill out my SDI forms 😜
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Taylor Chen
I went through this exact same situation last year! Sophie's advice is spot on - definitely use November 11th as your claim start date. One thing I'd add is to make sure you have documentation from your employer showing the PTO usage during Nov 4-10, just in case they ask for it later. Also, don't stress too much about the form - if you make a mistake, you can usually call and get it corrected. The most important thing is being honest about using PTO during the waiting period. Good luck with your claim!
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Micah Trail
•This is super helpful! I'm new to dealing with SDI and all this paperwork feels overwhelming. Quick question - when you say "documentation from your employer showing the PTO usage," do you mean like a formal letter or would email confirmations about using PTO be enough? I want to make sure I have everything covered just in case they need proof later on.
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