Can I get EDD benefits if I leave my job due to medical condition my employer can't accommodate?

You might qualify for UI benefits in this situation, but it depends on how everything is documented. If your employer lets you go because they can't accommodate your medical condition, that would typically make you eligible for UI since you're not being fired for misconduct. If you quit, it gets trickier - you'd need to prove you had "good cause" to leave, which medical reasons can satisfy IF properly documented. Without your doctor willing to provide documentation, this becomes challenging. Have you tried speaking with a different doctor about your situation? Sometimes getting a second medical opinion can help, especially one who better understands the employment implications.

ur doctor sounds TERRIBLE tbh. mine wrote me a note no problem when i had similar issue. maybe try different doc??? good cause for quitting def includes health reasons that ur employer cant/wont fix.

I dealt with something similar last year. Here's what you need to know: 1. If your employer terminates you because they can't accommodate your condition, you're generally eligible for UI benefits as this is not misconduct. 2. If you quit, you'll need to prove you had no reasonable alternative. Document EVERYTHING - emails about accommodation requests, responses, any meetings about your situation. 3. You'll need medical documentation showing your condition is incompatible with your current role. EDD may schedule a phone interview to discuss these details. 4. Look into the "Nonavailability" rules with EDD - if your medical condition restricts what jobs you can take, you may need to address this in your application. My advice is to try to get the employer to make the termination decision rather than quitting if possible. It makes the UI claim much more straightforward.

The EDD system is designed to DENY people like us. I had a serious back injury, employer wouldn't accommodate, and I got DENIED benefits initially because they said I "wasn't available for work" due to my condition. Had to fight for MONTHS to get my benefits! The whole system is rigged against people with medical issues. They expect us to either be 100% disabled (for SDI) or 100% able-bodied (for UI). There's no middle ground for those of us with conditions that vary or only affect certain types of work!

I successfully navigated this situation last year. When my employer couldn't accommodate my medical restrictions, I requested they lay me off rather than quitting. This approach worked well for my UI claim. Make sure you get everything in writing. Have your doctor document your condition and specific work limitations. When you apply for UI, be prepared to explain during your eligibility interview why your medical condition constituted good cause for leaving. By the way, when it comes time to actually file and deal with EDD, I had trouble reaching anyone for weeks. I finally used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to an EDD rep within 20 minutes after trying for days on my own. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km. It was worth it to finally get answers about my specific situation.

My situation wasnt medical but I kno EDD will call u for a phone interview if u quit or if theres any question about why u left ur job. Be prepared to wait WEEKS for this call and have all ur documents ready when they call!!

To address your follow-up question about documentation, EDD typically looks for: 1. Medical documentation clearly stating your condition and specific work restrictions 2. Evidence showing you attempted to resolve the issue with your employer 3. Documentation of any accommodation requests and your employer's responses 4. A chronological record of events leading to your separation The most important thing is showing that continuing in your current position would be detrimental to your health AND that you attempted to preserve the employment relationship through reasonable accommodations or alternative positions. Also, when you apply, make sure you're available for and able to perform some type of work, even if it's different from your previous job. Being completely unable to work would direct you toward disability rather than unemployment.

One more thing to consider - if your employer protests your UI claim (and many do automatically), be prepared for a LONG fight. My employer claimed I could have done the job despite my doctor's restrictions. The EDD initially sided with them until I appealed and had a hearing. If this happens, you might need to get a lawyer involved. There are some nonprofits that help with EDD appeals if you can't afford representation. Start researching those now just in case.

my bfs cousin went thru this n he got approved after his doctor wrote a letter saying he tried to get reasonable accommodashuns from employer but they cudnt provide them. hope this helps!

I went through something very similar about 6 months ago with a chronic autoimmune condition that made my desk job nearly impossible during flare-ups. Here's what worked for me: First, I documented EVERYTHING - every email to HR, every accommodation request, every response (or lack thereof) from management. This paper trail was crucial when EDD reviewed my case. Second, I found a different doctor who understood the employment implications better. My original doctor was hesitant to provide documentation, but the new one wrote a detailed letter explaining how my condition specifically interfered with my job duties and why remote work/flexible scheduling were medically necessary accommodations. The key phrase that helped my case was "constructive discharge" - essentially when working conditions become so unreasonable due to an employer's failure to accommodate that any reasonable person would feel compelled to quit. EDD recognized this in my situation. I did get approved for UI benefits, but it took about 6 weeks and I had to do a phone interview where I explained the whole situation in detail. Having all my documentation organized beforehand made that conversation much smoother. Don't give up hope - there are protections for people in our situation, even if it takes some persistence to access them. Good luck with your new doctor appointment!

