What happens when my EDD SDI benefits reach the 52-week maximum and I'm still disabled?

u dont get extention on sdi after a year its done. u gotta apply for ssdi thats the federal disability. but it takes FOREVER to get approved like months and months

You should talk to your doctor about applying for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) as soon as possible. The EDD SDI program has a firm 52-week maximum for most claims, and there's no extension process. SSDI is for longer-term disabilities and has a different application process through the Social Security Administration, not EDD. I recommend starting that application at least 3-4 months before your SDI benefits end because there's often a processing gap. Also look into whether your employer offers any long-term disability insurance that might cover you during the SSDI waiting period.

I WENT THROUGH THIS EXACT THING last year and it was AWFUL!!! Nobody tells you about the gap between programs!! I was on SDI for my back injury and when it hit the 52 weeks I had NOTHING for almost 4 months while waiting for SSDI!!! Apply for SSDI RIGHT NOW don't wait!!! Also check if your county has General Assistance/Relief programs to help during the gap. I almost lost my apartment waiting for SSDI to kick in!!!

You should definitely apply for SSDI as others have mentioned, but there's one more option to consider in your specific situation. Since your disability resulted from a car accident, you may want to consult with a disability attorney about pursuing a personal injury settlement that could help cover expenses during any gap in benefits. Additionally, if your doctors believe your disability will end within the next 4-6 months, you might qualify for state programs like CalFresh or CalWORKs while you transition back to employment. Remember that SSDI also has a 5-month waiting period after approval before benefits begin, which is why starting the application process early is crucial.

My wife had the same problem when her SDI ran out. We had to move in with my parents for 6 months because we couldn't pay rent during the gap between programs. It's crazy how these systems don't connect at all. Good luck!

When I was reaching my SDI maximum, I spent WEEKS trying to reach someone at EDD to explain my options. Could never get through - constant busy signals or disconnections after waiting on hold forever. Finally I used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to an actual EDD representative in about 15 minutes. They have a video that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/1X-mEsLtbmQ?si=1hcSq3KFtCr4oAmd The EDD rep confirmed what others are saying - no extensions on SDI after 52 weeks, but she gave me specific instructions on how to coordinate my SSDI application and provided some resources for the gap period. Worth the call to get official information directly from EDD.

just wondering hav you looked into if your job has long term disability insurance? lots of companies offer it and people dont even kno they have it. might help during the gap

To answer your follow-up question - yes, you can and should apply for SSDI while still receiving SDI benefits. There's no rule against receiving both during the application process, though you can't generally receive both simultaneously after approval. The documentation requirements are significantly different: For SDI, your doctor primarily needed to certify your inability to do your specific job temporarily. For SSDI, you need to prove you cannot perform ANY substantial gainful employment for at least 12 months. This requires more extensive medical documentation, often including detailed functional capacity evaluations. Ask your doctors if they're familiar with SSDI requirements, as some may need guidance on what to document.

Another important consideration: if you believe you might be able to return to work within the next 6 months but aren't certain, you might want to look into California's Partial Return to Work program. This allows you to attempt working part-time while still receiving reduced SDI benefits during your transition period. This wouldn't extend beyond your 52-week maximum, but it could help you transition if your doctors think you might be able to handle limited work hours before your SDI expires. You would need updated medical certification for this option.

Yeah my wife did eventually get SSDI but she had to get denied first and then appeal with a lawyer. The lawyer took like 25% of her backpay but it was worth it because they approved her after that. The whole process took almost a year though.

I'm also approaching my SDI maximum and this thread has been incredibly eye-opening. I had no idea about the gap between programs or that I needed to start applying for SSDI so early. Reading everyone's experiences is both helpful and terrifying - it sounds like the system really leaves people hanging during this transition. I'm going to start my SSDI application this week and also look into those county assistance programs mentioned. Thank you all for sharing your experiences, especially the specific tips about documentation requirements and the Partial Return to Work program. It's awful that we have to navigate this maze while dealing with our health conditions, but at least we can help each other figure it out.

I'm so glad I found this thread! I'm in a similar situation - been on SDI for 8 months due to a workplace injury that damaged my shoulder and back, and my orthopedic surgeon says I'll need at least another 6 months before I can even consider light duty work. I had no clue about the 52-week limit or that there could be such a huge gap between SDI and SSDI. Reading everyone's experiences here has been both incredibly helpful and honestly pretty scary. I'm definitely going to start my SSDI application ASAP and also check with my employer about any long-term disability coverage I might have forgotten about. Has anyone had experience with workers' compensation benefits in this situation? Since mine was a workplace injury, I'm wondering if there are any additional protections or programs that might help during the transition. Thank you all for sharing your stories - it's terrible that we have to figure this out on our own, but at least we can help each other navigate this complicated system.

