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I'm new here but going through something very similar! Just got laid off from my administrative job at a medical clinic and starting to panic about how unemployment benefits will affect my existing Medi-Cal coverage. I'm 34 and have been on regular Medi-Cal through the expanded program, but I'm worried my UI benefits might push me over the income threshold. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly eye-opening - I had no idea there were so many different Medi-Cal programs with varying income limits! The information about deductions and the different disability programs is exactly what I needed to understand. I don't have SSDI like some of you, but I do have documented anxiety and depression that sometimes makes it hard to work full-time. Would that potentially qualify me for any of the disability-related programs mentioned here, or are those specifically for physical disabilities? Also, huge thanks to everyone sharing county office tips - I've been dreading making those calls but the advice about calling early and asking for specialized workers gives me a much better game plan. This community is amazing for supporting each other through these stressful situations!
Welcome Giovanni! Mental health conditions like anxiety and depression can absolutely qualify you for disability-related Medi-Cal programs - they don't have to be physical disabilities. If your conditions are documented by a healthcare provider and significantly impact your ability to work, that could potentially qualify you for the ABD (Aged, Blind & Disabled) program or other disability-specific programs. When you call your county office, make sure to mention your mental health conditions and ask specifically about disability determinations. They may need documentation from your doctor about how these conditions affect your daily functioning and work capacity. Some counties have separate intake processes for disability-related applications. Since you're coming from the expanded Medi-Cal program, you might have more options than you realize. Even if your UI benefits temporarily push you over the regular income limit, there could be other programs that work better for your situation. The key is being upfront about all your circumstances - income, work history, and health conditions. Definitely call early Monday morning and don't be afraid to ask lots of questions. You've got this, and this community is here to help if you need more guidance after your call!
I'm new to this community but found this thread incredibly helpful! I'm 29 and just got laid off from my job at a nonprofit. I've been on regular Medi-Cal for about a year, but now I'm worried about how my upcoming unemployment benefits might affect my coverage. What I'm finding confusing is the timing of everything. I applied for unemployment but haven't received my first payment yet - should I report to Medi-Cal that I'll be receiving UI benefits before I actually start getting them? Or do I wait until the first payment hits my account? Also, I'm wondering about the interaction between different types of income. I have a small amount coming in from a rental property (just $300/month from renting out a room in my house) - does that get calculated differently than unemployment benefits for Medi-Cal purposes? Thank you all for sharing such detailed experiences and practical tips. It's scary navigating these systems when you're already stressed about job loss, but reading everyone's stories gives me confidence that there are solutions out there. Planning to call my county office tomorrow morning armed with all the great advice from this thread!
Welcome Santiago! Great questions about timing and different income types. From what I've learned through this process, you should report to Medi-Cal as soon as you're approved for unemployment benefits, even before receiving your first payment. They want to know about anticipated income changes, not just after they happen. Regarding your rental income - yes, that gets treated differently than unemployment benefits for Medi-Cal calculations. Rental income is considered "unearned income" like your unemployment will be, but there are different deductions that may apply. For rental property, they might allow deductions for things like mortgage payments, property taxes, or maintenance costs that reduce your countable income. When you call your county office, make sure to mention both income sources upfront. They'll walk you through exactly how each type gets calculated and what documentation you'll need. The $300 rental income plus whatever your UI benefits will be might still keep you within eligibility limits, especially with allowable deductions. Definitely call early in the morning like others suggested - and don't stress too much! It sounds like you're being proactive about reporting changes, which is exactly the right approach. The county workers are usually pretty helpful when you're upfront about your situation.
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@profile6 I only had to upload documents. No video call needed. Everything went through the automated system.
Just wanted to add for anyone else reading this - if you're a renter and don't have utilities in your name, you can also use a renters insurance policy or even a medical bill as proof of address. I had to use my Kaiser medical statement when I first applied because my roommate had all the utilities under their name. Also, if you have a PO Box, make sure you're using your physical address, not the PO Box address - ID.me requires your residential address specifically.
That's a great point about the physical address vs PO Box! I didn't know medical bills were accepted - that's really helpful for people who don't have utilities in their name. Quick question though - do you know if urgent care bills work the same as regular doctor bills, or does it have to be from your primary care provider?
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I'm going through the same thing right now - got my appeal hearing scheduled for next month after being wrongfully disqualified. Reading through everyone's experiences here is both terrifying and helpful at the same time! From what I've gathered from all the comments, it sounds like the key things are: - Yes, your employer will be on the call (unfortunately) - Have all your documentation ready and organized - Stay calm and factual even if they lie - Remember the burden of proof is on THEM to prove misconduct That company-wide downsizing email you mentioned sounds like golden evidence! I wish I had something that clear-cut. My situation is messier - they're claiming I was "unreliable" but really they just wanted to get rid of higher-paid employees. Has anyone here had success when it's more of a he-said-she-said situation without as much documentation? I have some emails showing my good performance but nothing as definitive as a downsizing announcement. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - it's helping me feel less alone in this stressful process!
