SDI eligibility after voluntarily quitting job - can I still get benefits?
I'm planning to quit my job next week due to worsening chronic back pain that my employer refuses to accommodate. My doctor has recommended I take at least 3 months off work to focus on physical therapy and pain management treatments. I'm worried about how quitting will affect my ability to get disability benefits. Can I still file for SDI if I quit voluntarily? My doctor is willing to complete all the medical certification forms, but I've heard conflicting things about eligibility when you're the one who terminates employment. Does anyone know if there's a waiting period or other complications I should be aware of? I really need the income while I'm unable to work, but I can't stay at this job any longer with my condition.
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Anastasia Fedorov
Yes, you can still apply for SDI after quitting! The important thing with California SDI is that your DISABILITY is what makes you unable to work, not your employment status. What matters is that: 1. You have a medical condition verified by a doctor 2. Your doctor certifies you cannot do your regular/customary work 3. You have earned enough wages during your base period The fact that you quit doesn't disqualify you. Unlike unemployment insurance, SDI doesn't care why you left your job - only that you're disabled according to their definition and can't work.
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Diego Vargas
•Thank you so much! That's a relief to hear. Do you know if I should apply right after I quit or wait until after my last day? Also, will my employer be notified about my SDI claim?
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StarStrider
I WISH someone had told me this before I stayed at a horrible job for 6 extra months!!! The EDD disability system is completely separate from unemployment. When I finally quit and filed for disability with my doctor's support, it was approved no problem. Just make sure your doctor is SPECIFIC about why you can't do your "regular or customary work" on the medical certification form. My first try got denied because my doc was too vague. Also, there's a 7-day waiting period before benefits start, so plan for that financially.
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Diego Vargas
•That's good to know about the waiting period - I didn't realize there would be a gap. I'll make sure my doctor is really specific on the forms. Did you have any issues with your former employer when they got notified about your claim?
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Sean Doyle
just quit 2 months ago bcuz of anxiety/depression my therapist signed off on my SDI claim and it was approved in like 10 days no problem. they dont care if u quit
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Zara Rashid
Actually this isnt totally right, it depends on when u file. If u file for SDI AFTER quitting, ur good. But if u try to file BEFORE quitting and then quit while on disability, that could cause problems with ur claim. EDD looks at that suspiciously like ur using disability to avoid work.
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Anastasia Fedorov
•That's not exactly right. You can certainly file for SDI *before* quitting if you're already unable to work due to your disability. The timing of when you quit isn't what matters - it's whether you're actually disabled and unable to do your regular work when you file the claim. What EDD doesn't like is if it appears you're using disability to avoid work when you're not actually disabled. But if you have legitimate medical documentation, the order of quitting vs. filing doesn't matter.
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Luca Romano
I went through something similar last year with my carpal tunnel syndrome. I quit my data entry job because it was making my condition worse, then filed for SDI. My claim was initially denied because there was confusion about whether I was still employed. I had to call EDD about 20 times before finally getting through to someone who could help me. Have you tried using Claimyr to get through to EDD faster? I found their service at claimyr.com and it was super helpful - they got me connected to an EDD agent within 15 minutes when I'd been trying for days on my own. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/1X-mEsLtbmQ?si=1hcSq3KFtCr4oAmd that shows how it works. Really saved me when I was dealing with all the red tape after quitting.
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Diego Vargas
•I haven't heard of Claimyr before, but I'll definitely check it out if I run into problems. I'm already anticipating having to call EDD multiple times. Did you end up getting your claim approved after talking to them?
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Luca Romano
•Yes! Once I finally got through to an actual person, they helped clear up the confusion about my employment status and my claim was approved within a week. The agent also helped me understand exactly what information my doctor needed to include on the medical certification form.
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Nia Jackson
Everyone is correct that quitting doesn't disqualify you, but there's one important detail: Make sure your doctor indicates your disability began AFTER your last day of work. If the medical certification shows your disability started while you were still employed, EDD might question why you didn't start disability while employed. This sometimes causes delays while they investigate. Also, some employers contest disability claims from former employees just to be difficult. If that happens, don't panic - just be prepared to provide additional medical documentation.
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Diego Vargas
•That's really helpful, thank you! My last day will be next Friday, so I'll ask my doctor to list the disability start date as the Monday after. Hopefully that will avoid any complications.
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Mateo Hernandez
I'm going thru something similar rn!!! My anxiety got so bad I had to quit my retail job last month and now I'm on SDI. One thing nobody mentioned is that when u file ur claim, there's a section where they ask why u left ur last job. Be HONEST here - I put "health reasons" and there were no issues. If u say something else and they find out later it could delay ur claim. Also u need to have earned enough in ur BASE PERIOD which is like the 12-18 months before u file. As long as u been working steady that shouldn't be a problem but thought I'd mention it. Good luck with ur back pain, that really sucks!!
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StarStrider
Just want to add one more thing - when you eventually feel better and are ready to work again, you don't have to wait until your full SDI claim period is over to start working. You can return to work (either part-time or full-time) and your SDI will adjust or stop accordingly. A lot of people don't realize this and think they have to remain completely off work for the entire claim period, but that's not true. If your doctor clears you for limited work or you find a new job that accommodates your back issues, you can do that without losing all benefits immediately.
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Diego Vargas
•That's really good to know - I was worried I'd be locked into staying off work for a specific time period. My hope is to find a less physically demanding job after my recovery that won't aggravate my back condition.
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