Can I get disability and unemployment at the same time through California EDD?

Okay that makes a lot more sense. So basically I have to choose one or the other depending on my actual situation? Right now I'm still able to work and actively looking for jobs so I should stay on UI?

Exactly right. As long as you are genuinely able to work and actively searching, keep certifying for UI. The moment your doctor puts you on a work restriction or you have surgery and can't work, that's when you transition to SDI. Just don't certify for UI during weeks you're medically unable to work - that would be fraud.

This is good info, I was confused about this exact same thing last year when I had a back injury while on unemployment. Ended up having to make the switch to SDI mid-claim.

Is the SDI application totally separate from the UI stuff or do they share the same online account?

They're administered by the same EDD agency but SDI claims are handled through a different part of the system. You can manage both through your myEDD account but they show up as separate claim types. When you file the SDI claim you'll essentially be opening a brand new claim under your same account.

yeah the myEDD portal is the same login but SDI and UI are tracked separately, i was confused by this too at first

Oh wow I really need this because I've been trying to call for days. Going to check out that video right now, thanks.

Does that actually work? I'm always suspicious of third party stuff when it comes to government benefits

I get the skepticism, I felt the same way. But it worked for me - I actually talked to a real EDD rep and got my questions answered. The demo video explains what it does pretty clearly.

seconded, i used it a few months back when my claim was stuck in adjudication and couldn't get through any other way

No, you don't have to repay UI benefits you legitimately received while you were genuinely able and available to work. The key word is legitimately - as long as you were actually job searching during those weeks and were truly available to work, those payments are fine. The issue only arises if someone certified for UI claiming they were available to work during weeks they were actually on a doctor's work restriction.

ok good thats what i was worried about, thanks

That's really practical advice, I'm going to ask my doctor at my next appointment to be ready to fill that out quickly after my surgery date.

Good plan. Also keep a copy of everything you submit. EDD sometimes claims they didn't receive forms and having proof of submission is invaluable.

THIS. Keep copies of EVERYTHING. I learned this the hard way when EDD said they never got my doctor certification and I had no proof I sent it.

can you submit the SDI form online or does it have to be mailed in

EDD's systems do share data between the UI and SDI programs since they're the same agency. But the real issue is the certification process itself - when you certify for UI you're attesting under penalty of perjury that you were able and available to work. When you file SDI your doctor is certifying you couldn't work. Those conflicting certifications for the same weeks would create a problem. So yes, it would be detected, and more importantly it would constitute fraud - not just a technicality.

Got it, so it's not about hiding anything, it's literally impossible to legitimately qualify for both for the same time period. That actually makes the rule make more sense to me now.

Oh that's a really important heads up, I would not have thought about making sure the UI claim was properly paused vs just ignored.

Yeah it caused me weeks of headaches. If I had just called EDD at the time of the switch and told them what was happening it probably would have been fine. Which circles back to the eternal problem of actually getting someone at EDD on the phone...

lol the classic EDD phone problem, every single issue somehow ends up requiring a phone call and every phone call is a nightmare to actually make

California SDI benefits can last up to 52 weeks for most non-pregnancy disabilities. However your specific duration is determined by what your doctor certifies - they have to indicate the expected duration of your disability. EDD may also require periodic recertification from your doctor to continue benefits for longer claims.

ok 52 weeks is a lot longer than i thought. does the doctor have to like predict exactly when youll be better

They give an estimated return to work date but it can be extended if needed. The doctor just needs to continue certifying that you remain unable to work.

I hadn't even thought about comparing the amounts. Good point, I'll look up the SDI calculator on the EDD website.

The EDD website has a benefits calculator that's pretty useful for estimating. Just remember UI and SDI use different base periods for calculations so the amounts can differ significantly.

yeah i was surprised that my SDI ended up being a bit more than my UI because of how the base period calculation worked out differently

EDD does have an Ask EDD messaging system through the myEDD portal where you can submit questions and get written responses. The downside is response times can be slow - sometimes a week or more. For urgent claim-specific questions, getting a live agent is really the best path.

I mentioned Claimyr earlier in the thread and it genuinely solves the phone problem. Check claimyr.com and the video at https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10 - instead of you sitting on hold for hours getting disconnected, it handles the wait and connects you when an agent is available. For something like a UI to SDI transition question you really do want to talk to someone directly.

