EDD benefits while recovering from COVID in 2025 - how to file properly?

You should file for SDI (State Disability Insurance) first due to your COVID diagnosis. This is different from unemployment. You'll need medical documentation from your doctor showing you can't work due to illness. You can apply online through the EDD website under the SDI section. Once you recover, if your hours are still reduced, THEN you can apply for regular UI benefits for underemployment. The systems are separate but both through EDD.

i had covid last year and got sdi no problem. just needed my dr to fill out the form part. got paid in like 10 days. way faster than regular unemployment

This is actually a bit more nuanced. Since your hours were reduced BEFORE you got sick, you might qualify for UI for the period before your COVID diagnosis. Then you'd switch to SDI while you're sick, and potentially back to UI afterward if your hours remain reduced. Here's the correct sequence: 1. File UI for the period when your hours were reduced but before getting sick 2. File SDI for your illness period with doctor certification 3. When recovered, if hours still reduced, reopen/continue UI claim The COVID-specific provisions ended years ago, so you're dealing with standard SDI and UI now. Make sure to be clear about the dates when explaining your situation to EDD.

I TRIED CALLING EDD FOR DAYS AND COULD NEVER GET THROUGH!!! THE SYSTEM IS COMPLETELY BROKEN IN 2025 JUST LIKE IT WAS IN 2020!! They'll probably deny you anyway and then you'll have to appeal which takes MONTHS. I had to sell my car while waiting for benefits last year. Good luck getting any actual help from a human there.

I got covid twice during my nursing job and had to file for benefits both times. The second time was easier since I knew the process lol. You'll definitely want the SDI for the covid period, it pays better than UI anyway. Just make sure your doctor fills out the medical portion right - my first claim was delayed because my doctor didn't complete all the required fields about my illness.

I struggled for weeks trying to get through to EDD on the phone when I had a similar situation (reduced hours then got sick). Finally used a service called Claimyr and got through to an agent in about 20 minutes. They connected me directly to EDD and saved me days of constant redialing. Their website is claimyr.com and they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km The agent I spoke with helped me understand exactly how to handle the transition between UI and SDI. Seriously worth it because they cleared up my confusion about which program to apply for first.

Let me clarify a few things about your situation: 1. For your COVID recovery period: Apply for State Disability Insurance (SDI). This requires medical certification from your doctor documenting your illness and inability to work. The standard form is called DE 2501. 2. For reduced hours before and after COVID: Apply for UI benefits citing "reduced hours" as the reason. You'll report your actual hours worked each certification period. 3. Timeline management: Be very clear about the exact dates when you switched from reduced hours to being sick, and then back to reduced hours. Document everything carefully. 4. No special COVID provisions remain in 2025. The standard SDI benefit for illness applies. You're not the first person to navigate this transition between programs. The important thing is to be precise about dates and documentation. Your doctor's note about 3 weeks off work is a good start, but you'll need them to complete the specific SDI medical certification form as well.

You'll need to submit separate applications because UI and SDI are completely different benefit programs, even though they're both administered by EDD. They have different eligibility requirements, different funding sources, and different application systems. You'll use UI Online for your unemployment claim and SDI Online for your disability claim. Make sure you're clear about the dates for each program so they don't overlap. The EDD systems will flag if you try to claim both benefits for the same period, which can lead to overpayment issues.

When this happened to me last year I just applied for UI and didn't bother with SDI even though I was sick for a while. Was that wrong? Now I'm wondering if I should have gotten more money...

Update: I called my doctor and they're filling out the SDI form today. I also started my UI application for the reduced hours period before I got sick. Thanks everyone for the help! I'll update again once I know if everything got approved.