EDD benefits conflict with Medi-Cal application - denied despite unemployment proof

yep they made me submit bank statements too. its stupid but thats how they do it. they dont trust the edd docs for some reason lol

This happens because Medi-Cal and EDD don't communicate efficiently with each other, even though they're both state programs. You should submit your last 3 months of bank statements showing the unemployment deposits. Also make sure you're applying for the correct Medi-Cal program - there's different income thresholds depending on your household size and whether you're applying for standard Medi-Cal or the expanded program. With your benefit amount of $487 weekly, you should definitely qualify unless you have other income sources they're detecting somehow. You can also request a reconsideration/appeal of their decision while submitting the additional documentation.

omg this happened to my cousin too!! they kept denying her even tho she was on unemloyment for like 6 months. turns out she had checked some box wrong about household size? maybe check all your application details again

The EXACT same thing happened to me last year when I applied! It was such a nightmare. I had to call their office SEVENTEEN times before I finally got through to a human being who could help me. Kept getting disconnected or put on hold for 2+ hours before the call would drop. So frustrating! When I finally got someone, turns out they had counted my one-time severance payment as recurring monthly income (which it WASN'T). Had to appeal and wait another 45 days while having NO health coverage. The system is totally broken.

This is a common issue when coordinating benefits between different state agencies. Here's what you need to provide: 1. Last 3 months of bank statements showing your unemployment deposits 2. Your EDD award letter (which you've already submitted) 3. Your most recent UI certification confirmations 4. A signed statement declaring you have no other income sources Make sure you're applying for the correct Medi-Cal program as well. For a single individual receiving unemployment, you'd qualify for expanded Medi-Cal which has a higher income threshold than traditional Medi-Cal. Your weekly benefit of $487 multiplied by 4.33 (average weeks in a month) equals about $2,108 monthly income, which is below the expanded Medi-Cal threshold for a single person. Also, check if they're calculating your income before or after the standard EDD deductions. Sometimes they mistakenly use the pre-deduction amount.

I went through this exact situation in February. After getting nowhere with the regular Medi-Cal phone number, I discovered Claimyr (claimyr.com) and used it to get through to an actual EDD representative who then coordinated with Medi-Cal on my behalf. Saved me weeks of frustration! They have a video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km. The EDD rep was able to send something directly to Medi-Cal verifying my benefit status, which solved the whole problem. Might be worth trying if you keep getting stuck in the bureaucratic loop.

THEY DID THE SAME THING TO ME!!! The left hand doesn't know what the right is doing in CA government!!! I ended up having to provide bank statements, EDD confirmation emails, AND a sworn statement about my income. Even then they took FOREVER to approve me. The whole system is designed to make you give up. DON'T GIVE UP!!

wait are u sure ur actually getting denied for income reasons? sometimes they deny u if u just didnt fill out some random form they wanted. check all the paperwork they sent

One additional thing to check: make sure you're calculating your monthly income correctly for the application. EDD pays weekly, but Medi-Cal calculates monthly income. The proper way to convert is to multiply your weekly benefit by 4.33 (the average number of weeks in a month), not by 4. This small difference can sometimes push people over the threshold mistakenly. Also, if you received any retroactive payments from EDD in a lump sum, Medi-Cal might be incorrectly counting that as regular monthly income rather than spreading it across the period it covers.

Did you apply online or by paper? When I applied online it kept getting rejected but when I went IN PERSON to the county office with all my documents they approved me right away. Sometimes the computer systems just don't talk to each other right.

I'm dealing with something similar right now! Applied for Medi-Cal while on unemployment and they keep asking for more documentation even though I've already provided my EDD award letter and benefit history. It's so frustrating that two state programs can't communicate properly with each other. I'm going to try submitting bank statements like others have suggested here. Has anyone had luck with calling the Medi-Cal customer service line directly, or is it just as much of a nightmare as calling EDD? Really hoping we can all get this sorted out soon - being without health insurance while unemployed is stressful enough!

This is such a frustrating but unfortunately common issue! I went through something very similar last year. The key thing that finally worked for me was submitting a complete "income verification package" that included: 1) Bank statements showing the EDD deposits for the last 3 months, 2) Your EDD award letter, 3) Screenshots of your weekly certifications, and 4) A signed letter explaining that unemployment benefits are your ONLY source of income. Also make sure you're applying for expanded Medi-Cal - with $487/week you should definitely qualify. The income threshold for a single person is around $2,200/month and your unemployment comes out to about $2,100/month. Don't give up! Appeal the decision and resubmit with all the documentation. The system is broken but you absolutely deserve coverage while you're looking for work.

I just went through this exact nightmare last month! The trick that finally worked for me was creating what I called a "complete evidence packet." I included: 1) Last 3 months of bank statements with EDD deposits highlighted, 2) All my weekly certification confirmations printed out, 3) My original award letter, 4) A cover letter explaining that these are my ONLY income sources, and 5) Screenshots from my EDD online account showing my benefit history. I also made sure to apply for expanded Medi-Cal (not regular Medi-Cal) since the income limits are higher. When I resubmitted everything together like this, I got approved within 2 weeks. The key is giving them absolutely no reason to ask for more documentation. It's ridiculous that we have to jump through all these hoops when we're already struggling, but don't give up - you WILL get approved if you keep pushing through their broken system!

I'm going through the exact same frustrating experience right now! Been on unemployment since February and just got denied for Medi-Cal yesterday even though I submitted all my EDD documentation. Reading through everyone's responses here has been incredibly helpful - it sounds like I need to submit bank statements, make sure I'm applying for expanded Medi-Cal (not regular), and put together a complete evidence packet like some of you suggested. It's absolutely ridiculous that two state programs can't communicate with each other properly. We're already dealing with the stress of being unemployed and now we have to fight for basic healthcare coverage too! Thank you all for sharing your experiences and tips - it makes me feel less alone in this bureaucratic nightmare. Definitely not giving up!

This is such a widespread problem and it's honestly infuriating! I went through the same thing last year - got denied twice even with all my EDD paperwork. What finally worked was calling my county's Medi-Cal office directly (not the main state number) and speaking with a local eligibility worker. She was able to see exactly what was missing from my application and walked me through resubmitting everything properly. Turns out they needed me to specifically check a box indicating I was applying due to "loss of employer coverage" rather than just general eligibility. Also make sure your application reflects that your unemployment is TEMPORARY income - sometimes they treat it like it's permanent employment income which puts you in the wrong category. The local county offices seem way more helpful than trying to navigate the state system. Don't let them wear you down - you absolutely deserve coverage while you're job searching!