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Sophia Carter

Can I get California EDD unemployment while waiting for disability approval?

So I'm in this weird limbo situation and I'm not sure what I'm allowed to do. I had to stop working about six weeks ago because of a medical condition that my doctor says will keep me out of work for a while. I filed for State Disability Insurance through California EDD right away, but my SDI claim is still pending and I haven't received a single payment yet. My savings are basically gone at this point and I'm getting desperate. Here's my question - can I also file for regular unemployment benefits while I'm waiting for my disability claim to get processed? A friend told me you can collect both at the same time but that sounds too good to be true. I'm genuinely confused about what I'm eligible for because I technically left my job due to a medical issue, not a layoff. I've tried calling California EDD multiple times to ask someone directly but I keep getting the automated system and it just hangs up on me. I really need to talk to an actual person to understand my options before I make a mistake and get hit with an overpayment later. Has anyone navigated collecting unemployment while waiting for disability in California? What did you do?

I went through almost this exact situation about a year ago so let me give you the honest answer. You generally CANNOT collect both regular UI unemployment and SDI at the same time in California. The two programs have conflicting eligibility requirements that make it basically impossible to qualify for both simultaneously. Here's why: To collect regular unemployment benefits through California EDD, you must certify that you are able to work, available to work, and actively looking for work every week. But SDI disability benefits require you to certify that you are UNABLE to work due to a medical condition. You can't be both able AND unable to work at the same time - California EDD will catch that contradiction and you could face serious overpayment issues. What you CAN do is file for SDI and wait for that to process. If your disability ends before your doctor-certified period and you recover enough to work, THEN you can transition to regular UI if you meet those requirements. Some people in gray areas do get confused about this, so it's really worth speaking to a California EDD rep directly.

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This is correct. I made the mistake of trying to file UI while my SDI was pending and California EDD flagged it immediately. My UI claim got denied and it actually slowed down my SDI processing too. Don't do both at the same time.

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Ok this makes a lot more sense now. So basically I need to just wait for my SDI to go through and not try to double dip. I'm just worried because it's been 6 weeks already with no payment. Is that normal for SDI processing?

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6 weeks is on the longer side but not unheard of especially if there were any issues with your doctor's certification paperwork or if your employer was slow to respond. You should definitely contact California EDD to check on the status.

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wait are you sure you even qualify for SDI? I thought that was only if you paid into it through your job. did you have SDI deductions taken out of your paychecks? it should show on your W2 or pay stubs as 'CASDI' in the deductions section

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Yeah I've been working in California for 4 years and I can see the SDI deduction on all my pay stubs. So I think I'm good there.

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ok good then yeah you should be covered. just checking because some people work as independent contractors and don't have SDI withheld and then they're surprised when they can't claim it

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Since you're having trouble getting through to California EDD on the phone, I want to suggest something that actually helped me when I was going crazy trying to reach someone about my own claim. There's a service called Claimyr that basically gets you connected to a live California EDD agent without you having to sit on hold for hours. I was skeptical but I used it when my SDI claim had an issue and I got through to a real person within about 30-40 minutes instead of the usual nightmare. You can check it out at claimyr.com and they have a video showing how it works at https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10 - honestly for a situation like yours where you really need to speak to someone to avoid making a costly mistake, it's worth it.

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I've literally never heard of this before. Does it actually work or is it one of those sketchy third party things?

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I had the same reaction when someone recommended it to me lol. But it's legit - they just help you navigate the phone queue system so you actually reach a person. The video at https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10 explains it pretty clearly. Given your situation where you're trying to figure out the SDI vs UI overlap question, talking to an actual California EDD rep who can pull up your specific account is going to give you the most accurate answer.

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I've heard of this too. My cousin used it when she had an adjudication issue that was holding up her claim. She said it worked.

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I'm panicking reading this thread because I'm in almost the same situation as the OP except I already DID file for both at the same time two weeks ago and nobody told me I couldn't!!! My SDI is pending and I also have a UI claim open. Is it too late to withdraw the UI claim before something bad happens?? I don't want an overpayment notice!!

