Switching from UI to pregnancy disability leave - do I need to cancel my unemployment claim first?

You absolutely need to stop certifying for UI before you start your disability claim! The systems don't automatically talk to each other, and you can't legally collect both UI and SDI for the same period. If your due date is in 5 weeks, you'll probably want to start your pregnancy disability leave about 4 weeks before your due date. When you reach that point, just stop certifying for UI - you don't technically need to 'close' your UI claim, just stop certifying. Then immediately file your DE2501 for pregnancy disability. Make sure you get your doctor to complete their portion of the disability form in advance so you're ready to submit it right away.

stop certifyin for UI the EXACT same day u start gettin SDI!! my sister had huge issues bcuz she overlapped by 2 days and EDD made her pay back money + gave her warning about fraud. its not worth the hassle!!

I went through this exact transition last year. Here's what you need to do: 1. Stop certifying for UI the day before your disability is set to begin (typically 4 weeks before due date) 2. File your disability claim (DE2501) with your doctor's certification 3. You don't need to formally close your UI claim - it becomes inactive after you stop certifying 4. Keep documentation of your last UI certification date and your SDI start date 5. If you're planning to do baby bonding PFL after disability, remember that's a separate application (DE2508) you'll file after recovery The key thing is making sure there's no overlap between UI and SDI. Even one day of overlap can trigger an audit and potential overpayment issues.

@confused_user - Pregnancy disability (PDL) benefits are paid through the State Disability Insurance (SDI) program. So yes, you're applying for SDI, but specifically for pregnancy disability. SDI covers ANY temporary disability, including pregnancy. Paid Family Leave (PFL) is different - that's what you apply for AFTER giving birth for baby bonding time. You transition from pregnancy disability to PFL after your recovery period (typically 6-8 weeks depending on delivery type).

i had this same issue last year but I couldn't get ahold of ANYONE at EDD to confirm what to do. Spent like 3 hours on hold and got hung up on twice!! It was so frustrating trying to figure out how to switch from UI to disability!

Just a heads up - make sure you're totally clear about your EDD Online account login info before you transition to disability. For some reason, the system can get weird when you switch from UI to SDI and some people have trouble accessing their online account. Write down your username, password and security questions somewhere safe BEFORE you apply for disability. Trust me, you don't want to be dealing with account access issues while 9 months pregnant!

Your payment method should transfer over, but it doesn't hurt to check once you submit your disability claim. You can log in to your SDI Online account (which is separate from your UI Online account) and verify your payment preferences. If for some reason it doesn't transfer, you can update it there. Just give it a few days after submitting your claim before checking.

I think everyone here is making this more complicated than it needs to be! Just call EDD and tell them you need to switch from UI to disability. That's what I did and they handled everything for me. They'll tell you exactly what to do based on your specific situation.

To summarize for the original poster: 1. Stop certifying for UI right before starting SDI (ideally no gap, but definitely no overlap) 2. You don't need to formally close your UI claim 3. Submit your DE2501 for pregnancy disability with doctor certification 4. After delivery, you'll file DE2508 for baby bonding PFL 5. Keep documentation of all transition dates 6. Make sure you know your login info for both UI Online and SDI Online accounts And don't stress too much - this is a common transition that many pregnant workers navigate successfully!

One thing I'd add - if you're working part-time with variable hours, make sure your doctor is aware of this when they fill out the disability certification. Sometimes doctors will put an earlier disability start date if they know you're doing physical work, even if it's just part-time. Also, keep track of any work hours you have between now and when you start disability - you'll need to report those earnings on your final UI certification. The transition can feel overwhelming but you're asking the right questions early, which puts you ahead of the game!