EDD Intermittent Leave - Approved but still losing pay? Need advice

There's a big misunderstanding happening here. Intermittent leave under FMLA/CFRA is for job protection only - that's through your employer, not EDD. What you're looking for is probably PFL (Paid Family Leave) or SDI (State Disability Insurance) through California EDD, which ARE wage replacement programs. For chronic pain, you'd typically apply for SDI using the DE2501 form with your doctor certifying your condition. You can receive partial benefits if you're working reduced hours due to disability. It's called "Part-Time/Reduced Work Schedule" benefits.

ur HR dept is USELESS!! typical corporate nonsense. they should know better than to confuse intermittent FMLA with disability benefits! this happens to so many ppl i know. youre not alone.

I went thru this EXACT situation last year with my fibromyalgia!!! You need to apply for what's called Partial Disability benefits with EDD. Your doctor needs to fill out paperwork stating you can only work X hours per week due to your medical condition. Then EDD can pay you partial benefits for the hours you miss. It's slightly different than regular SDI where you're completely off work. My doctor initially didn't understand what I needed either. I had to specifically ask for a "Part-Time/Reduced Work Schedule" certification. Bring the DE2501 form to your doctor and explain you need them to certify you for PARTIAL disability, not full disability.

EDD representative here. What you're describing falls under State Disability Insurance (SDI) for intermittent or reduced schedule work due to a medical condition. This is different from FMLA/CFRA which only provides job protection. For intermittent absences due to a qualifying medical condition, you can receive partial SDI benefits. You'll need: 1. DE2501 form completed by your doctor certifying your need for reduced work hours 2. Documentation of your regular work schedule 3. Records of actual hours worked Benefits are calculated based on the difference between your regular hours and reduced hours. You can receive up to 52 weeks of partial benefits if medically necessary. For chronic conditions, your doctor may need to recertify every 1-3 months.

I spent THREE HOURS yesterday trying to reach an EDD representative to ask about exactly this situation with my part-time disability claim. Just kept getting disconnected or stuck on hold forever. Finally, a coworker told me about Claimyr (claimyr.com) - it's a service that connects you with an EDD agent usually within 10-15 minutes. I was skeptical but watched their demo video (https://youtu.be/DOLxZQb92wM?si=6N1iCQ3a8Cdb2Ay5) and decided to try it. Got through to an agent who explained everything about partial SDI benefits for my situation. Worth it for the mental health relief alone!

I've been on partial SDI for my autoimmune condition for about 8 months now. Here's what you need to know: 1. Your doctor has to specify you need a reduced work schedule due to your medical condition (not just intermittent absences) 2. You'll report your wages every two weeks through UI Online 3. Your SDI benefits will be reduced based on what you earn, but you'll still get something 4. Keep detailed records of all your work hours and absences 5. Schedule a follow-up with your doctor every 1-2 months so they can update your medical certification The most important thing is getting the right documentation from your doctor. Be very specific that you need certification for PARTIAL disability with a reduced work schedule, not intermittent FMLA/CFRA protection.

My sister in law went thru something similar and she said the most important thing was making sure her doctor understood exacty what kind of documentation she needed. Apparently alot of doctors are used to writing people completely off work but get confused about partial disability forms. Good luck!!!!

Thank you all SO MUCH for the helpful responses! I've got a doctor's appointment Friday and now I know to ask specifically for the partial SDI certification on the DE2501 form. Will also try Claimyr to speak with an EDD rep directly. I'm relieved to know there's actually a benefit available - my HR person made it sound like I just had to deal with the unpaid time off forever. I'll update once I get everything submitted!

Good luck with your appointment Friday! One more tip - if your doctor seems hesitant about the partial disability certification, you can mention that California specifically allows for "part-time work" while on SDI as long as your earnings don't exceed your weekly benefit amount. Some doctors worry they're committing fraud by certifying someone as disabled who's still working, but partial SDI is totally legitimate and designed exactly for situations like yours. Also, don't forget to ask about backdating your claim - you might be able to recover some of those unpaid hours from recent weeks if your doctor can certify that your condition required reduced hours during that period.