Can I work part-time while on EDD disability leave? How to report earnings?

yes u can work part time on SDI. EDD has a thing called partial disability. u report the hours on ur certification. they take like 1/3 of what u earn off ur weekly benefit amount.

The previous comment has some incorrect information. State Disability Insurance (SDI) and Unemployment Insurance (UI) are two completely different programs. For SDI, you must report part-time work on a form called the "Supplemental Wage Information." You'll receive this form if you indicated on your initial SDI application that you might work during your claim period. If you didn't initially indicate this, you should contact EDD to let them know your situation has changed. Your benefits will be reduced based on your earnings, but it follows a different formula than UI. With SDI, they use what's called a "wage loss" calculation that looks at your pre-disability wages compared to your current part-time wages. Make sure to get documentation from your doctor stating clearly that you're approved for part-time work with specific limitations. The EDD may request this at any point during your claim.

I tried doing part time work on disability last year and it was a NIGHTMARE!!! EDD kept sending me confusing letters saying I was overpaid then underpaid then overpaid again. I spent WEEKS trying to fix it!!! Just be careful and document EVERYTHING. Take screenshots of anything you submit online!!!

Yes eventually but took almost 3 months and like 20 phone calls. Half the EDD reps gave different answers too!!

I successfully worked part-time while on SDI last year. Here's what helped me avoid issues: 1. I got very specific documentation from my doctor about work limitations (hours per day, total weekly hours, physical restrictions) 2. I called EDD before starting part-time work to confirm the process (took several attempts to reach someone) 3. I submitted the Supplemental Wage Information form for every period I worked 4. I kept detailed records of all hours worked, wages earned, and communications with EDD The key is proper documentation and reporting. Your SDI benefits will be reduced proportionally based on what you earn, but it can still be worthwhile if you're able to work those limited hours. The worst part was definitely trying to reach EDD by phone to get questions answered. I wasted days trying to get through their phone system until I found Claimyr (claimyr.com). Their service helped me connect with an EDD representative in about 15 minutes instead of spending days redialing. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km. Definitely made the process less stressful when I needed clarification on how to report my earnings properly.

They were actually pretty supportive of partial work - the rep told me they prefer people to work part-time if they can rather than taking full benefits. But they're VERY strict about proper reporting. I had to mail in the forms because at the time there wasn't an online option for SDI wage reporting (not sure if that's changed in 2025). The forms came with my initial SDI paperwork packet.

Listen, here's what NO ONE tells you about working part-time on SDI - the calculation they use is CRAZY complicated and NEVER works in your favor! They take your quarterly wages from before your disability, divide by 13, then compare to what you're making now, and then apply some percentage reduction that makes absolutely no sense!!!! I LOST MONEY by trying to work part-time because of how they calculated it. The EDD system is designed to CONFUSE people!!!

Of course I tried to appeal!! Spent HOURS on the phone getting disconnected or told to call different departments! Finally gave up and just stopped working altogether because it was less stressful than dealing with their broken system. My mental health couldn't take it anymore.

Hey there! Just wanted to share that I'm going through something similar right now with my carpal tunnel recovery. My doc okayed me for 12 hrs/week at my desk job. I reported it when I applied for SDI and they sent me the wage form thing with my approval packet. Been working part-time for 3 weeks now and so far the payments have adjusted correctly! I think the key is being super clear from the beginning that you plan to work some hours. Good luck!!!

Thanks everyone for all the great information! I'm going to call my doctor tomorrow to get detailed documentation about my work restrictions and allowed hours. Then I'll make sure to indicate the part-time work possibility on my SDI application. Seems like being proactive and keeping detailed records is the key. I really appreciate all the advice!

Just wanted to add one more tip that helped me - when you get your doctor's documentation, ask them to be VERY specific about your functional limitations, not just hours. For example, "can work 15-20 hours per week with no lifting over 10 lbs, frequent breaks every 2 hours, and ability to alternate sitting/standing" rather than just "can work part-time." EDD seems to really appreciate that level of detail and it helps avoid questions later. Also, if your condition changes (gets better or worse), make sure to get updated documentation right away. I learned this the hard way when my recovery progressed faster than expected and I didn't update my work capacity documentation for a few weeks - caused some confusion with my benefits calculation.

I went through this exact situation about 6 months ago with a back injury. Here's what I wish someone had told me upfront: 1. **Get your doctor's clearance IN WRITING before you even apply** - don't just mention it verbally. The form should specify exactly what you can/can't do. 2. **The Supplemental Wage Information form is crucial** - it usually comes with your initial SDI packet if you indicate you might work. If you forget to mention it initially, you can still get the form later but it's easier to get it from the start. 3. **Keep a detailed log** - I tracked every hour worked, every dollar earned, and every form submitted. This saved me when EDD had questions about a specific week. 4. **The wage loss calculation isn't as scary as it sounds** - basically they look at what you were making before vs now, and you get benefits to partially make up the difference. You won't get rich but you also shouldn't lose money by working part-time. The biggest headache for me was actually getting through to EDD when I had questions. Took forever on the phone. But once I got the process down, it worked pretty smoothly. Just be patient with the bureaucracy and document everything!