EDD garnishing my SDI benefits due to employer UI appeal - will I get reimbursed if I win?

Yes, if you win your appeal and the judge rules in your favor confirming you were eligible for UI, EDD should return any money they garnished from your SDI payments. Make sure you bring documentation to your hearing that proves you were laid off rather than fired - things like a layoff notice, emails discussing the company downsizing, or statements from coworkers who were also laid off. The key is proving there was no misconduct involved.

i had kinda the same thing hapn but with PTO payout they took. when i won my appeal took like 6 weeks to get $ back but they did it automatically didnt have to ask for it

THEY ARE STEALING FROM YOU!! My cousin had the same thing happen and EDD never gave the money back even after he won his appeal. Had to fight for months!!

I went through this exact situation last year. Yes, they will reimburse you if you win your appeal, but it doesn't happen automatically in all cases. Here's what you need to do: 1. At your appeal hearing, specifically mention the SDI garnishment issue to the judge and ask that it be noted in their decision. 2. After you receive the favorable decision (which can take 2-3 weeks after the hearing), call EDD and specifically request the reimbursement of garnished funds. This is where most people get stuck - trying to reach a representative. 3. I had success using Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to an EDD representative quickly instead of calling for days. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km 4. Once you reach someone, reference your appeal case number and ask specifically about the process for recovering the garnished SDI funds. In my case, I received the reimbursement about 4 weeks after speaking with a representative. Keep detailed records of all garnishments so you can verify they returned the correct amount.

My sister works at EDD (not going to say which office) and she says the reimbursements are supposed to be automatic but the system is so backed up that sometimes they don't process for months or get lost. Make sure you document EVERYTHING and follow up every few weeks if you don't see the money after winning your appeal.

Wait I'm confused... are UI and SDI the same thing? Why would they even garnish your disability if it's about unemployment? The whole system is so messed up I swear.

This happened to me in 2024! I won my appeal and had to call EDD 42 TIMES before I got through to someone who could help with the reimbursement. They told me the system should have automatically processed it but there was a "flag" on my account that needed to be manually removed. Once that was done, I got my money back within 2 weeks. Don't give up!

I can't wait to hear how your appeal goes. My hearing is next week for a similar issue. So nervous!!!!

This is why I always tell people to put 25% of their EDD payments aside if theres ANY chance of an appeal or dispute. My cousin didn't do that and ended up in a huge financial mess when she had to repay benefits. But in your case since you're fighting it AND winning hopefully, you should get it all back. Just be prepared to wait...

One important thing to note: make sure you continue certifying for your SDI benefits properly while this is all going on. Sometimes people get so focused on the appeal that they miss certification deadlines, which creates a whole new problem. Also, when you win your appeal (staying positive here), get the decision in writing and keep multiple copies. EDD has been known to request the same documentation multiple times.

I went through something very similar in 2023. EDD garnished about $3,200 from my SDI payments over 4 months while my appeal was pending. When I finally won my appeal, it took about 8 weeks to get the money back, but I did receive every penny they had taken. A few tips from my experience: - Keep detailed records of every garnishment amount and date - When you call EDD after winning, ask specifically for the "Benefit Payment Control" unit - they handle garnishment reversals - If the first rep says they can't help, politely ask to be transferred to a supervisor who can access overpayment adjustments - The reimbursement will likely come as a separate EDD debit card deposit, not added to your regular SDI payments The whole process is stressful and unfair, but hang in there. The fact that you have documentation proving it was a layoff puts you in a strong position for your hearing. Best of luck!