When to file EDD SDI with 7-day waiting period - before or after waiting period ends?
I just started my medical leave yesterday (unpaid) and I'm confused about the EDD SDI waiting period. My HR said there's a 7-day waiting period before benefits start. Does this mean I should wait until AFTER those 7 days are over to submit my application? Or can I apply right away, and they'll just start paying after the waiting period? I don't want to mess this up and delay my payments even more. My doctor already filled out their part of the form but I'm nervous about submitting at the wrong time. Thanks for any help!
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Romeo Quest
You should apply immediately! The 7-day waiting period is just the first week that you won't get paid for. It has nothing to do with when you should apply. In fact, EDD recommends filing within the first 9 days of your disability to avoid losing benefits. The sooner you apply, the sooner your claim will be processed, and the sooner you'll get paid after that waiting period is over.
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Lydia Santiago
•Thank you! That makes so much sense. I was overthinking it completely. I'll submit my application today.
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Val Rossi
omg i made this exact mistake last year... waited a whole extra week to apply thinking i had to wait until after the waiting period. ended up delaying my payments by like 3 weeks!! definitely apply asap
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Lydia Santiago
•Wow, that's good to know. I almost made the same mistake! Filing today.
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Eve Freeman
Definitely apply right away. The 7-day waiting period is confusing, but it just means you won't get paid for the first 7 days of your disability period. Think of it like a deductible. Your benefits will start from day 8 of your disability, BUT your claim processing can be happening during those 7 days. Also, keep in mind processing times are ridiculous right now. I've been waiting 3 weeks just to get my claim approved and I still can't get through to anyone on the phone to check the status. Has anyone had luck getting through to EDD lately?
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Clarissa Flair
•I was in the same boat last month! IMPOSSIBLE to get through on the phone - tried for DAYS and always got the "we're too busy" message then hung up on. Finally I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me through to an actual EDD representative in about 20 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/1X-mEsLtbmQ?si=1hcSq3KFtCr4oAmd Totally worth it after being hung up on for a week straight. The rep I spoke with was able to fix an issue with my medical certification that was holding everything up.
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Caden Turner
Wait i'm confused about something. Is EDD SDI different from state disability? Because my HR told me we had disability insurance through the state but didn't mention anything about EDD?
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McKenzie Shade
•EDD SDI and State Disability Insurance are the same thing! EDD (Employment Development Department) is the California agency that administers SDI (State Disability Insurance). So if you're in California and your HR mentioned state disability, they're talking about EDD SDI. Hope that clears things up!
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Harmony Love
Def apply immediately. Also make sure your doctor filled out EVERYTHING correctly on their form. My claim got delayed for weeks because my doctor left one date field blank and no one bothered to tell me until I finally got through on the phone. So frustrating!!! Check that all dates are filled in and all boxes are checked.
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Lydia Santiago
•Oh that's a really good point. I'm going to double-check everything before submitting. My doctor's office is pretty disorganized sometimes.
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Rudy Cenizo
I went through this in January. Just to clarify for anyone else who finds this thread - the waiting period is CALENDAR days, not work days. So if you become disabled on a Monday, your waiting period would be Monday through Sunday, and benefits would start the following Monday. But like others said, you should apply right away regardless! Also, keep in mind that if you're transitioning from SDI to Paid Family Leave later, you don't have to serve another waiting period. That confused me too initially.
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Clarissa Flair
•And just to add - if you have company-provided short term disability insurance too (separate from state SDI), check with your HR about THEIR waiting period. Some companies have a different waiting period than the state's 7 days, and some company plans will even cover that first week that state SDI doesn't pay for!
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Caden Turner
my sister told me that if ur disability is related to pregnancy then theres no waiting period is that true??
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Romeo Quest
•No, that's not accurate. The 7-day waiting period applies to all disability claims, including pregnancy-related disabilities. Your sister might be confusing it with something else. Perhaps she meant Paid Family Leave (PFL) which you can take after pregnancy disability to bond with your new child - PFL doesn't have a waiting period if you're transitioning directly from SDI pregnancy disability.
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Ella Harper
Just want to echo what everyone else has said - definitely apply right away! I was in your exact situation a few months ago and made the mistake of hesitating for a couple days. The waiting period is just when benefits START, not when you can apply. Think of it like filing an insurance claim after an accident - you don't wait for the repairs to be done before filing, you file immediately so everything can get processed. The EDD website even says to apply within 9 days of when your disability begins to avoid any potential benefit loss. Good luck with your claim!
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