Can you collect unemployment after being on short term disability with California EDD?

This is really reassuring thank you. So the SDI claim won't interfere with the UI calculation? I was worried they'd see I just came off disability and flag the whole claim.

SDI and UI are separate programs administered by California EDD but they don't conflict with each other this way. SDI replaces wages when you CANT work due to disability. UI replaces wages when you CAN work but don't have a job. You've moved from the first situation to the second so you should be fine. Just make sure your medical release documentation is solid in case EDD asks for it during any adjudication.

wait so EDD actually keeps track of both programs together? that seems like it could cause problems for people

They have access to both records but having both on file doesn't disqualify you - it actually helps establish the timeline of events in your case. The transition from SDI to UI is a recognized situation California EDD deals with regularly.

Did you have to explain the gap between your last day worked and your UI claim? That's the part I'm most nervous about.

Yeah they do ask about your separation from your last employer. I just explained honestly that I was on approved medical leave through SDI and returned to find my position eliminated. They verified it with my employer and that was basically it. Be straightforward and factual when you fill out the initial claim.

this is really helpful to hear from someone who actually went through it

I didn't know about the alternate base period option at all - how do I request that?

When you file online through UI Online there's a section where you can indicate if the standard base period doesn't accurately reflect your wages. You can also bring it up if you have to speak with an EDD representative. The alternate base period uses the four most recently completed calendar quarters instead of the standard period which goes back further. Since your most recent work was before the disability this might actually capture better wages for you.

I tried to figure out the base period calculation on my own and got completely lost. The EDD website has a calculator but it's confusing af

I've been dreading the phone call situation. Does Claimyr actually work or is it one of those things that sounds good but doesn't deliver?

I was skeptical too but it worked for me. Got connected to an EDD agent after like 20 minutes which is insane compared to trying on your own. The agent I spoke with was actually really helpful once I could get through.

I've heard mixed things about third party services like this but if it gets you through to EDD I guess it's worth trying

I get the skepticism. I tried the regular route for weeks before caving and trying it. At that point I was desperate and it worked so I can only speak to my own experience.

This is a separate legal question from the unemployment eligibility question but yes - depending on company size and how long you worked there you may have protections under CFRA or FEHA in California. That's worth consulting an employment attorney about separately. For the California EDD unemployment purposes though the position elimination still counts as an involuntary separation which means you'd qualify for UI benefits.

oh wow I didn't realize those were two completely separate issues. good to know

Yeah I've actually already looked into the legal side a bit separately. For now I just need to get income coming in while I figure everything else out. The UI question is the most urgent thing.

6 weeks is really scary to hear. Did you have any income at all during that time?

No and it was awful. I had to borrow money from family. The worst part was having no idea what was causing the delay. I called constantly and couldn't get through to anyone who could actually tell me what was wrong with my claim.

Adjudication delays seem really random honestly. Some people sail through and others wait months with identical situations. I've never understood what triggers the longer reviews.

Adjudication is usually triggered when there's something in the claim that requires a human to review rather than automated processing. For SDI to UI transitions it might just be that the system flags the recent SDI record as something to verify. Having clear documentation usually speeds this up.

Glad this thread is helpful for more than just me! That uncertainty about whether your job will be there while you're recovering is awful.

Yeah it's super stressful. I'm trying to plan ahead so I'm not scrambling if the worst happens.

Good that you're planning ahead. Keep documentation of all communication with your employer about your return to work status. If they eventually tell you the position is gone having a paper trail of when they knew and when they told you will be helpful for your UI claim.

That's a different scenario entirely. If you voluntarily quit without good cause you generally won't qualify for California UI benefits regardless of whether you were on disability before quitting. The involuntary separation piece is really important. In the original poster's case the separation was clearly involuntary since the employer eliminated the position.

ok makes sense. just wondering because my situation is slightly different

yeah quitting is a whole different thing with EDD. they really dig into the reasons

How many job search contacts do you need per week in California?

Currently it's three job search activities per week in California. These can include submitting applications, attending job fairs, doing informational interviews etc. Keep a log with dates, company names, positions and contact info. EDD can audit your job search records.

three per week seems manageable at least

They CAN audit but from what I've heard they rarely actually follow up unless something triggers a review. Still keep the records though just in case.

That's really good to know from the employer side. I was worried my former employer might try to complicate things out of spite since the whole situation has been tense.