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Yes you should withdraw the UI claim as soon as possible. Log into your UI Online account through California EDD and look for the option to withdraw or cancel your claim. Do this before you certify for any UI benefits and you should be fine. If you haven't received any UI payments yet there's nothing to repay.

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Ok I just logged in and I see a withdraw option. Does clicking this hurt my SDI claim or affect it in any way?

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No, withdrawing a UI claim has no impact on your SDI claim. They're separate programs within California EDD. Withdraw the UI and focus your energy on getting the SDI processed.

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Thank you so much I just submitted the withdrawal. That was terrifying. I wish this information was clearer when you're first trying to figure out what to apply for.

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Something nobody has mentioned yet - there IS actually one specific scenario where you might be able to collect unemployment while in a disability situation. If you were LAID OFF by your employer and then subsequently became disabled, you might qualify for unemployment for the period between your layoff date and when your disability began, if those dates are different. California EDD looks at the reason you separated from your employer first. Also - Paid Family Leave (PFL) is different from SDI and sometimes people confuse the two. PFL is for bonding with a new child or caring for a seriously ill family member. SDI is for your own illness or injury. Make sure you applied for the right one.

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That's a good point about the layoff scenario but in my case I voluntarily had to stop working because of my condition, there wasn't a layoff involved. And yes I definitely filed for SDI not PFL, I doublechecked that multiple times.

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Then you're on the right track. Just wait for the SDI to process. Make sure your physician has submitted their part of the claim form because that's often the holdup - doctors offices sometimes sit on those forms for weeks.

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THIS. My SDI was delayed for almost two months because my doctor's office forgot to submit the medical certification part. Once I called and reminded them it got processed within 10 days. Always follow up with your doctor not just California EDD.

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My brother in law went through something similar and he said calling California EDD was absolutely pointless, kept getting disconnected for three weeks straight. He ended up using the UI Online messaging system instead of calling and actually got a response within about a week. Not ideal but better than banging your head against the phone system. For the OP's specific question though - you can check your SDI claim status online through the SDI Online portal (different from UI Online, frustratingly). That at least tells you if your claim is in review, if they're waiting on something, or if there's a problem flagged.

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Wait there's a SEPARATE online portal for SDI vs UI? I've been checking UI Online this whole time and wondering why I can't find my SDI claim on there. No wonder I'm confused.

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Yeah California EDD has SDI Online at a different login than UI Online. SDI Online is where you check disability claim status, submit certifications, and see payment history. It's annoying that they're separate but that's how California EDD built it.

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I just created an SDI Online account and I can actually see my claim now. It says it's in review with a note that they're waiting on employer information. At least now I know what's actually happening. This was hugely helpful, thank you.

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edd is so broken its insane. been waiting 8 weeks on my sdi and cant get anyone on the phone. every time i call it says high call volume and hangs up on me. im going to lose my apartment if this doesn't get resolved soon

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Seriously look into Claimyr - claimyr.com - it specifically helps you get through to California EDD when the normal phone lines keep hanging up on you. I know 8 weeks waiting feels desperate and you need a real person to intervene on your claim, which is exactly what Claimyr helps with.

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ok i just watched the demo video at https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10 and it actually looks like it does what it says. gonna try it today i literally have nothing to lose at this point

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Hope it works out for you, 8 weeks with no income is genuinely awful. California EDD SDI processing times have been rough lately.

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Let me add some factual clarity because I've seen some misinformation creeping into this thread. The California EDD SDI program standard processing time is supposed to be about 14 days after they receive all required information. 'All required information' is the key phrase - that means your claim form, your physician's medical certification, AND your employer's information. If any piece is missing the clock doesn't even start. The most common delays are: 1. Physician hasn't submitted their certification 2. Employer information is pending or incorrect 3. Your identity hasn't been verified through ID.me 4. There's a discrepancy between what you reported and what your employer reported Check your SDI Online account for any action items or requests for additional information before assuming it's just slow processing.

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The ID.me verification is something I actually hadn't completed. I just got a notification about it in my SDI Online account. Going to do that right now - could that really have been holding up my whole claim for 6 weeks??

