I'm an employment attorney who handles UI appeals. A few important things you should know: 1. Benefits exclusivity: You can't receive UI and SDI for the same period. That's firm. 2. Time frames: If you win your appeal, you can receive UI benefits for periods when you were able and available for work (before your disability). 3. Documentation needs: Bring crystal clear documentation to your hearing showing: - When you became disabled (medical certification date) - Your first SDI payment date - Any work search efforts during the UI claim period 4. After disability: You'll need to reopen your UI claim after your disability ends. Do this immediately when your doctor releases you to work. The most common mistake I see is poor preparation for the appeal hearing. Be organized with your dates and documentation. Speaking with an EDD representative before your hearing can help clarify exactly what you need to bring.

I went through something very similar recently! The key thing to understand is that you can absolutely get backpay for the UI weeks before your disability started - those are completely separate time periods. When I had my appeal hearing, I made a timeline showing exactly when I filed UI, when I was denied, when my disability began, and which weeks I was requesting payment for. The judge appreciated having everything laid out clearly. One thing that helped me was calling EDD a few days before my hearing to confirm they had received my SDI start date information. I also brought printed screenshots from my UI Online account showing my certification history up until my disability began. The transition back to UI after disability can be tricky - make sure to call them the day your doctor clears you to return to work. Don't wait! I learned that the hard way and had a gap in benefits while they reactivated my claim. Good luck with your appeal! It sounds like you have a solid case since you were properly unemployed and looking for work before your health issues began.

Once your doctor submits the medical certification for your SDI claim, you should check your SDI Online account daily. If there are any issues, they'll show up in your account before you get a letter in the mail. Watch for status changes from "pending" to either "processing" or "additional information needed." Also, one technical detail: make sure you properly end your UI claim when you start SDI. There's a specific process for this. You need to stop certifying for UI benefits once your disability begins. If you continue certifying for UI while on SDI, the system will flag it as potential fraud, even if you're not actually receiving UI payments due to the appeal. Your SDI benefits will be based on the same base period as your UI claim was, so your weekly amount should be similar to what your UI would have been (though calculated slightly differently).

I went through something very similar when I was pregnant with my second child. The good news is that you can absolutely file for SDI while your UI appeal is pending - they're handled by different departments within EDD and won't interfere with each other. A few practical tips from my experience: - When filling out the SDI application online, there's a section asking about other EDD claims. Be completely honest about your pending UI appeal. - Make sure your OB-GYN is very specific about your disability start date on the DE 2501 form. With high-risk pregnancy complications like yours, they should have clear documentation. - Consider asking your doctor to include a note about your work restrictions (like no lifting, need for frequent breaks, etc.) to strengthen your case. The processing time for SDI can be 2-4 weeks, but pregnancy disability claims often move faster than other types. Since you need income ASAP and your doctor says you need to be on disability immediately, don't wait - apply today if possible. Your health and your baby's health are the priority here. Keep all your documentation organized because EDD might ask for clarification about the timeline between your job loss and when your disability began. Good luck!

Have you checked if there's an option to request an extension due to extenuating circumstances? Some states offer that.

I went through something similar last year! The key is to act fast and document everything. If you still have the envelope, take a photo of the postmark to show when it was actually delivered vs when they sent it. Also, many EDD offices have a "good cause" policy for late responses due to circumstances beyond your control - being out of state when mail arrives definitely qualifies. When you do get through to someone (and you will!), emphasize that you were willing to comply but the mail delay made it impossible to meet their timeline. Don't let them intimidate you - you have rights as a claimant! 💪

Just went through this process myself! One thing I'd add to all the great advice here - if you're switching from one bank to another, definitely keep both accounts open for at least 2-3 weeks after making the change. EDD sometimes takes longer than expected to process updates, and you don't want to risk missing a payment because your old account got closed too early. Also, if you run into any issues with the online system, try using different browsers - Chrome worked better for me than Firefox for some reason. Good luck with the update!

Thanks for posting this question! I'm in a similar situation and was dreading having to figure this out. Reading through all these responses has been super helpful. The step-by-step guide from Sophia is exactly what I needed, and all the warnings about scam sites and keeping accounts open longer are things I wouldn't have thought of. It's crazy how something that should be simple can be so stressful when it's your benefits on the line! I'm definitely going to screenshot everything and do this on a weekday morning like suggested. Has anyone had experience updating from a credit union to a major bank? Wondering if that makes any difference in processing time.

Anyone know if theres a way to check the status of your claim online? I've been waiting for weeks and haven't heard anything back 😫

Just went through this same situation last month! I also had supplemental pay from my employer during my PFL. Here's what I learned: 1. **Definitely report the supplemental pay** - I selected "Other" for the pay type and wrote "Employer Supplemental Pay" in the description field 2. **Keep all your pay stubs** - EDD may request documentation later 3. **For workers' comp** - only answer "Yes" if you're actually receiving workers' comp benefits for a work injury. If you're just on regular PFL for bonding/family care, answer "No" 4. **The supplemental pay didn't reduce my benefits** - but every case is different The key is being transparent and accurate. Good luck with your claim! The process is definitely confusing but you'll get through it 💪