EDD eligibility if quitting job due to mental health condition - documentation needed?

ur supposed to ask for accomodations first I think. if u just quit they'll probably deny u

I went thru this last year. EDD considers it a "good cause" quit if u have medical documentation that shows u can't work at that specific job. But u need way more than just therapist notes!!!! U need an actual doctor to fill out their medical forms and be specific about why u can't do THAT JOB (not just any job). I got denied at first then had to appeal.

The key here is establishing "good cause" for voluntarily leaving employment. For mental health conditions, EDD requires you to demonstrate that: 1. You had a real and substantial health condition that made it impossible to continue at that specific job 2. You made reasonable efforts to preserve your employment by requesting accommodations or leave 3. You have medical documentation supporting your claim Before quitting, you should: - Request reasonable accommodations in writing - If accommodations aren't possible or are denied, document this - Get detailed medical documentation from both your therapist AND a medical doctor - Specify why your condition prevents you from performing your specific job duties Without taking these steps, EDD will likely consider your quit to be without good cause and deny benefits. The burden of proof is on you to demonstrate good cause.

The entire system is RIGGED against mental health issues!!! My cousin tried this last year after a mental breakdown at work and they denied him even with doctor notes because they said he "could have requested different hours" or something stupid. They basically don't believe mental health is real! It's all about physical disabilities with these people!!

My situation was kinda similar but also different cuz I had panic attacks at my warehouse job. The thing is I actually got laid off eventually cuz of performance so I didn't have to deal with the voluntary quit stuff. So maybe if your performance is already suffering they might let you go and then you'd qualify easier? Just a thought.

If you're struggling with this situation, I recommend trying Claimyr to connect with an EDD representative who can give you specific guidance for your case. I was in a somewhat similar situation and spent weeks trying to reach someone at EDD. Used Claimyr (claimyr.com) and got through to a real person in about 20 minutes who walked me through exactly what documentation I needed. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km The rep explained that for mental health cases, you need to demonstrate that you tried to preserve your employment through reasonable accommodations first, AND that your medical provider (not just therapist) needs to document that your specific job duties are causing or worsening your condition.

Have you considered applying for State Disability Insurance (SDI) instead of unemployment? If your doctor will certify that you need time off work due to your mental health condition, you might qualify for SDI while you recover. Then you wouldn't have to quit at all - you could take a medical leave.

Update: I spoke with my primary care doctor yesterday and she agrees with my therapist that I need to take time off. She suggested I try SDI first as a medical leave rather than quitting outright. She's filling out the paperwork today. This seems like a much better option than quitting and trying to get unemployment. Thank you all for the help and suggestions!

So glad to hear you found a better path forward with SDI! I went through something similar a couple years ago and the medical leave route really saved me. Just a heads up - make sure to keep copies of all the paperwork your doctor submits, and don't be surprised if SDI asks for additional documentation during the review process. They were pretty thorough with my case but ultimately approved it. Hope you get the time you need to recover properly. Taking care of your mental health is just as important as physical health!