Stroke after UI claim never processed - Can my dad get retroactive UI benefits and current SDI disability?

so sorry about ur dad! that really sucks. my mom had similar issue last yr where her ui claim got stuck in limbo. the backpay thing depends on if he was certifying every 2 weeks even tho he wasnt getting paid. was he doing that?

Thank you. I don't think he was certifying regularly. He said he tried a few times at the beginning but the system kept giving him errors so he thought his claim wasn't active yet. Is that going to be a problem?

I'm sorry about your father's health. You're dealing with two separate EDD programs here - UI and SDI - which makes things more complicated.\n\nFor his unemployment claim: If it's been pending since February without resolution, that's abnormal even for EDD. Did he receive any mail communication at all? Sometimes they send letters requesting additional information that can hold up claims. Also, if he wasn't certifying for benefits every two weeks (even while pending), that could severely limit any potential backpay.\n\nFor disability: He should qualify for SDI given his medical condition. He'll need to file a new claim through SDI Online (completely separate from UI Online). His doctor will need to complete the medical certification portion. Given his stroke, he should qualify for up to 52 weeks of benefits based on his previous wages.\n\nFor reaching someone: This is honestly the hardest part. The regular phone lines are essentially useless.

He says he got one letter in March asking for ID verification, which he sent back immediately. Nothing after that. I checked his mail pile and didn't see anything else from EDD. This is all so frustrating! I'm going to help him set up the SDI claim tonight. Thanks for explaining the difference.

THE EDD SYSTEM IS COMPLETELY BROKEN!!! I went through almost THE EXACT same situation with my UI claim in 2024 - pending for MONTHS with zero explanation. Here's the truth about your situation:\n\n1. The backpay for UI is EXTREMELY DIFFICULT to get if he wasn't certifying regularly, but NOT IMPOSSIBLE. You need to fight for it and explain the extraordinary circumstances.\n\n2. If he has medical documentation of his stroke, he absolutely qualifies for SDI right now. File that claim ASAP!!! Don't wait another day!\n\n3. Getting hold of a rep is intentionally made nearly impossible. They don't want to talk to us!!!\n\nThe system is DESIGNED to make people give up. Don't let them win.

This makes me so angry. My dad worked and paid into this system for 35+ years and this is how they treat him when he finally needs help? I'm definitely not giving up. I've set up the SDI application and we have all his medical records ready to submit.

I work with disability claims and can offer some guidance. Here's what you need to do:\n\n1. For the UI claim: File an appeal for the delay in processing. You'll need form DE 1000M to request a determination on the pending claim. Include documentation explaining why he couldn't certify regularly (the system errors he encountered).\n\n2. For SDI: Submit a new claim through SDI Online. Make sure his doctor thoroughly documents his medical condition, functional limitations, and expected recovery timeline. For stroke patients, the medical certification is crucial - it must clearly state why he cannot perform his regular or customary work.\n\n3. For contacting EDD: This is genuinely challenging. The phone system is overwhelmed, and many calls are automatically disconnected when queues are full.\n\nTwo important notes: \n1) UI and SDI are mutually exclusive for the same time period - he can't receive both for the same weeks. \n2) If approved for SDI, benefits would start after a 7-day waiting period from his disability date (when the stroke occurred).

Thank you so much for this detailed information. I didn't know about the appeal form for the UI claim - I'll download that today. His neurologist has been great about documentation so far, so I think we'll be okay on that front. \n\nDo you know if there's any way to expedite the SDI claim given his severe financial situation? His savings are almost completely depleted.

I had similar issues getting through to EDD last year when my disability claim was pending for months. After weeks of frustration, I found Claimyr (claimyr.com) which got me through to an actual EDD rep in about 20 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/1X-mEsLtbmQ?si=1hcSq3KFtCr4oAmd\n\nIt saved me from having to call hundreds of times. Once I actually spoke with someone, they fixed my claim status that same day. Might be worth checking out since you're dealing with both UI and SDI issues that definitely need a human to sort out.

does that actually work? i thought those services were scams

It worked for me! I was super skeptical too, but I was desperate after calling EDD for 3 weeks straight with no luck. The service just helps you bypass the phone tree and get in the queue to speak with an agent. I got through in about 25 mins when I'd been trying for weeks on my own with no success.

my neighbor just went thru something like this!! for the SDI part make sure u file within 49 days of the disability starting (the stroke) or they can deny it for being late. also sometimes the doctors office forgets to submit their part so call them and make sure they did it

Oh that's a great tip about the 49-day deadline - I had no idea! His stroke was about 4 weeks ago so we still have time. I'll definitely follow up with his doctor's office to make sure they submit everything.

Both my UI and SDI claims in 2025 were nightmares but I eventually got everything sorted. Here's what worked for me:\n\n1. For UI: If his claim has been pending since February with no determination, request a \

These are really helpful tips! I didn't know about requesting a non-monetary determination interview specifically. I'll try calling right at 8am tomorrow. Also good to know about the debit card option for SDI - I would have chosen direct deposit without thinking about it.

One more thing I forgot to mention - for the SDI claim, the weekly benefit amount is calculated based on his highest quarter of earnings in the 18 months prior to the disability. So if his income varied, try to figure out which quarter had his highest earnings as that will determine his benefit amount.

Quick clarification on something important: Your father may qualify for Disability Insurance Benefits instead of returning to his UI claim. If his stroke occurred before he could return to work, his disability claim could potentially be backdated to when his medical condition began (the date of his stroke).\n\nHowever, be aware that there's a maximum filing timeframe - claims filed more than 49 days after the disability began may be disqualified unless there's a good reason for the delay. In your father's case, if you file within 49 days of his stroke, you should be fine.\n\nAlso, once the SDI claim is approved, he would receive approximately 60-70% of his regular wages (based on a calculation of his highest quarter earnings in the base period), up to the maximum weekly benefit amount, which is $1,620 in 2025.

Thank you for this additional information. So if I understand correctly, we should focus on the SDI claim first since it can be backdated to when he had the stroke, and then separately try to resolve the UI claim for the February-to-stroke period? The SDI benefit amount sounds much better than what he would get from UI anyway.