California Unemployment
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Can you collect disability and unemployment at the same time through California EDD?
So I got laid off from my warehouse job about six weeks ago and filed for unemployment right away. My claim got approved and I've been certifying weekly without any issues. But here's where it gets complicated — I recently got diagnosed with a pretty serious back condition that my doctor says is going to keep me out of work for at least 3-4 months. My doctor wants me to file for State Disability Insurance (SDI) through California EDD. Now I'm completely lost on what this means for my unemployment benefits. Can you collect disability and unemployment at the same time? Like can both be active simultaneously? I tried reading through the California EDD website but the language is super confusing and I honestly can't tell if I'd be disqualified from UI if I start an SDI claim. I don't want to accidentally commit fraud or anything by collecting both. Has anyone navigated this kind of situation before? Do I need to stop certifying for unemployment before I apply for SDI? My next weekly certification is due in two days and I'm panicking a little.
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Can I draw unemployment in California? EDD eligibility explained
So I got laid off from my warehouse job about two weeks ago and honestly had no idea where to even start. My supervisor mentioned I should look into unemployment benefits but I didn't even know if I qualify. I've been working at this company for about 14 months full time, making around $22 an hour. They said it was a 'workforce reduction' situation which I assume means I didn't do anything wrong. My main question is super simple - can I draw unemployment through California EDD or am I missing something obvious? I went to the EDD website and it was kind of overwhelming honestly. Do they look at how long you worked? How much you made? Whether it was your fault you lost the job? I have so many questions and don't even know where to start filing or what to expect once I do.
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been reading this whole thread and just want to say this is the most useful unemployment discussion i've seen. saving this for later. currently employed but you never know these days in this economy
Smart thinking honestly. Most people only look into unemployment stuff when they suddenly need it and then they're stressed and scrambling. Knowing the basics ahead of time is genuinely helpful.
That was literally me two weeks ago. Didn't know anything until I needed to know everything immediately. Glad this thread is helpful for others too.
Quick update for anyone following this thread - I filed my California EDD claim yesterday using the UI Online portal after reading all this advice. Took about 45 minutes to complete the whole initial application. Got a confirmation number and an email saying my claim was received. The website said to expect a determination letter within 3-5 weeks. Now I guess I just wait and certify when the time comes. Thank you everyone seriously.
Good luck! And remember if anything gets weird with your claim and you need to actually talk to someone, Claimyr at claimyr.com saved my sanity when I was dealing with EDD phone hell. Hopefully you won't need it but it's there.
yay!! good luck, sounds like you're all set
What happens if you don't pay back a California EDD unemployment overpayment?
So I got hit with an overpayment notice from California EDD about two months ago. The amount they're saying I owe is around $4,800 from benefits I collected earlier this year. Honestly I have no idea how this even happened - I reported everything accurately on my weekly claims, listed all my part-time hours, never tried to hide anything. Now they're demanding repayment and I'm in a tight spot financially. I can't just write a check for $4,800, that's just not realistic for me right now. I've been trying to research what actually happens if someone can't or doesn't pay back a California EDD overpayment and I'm getting conflicting information everywhere. Like will they garnish my wages? Take my tax refund? Send it to collections? Block future unemployment claims? I genuinely don't know what my options are here and the notice itself doesn't explain consequences very clearly. Has anyone dealt with this before and can tell me what actually happens if the overpayment doesn't get paid?
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I'm a paralegal at a firm that handles some unemployment cases and just want to confirm - the 30 day appeal window from the notice date is HARD. We see people come in on day 31 or 32 and there's very little we can do. Even if you're not sure you want to appeal, if you think there's ANY possibility the overpayment determination was wrong, file a protective appeal immediately and then you can withdraw it later if you decide not to pursue it. Missing the deadline is often irreversible.
Exactly - file the DE 1000M with a brief statement like 'I believe this determination may be in error and am requesting an appeal hearing while I gather supporting documentation.' That preserves your rights. You can then take the time to build your actual case.
This is excellent advice. File first, investigate second. The appeal can always be withdrawn but a missed deadline usually can't be remedied.
finally someone made a thread about this. I've had so much anxiety about my overpayment notice I haven't even been able to eat properly. it's like $3,700 and I literally cannot sleep. reading this thread and finding out there are actual options like waivers and payment plans is the first time I've felt ok in weeks. thank you everyone for the real information
Same boat here. This community is actually genuinely helpful which is rare on the internet lol
Going to try Claimyr to get through to an EDD agent this week after reading this thread. The part about submitting the waiver and getting collection paused while it processes is the first actually actionable thing I've heard. Thank you all seriously.