I'm dealing with a similar timeline issue right now - been on SDI for 10 months after a spinal fusion surgery and my neurosurgeon says I need at least 3-4 more months before I can even attempt desk work. This thread is a wake-up call that I need to get moving on my SSDI application immediately. One thing I wanted to add based on my research - if you're considering the Partial Return to Work program that Carmen mentioned, make sure to discuss it thoroughly with your doctors first. My physical therapist warned me that attempting work too early could actually set back my recovery and potentially hurt my SSDI application if it looks like I'm capable of working. It's such a catch-22 situation. Also, for anyone reading this thread, I found that keeping detailed daily pain/symptom journals has been really helpful for my medical appointments and will likely be useful for the SSDI application too. Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences - it's unfortunate we have to become experts in navigating these systems while dealing with our health issues, but this information is invaluable.

I'm reading through all these experiences and feeling both grateful for the information and overwhelmed by how complicated this transition is. I'm at about 11 months on my SDI and had been putting off thinking about what comes next, but clearly I need to act fast. The fact that there's no automatic bridge between programs and people can go months without income is really concerning. I'm going to start my SSDI application this week and also call that Claimyr service Andre mentioned to get official guidance from EDD. For anyone else in this situation, it sounds like the key takeaways are: 1) Apply for SSDI at least 3-4 months before SDI expires, 2) Make sure your doctors understand the different documentation requirements for SSDI, 3) Look into county assistance programs and any employer long-term disability coverage, and 4) Keep detailed symptom journals. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - it's unfortunate we have to figure this out ourselves, but this community support is incredibly valuable when you're dealing with both health issues and navigating these complex systems.

I'm in a very similar situation - been on SDI for about 9 months due to a herniated disc and chronic pain, and my doctor says I'll need at least another 4-5 months before considering any work. Reading through all these experiences has been both incredibly helpful and honestly pretty scary. The fact that there's potentially months of no income between SDI ending and SSDI starting is really concerning, especially when you're already struggling financially due to disability. I had no idea I needed to start the SSDI application process so early - I thought I could wait until closer to my SDI expiration. Based on everyone's advice here, I'm going to: 1) Start my SSDI application immediately, 2) Contact my doctors about the different documentation requirements, 3) Look into county assistance programs, 4) Check with my former employer about any disability benefits I might have missed. It's frustrating that we have to become experts in navigating these complex systems while dealing with serious health issues, but I'm so grateful for this community sharing real experiences and practical advice. Thank you everyone for the detailed information - it's making a huge difference in how I prepare for this transition.

I've been following this thread closely as someone who's about to hit the same situation. I'm at 10 months on SDI due to severe arthritis and fibromyalgia, and my rheumatologist says I'll need at least another 6 months before we can even discuss any type of work accommodation. This conversation has been absolutely eye-opening - I had no clue about the 52-week hard limit or the potential months-long gap before SSDI kicks in. It's honestly shocking that these programs don't connect better, leaving disabled people without income during the transition. Based on everything shared here, I'm creating my own action timeline: immediately start SSDI application, schedule appointments with my doctors to discuss the different documentation requirements (focusing on inability to do ANY work rather than just my previous job), research county assistance programs, and start keeping that detailed symptom journal everyone mentioned. The fibromyalgia makes my symptoms very unpredictable, so having daily records will probably be crucial for my case. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences, especially those who went through the gap period - your stories are helping the rest of us prepare better. It's unfortunate we have to become disability system experts while managing serious health conditions, but this community support is invaluable.

This entire thread has been incredibly helpful and honestly a real wake-up call for me. I'm currently at about 8 months on SDI for a traumatic brain injury from a motorcycle accident, and my neurologist says I'll need at least another 6-8 months before I can handle even basic cognitive tasks required for work. I had absolutely no idea about the 52-week hard limit or that there could be such a massive gap between SDI and SSDI benefits. Reading everyone's experiences about going months without income while still disabled is terrifying, especially since TBI recovery is so unpredictable. Some days I feel almost normal, other days I can barely follow a conversation or remember what I had for breakfast. The cognitive issues make navigating these complex systems even more challenging. Based on all the advice here, I'm going to start my SSDI application immediately and ask my case manager at the brain injury center to help me understand the documentation requirements. I'll also start that symptom journal focusing on cognitive function, memory issues, fatigue levels, and how they affect my ability to work. Thank you everyone for sharing such detailed experiences - it's awful that we have to become experts in disability law while recovering from serious injuries, but this community support is absolutely invaluable. I'm saving this entire thread as my reference guide!

I'm coming up on my SDI limit in a few months too and this thread has been absolutely crucial information that I wish someone had told me earlier. I'm dealing with lupus and rheumatoid arthritis that developed suddenly last year, and my rheumatologist says I'll need ongoing treatment for at least another year before we know if I can return to any type of work. The unpredictable flare-ups make it impossible to maintain any consistent schedule. What really concerns me after reading everyone's experiences is that gap period between SDI ending and SSDI starting. I'm already struggling financially on reduced SDI payments, so the idea of potentially going months with no income is honestly keeping me awake at night. I'm definitely going to start my SSDI application this week and also look into those county assistance programs several people mentioned. One question for those who've been through this - when you applied for SSDI while still on SDI, did you need to report the SDI income on your SSDI application? I want to make sure I don't accidentally create any complications by applying for both simultaneously. Thank you all for sharing such detailed experiences - this community support is making a huge difference in helping me prepare for this transition.