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Absolutely yes. California EDD requires identity verification through ID.me for both SDI and UI claims and if it's not completed the claim just sits there waiting. This is probably your main holdup. Complete it ASAP and your processing should move forward quickly.

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Just completed the ID.me verification. It took about 15 minutes. The site says it can take 24-72 hours to update on the California EDD end but I'm feeling hopeful for the first time in weeks. Thank you for pointing this out.

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genuinely asking because im confused - if sdi pays less than what i was making, can i get unemployment to cover the difference? like top it off sort of?

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No, you cannot supplement SDI payments with unemployment benefits in California. As explained earlier in this thread, the eligibility requirements conflict - SDI requires you to be unable to work, UI requires you to be able and available for work. California EDD does not allow concurrent collection of these two benefits.

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ugh that sucks. sdi only pays 60-70% of wages right? so if you were making decent money you take a big hit

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Correct, SDI replaces approximately 60-70% of your wages depending on your income level. Higher earners get closer to 60%, lower wage workers can get up to 70%. There's also a weekly maximum benefit amount. It's not full replacement but it's something while you're unable to work.

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I had a situation where my short-term disability from my employer ran out before California EDD SDI kicked in and I had this gap period where I had literally zero income coming in. I asked California EDD if there was any way to bridge that gap and they basically said no. The two programs don't always line up timing-wise which is really frustrating. Just sharing in case anyone is dealing with a similar timing issue.

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This is actually really relevant to me - my employer does have a short term disability policy. I hadn't even thought about whether that interacts with SDI. Do you know if you can collect employer short term disability AND California EDD SDI at the same time?

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From what I was told, if your employer's STD plan pays less than your SDI benefit amount, California EDD will pay the difference. But if your employer's plan pays MORE than SDI, then you might not receive SDI payments during that period. It's complicated and honestly I'd verify this with a California EDD rep directly because the rules around coordination of benefits are nuanced.

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This is mostly accurate. California EDD SDI and employer-provided short-term disability can sometimes work together but the coordination of benefits rules are very specific to your employer's plan language. Definitely worth a phone call to California EDD to clarify for your specific situation.

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Update from earlier - I successfully withdrew my UI claim and I can now see in UI Online that it shows as withdrawn. Such a relief. I also checked my SDI Online account (I didn't know that was separate either before this thread!!) and I can see mine is actually under review already with no pending action items. So hopefully I'll get a determination soon. Thank you everyone who helped me not make a terrible mistake.

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So glad this thread helped you! Kind of ironic that your follow-up update is also helping me feel better about my own situation lol

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Haha yes we're all in this together. The California EDD system is confusing enough without having to figure out which benefits conflict with each other. They really should make this more clear upfront when you apply.

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Agreed, California EDD should have a big warning when you start a UI application asking if you have a disability claim open. Would save so many people from making this mistake.

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Something I want to add that I learned the hard way - when your SDI ends, if you still can't return to work because your condition continues, you need to get your doctor to extend the claim BEFORE the original end date. If you let it lapse and then try to reopen it you go through the whole review process again. Stay on top of your certification dates in SDI Online.

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How far in advance should I have my doctor submit the extension? Like right at the end date or with some lead time?

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Ideally have your doctor submit the extension at least 2 weeks before your current certification period ends. It takes time for California EDD to process it and you don't want a gap in payments.

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Got it, noted. I'm saving all of this information. This thread has honestly been more helpful than anything I found on the California EDD website itself.

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does anyone know if you can get sdi if you're part time? my hours got cut and i'm also dealing with a medical thing and i have no idea what i qualify for

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SDI eligibility is based on wages earned and SDI premiums paid, not whether you're full time or part time. If SDI (CASDI) was withheld from your paychecks during your base period you likely have some SDI coverage. The benefit amount is calculated based on your highest earning quarter in the base period, so part time wages will result in a lower weekly benefit but you can still qualify.

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ok so i should just apply and see what it says? i'm always scared to apply for things in case it messes up something else i have going on

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Yes just apply through SDI Online. Applying doesn't automatically mean you receive benefits and it doesn't negatively affect your other California EDD claims. You'll get a determination after California EDD reviews your wages and your physician's certification.