I'm in a similar boat with the he-said-she-said situation! My employer is claiming "poor performance" but I suspect they just wanted to cut costs and I was an easy target. What I've been doing to prepare is gathering any positive feedback I received - even informal emails from coworkers or clients thanking me, any performance reviews (even if they weren't perfect), and documenting dates when I completed projects successfully. Also, I read somewhere that inconsistencies in their story can really work in your favor. If they're claiming you were "unreliable," try to think of specific examples that contradict that - like times you stayed late, covered for others, or took on extra responsibilities. The judge will be listening for whether their story makes logical sense. You're definitely not alone in this! The fact that so many people here have won their appeals after being wrongfully disqualified gives me hope that the system does work sometimes, even when it feels stacked against us.
Just wanted to add my experience since I see a lot of people are going through this same stressful situation. I had my EDD appeal hearing about 6 months ago after being disqualified for "misconduct" - which was complete garbage because I was actually laid off when my company eliminated my entire position. Yes, your former employer will definitely be on the call. In my case, it was my old supervisor and someone from HR. The hearing lasted about 40 minutes total. Here's what I learned: The judge was actually pretty fair and asked tough questions to BOTH sides. When my employer claimed I was fired for poor performance, the judge asked them for specific examples and documentation. They couldn't provide much beyond vague complaints, which worked in my favor. What really helped me win was: - I had saved the job posting where they reposted my position at a lower salary 2 weeks after letting me go - I brought up that they had eliminated similar positions in other departments around the same time - I stayed calm and answered questions directly without rambling The decision came in the mail 10 days later - I won! Got all my back benefits plus the ongoing payments. It was such a relief after months of stress. My advice: gather every piece of evidence you can, even small things like emails or meeting notes. And remember, they have to prove you did something wrong ON PURPOSE. Being downsized or eliminated due to budget cuts is NOT misconduct, no matter how they try to spin it.
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Hi everyone, just made a video about how to call the EDD and reach a live human agent: https://youtu.be/-R4SqP7_JUA
Hey Rhiamae, I was in a similar situation last year. Even if you didn't receive a formal Notice of Overpayment, you can check your EDD account online to see if there's any outstanding balance. Log into your UI Online account and look for any overpayment information in your account summary. If there's nothing showing there and you got the Notice of Determination saying you're not qualified, you're probably in the clear. The interview was likely just to confirm your employment status. I'd recommend taking a screenshot of your account showing no overpayment balance just for your records. Good luck!
That's really helpful advice, Kara! I didn't even think to check the online account for overpayment information. As someone new to dealing with EDD, I'm curious - if someone does find an overpayment balance in their online account, what are the typical next steps? Should they contact EDD immediately or wait for official notice? Also, how long does EDD usually take to update account balances after an interview like Rhiamae had?
Zara Rashid
This is exactly the kind of confusion I had when I first moved to California! The abbreviations on paystubs are so confusing. One thing that helped me understand it better was thinking of it this way: SDI is like insurance YOU pay for (disability/family leave), while UI is like insurance your EMPLOYER pays for (unemployment). Both protect you, but they're funded differently. Also, if you want to double-check that your employer is legit and paying their taxes properly, you can look up their business on the California Secretary of State website to make sure they're in good standing. I learned this the hard way after working for a sketchy company that wasn't paying their employment taxes! Your wages won't count toward UI eligibility if your employer isn't properly registered and paying their obligations.
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Dylan Wright
•That's a really helpful way to think about it - YOU pay for SDI, EMPLOYER pays for UI! I never thought of checking the Secretary of State website to verify an employer is legit. That's brilliant advice, especially for people working at smaller companies like mine where you're not always sure about their business practices. I'm going to bookmark that site. It's scary to think you could be working somewhere and not actually building UI eligibility because they're not paying their taxes properly!
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Jade Lopez
This thread has been incredibly helpful! I've been working in California for about 6 months and always wondered about this exact thing. I kept seeing SDI on my paystub and assumed that was covering unemployment too. It's actually kind of genius that employers pay the UI portion - means we don't have to worry about budgeting for it or accidentally underpaying. Quick question for anyone who knows - is there a minimum amount of time you need to work before you're eligible for UI benefits? Like do you need to work a full quarter or can you file after just a few weeks if you lose your job? I'm hoping I never need it but good to know just in case!
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