Can I collect EDD unemployment while my SDI disability claim is under review?

Thanks for responding, but I'm not trying to collect both simultaneously - just wondering if I can continue UI while WAITING for SDI approval. Once SDI is approved I'd switch over completely.

This happened to my brother last year and he ended up with an overpayment notice because he kept certifying for UI when he shoulda been on SDI. BIG MESS to fix!

Thank you for sharing your experience! That's really helpful to know. I'll check out that service since I've been trying to get through to EDD for days. I guess I should stop certifying for UI right away even though I really need the money. Better than dealing with overpayment issues later!

While I understand your frustration, I don't think it's designed to confuse people deliberately. The EDD system is definitely outdated and overloaded, but the rules do make sense when explained properly. The key difference is simple: UI = able to work but can't find a job. SDI = unable to work due to medical condition. You can't be both simultaneously for the same time period. OP, the correct approach is to stop certifying for UI from the date your disability began (as noted on your medical documentation). Your SDI benefit period starts from that date, even if the approval takes weeks. Once approved, SDI will pay retroactively to your disability start date.

SDI (State Disability Insurance) covers any temporary disability, including pregnancy. Pregnancy-related disability typically includes the weeks before birth and 6-8 weeks after, depending on delivery type. But SDI also covers other medical conditions that prevent you from working temporarily, like surgeries, injuries, severe illness, etc.

Thanks for the warning. I'm definitely disabled right now (recovering from surgery) so I'll stop certifying for UI immediately. Hoping my SDI gets approved soon or I'll be in real financial trouble. Bills don't wait just because EDD is slow!

^^^^ THIS is the correct info!! listen to this person!!

Thanks so much for following up! I stopped certifying for UI and I'm just waiting (not so patiently) for my SDI to be approved. Glad to hear it will be retroactive at least. I'll try that service to check on my SDI status since regular phone calls are getting me nowhere.

This is such valuable advice, thank you! I'm in a similar boat right now - filed for SDI two weeks ago and have been agonizing over whether to keep certifying for UI. Your explanation about the "onset date" really clarifies things for me. My doctor's note says I became unable to work on March 10th, so I guess I shouldn't have certified for any weeks after that date. I'm scared I might have already messed up by certifying for last week. Should I call EDD immediately to report this, or wait until my SDI gets approved first? The thought of dealing with overpayment issues is keeping me up at night!

@Zoe Stavros Call EDD immediately! Don t'wait for SDI approval. I was in the exact same situation and the EDD rep told me that reporting it early shows good faith and they re'much more understanding. When you call, explain that you certified for UI after your disability onset date by mistake and want to correct it before it becomes a bigger problem. They can usually adjust your claim dates on the spot. The longer you wait, the more complicated it gets to fix. I know calling EDD is a nightmare, but this is one of those times where it s'absolutely worth the wait time. You might also try that Claimyr service others mentioned - it really does help you get through faster.

Call EDD immediately! Don't wait for SDI approval - the sooner you report the overlap, the better. I was in your exact situation and waiting made it worse. When you call, explain that you mistakenly certified for UI after your disability onset date and want to correct it proactively. They can usually reverse those certifications and prevent the overpayment issue entirely. I used that Claimyr service others mentioned to actually get through to a human - worth every penny to avoid the stress you're feeling. The EDD rep told me they appreciate when people call to fix honest mistakes rather than trying to hide them. You've got this!

@Zoe Stavros Call EDD immediately - don t'wait! I was in almost the exact same situation and the sooner you report it, the better. When I called using (that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier ,)the rep was actually helpful and said it s'much easier for them to fix these timing issues when people self-report rather than when they discover it later during audits. Since your onset date was March 10th and you certified for weeks after that, just be honest about the mistake. They ll'likely just adjust your claim dates and you won t'have to pay anything back since you re'reporting it voluntarily. The key is showing good faith that you re'trying to follow the rules correctly. Don t'lose sleep over this - it s'a super common confusion and EDD deals with it all the time. Just get it sorted out now before your SDI gets approved!

@Zoe Stavros I d'definitely call EDD right away to report the overlap - don t'wait for SDI approval! I learned this the hard way. When I called to fix my mistake, the rep told me that voluntary disclosure of errors shows good faith and they re'much more understanding. They were able to adjust my claim dates over the phone and prevent an overpayment situation. If you wait until after SDI approval, it looks like you were trying to double-dip benefits. The sooner you fix it, the easier it is to resolve. I used that Claimyr service others mentioned to actually get through to a real person - totally worth it for peace of mind!

@dea3190a90ca I would definitely call EDD immediately rather than waiting! I made the same mistake and the EDD rep told me that reporting it yourself right away shows good faith, whereas they're much less forgiving if they discover the overlap during an audit later. When I called, they were able to adjust my claim retroactively and I only had to pay back the overlapping weeks without any penalties. If you wait until after SDI approval, it becomes much more complicated to sort out. The sooner you fix it, the easier the process will be. Don't lose sleep over it - honest mistakes happen all the time and they can usually be corrected if you're proactive about it!

Call EDD immediately, don't wait! The longer you wait, the worse it looks. I was in your exact situation and the EDD rep told me that reporting it yourself shows good faith and they're much more understanding about honest mistakes versus discovering discrepancies during audits. They can usually just adjust your claim dates on the spot if you catch it early. Waiting until after SDI approval might make them think you were trying to hide it. Better to deal with a quick phone call now than months of paperwork and stress later!