Even if they try to contest it, a position elimination is documented - there are usually org charts, job postings, payroll records etc. that all show the position no longer exists. That's not easy to dispute. Just make sure you have your own documentation of when they told you about the elimination and in what form.

Having an HR perspective here is actually really valuable. Most people assume their employer is going to fight them on UI and a lot of times they don't.

Good question. Private short term disability (through your employer's insurance) is separate from California's State Disability Insurance. For UI eligibility purposes what matters is your wages from covered employment and your separation reason - not specifically which disability program you used. If you had private disability through work and then your position was eliminated you could still file for California UI based on your employment wages. The key eligibility factors are the same.

oh okay so either way you could potentially qualify for UI after. Got it.

Right - California EDD UI eligibility is based on your employment and separation circumstances. The type of disability coverage you had during your leave doesn't disqualify you from UI after.

Two mentions of Claimyr in this thread now. I'm going to try it. I really do need to talk to an actual EDD person about my specific situation before I file.

Honestly for your situation it's worth it just to get clarity before you file. Getting specific confirmation from an EDD agent that your claim will work will save you so much anxiety.

I wish I'd known about this when I was dealing with my adjudication nightmare. Two weeks of trying to call on my own was soul crushing.

10 days is such a better outcome than the 6 weeks someone mentioned earlier. Gives me hope.

yeah i think if your situation is clean cut and you have all your docs ready it can move fast. i had my termination letter, doctor clearance, and all my prior pay stubs ready to upload

what format did you upload the docs in? like pdf or photos?

Oh I didn't know about the waiting week. That's frustrating but good to know in advance.

Yeah it catches people off guard. File as soon as you can so the waiting week happens early and you start getting actual payments sooner.

does the waiting week still apply after coming off disability or is that waived in some situations

For standard UI claims the waiting week applies. There can be exceptions in certain declared emergency situations but for regular circumstances you'll serve the waiting week. Another reason to file immediately after your SDI ends.

Partial benefits are a thing in California. If you earn wages during a week you're claiming UI you report those earnings and California EDD reduces your benefit payment based on a formula - you don't just lose all your benefits. Generally you can earn up to 25% of your weekly benefit amount without any reduction, and anything above that reduces your payment dollar for dollar. So part-time or occasional freelance work doesn't necessarily disqualify you - you just report it honestly on your weekly certification.

oh that's way more reasonable than I thought. I assumed it was all or nothing

Definitely report all earnings though. Underreporting income on UI certifications is considered fraud and California EDD does cross-check 1099 and W2 records.

Preaching to the choir. EDD phone system is genuinely one of the most demoralizing experiences I've ever had.

Like I understand they're busy but there should be a better way. People are stressed about money and then they have to spend all their time just trying to get a human on the phone

This is exactly why I ended up trying Claimyr - after losing multiple hours trying to call EDD myself I needed a different approach. claimyr.com handled the phone navigation and got me connected to an agent. When you're in a financial crunch you can't afford to spend whole days just trying to get through.

If you're within your benefit year (the 12 months after you first file your claim) you can reopen your existing claim rather than filing a new one. If your benefit year has expired you'd need to file a new claim. When you reopen you'll need to meet the availability requirements again and restart certifying weekly. This is why some people try to keep their UI claim open even when they start a new job - they pause certifications but don't officially close the claim.

ok thank you. I was worried I'd have to go through the whole process from scratch

This is good info to keep in mind for myself too since I'm starting from scratch with my job search.

They didn't offer severance which honestly makes this whole thing worse. But good to know for other situations.

That's unfortunate. More reason to get your UI claim filed quickly since you don't have any severance bridging the gap.

Correct on the severance treatment. Lump sum severance is generally not considered wages for UI purposes in California so it won't reduce benefits. Continuation pay that extends the employment relationship is treated differently.

I'll definitely update! I'm going to file through UI Online today and also try Claimyr to get an actual EDD agent on the phone to confirm everything before I submit. Really grateful for all the responses in this thread - I feel so much more prepared now than when I posted this morning.

Good luck! Based on what you've described your case sounds pretty solid. The involuntary separation and current medical clearance are both exactly what California EDD needs to see.

rooting for you! please do update. this thread has been super informative for those of us in similar situations

fingers crossed for a quick approval! the EDD system can be rough but your situation sounds like a clear cut case