Transitioning from UI to SDI after hospitalization - will backdating cause penalties?

Hi everyone, I'm in a really stressful situation and need advice ASAP. I was unexpectedly hospitalized for about 2 weeks in early February while still collecting unemployment benefits. During my hospital stay, I continued certifying for UI like normal (using my phone) and kept certifying after discharge too because I didn't know what else to do. My health hasn't improved much, but it took almost 5 weeks to finally get an appointment with my primary doctor. Here's my problem: My UI benefits are about to run out in 3 weeks, I still don't have a job lined up, and my doctor is saying I'm not fully recovered yet. She said she'd only approve disability for maybe 4-5 weeks, and told me to file for SDI starting from my hospitalization date (Feb 3). I'm terrified I'll get penalized for overlapping UI and SDI for the same time period since I was certifying for UI during/after hospitalization. Has anyone dealt with switching from UI to backdated SDI? What happens in this situation? Will EDD come after me for fraud even though I wasn't aware of the rules? I absolutely CANNOT afford to lose my apartment - rent is $2,450/month and I have maybe 2 weeks of savings left. Any advice would be deeply appreciated!

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19 comments

Dmitry Popov

•9M

You need to be careful here. You can't legally collect both UI and SDI for the same period - UI requires you to be able and available for work while SDI is for when you're unable to work due to a medical condition. Since you've already certified for UI during your hospitalization, you should call EDD immediately and explain the situation before filing SDI. They might require you to repay some UI benefits before approving SDI retroactively. The good news is your doctor is supporting your SDI claim, which is the most important factor.

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Connor Murphy

•9M

I'd like to clarify a few important things here: 1. You should immediately contact EDD to explain your situation. This was an honest mistake rather than intentional fraud, which makes a big difference in how they'll handle it. 2. For SDI backdating: Your doctor can complete the medical certification (DE 2501) going back to your hospitalization date. Make sure the dates are accurate and match your medical records. 3. Regarding the UI benefits you received while hospitalized: You'll likely need to repay this, but you can request an overpayment waiver if repayment would cause financial hardship (use form DE 1446W). Being proactive about this helps your case significantly. 4. The transition gap: There's a 7-day waiting period for SDI benefits, but since you're well past that, it shouldn't be an issue for your claim. 5. Documentation is critical: Gather all hospital discharge papers, doctor's notes, and medical records to support your SDI claim. The most important thing is to address this immediately rather than waiting for EDD to discover the overlap, which would look much worse on your part.

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Connor Murphy

•9M

While I understand your frustration, I think it's important to note that there are legitimate reasons for the UI/SDI separation. UI is funded by employer contributions and requires availability for work, while SDI is funded through employee payroll deductions and is specifically for when you can't work due to medical issues. OP's situation is fairly common and if handled properly with honest communication, most EDD representatives will work with you to resolve it without severe penalties. The key is being proactive rather than reactive.

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Sofia Ramirez

•9M

Yes! I finally connected with an EDD representative after using that Claimyr service someone recommended above (totally worth it btw). They said I need to file an informal appeal for the UI benefits I received while hospitalized, and they helped me start my SDI claim with the correct backdating. I did have to pay back about $840 in UI benefits I received during my hospital stay, but they set up a reasonable payment plan. My SDI was approved within 10 days once I got everything sorted out correctly. The representative was actually very understanding when I explained it was an honest mistake. Make sure you call them ASAP rather than waiting - being proactive definitely helped my case!

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Dmitry Popov

•9M

You're thinking of Workers' Compensation, which is for work-related injuries. State Disability Insurance (SDI) covers non-work-related illnesses or injuries that prevent you from doing your regular work. Anyone who has paid into the CA SDI program through payroll deductions can potentially qualify, regardless of whether their medical condition is related to their job. Hospitalization that prevents you from working would typically qualify for SDI benefits as long as a doctor certifies your condition.

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Oliver Weber

•5M

I'm so glad to hear you got this resolved! Your experience really shows how important it is to be proactive and honest with EDD when these situations come up. The fact that they worked with you on a payment plan and processed your SDI quickly is encouraging for others who might face similar circumstances. For anyone else reading this thread - Sofia's outcome demonstrates that while the UI/SDI overlap can seem scary, EDD representatives are generally reasonable when you explain an honest mistake and take steps to fix it immediately. The key takeaways seem to be: 1) Call EDD as soon as you realize the issue, 2) Be completely transparent about what happened, and 3) Have all your medical documentation ready to support your SDI claim. Thanks for following up with the resolution - it's really helpful for the community to know how these situations actually play out!

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Luca Russo

•4M

This is such a relief to read! I've been lurking on this forum for months trying to understand all these benefit rules, and stories like Sofia's really help newcomers like me feel less intimidated about the system. It's good to know that EDD isn't just looking to punish people for honest mistakes - the payment plan option especially gives me hope that they actually want to help people get back on their feet rather than make their financial situations worse. Thanks to everyone who contributed advice here, this thread is going to be super helpful for anyone facing similar transitions between UI and SDI!

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Zara Khan

•3M

As someone who's been navigating the CA benefits system for a while, I wanted to add that it's also worth checking if your employer offers any short-term disability coverage that might bridge the gap while you're waiting for SDI to kick in. Some employers have policies that can provide additional support during medical leaves. Also, if you're still struggling financially while waiting for everything to process, don't forget about other potential resources - many counties have emergency rental assistance programs, and 211 (dial 2-1-1) can connect you with local resources for food, utilities, and housing assistance. The stress of navigating benefits is hard enough without worrying about basic needs! Really glad to see from the follow-up comments that Sofia was able to get this sorted out. It gives me hope for others in similar situations that honesty and being proactive really does make a difference with EDD.

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