Okay I looked at the Claimyr video and it makes sense. Might be worth it just to get a definitive answer from EDD directly rather than relying on forum advice for something this important.

SDI benefits are not counted as income for Covered California purposes, which is actually beneficial. UI benefits ARE counted as income for Covered California. So if you transition from UI to SDI you might actually qualify for more financial assistance with your health coverage since your countable income would drop. Worth checking on the Covered California website.

oh wow i had no idea UI counted but SDI didnt, that's actually really helpful to know thank you

Also worth knowing - being on SDI doesn't affect your eligibility for Medi-Cal either if you qualify based on income levels. The SDI payment itself isn't counted the same way earned income would be.

I totally felt the same way, glad this thread is helping more than just me!

Did you ever get through to EDD directly to confirm all this? Or are you going based on what people here said

Still trying to get through honestly. About to try that Claimyr thing someone mentioned because I've been calling EDD every day with no luck. Will update the thread once I actually talk to an agent.

Great question and yes it does matter. If you're on an approved unpaid FMLA leave from an employer (meaning you still have a job to return to), you generally would NOT be eligible for UI because you're not separated from employment. In that case SDI would be the appropriate benefit since you're unable to work due to a medical condition. The UI/SDI mutual exclusivity still applies, but in an FMLA scenario UI eligibility might not even be in the picture.

ok that makes sense, OP's situation sounds like they were actually laid off though so UI was the right call to start with

Right, OP was legitimately laid off so UI was correct. The FMLA scenario is a different path that some people end up on when their employer hasn't officially let them go.

Yes! California actually has a return to work supplement built into SDI. If your doctor authorizes a partial return to work and you're earning less than your full pre-disability wages, you can receive partial SDI benefits to make up some of the difference. This is meant to encourage gradual return to work rather than forcing people to choose between zero income and full return.

wow that's actually a really thoughtful policy, didn't know california had that

It's one of the better features of the California SDI program. The key is getting your doctor to document the partial work capacity specifically - it can't just be implied.

I used this when I came back from a back injury, worked 3 days a week for a month and got partial SDI for the other days. Made the transition back much easier financially.

Your UI claim has a benefit year - typically 12 months from when you filed. Any remaining balance in your UI claim has to be used within that benefit year. So if your SDI period extends long enough that your UI benefit year expires before you recover and return to job searching, you'd lose any remaining UI balance. This is actually a reason to consider timing carefully.

that's concerning, so you could potentially lose weeks of UI benefits if you're on SDI for a long time

Exactly. If you're worried about this happening, it's worth calling EDD to understand your specific timeline. And yes, that requires actually getting through to them - which brings us back to the eternal struggle of EDD phone access.

So the 7-day waiting period on SDI - is that calendar days or working days? And does it reset if you file at a different time?

It's calendar days - the first 7 calendar days of your disability period serve as a waiting period and aren't paid. It doesn't reset, it's just the first week of your claim that's unpaid. Starting with day 8 you'd be eligible for payment if everything is approved.

To add to this - if you end up hospitalized or have inpatient surgery, the 7-day waiting period is actually waived. So if your surgery requires a hospital stay the waiting period may not apply to you OP.

Oh that's a huge detail! My surgery is inpatient so this is really relevant, thank you.

The EDD website is genuinely difficult to navigate. The most reliable starting point is searching for 'SDI Online' on the edd.ca.gov domain. For the actual claim filing you want SDI Online which is separate from UI Online. The EDD also has a disability insurance page that explains eligibility basics. For the transition specifically, the information is unfortunately fragmented across multiple pages.

Yeah I've been down those rabbit holes. At a certain point calling them is just more efficient if you can actually get through. Might try that Claimyr service mentioned earlier in the thread since my situation is similar to OP's.

the EDD website redesign they did a while back somehow made navigation WORSE, not better. classic government website situation

Will definitely update! I'm planning to try Claimyr today to finally get through to someone. My surgery is in about 3 weeks so I don't have a ton of time to keep spinning my wheels trying to reach EDD the regular way.

Good luck! The UI to SDI transition is actually pretty routine for EDD agents - once you get one on the phone they've walked people through it many times and it should be a straightforward conversation.

Please do update, I'm in the same boat and want to hear how it goes for you