EDD Disability vs Unemployment claim duration differences? SDI confusion

No, disability (SDI) and unemployment (UI) have completely different timeframes and rules. UI can last up to 26 weeks (about 6 months) in a benefit year, which is 12 months long. SDI is totally different - it covers up to 52 weeks maximum if medically necessary, but most claims are approved for shorter periods based on your doctor's certification. Your doctor will need to complete the medical portion stating how long you'll be unable to work. For surgery recovery, they'll typically certify for the standard recovery time, then you can get extensions if needed with additional medical certification. Apply online through SDI Online, not UI Online - they're separate systems.

disabilty isnt unimployment!! i was on disability last year and it can go up to a year BUT ur doctor has to keep doing paperwork every few months to confirm you still cant work. they dont just give you the whole year automatically lol. its a pain

To clarify some important points about State Disability Insurance (SDI): - SDI provides benefits for up to 52 weeks (maximum) - Your doctor determines the length based on your medical condition - The initial certification might be shorter than your full recovery time - You can get extensions with additional medical certification - The weekly benefit amount is calculated differently than UI (approximately 60-70% of your wages) - There's a 7-day waiting period before benefits begin - You apply through SDI Online, not UI Online For your 8-month recovery, you should be eligible for the full duration as long as your physician continues to certify your inability to work. Just make sure to submit any extension paperwork before your current certification period ends to avoid payment gaps.

Unemployment and disability are completely different programs, even though they're both through EDD. I was on disability after my accident and yes it can last up to a year, but here's what nobody tells you - getting someone on the phone at EDD when there are problems with your claim is IMPOSSIBLE. I spent 3 weeks calling every day when my payment was delayed.

my sister just finished her SDI claim for cancer treatment and it was actually approved for 9 months total. but her doctor had to fill out paperwork 3 different times. the first approval was only for 2 months, then they extended it twice. so just know that u probably wont get approved for all 8 months at once, they do it in chunks

One more important thing to know: Unlike unemployment, you don't have to certify for benefits every two weeks with SDI. After your claim is approved, payments are automatically issued until you either return to work or reach the end of your medical certification period. Just make sure your doctor submits extension paperwork about 10-14 days before your current certification ends to avoid payment interruptions. Also, SDI payments are not taxable at the federal level (though UI payments are), which is a nice benefit.

Just a warning - when I transitioned from disability back to work, EDD CONTINUED sending me payments I wasn't entitled to for THREE WEEKS after I reported returning to work!!! Then 6 months later they sent me an OVERPAYMENT NOTICE demanding I pay back $2,800!! Their system is COMPLETELY BROKEN. Make sure you document EVERYTHING and call to confirm they processed your return to work when that time comes.

Just wanted to add from my recent experience - I was on SDI for 7 months after knee surgery and the process was actually smoother than I expected. My orthopedic surgeon was really familiar with the EDD forms and made sure to be conservative with the initial certification (6 weeks) then proactive with extensions. The key was staying in regular contact with my doctor's office about 2 weeks before each certification period ended. They have a system for handling these extensions since they deal with them frequently. Also, make sure your surgeon's office knows you're planning to file for SDI BEFORE your surgery - some doctors prefer to have the paperwork ready to go rather than scrambling after the fact. The 7-day waiting period starts from when you stop working, not when you apply, so get that application in as soon as possible after your surgery date.