Can I collect unemployment while on disability through California EDD?

This is really helpful, thank you. So as long as I'm actually applying to jobs that fall within my restrictions and I'm genuinely available to take one if offered, the UI claim should be legitimate?

Exactly right. The key phrase California EDD looks at is 'available for suitable work' - and suitable work can be defined by your physical capabilities. Just document everything - your job search activities, the types of positions you're applying for, and keep that doctor's note on file.

what if edd disagrees with what your doctor says counts as a restriction tho? like can they challenge your medical info

That transition point is what scares me - like what if my condition gets worse partway through my claim? Do I just stop certifying for UI immediately and apply for SDI?

Yes, exactly. The day your doctor takes you fully off work is the day you stop certifying for UI and file your SDI claim. You can actually have a small overlap during the application period but you can't collect both at once for the same period.

does SDI pay more or less than UI? asking for a friend lol

SDI typically replaces about 60-70% of your wages, UI maxes out at around $450/week. Depends entirely on your earnings history which one would be higher for your specific situation.

I've been trying to call EDD for days and can't get through. I'll definitely check out that Claimyr service, thanks for the tip.

seconding this - getting an actual edd agent to review your specific circumstances is way better than trying to interpret general rules yourself when disability is involved

I was skeptical of those call services at first but my cousin used Claimyr and got through in like 20 minutes when he'd been trying for a week on his own. Changed my mind on it

Yikes, that's really good to know. Did they penalize you beyond just having to pay it back?

they didnt penalize me per se but i did have to go through an adjudication process and it delayed everything by like 8 weeks. absolute nightmare to sort out. just be upfront about your situation from the start

This is why I always tell people to call EDD before filing anything when disability is involved. The general rules don't cover every scenario and making the wrong assumption can cost you big time later.

This is really reassuring to hear from an HR perspective. I was worried the back restrictions alone would disqualify me entirely.

Nope, not at all. The disqualifying factor would be if you were medically unable to work ANY job, not just your previous one. Partial restrictions are evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

Can an employer actually access your medical records through EDD? That seems like a privacy issue?

No, employers can't see your medical records. They just see claim status information. EDD maintains confidentiality around medical info submitted for SDI claims.

I feel this so hard. The FAQ sections just keep referencing each other without actually answering the real question.

RIGHT?? Like they'll say 'see UI requirements' and then UI requirements will say 'consult your physician' and the physician says 'talk to EDD' and nobody will just give you a straight answer

The frustration is valid but the reason there isn't a simple answer is because these situations genuinely ARE case-specific. Two people with the same type of back restriction could have completely different outcomes depending on their occupation, doctor's specific language, and the jobs available in their area.

They gave me two weeks severance. How does that typically affect things?

Two weeks of severance typically means your UI benefits would be delayed by two weeks - EDD treats that as wages paid for that period. But it shouldn't affect your overall eligibility, just pushes back when your first payment arrives.

This is accurate. The severance delay is frustrating but at least it's predictable. Just count two weeks from your last day of work and that's roughly when your UI benefits would start coming in.

That's a really smart way to think about it - asking my doctor to frame it as what I'm capable of rather than what I can't do. Will definitely bring that up at my next appointment.

exactly - something like 'patient is capable of sedentary work, light administrative duties, positions not requiring lifting over X pounds or standing more than X minutes' goes over way better with EDD reviewers than just a list of restrictions

This is golden advice honestly. The framing really does matter when EDD is evaluating able and available status with medical involvement.

Great question and you're partially right. SDI benefits are based on contributions made WHILE you were employed, but you don't have to be currently employed to file a claim. If you became disabled after being laid off, you can still file for SDI if your disability started within a certain window and you had sufficient earnings history. However, timing matters a lot here.

oh interesting i had no idea you could file SDI after getting laid off. learned something new

The specific rule is that the disability must have begun within 60 days of your last day worked for the SDI claim to be valid post-separation. After that window, SDI typically won't cover you for that disability.

Same - when I posted I honestly expected maybe one or two responses. This community has been way more helpful than the EDD website itself lol

edd websites really are just the worst for these edge case situations. forums like this are genuinely more useful

That's because people here have actually lived through the system. Bureaucratic websites are designed to cover the standard cases and leave the complex ones to... more calling and waiting on hold I guess

Yes, workers' comp is a completely separate system. If the injury was work-related, you'd potentially have a workers' comp claim AND possibly UI depending on how your separation happened. Workers' comp, UI, and SDI all interact in complicated ways and you generally cannot collect full amounts from all three simultaneously - there are offset rules. Strongly recommend consulting with an employment attorney if workers' comp is in play.

wow ok that's way more complicated than i realized. employment attorneys must love these situations lol

My injury is from outside of work so workers comp isn't in the picture thankfully. But good info for anyone else reading this thread who might have a work-related injury situation.

I finally tried this after reading this thread and yeah it actually works. Got through to an EDD rep in way less time than my previous attempts. Asked specifically about my partial restriction situation and got a direct answer.

Good to know it's still a reliable option. I'm going to use it to verify my specific situation before my first certification is due next week.

Not a union situation for me but that's a really good point for people who are. I wouldn't have thought to check there.

Union situations can be super complex with EDD. Had a coworker who was in a union and his EDD claim got stuck in adjudication for months because of conflicting provisions between his CBA and standard UI rules.

this is why i always say unions should have dedicated EDD liaisons or something. so much specialized knowledge needed

That's exactly the right analysis. File the claim, be honest about your capabilities, document your job search in positions appropriate for your restrictions, and keep that doctor's statement handy. You've got this.

Thank you. This community is genuinely great. I feel so much less anxious about the whole thing now.

We're in basically the same boat - let's both update this thread once we have some progress on our claims. Good luck!

Good luck to both of you. The system is confusing but it genuinely does work for people who are in legitimate situations and document things properly.

Great distinction. A formal written note from your physician is significantly more protective than a verbal recommendation. If EDD ever reviews your claim and questions your work availability status, a written medical document is what you'd present. Verbal guidance from a doctor provides no documentation trail.

yeah that's what i figured. always get it in writing is basically the rule for anything EDD related

I have a follow-up appointment scheduled next week and I'm going to make sure I leave with a written summary of my restrictions - or more accurately, my capabilities. Taking that advice from earlier in the thread.

This is REALLY good to know - I've been so afraid of answering yes to that question given my restrictions but this makes me feel way more confident about it.

The 'excessive caution' point is interesting. I guess a lot of people assume any medical issue means they should go straight to SDI without realizing UI is still an option.

Exactly right. The able and available standard in California UI is about whether you can do SOME work, not any specific job. Partial physical restrictions still leave most people able to perform a meaningful range of jobs.

Thank you for coming back with this update. Super helpful confirmation from an actual EDD agent.

Sounds like you handled this exactly right. Fingers crossed for a smooth approval!

I filed mine too! Same situation - answered yes to able and available because I am capable of lighter work. We're in this together, let's both come back with updates.

You both did everything correctly by being honest about actual capabilities rather than defaulting to 'no' out of fear. That's exactly how the system is supposed to work. Good luck to both of you.