I'm dealing with a somewhat similar situation right now - chronic migraines that make it impossible to work in my current office environment with fluorescent lighting and constant noise. My employer keeps saying they're "looking into" accommodations but nothing ever materializes. One thing I learned from talking to a disability rights advocate is that you should also look into whether your employer is subject to ADA requirements. If they have 15+ employees, they're legally required to provide reasonable accommodations unless it causes "undue hardship." If they're not even trying to accommodate you, that could strengthen your case for "good cause" if you end up having to quit. Also, have you considered reaching out to your state's disability rights organizations? They sometimes offer free consultations and can help you understand your rights before you make any decisions. I found them really helpful in understanding what constitutes reasonable accommodations vs. what employers can legally refuse. Keep us posted on how your appointment with the new doctor goes - hoping they're more understanding about the employment side of things!

I'm actually going through something really similar right now with a joint condition that makes it hard to do my current job consistently. Reading through everyone's responses has been super helpful! One thing I wanted to add - I've been working with a vocational rehabilitation counselor through the state, and they mentioned that EDD sometimes looks more favorably on claims when you can show you've been actively trying to find solutions that would keep you employed. So documenting not just accommodation requests to your current employer, but also any job retraining programs, vocational counseling, or other efforts you've made to stay in the workforce can help your case. Also, @Dmitri - when you meet with that new doctor, it might help to specifically explain that you need documentation for potential unemployment benefits, not just medical leave. Sometimes doctors don't realize the difference in what's needed for each type of claim. My doctor was way more thorough once I explained exactly how the documentation would be used. Hope everything works out for you! This whole system is definitely frustrating to navigate, but it sounds like you're being smart about documenting everything upfront.

I'm actually in a very similar boat right now with a neurological condition that causes unpredictable fatigue episodes. What's been really frustrating is trying to get my current doctor to understand that I need specific language in any documentation - not just "patient has medical condition" but something that clearly explains how it impacts my ability to perform my current job duties and why accommodations are medically necessary. One thing that helped me was preparing a list of my specific job tasks and explaining to the doctor exactly which ones become impossible during flare-ups. This seemed to help them write a more detailed and useful letter. Also, I've been keeping a symptom diary that tracks when episodes occur and how they affect my work performance. Even though it's not official medical documentation, it's helped me explain the unpredictable nature of my condition to both my employer and potentially for any future EDD claim. The waiting and uncertainty is the worst part of all this. Hoping your new doctor appointment goes well and you get someone who really understands the employment implications!

I'm currently dealing with a similar situation - have a chronic condition that makes my current role really difficult during flare-ups. Reading everyone's advice here has been incredibly helpful! One thing I wanted to mention that hasn't been brought up yet - if you do end up having to file for UI benefits, make sure you're prepared for the "able and available for work" requirements. EDD will want to know that even though your condition prevents you from doing your current job, you're still able to perform SOME type of work with appropriate accommodations. I've been researching this and apparently it helps to have a list ready of alternative types of positions you COULD do with your condition, even if they're different from your current field. Shows EDD that you're genuinely looking to work, just need a better fit for your medical situation. Also seconding what others have said about getting everything in writing. I started sending follow-up emails after every conversation with HR about accommodations, just summarizing what was discussed. Creates a paper trail even when they don't want to put things in writing themselves. Hope your new doctor appointment goes well! Keep us updated on how it works out.

I went through something very similar about two years ago with a chronic pain condition that made my warehouse job impossible during bad days. The whole process was honestly pretty stressful, but I did eventually get approved for UI benefits. A few things that really helped my case: First, I made sure to exhaust ALL accommodation options with my employer before making any moves. Even though some of their suggestions were unrealistic, having documentation that I tried everything they offered was crucial for EDD. Second, when I finally did have to leave, I was super careful about the language I used. Instead of saying I "quit," I framed it as the job becoming medically incompatible and my employer being unable to provide necessary accommodations. The EDD rep I spoke with said this distinction actually matters a lot in how they evaluate claims. The phone interview was nerve-wracking but having all my medical documentation and accommodation request emails organized beforehand made it go much smoother. They asked really specific questions about what accommodations I'd requested and why my employer's responses weren't sufficient. One last tip - when you're looking for new work while on UI (which you have to do), focus your search on positions that would work with your condition. EDD wants to see you're genuinely available for work, just not work that would harm your health. Good luck with everything! The system definitely isn't perfect but there are protections there if you document everything properly.