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For anyone following this thread who's stuck trying to reach California EDD about an SDI issue - I want to second the Claimyr recommendation from earlier. I've now used it twice, once for an SDI question and once for a UI adjudication issue. Both times I got through to an actual California EDD representative. The website is claimyr.com if you want to check it out. When you're dealing with income being cut off and you need answers fast, spending 30-45 minutes to actually reach someone beats weeks of failed calls.

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update from earlier in this thread - i used claimyr and it worked. got through to a california edd agent after about 35 minutes. turns out my sdi claim was flagged because my doctor submitted the wrong form code. the agent was able to notate my account and the claim moved forward. wouldn't have known what the problem was without actually talking to someone.

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That's exactly the kind of thing that only gets resolved when you actually speak to a real person. Glad it worked out. SDI claim errors like wrong form codes are invisible to claimants in the online portal.

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This is really good to know for the future. Bookmarking claimyr.com and that demo video link just in case I ever need it.

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Just want to offer some encouragement to OP and everyone else in this thread dealing with SDI delays. I went through a 9 week wait last year for my SDI claim. It was incredibly stressful and I didn't know how I was going to cover my bills. But it did eventually get resolved and they paid everything back to my disability start date once approved. The backdated payments were actually a big lump sum that helped catch me up. So if you're waiting, the money doesn't disappear - it accumulates from your start date and you get it all when the claim is approved.

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This is genuinely reassuring to hear. I've been so focused on the week-by-week stress that I forgot the backdating aspect. When my claim finally gets approved, do I get a lump sum or does it come as separate deposits?

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In my experience it came as multiple deposits in quick succession rather than one single deposit, probably because the system issues them in certification periods. But within a few days I had all the back pay. It'll show in your SDI Online payment history.

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Ok I feel so much better about this situation now. The ID.me verification is done, I can see my claim in SDI Online, and I know the money is accumulating. Going to try not to panic for the next week and see if things move.

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I work in HR and just want to add one thing this thread hasn't covered - if your disability was caused by a work-related injury or illness, you should NOT be filing for SDI. That would fall under Workers Compensation instead, which is an entirely different system. California EDD SDI is for non-work-related disabilities. If you file SDI for a work injury California EDD can deny the claim or seek reimbursement later. Just something to double check if anyone's situation involves a workplace injury.

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My situation is definitely not work related, it's a pre-existing condition that got worse. But this is important information for others to know.

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Good. And just to be complete - if your condition started as a work injury but then continued beyond what workers comp covers, there can be a transition to SDI in some cases. That's a complicated situation that definitely warrants calling California EDD directly to understand your specific options.

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Accurate. The interaction between workers comp and SDI is one of the more complicated areas of California EDD benefits and there are specific rules about when one ends and the other can begin. Anyone in that overlap situation should really speak to a California EDD rep or consult with an employment attorney.

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Final update from OP - I wanted to close the loop on my situation for anyone who finds this thread in the future with the same question about whether you can get unemployment while waiting for disability. After completing my ID.me verification (which turned out to be the main holdup), my SDI claim was approved within 4 days. I received back pay covering the entire 6+ weeks I'd been waiting. So the answer confirmed for me: no, you cannot collect regular California EDD unemployment and SDI at the same time - the requirements contradict each other. What you CAN do is file SDI, make sure all your paperwork is complete (ID.me verification, physician certification, employer info), and monitor your SDI Online account for any action items. Thanks to everyone in this thread who helped me navigate this. The California EDD system is confusing but there are people who understand it.

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Congratulations on getting your claim resolved! This is a really helpful thread for people in similar situations. Your point about checking for pending action items in SDI Online rather than just assuming things are processing is probably the most actionable piece of advice here.

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So glad it worked out! The ID.me thing tripping people up is such a common issue. Thanks for posting the update.

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Great outcome. For anyone finding this thread later who can't get through to California EDD on the phone - remember claimyr.com exists. It helped multiple people in this thread actually reach a live agent when the normal phone system was impossible.

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