EDD eligibility after medical leave ends but can't return - employer separation question

Yes, you would likely qualify for unemployment in this situation. When you're separated from employment due to being unable to return from medical leave, but then become able to work, you can file for UI benefits. The key is that when you FILE your claim, you must be physically able to work. Since you'd be filing after your doctor clears you, that requirement would be met.\n\nMake sure you get documentation from your doctor showing when you were cleared to return to work. EDD might question the circumstances of your separation, so having that paperwork ready is important. When you file, honestly explain that you were on medical leave, the leave expired before you could return, and the employer terminated your position - but now you're medically cleared and able to work.

Thank you so much for this clear explanation! So I should wait until I'm actually cleared by my doctor before filing, even though I'll be separated in April, right? Also, do you know if there's a time limit for filing after separation? I'm worried about finances during that gap period between April 15 and when I'm cleared in May.

not sure about the specifics but i went thru somthing kinda similar last yr. had surgry on my knee & couldn't go back when my leave ran out. boss wanted me back part time but dr said no way. company let me go after 8 wks and i got unemployment when dr cleared me to work again. just be super clear when u certify that ur ABLE to work now. don't mention any health restrictions or EDD might deny u.

Thanks for sharing your experience! That makes me feel a bit better. Did EDD question you about the circumstances of your separation at all? I'm nervous about how to explain the situation without it looking like I was fired for cause.

Your situation is EXACTLY why I hate how companies treat employees!!! They pressure you to delay necessary medical care for THEIR convenience and then punish YOU when complications happen!! This is SO typical of corporate America these days. I'd start by contacting an employment attorney because it sounds like they might be violating your rights. Many will do free consultations. THEN apply for unemployment once your doctor clears you.\n\nDo NOT let your employer classify this as you quitting or being fired for cause. Make sure any paperwork says \

You're right that it feels very unfair after I tried to be so accommodating to them. I hadn't thought about the separation paperwork wording - that's a great point. I'll definitely ask about how they're classifying the separation and will look into a free legal consultation too.

This is a tricky situation but I can help clarify. When your doctor releases you to return to work, you should file for unemployment immediately. Here's what you need to know:\n\n1. There's a 30-day window from your separation date when you're supposed to file, but you can still file after that (just explain the medical circumstances)\n\n2. EDD will likely schedule an eligibility interview to determine if you were separated through no fault of your own\n\n3. You'll need to be able to accept work when you file your claim\n\n4. Make sure to get the separation notice in writing and save ALL communications with your employer\n\nWhen I worked for EDD, cases like yours were generally approved if the person was medically able to work when they filed. The key is documenting everything and being clear that you didn't quit - they ended your employment because you couldn't return by a specific date, but now you're able to work.

wait so theres a 30 day window to file?? i waited like 6 weeks after getting fired b4 filing cuz i was still recovering. nobody told me about any deadline. now im worried...

Don't worry too much. The 30-day guideline is more about when your claim effective date begins rather than eligibility. You can file late, but your claim might not be backdated to your separation date. Since you had a medical reason for filing late, you should be fine. The important thing is that you were able to work when you actually filed the claim.

I've been trying to reach EDD for weeks about a similar situation and can't get through to anyone. After literally 30+ calls and never reaching a human, I finally used a service called Claimyr that got me connected to an EDD rep in about 20 minutes. It was such a relief to finally talk to someone! They have a video that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km\n\nTheir website is claimyr.com. When you're ready to file your claim, you might want to have them call EDD for you so you can ask specific questions about your situation. The EDD rep I spoke with was really helpful and explained exactly what documentation I needed for my medical separation case.

Thanks for the tip! I've heard the phone lines are a nightmare so having a way to actually reach someone will be really helpful. I'll check out that video and keep this in mind for when I'm ready to file.

that service sounds cool but does it actually work? i spent HOURS on hold with edd last time and gave up.

Yes, it worked for me! I was skeptical too, but I was desperate after trying for weeks. They called EDD, navigated the phone tree, waited on hold, and then called me when they had an EDD rep on the line. Saved me so much frustration.

my mom had this exact thing happen in 2023!!! her job let her go after her medical leave ran out but she still needed 3 more weeks recovery. she DID get unemployment but only after she was cleared by her doctor. she got denied at first because she applied too early when she still had restrictions. had to appeal it. make sure ur 100% cleared with NO restrictions before u apply!!!!!

This is really helpful to know! I'll definitely wait until I have the full medical clearance with zero restrictions before applying. Did your mom have to do an eligibility interview or was it just the regular application process?

ya she had a phone interview. they asked lots of questions about why she wasnt at work anymore and when her doctor cleared her. make sure u have all ur documents ready when they call!!!!

This is definitely a qualifying situation for unemployment benefits. I went through this exact scenario in 2025 after back surgery. The important thing to understand is that EDD has two main requirements that will apply to you:\n\n1. You must be ABLE to work when you file\n2. You must be AVAILABLE for work when you file\n\nSo as others have said, wait until your doctor fully clears you, then file immediately. When you certify for benefits, you'll answer \

Thank you for sharing your experience and the specific advice about how to file. The part about selecting \

off topic but has anyone had issues with the money network card lately??? just got mine and it got declined 3 times at the grocery store!! so embarrassing!!

