Will EDD take disability payments for unemployment overpayment while on maternity leave?

Yes, EDD can and often does cross-collect between different benefit programs. This means they may take a portion of your SDI payments to offset your unemployment insurance overpayment. However, they typically don't take your entire payment - they usually withhold 25% of each payment toward the overpayment. You should definitely call EDD before filing your SDI claim to discuss your situation. Ask specifically about whether your payment plan will remain in effect or if they'll switch to automatic withholding. Sometimes they'll honor existing payment plans if you've been consistent with payments.

omg i had the same thing happen last yr but with PFL not pregnancy. they took like $300 from each of my payments which SUCKED but i couldn't do anything bout it. just prepare yourself that ur gonna get less :

I had this EXACT situation in 2024! I owed about $3,200 for UI overpayment and went on pregnancy disability. They DID take money from my SDI payments but it wasn't the full 25% that some people mention. They only took about 15% because I called and explained my situation before filing. Here's what I did: 1. Called EDD collections department (not regular EDD) 2. Explained I was about to file for pregnancy disability 3. Asked for a reduced collection rate due to hardship 4. Got it documented in my account 5. THEN filed my SDI claim It took like 7 calls to actually get through to someone though. The phone system is ridiculous.

I had a different experience than the other commenters. When I went on disability last year with an active UI repayment plan, they actually PAUSED my repayment plan completely during my disability period. I think it depends on what kind of overpayment you have (fraud vs. non-fraud) and how your repayment plan was set up. Definitely call the EDD overpayment department at 1-800-676-5737 before you file your SDI claim. They can make notes in your account and possibly flag it for special handling. Also make sure you understand your rights - they can't take more than 25% for non-fraud overpayments, and you can request a reduced amount based on financial hardship. Having documentation of all conversations is really important too. Get the name and ID of anyone you speak with and write down the date/time.

Hey, I had such a hard time getting through to EDD about this exact issue last year! I was calling for weeks and always got disconnected. I finally found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to an actual EDD agent in about 20 minutes instead of spending days trying. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/1X-mEsLtbmQ?si=1hcSq3KFtCr4oAmd It was worth it because I was able to explain my pregnancy situation and got them to reduce what they took from my SDI payments to only 10% instead of the usual 25%. Saved me almost $850 over my disability period!

Be VERY careful with EDD!!!! They will take their money any way they can get it. I had a similar situation and they took 25% of EVERY disability check without warning me first. When I called to complain they said it was "standard procedure" and that the payment plan I had was only valid for as long as I wasn't receiving other benefits!!! The system is DESIGNED to confuse people. They also delayed my first disability payment by 3 weeks claiming they needed to "review" my account because of the overpayment. Total BS if you ask me - they were just holding my money. If I were you I would try to pay off as much of the overpayment as possible BEFORE filing for disability. That's the only way to guarantee they don't take a big chunk of your maternity pay!!!

One more thing that might help - when you call, specifically ask about California Code of Regulations, Title 22, Section 1375-3, which covers offset of overpayments between benefit types. Ask if you qualify for a hardship reduction based on your pregnancy and upcoming birth. Also, make sure you're already enrolled in SDI Online with an account set up before you need to file your claim. This will make tracking your payments and any offsets much easier.

my sister just had baby in january an edd took 25% of her disability for old unemployment debt. she said theres literally nothing u can do about it its automatic in the system. sorry :

After you've spoken with the overpayment department, make sure to follow up with a written request as well. Send it via certified mail and keep a copy. Something like "As per my phone conversation on [date] with [representative name/ID], I am requesting a hardship reduction in the offset amount from my upcoming SDI pregnancy disability benefits due to [reasons]." Having this paper trail can be extremely helpful if there are any issues. Also, when you file your SDI claim, there's a section for additional comments - mention your overpayment situation and any arrangements you've made there as well. I hope this helps ease some of your stress. Congratulations on your upcoming arrival!

I'm not in your exact situation but wanted to share that when I had an overpayment issue while applying for disability, the EDD representative told me they're required to inform you in writing before they start taking money from your disability payments. You should receive a notice explaining the offset amount at least 10 days before it takes effect. Also, if you're having trouble getting through on the phone, try calling right when they open at 8am or during lunch hours around 12-1pm. I had better luck those times. And definitely ask to speak to a supervisor if the first person you talk to says they can't help - sometimes the regular reps don't know about all the hardship options available. Good luck with everything and congratulations on your baby! The stress of dealing with EDD while pregnant is the worst, but it sounds like you're being really proactive about handling this.

I went through this exact situation in 2023! EDD did take money from my SDI pregnancy payments, but I was able to get it reduced by calling ahead of time. Here's what worked for me: 1. Called the overpayment collections line (1-800-676-5737) about 2 weeks before filing my SDI claim 2. Explained that I was pregnant and would be my family's only income during leave 3. Asked specifically for a "financial hardship reduction" 4. They reduced my offset from 25% to 15% and put a note in my file The key was calling BEFORE filing my SDI claim and being very clear about my financial situation. I also mentioned that I had been making consistent payments on my payment plan (which sounds like you have too!). One tip - when you call, have your overpayment notice handy with all the account numbers. And don't hang up if they say "nothing can be done" - ask to speak with a supervisor or someone in the hardship department. It took me 3 calls but I eventually got someone who could help. You've got this! The fact that you're planning ahead shows you're on the right track. Wishing you the best with your pregnancy and hoping EDD cooperates! 💕