How much do you actually make with California EDD unemployment benefits?
So I just got laid off from my warehouse job last week and I'm trying to figure out exactly how much money I'd actually be getting from California EDD unemployment. I've looked at a few websites but they all give me different answers and honestly I'm just confused. My last job was paying me around $22/hr and I was working full time, so roughly $3,500-$3,800 a month gross. I filed my initial claim online already but my UI Online account just shows pending. Does anyone actually know how California EDD calculates what you get paid? Is it like a flat percentage of your wages or does it depend on your highest earning quarter? I have a family to support so I need to know if these benefits will even cover my basic expenses while I job search.
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I just want to say thanks to everyone in this thread. I've been lurking here for a week trying to understand california unemployment and this is honestly more useful than anything on the official EDD website which explains things in the most confusing way possible
the official EDD website is designed by people who have never actually been unemployed, I swear
The EDD website has actually improved a lot compared to a few years ago, but yeah, real people explaining things in plain language is usually clearer than official documentation
Update on my situation - I called California EDD after reading this thread and my WBA came out to $387/week. Not amazing but workable. The agent confirmed my highest quarter wages and walked me through the exact math. Honestly the call wasn't as bad as I expected once I actually got through
I tried calling right at 8am when they open and just kept hitting 0 to get to a live agent. took about 25 minutes on hold but eventually got someone. heard Claimyr also works well for this if you can't get through on your own
8am sharp is the best tip. lines fill up super fast and by 9am most times it's impossible
How to do unemployment in California EDD - complete guide for first-time filers
Ok so I just got laid off from my warehouse job last week and I genuinely have no idea how to do unemployment. Like where do I even start? My coworker told me to just google it but every website I find is confusing and talks about stuff I don't understand. I've never filed for benefits before in my life. Do I go somewhere in person? Is there an app? Do I mail something? My manager said I'd get a 'separation notice' but I don't even know what that is or if I need it before I can file. I'm already stressed about money and the last thing I need is to mess something up and get denied. Can someone just walk me through the basics of how to do unemployment in California?
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something no one mentioned - if you're offered a job you have to accept it if it's suitable work. you can't just keep turning down jobs and collecting unemployment. 'suitable work' means work you're physically able to do that pays at least a certain percentage of your previous wage (it gets lower the longer you've been claiming). if EDD finds out you refused suitable work without good reason they can disqualify you
Legitimate reasons: pay is significantly below your previous wage, the commute is unreasonable, the work is outside your skills and experience, unsafe working conditions, or it conflicts with your sincerely held religious beliefs. 'I just don't want that job' isn't enough on its own.
Worth noting that the definition of 'suitable work' gets broader the longer you're unemployed. After a few months EDD expects you to broaden your job search and be more flexible on pay.
i just want to say this thread helped me so much. I literally searched 'how to do unemployment' and found this and now I actually feel like I know what to do. going to file tomorrow. the california edd system seems intimidating but when you break it down step by step it's manageable
bookmarking that number and that link thank you
same here, filing mine today. feels less scary now
Malik Thomas
One thing that annoys me about how EDD handles this — they send you a notice when you stop certifying for UI asking why you stopped. If you don't respond or explain that you transitioned to SDI, they can interpret it as you just abandoning your claim rather than transitioning to a different benefit. Make sure you respond to any notices about why your UI certifications stopped.
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Keisha Jackson
AuthorI would not have thought of that. So when I stop certifying I should proactively communicate to EDD why, not just let the certifications stop?
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Paolo Moretti
Yes — you can send a message through myEDD explaining that you are transitioning to SDI due to a medical condition and the approximate start date. This creates a record and can prevent your UI claim from going into some weird limbo status.
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NebulaNinja
Just want to circle back for OP — based on everything in this thread, your action plan looks like: (1) confirm the exact disability onset date with your doctor, (2) complete your final UI certification accurately noting which days you were/weren't available, (3) file your SDI claim through SDI Online immediately, (4) have your doctor complete their portion quickly, (5) send a message through myEDD explaining the transition, and (6) respond to any follow-up notices from EDD promptly. If you have any questions about your specific account, getting a phone agent is really the safest route — claimyr.com helped me get through when I couldn't reach EDD on my own.
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Oliver Weber
Good luck OP! The process is confusing but it's manageable once you know the steps. The most important thing is not to overlap certified UI weeks with your SDI period.
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Javier Gomez
Good luck! Come back and update us on how the transition went. This is genuinely useful info for a lot of people.
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