Transitioning from UI to EDD SDI during pregnancy - timing question
I'm currently collecting reduced unemployment benefits while working part-time (20hrs/week) due to pregnancy complications. My OB just told me at my appointment yesterday that she wants me to stop working completely starting February 13th for medical reasons related to my pregnancy. I'm confused about the timing of ending my UI claim and starting SDI. Should I file for disability now even though I'm still working part-time? Or wait until my last day of work? Do I need to formally close my UI claim before applying for SDI? I'm worried about avoiding any gap in benefits since my rent is due on the 1st. This is my first pregnancy and I'm completely lost navigating these systems. Any advice would be so appreciated!
23 comments
Join the conversation
Justin Evans
You need to stop your UI claim the day BEFORE your doctor takes you off work. Then file your disability claim with the start date being when your doctor disabled you (Feb 13). Make sure you call EDD to officially end your UI claim - don't just stop certifying! Also, have your doctor complete the medical certification form (DE 2501) as soon as possible.
0 coins
Joshua Wood
•Thank you! So I should call to close my UI claim on February 12th, then immediately file for SDI with a start date of February 13th? Is there a specific number I should call to close the UI claim properly?
0 coins
Emily Parker
i went thru somethin similar last yr with my pregnancy.. the unemployment ppl never told me i had to call to stop my claim!! just stopped certifying and applied for sdi and it was a HUGE MESS. took like 6 weeks to sort out and almost got evicted srsly!!! dont make my mistake
0 coins
Joshua Wood
•Omg that sounds awful! I definitely don't want to mess this up. Did you have to repay any benefits or was there any overlap issue between the two programs?
0 coins
Ezra Collins
You absolutely MUST contact EDD to formally end your UI claim - this is critical! SDI and UI are mutually exclusive programs. When you call to end UI, get a confirmation number and the name of the rep you spoke with. Also important - your doctor needs to certify that you became disabled WHILE employed or within 60 days of your last day of work. Since you're working part-time now, you should be fine, but make sure your doctor indicates your disability began on Feb 13th, not before (while you're still claiming UI).
0 coins
Emily Parker
•YES THIS!!!! i wish someone told me this b4 i had to deal with all that drama last yr
0 coins
Victoria Scott
Just wondering - have you considered filing for Paid Family Leave instead of disability? Or are you planning to do disability first then PFL after birth?
0 coins
Ezra Collins
•PFL is for after the baby is born (or for bonding with adopted/foster children). Since she's being taken off work for medical reasons during pregnancy, SDI is the correct program for now. She can transition to PFL after recovery from childbirth.
0 coins
Joshua Wood
•Thanks for the clarification! Yes, my plan is to go on SDI until delivery and recovery, then switch to PFL for bonding time. My doctor mentioned I'll likely need 6-8 weeks of recovery time after birth before starting PFL.
0 coins
Benjamin Johnson
calling EDD is absolutely HELL right now!!! ive been trying for TWO WEEKS to get someone on the phone about my disability claim. they keep hanging up on me saying "call volume too high bye!!" 😡😡😡
0 coins
Zara Perez
•I had the same problem but used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to EDD last month. They connected me directly to an agent in about 15 minutes when I had been trying for days on my own. They have a video demo of how it works at https://youtu.be/1X-mEsLtbmQ?si=1hcSq3KFtCr4oAmd - it was worth it for me to get my pregnancy disability claim sorted before my leave started.
0 coins
Daniel Rogers
Don't forget about the waiting period! SDI has a 7-day wait period before benefits start paying. So you won't get paid for the first week of your disability claim - plan your finances accordingly.
0 coins
Joshua Wood
•Oh no, I didn't know about the waiting period! That's going to be tough financially. Does the waiting period start from my disability date (Feb 13th)? I'll need to budget carefully.
0 coins
Ezra Collins
•Yes, the waiting period starts on your disability date. So you'd be eligible for payment starting February 20th. Make sure when you file that you understand your weekly benefit amount will be calculated based on your highest quarter of earnings in your base period (roughly 5-18 months before your claim). It won't be based on your current reduced hours.
0 coins
Benjamin Johnson
my sister works for edd and she says you should NEVER have overlap between programs, they will come after you for overpayment plus penalties! happened to my cousin and they garnished her wages for like a year after
0 coins
Joshua Wood
•That sounds terrifying! I definitely want to do this correctly. I'll make absolutely sure to close my UI claim properly before starting SDI.
0 coins
Justin Evans
One more thing - make sure your doctor completes your medical certification accurately. The most common reason for SDI delays is incomplete doctor information. If your doctor has never filled out an EDD form before, you might want to review it together. They need to be specific about your pregnancy condition and why you can't work, not just write "pregnancy" as the diagnosis.
0 coins
Joshua Wood
•That's really helpful! I have an appointment on the 8th, and I'll make sure to discuss the form in detail with my OB. Should I bring the form with me to that appointment, or will she have it?
0 coins
Ezra Collins
•Bring it with you! You can download and print the DE 2501 form from the EDD website. Some doctors have them, but many don't. Better to come prepared. Also, after you file online, your doctor will get an electronic version to complete, but having the paper form filled out first speeds things up significantly.
0 coins
Aaliyah Reed
I went through this whole process last year and the most important thing is DOCUMENTATION!!! Save screenshots of EVERYTHING. When you call to end UI, write down date, time, confirmation #, rep name. When you submit SDI, print confirmation. My claim got messed up and I had to prove I did everything right - thank god I had all my paperwork!
0 coins
Joshua Wood
•This is great advice! I'll start keeping a dedicated notebook for all my EDD interactions, plus screenshots and printed confirmations. Better safe than sorry!
0 coins
Angelica Smith
One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet - make sure you understand how your part-time earnings will affect your SDI benefit calculation. Since you've been working reduced hours while on UI, your SDI benefits will be based on your earnings history from your base period (not your current reduced income). Also, if you have any unused sick leave or vacation time from your employer, you might want to clarify with HR whether using those benefits could affect your SDI eligibility timing. Some people don't realize that paid time off can sometimes complicate disability claims. Good luck with everything - pregnancy disability navigation is so stressful but you're asking all the right questions!
0 coins
Darren Brooks
•This is such valuable information, thank you! I hadn't even thought about how my sick leave might impact things. I have about 2 weeks of accrued sick time that I was planning to use, but now I'm wondering if I should clarify with HR first. Do you know if using sick leave before going on SDI could delay the start of my disability claim? I want to make sure I don't accidentally mess up the timeline my doctor gave me (Feb 13th).
0 coins