Does employer-paid 30% maternity benefit affect my SDI application? Need urgent help!

Yes, you absolutely need to report that income on your SDI application. There's a specific section where they ask about other income you'll be receiving during your disability period. If you don't report it, they could later determine you were overpaid and demand repayment. The 30% from your employer will reduce your SDI payment, but you'll still come out ahead overall since SDI only replaces about 60-70% of your wages typically.

congrats on the baby! i got 40% from my job during maternity leave last year and it was no big deal. just tell edd about it when u apply and they adjust everything. don't stress to much, the edd people will help u figure it out

When I applied for SDI last year, I completely MISSED the part about reporting my employer's partial pay (they were giving me 25%). EDD found out when they did a wage check and I had to pay back almost $2,000!!! It was a NIGHTMARE with a newborn at home. Definitely report it right away and be super clear about the dates you'll receive that 30%. The form is confusing as hell and the EDD website is useless. Make sure you have your employer fill out their portion correctly too because mine messed that up which caused even more delays.

To specifically answer your question, when you file your SDI claim (either online or paper form DE2501), there's a section that asks about other income you're receiving. You'll need to mark "Yes" to the question about receiving wages or other income and specify the 30% employer benefit. This is called "Integration of Benefits" where your employer pays a portion and SDI covers the rest (minus the amount your employer pays). Your HR department should provide you with a formal letter stating the exact amount and duration of this supplemental pay for your records. SDI typically replaces about 60-70% of your income, so with your employer's 30%, you'll likely receive close to your full regular salary. Make sure to keep documentation of all communications regarding this partial pay in case there are questions later. Also remember that after your pregnancy disability period ends (typically 6-8 weeks depending on delivery type), you'll transition to Paid Family Leave (PFL) for baby bonding, which is a separate application but follows the same income reporting requirements.

I'm going through this exact same thing right now but my company pays 40% instead of 30%. My doctor submitted my SDI claim last week. The hardest part was figuring out how to note the employer portion correctly. My HR department was actually supposed to handle that directly with EDD but they messed up, so I'm still waiting for my claim to be processed. I'm 39 weeks today so hopefully it all gets straightened out before the baby arrives! Let me know how yours goes.

After struggling with this same issue for WEEKS and getting nowhere with EDD's phone lines (constant busy signals or disconnects after waiting forever), I finally used a service called Claimyr to get through to an actual human at EDD. It was a total game-changer for my maternity leave situation with employer supplemental pay. They got me connected to an EDD rep in about 20 minutes who explained exactly how to document my employer's 35% contribution. You can see how it works at claimyr.com or check their demo at https://youtu.be/DOLxZQb92wM?si=6N1iCQ3a8Cdb2Ay5. Seriously saved my sanity when I was 8 months pregnant and panicking about my benefits.

Just to clarify something important - your employer's 30% supplement and SDI benefits are handled differently depending on whether your employer is self-insuring or participating in the state plan. If they're self-insuring (voluntary plan), the process is different than if they participate in the standard state disability program. Do you know which type your employer uses? This affects how the integration works and which forms you'll need to complete.

One more important thing to know: when you transition from Pregnancy Disability Leave (SDI) to Paid Family Leave (PFL) for baby bonding, you'll need to file a separate claim and report the employer supplemental pay again. Many people miss this step and it causes payment delays. The PFL portion uses form DE2501FP rather than the initial DE2501. If your employer continues the 30% payment during baby bonding, you'll need to report it on that application as well. Keep in mind that SDI typically covers 6-8 weeks for recovery from childbirth (depending on vaginal vs. C-section delivery), while PFL provides up to 8 weeks for bonding. Planning for this transition is important for continuous benefits.

Question - does the 30% from your employer come as regular paychecks or in a lump sum? That matters for how you report it. When I got partial pay during my leave last year, I got it as regular paychecks and had to report each one as they came in. My friend got hers as a lump sum upfront and reported it differently. Just something to clarify with your HR department.

Based on the information you've shared, here's what you should do tomorrow morning: 1. Complete your SDI application online through SDI Online (https://edd.ca.gov/Disability/SDI_Online.htm) 2. Mark "Yes" when asked about receiving other income during your disability period 3. Enter the 30% amount and dates it will be paid 4. Contact your HR department (even if the specialist is on vacation, someone else should be able to help) to: - Confirm they're on the standard state plan or voluntary plan - Get written documentation of your 30% supplemental pay - Ask if they'll continue this during both disability and baby bonding periods - Verify if they'll be submitting any forms directly to EDD Keeping thorough documentation will help if there are any issues or delays with your claim. And remember that processing typically takes 1-2 weeks even under normal circumstances, so plan your finances accordingly.

Hey Sofia! I just went through this exact situation 6 months ago with my employer paying 35% during leave. The most important thing is to get everything documented BEFORE you submit your SDI claim. I made the mistake of filing first and then trying to add the employer supplement info later, which caused a 3-week delay in my first payment. Here's what worked for me: I had HR write a letter on company letterhead stating the exact dollar amount per pay period, start/end dates, and that it was supplemental to SDI (not in lieu of). Then I attached a copy of this letter to my SDI application. EDD processed everything smoothly and I received about 95% of my normal salary between the two sources. Also, since your leave starts tomorrow, make sure your doctor has already submitted the medical certification (DE2501) portion - that's often where delays happen if the medical info isn't complete. You've got this, mama! The paperwork seems overwhelming but once it's sorted you'll be able to focus on your new little one. Congratulations! 🎉