You should activate it by calling the number on the sticker on the front of the card. Also, make sure you're using it as a credit card (not debit) the first few times. If it's already activated, call Money Network customer service at the number on the back - could be a card issue or a balance issue.

thx i'll try that! i thought i activated it but maybe i did something wrong

IMPORTANT: Make sure your employer doesn't try to categorize this as you ABANDONING your job or being fired for ABSENTEEISM!!! Companies LOVE to try these dirty tricks to avoid unemployment claims!!! Request IN WRITING what the official reason for separation will be. If they say anything other than layoff or business necessity, DISPUTE IT IMMEDIATELY!!!\n\nI've seen SO MANY cases where companies try to deny unemployment by claiming the employee quit or was fired for cause when really it was a medical situation like yours. DON'T LET THEM GET AWAY WITH IT!!!

You've got me worried now. I'll definitely email HR to get the official separation reason in writing. If they try to classify it as job abandonment, should I dispute it with them directly or wait and explain to EDD during the interview process?

BOTH!!! Dispute it directly with HR/your employer right away (IN WRITING - email is fine) so you have a paper trail showing you contested their classification. Then also explain everything to EDD during the interview. This creates documentation that you didn't agree with how they categorized the separation, which helps your case.

I'm so sorry you're going through this - it's incredibly frustrating when companies pressure you to delay medical care and then penalize you for the consequences! Based on what everyone's shared here, it sounds like you have a strong case for unemployment benefits once you're medically cleared. One thing I'd add that might help: when you get your final medical clearance, ask your doctor to include specific language in the note that you are "able to return to work without restrictions" and the effective date. This exact wording can be really important for EDD. Also, if possible, get a brief note from your doctor explaining that the extended recovery time was due to complications from delaying the surgery - this could help demonstrate that the delay wasn't your fault. Document everything with timestamps - every conversation with HR, every email, every medical appointment. If they do try to classify this as abandonment or termination for cause, you'll have a clear timeline showing you were communicating throughout your leave and following medical advice. Hang in there - you've been with the company for 6 years with excellent reviews, so this clearly isn't about your performance. Focus on your recovery and know that you have options once you're cleared to work again.

I went through something very similar with my former employer about 2 years ago. Had to have gallbladder surgery that kept getting postponed because of "busy season" and then when complications extended my recovery, they terminated me right after FMLA ended. Here's what I learned: You absolutely can get unemployment once you're medically cleared, but timing is EVERYTHING. I made the mistake of filing too early while I still had lifting restrictions and got denied initially. Had to appeal and it took months to get sorted out. Wait until you have that full medical clearance with zero work restrictions, then file immediately. During my eligibility interview, the EDD rep was actually pretty understanding about the medical circumstances - they see these cases fairly often unfortunately. Just be very clear that you didn't quit, you were terminated because your leave expired, but now you're fully able to work. Also, if your company has short-term disability insurance, you might want to check if you're eligible for that to help bridge the gap between April 15 and when you're cleared in May. Some policies cover you even if you're no longer employed if the disability started while you were still working. Keep all your medical documentation organized and don't let your employer intimidate you about the separation reason. You've been there 6 years - this is on them for not being flexible with a legitimate medical situation.

I'm dealing with a very similar situation right now and this thread has been incredibly helpful! My FMLA ends in two weeks and my employer is already talking about "business needs" if I can't return on time. Reading everyone's experiences gives me hope that there's a path forward. One question I have - has anyone here dealt with employers who try to make you sign paperwork when they separate you? My HR department mentioned something about "separation agreements" and I'm wondering if there are any red flags I should watch out for. I don't want to accidentally sign something that could hurt my unemployment claim. Also, for those who successfully got unemployment after medical separations - how long did it typically take from filing to receiving your first payment? I'm trying to plan financially for this gap period and any timeline estimates would be super helpful. Thank you all for sharing your stories and advice - it's making this scary situation feel much more manageable!

I'm so sorry you're going through this situation - it's incredibly frustrating when you try to be accommodating to your employer and they turn around and penalize you for it! Your situation definitely sounds like it would qualify for unemployment benefits once you're medically cleared. A few things to add to the excellent advice already given here: 1. Keep detailed records of ALL communications with your employer about your medical leave, including any pressure they put on you to delay your surgery. This could be important if they try to dispute your unemployment claim. 2. When you do get your medical clearance, make sure it's very specific about your ability to work. Ask your doctor for a note that clearly states you are "released to full duty work without restrictions" with the specific date. 3. Consider reaching out to your state's Department of Fair Employment and Housing if you feel your employer is discriminating against you based on your medical condition. Six years of excellent performance and then suddenly being let go right after medical leave raises some red flags. 4. Don't let them rush you into signing any separation paperwork. Take time to read everything carefully and make sure nothing suggests you quit or were fired for performance issues. You've got a lot of people rooting for you here! Focus on your recovery first - the rest will work out once you're healthy and ready to get back to work.

I'm really sorry to hear about your situation - it's awful when companies pressure employees to delay necessary medical care and then punish them for the consequences! Based on what everyone has shared here, it definitely sounds like you'd qualify for unemployment once you're fully cleared by your doctor. One thing I wanted to add is that you might want to check if your company has any policies about extended medical leave beyond FMLA. Some employers have their own policies that provide additional unpaid leave for serious medical conditions, especially for long-term employees like yourself. It might be worth asking HR directly if there are any other options before they proceed with separation. Also, when you do get separated, make sure to ask for a copy of your personnel file. California law allows you to request this, and it could be helpful to have documentation of your 6 years of excellent performance reviews in case your employer tries to claim the separation was for cause rather than inability to return from medical leave. The advice everyone has given about waiting until full medical clearance before filing for unemployment is spot on. And definitely document everything - dates, times, who said what. You're dealing with a lot right now, but you have rights and options. Take care of your health first, and know that there's light at the end of this tunnel!