Can you collect California EDD unemployment if you're on Social Security Disability?

This is really reassuring to hear. So when I fill out the initial claim application on UI Online, do I need to disclose the SSDI somewhere or just focus on my work history from the logistics job?

I'd double check this with SSA too because I think working while on SSDI has its own rules about substantial gainful activity that could affect your disability status separately from the UI question

Both points are valid - for California EDD purposes you report your wages from work, and yes separately you should make sure your part-time work was within SSA's trial work period rules. These are two parallel issues that need to be managed independently.

Did you have any issues during the adjudication process or did it go through pretty smoothly?

Honestly went smooth. Took about 3 weeks for the first payment to hit. No adjudication hold or anything. I think because I had recent actual work history it was straightforward

I've been trying to call EDD for days and keep getting the 'high call volume' disconnect. This Claimyr thing actually works?

Yeah it actually worked for me. Got connected within the same day. EDD confirmed everything over the phone which gave me way more confidence filing than just random internet advice (no offense to anyone here lol

seconding this, used claimyr when my claim went into adjudication and needed answers fast. the call back actually happened

This is what I was worried about. My doctor verbally told me I could do light work but I don't have anything formal. Should I go get a written note before I file?

Honestly yes. A written statement from your doctor saying you are cleared for part-time or light duty work is very helpful if EDD ever questions your able and available status. Takes like 5 minutes at your next appointment to request that.

this is the most important comment in this thread tbh. the able and available question is where people with disabilities get tripped up on their UI claims

agreed the able and available thing is serious. i got flagged for adjudication over something similar and it took forever to resolve

Great question - SSDI is based on your condition at the time of your original application plus ongoing reviews. SSA actually has what's called a 'Ticket to Work' program and 'Trial Work Period' that explicitly allow SSDI recipients to work and test their ability without immediately losing benefits. So it is possible to be on SSDI AND be able to work part-time. Disability isn't always all-or-nothing.

Oh that actually makes a lot of sense, I had no idea SSA allowed that kind of trial work period thing. Good to know

Yeah exactly - my doctor cleared me for light work which is how I ended up taking the part-time job. The SSDI wasn't revoked because it was within those SSA guidelines for returning to work.

lol tell me about it. I spent a whole afternoon once trying to figure out if my situation qualified and ended up more confused than when I started. Their help documentation is written for the most basic straightforward case only

exactly. God forbid you have any complication in your situation. The system is not built for real people with real circumstances

Do you know offhand what the minimum earnings threshold is to establish a claim in California? I worked part time for about 8 months so I want to make sure I earned enough.

I believe you need to have earned at least $1,300 in your highest quarter of your base period, or $900 in your highest quarter plus total base period wages of 1.25 times that highest quarter. Eight months of part time work should get you there in most cases but worth calculating from your pay stubs.

Those numbers are roughly accurate. California EDD's base period is typically the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you file. Worth checking the exact figures on the EDD website under 'calculate your benefit' since amounts can update.

This is really encouraging to hear about a real person going through this successfully. Did she have to do anything special during the weekly certifications?

She just made sure to answer the able and available questions accurately based on what her doctor had told her. She kept her doctor's note handy in case she needed it. Never got flagged for adjudication or anything like that.

Good to know the certifications weren't a nightmare for her. That process stresses me out

This is exactly why I mentioned Claimyr earlier in the thread. Claimyr.com is specifically built for this problem - getting through to an actual EDD agent when the normal phone lines are impossible. The video demo is at https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10 if you want to see how it works before trying it. When you have a nuanced question like SSDI plus UI eligibility you really do need a real person at EDD not just the website.

okay I'll check out that video. At this point anything that gets me to an actual human is worth trying. Two weeks of calling and nothing is just insane

the EDD phone situation is genuinely one of the most frustrating things I have ever experienced in my entire life. You are not alone

That's a good point about the job search requirements. I've been looking at admin and remote data entry positions which fit my physical limitations. Should I be noting the accommodation needs on applications?

That's really up to you personally - disclosing disability on applications is entirely voluntary and has nothing to do with EDD requirements. For your EDD weekly certification purposes you just need to have genuinely applied and document the employer name, contact, and date.

Also worth noting CalJOBS is the state's job search platform and creating an account there is often required or at least strongly recommended when collecting UI in California. It's connected to the EDD system.

Generally California EDD expects you to be looking for work that is comparable to your previous employment. So if you were working part-time before being laid off, looking for part-time work is appropriate and acceptable. You just need to be genuinely conducting job search activities and available to accept work.

ohhhh okay that makes way more sense. I was worried I'd have to pretend I want full time when I can't do full time. Good to know

This answers something I was wondering too - I was only working part time so I was nervous about the job search expectations. Glad to hear part time searching is fine given my situation.

Is there a free resource for benefits counseling? I can't really afford to pay for legal advice but I want to make sure I understand the SSA side of things too.

Yes - Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WIPA) programs offer free benefits counseling specifically for people on disability benefits who want to return to work. They are federally funded and can walk you through exactly how working and collecting UI affects your SSDI. Search for 'WIPA program California' to find a local provider.

This is excellent advice. WIPA counselors are specifically trained for exactly this type of complex disability-plus-work scenario and the service is free. Highly recommend this route for anyone in a similar situation.

Haha I appreciate the straightforward perspective. I think I have been overthinking it. I just needed to make sure I wasn't accidentally committing fraud before I pulled the trigger.

totally understandable to want to check first. just saying once you've done your research like you have, sometimes you gotta trust the process

Good to mentally prepare for that. How long does adjudication typically take in California?

Varies a lot honestly. Can be a couple weeks or can drag out to 6-8 weeks in complicated cases. If it goes long and you can't get answers online, that's when calling EDD or using a service like Claimyr to get through to an agent becomes really important so you can check on the status and provide any additional documentation they might need.

yeah adjudication with no communication from EDD is its own special nightmare. at least knowing Claimyr exists helps when you're stuck in that limbo

This is the exact question I'm nervous about. The 'full time' availability piece. My restrictions are for part-time light duty work. I think I need to actually talk to an EDD agent before I certify the first time.

100% yes. This is exactly the kind of nuanced question where getting it wrong week one can cause problems down the line. It's worth the effort to reach an actual agent before that first certification. The answer isn't the same for every disability situation.

And this is another case where Claimyr at claimyr.com saves you from guessing - getting to an actual EDD agent to clarify exactly how to answer that certification question for your specific situation is so much better than hoping you're interpreting it right on your own.

lol it's long because the details actually matter and can affect whether your claim gets approved or goes into adjudication. 'yes you can' is fine for a starting point but the nuances matter

fair enough i guess my situation was simpler than some of these

Yeah I learned a lot from this thread that I didn't know before so I'm glad people went into detail

So glad you got clarity! The doctor's note was a smart move. Good luck with your claim - hope it goes smoothly without any adjudication delays.

Awesome update! Glad Claimyr worked out for getting through to EDD. That agent guidance on the certification question will really help you avoid issues down the road.

this is such a good outcome. Happy for you. And now I know what to do when I finally work up the courage to file my own claim lol

Great news. Come back and update us once your first payment processes - will be helpful for others searching this exact same question about SSDI and unemployment.