


Ask the community...
I'm new to this community but going through something very similar - my disability benefits end in June and I'm terrified about the transition. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly reassuring and informative! A few questions based on what I've learned from this thread: 1. **For those who successfully made the transition** - how long did it typically take to find employment after switching to unemployment? I'm trying to set realistic expectations for how long I might need to rely on the lower UI benefits. 2. **Regarding the medical clearance letter** - should this be from the same doctor who's been managing my disability case, or can it be from my primary care physician? My specialist is pretty hard to get appointments with. 3. **Job search documentation** - I see people mentioning 3 activities per week, but has anyone been audited by EDD to actually show this documentation? How detailed do the records need to be? The financial drop everyone's describing is honestly scary. Going from disability pay to unemployment pay sounds brutal, but it seems like the alternative of having no income at all is worse. Thank you all for sharing your experiences so openly - it's really helping those of us facing this transition feel less alone and more prepared!
@Statiia Aarssizan Welcome! I m'also new here but have been following this thread closely as I m'in a similar boat. From what I ve'gathered from everyone s'responses: 1. **Job search timeline** - It seems to vary widely based on industry and location. @Landon Flounder mentioned going through this twice, so they might have insights on typical timeframes. From other threads I ve seen,'some people find work within 4-6 weeks, others take several months. 2. **Medical clearance** - Any licensed physician can provide the clearance letter, but I d recommend'getting it from whoever knows your condition best. If your specialist is hard to reach, your primary care doctor should be fine as long as they re familiar'with your case. 3. **Documentation audits** - From what I ve read,'EDD can request your job search records at any time, so it s better'to be thorough. Keep dates, company names, positions applied for, and method of contact online, in-person, (etc. . The)financial reality is definitely daunting, but like you said, some income is better than none. Plus several people mentioned additional resources like CalFresh that can help bridge the gap. We ve got'this! The community here seems incredibly supportive and knowledgeable.
As someone who just completed this transition last month, I wanted to share a few additional tips that really helped me: **Before your disability ends:** - Screenshot or download all your disability payment records - you might need them for your UI application - Start researching unemployment offices in your area in case you need in-person help - Consider reaching out to former colleagues/network contacts now to let them know you'll be job searching soon **During the transition:** - Apply for UI online early in the morning (6-7 AM) when the system is most stable - Have your employment history for the last 18 months ready - dates, employer addresses, and gross wages - Be prepared for identity verification - EDD has tightened security and may ask for additional documents **Managing the income drop:** - Contact your landlord/mortgage company BEFORE you miss payments to discuss options - Look into local utility assistance programs - many have funds specifically for people transitioning between benefits - Check if your local library offers free career services or computer access for job searching The whole process took about 2 weeks for me from application to first payment, but having everything prepared in advance made it much smoother. The income drop is tough, but temporary. You've got this, Fernanda! Focus on one step at a time and don't hesitate to ask for help when you need it.
This happened to me last year. Turns out they needed additional info from my doctor but never bothered to tell me. Might be worth asking if they're missing any documentation.
I went through something similar a few months ago. The delay often happens when there's a gap between your original claim period ending and the extension starting - the system needs time to process the new dates. A few things that helped me: 1) Check if your extension paperwork was submitted correctly by your doctor, 2) Look for any "pending" status in your online account, and 3) If it's been more than 21 days, definitely escalate. In my case, it took about 3 weeks total but I did get backpay for the delayed period. Don't give up!
This is really helpful, thanks @Logan Chiang! The 21-day rule is good to know. I'm at 14 days now so I'll give it another week before escalating. Did you have to do anything special to get the backpay or did it come automatically once they processed everything?
I'm dealing with the exact same ID.me driver's license issue right now! It's incredibly frustrating when the system says your license is linked to another account that you know doesn't exist. I've been banging my head against this wall for weeks. From what I've read here, it seems like persistence with calling is key, even though it's painful. I'm also going to try that suggestion about asking them to check for duplicate records or database errors - that actually makes a lot of sense from a technical standpoint. Has anyone had luck with trying different browsers or devices when doing the ID.me verification? Sometimes these systems can be finicky about that stuff too. Thanks for posting this - at least we know we're not alone in this nightmare! 😤
Same boat here! I've been stuck on this for almost a month now. The different browser suggestion is actually really smart - I hadn't thought of that. I tried switching from Chrome to Firefox and it didn't fix the main issue, but the error messages were slightly different which gave me some clues. Also, if you haven't already, try using an incognito/private browsing window. Sometimes cached data can mess things up even more. The database duplicate thing makes total sense too - I bet their system has tons of data integrity issues. Keep us posted on what works for you!
UPDATE: I spoke with an EDD representative today (thanks for the Claimyr tip - it actually worked!). They confirmed that I likely won't qualify for UI since my work restrictions would limit my ability to accept suitable employment. They suggested I either appeal my doctor's decision on SDI or file for State Disability with a different doctor who better understands my condition. I have an appointment with a gastroenterologist next week for a second opinion. Fingers crossed they'll understand how debilitating IBS can actually be in a customer service environment where bathroom access is restricted!
Good call on getting a specialist involved! Gastroenterologists definitely understand IBS severity better than primary care docs. When you go to your appointment, I'd suggest keeping a detailed symptom diary for the week leading up to it - track frequency, urgency, pain levels, and specifically how it would interfere with work tasks. Also mention if you've tried any medications or dietary changes that haven't helped. The more documentation you have showing this isn't just "manageable stomach issues," the better your case will be. Really hoping this works out for you - customer service with IBS sounds absolutely brutal with those bathroom restrictions!
Maya Jackson
I'm dealing with this EXACT same issue right now at 32 weeks pregnant! Got the "insufficient earnings" denial letter yesterday and I've been working full-time for over 2 years. It's so frustrating because you can literally see all your SDI contributions on every paystub, but somehow their system can't figure it out. Reading through all these responses is giving me hope though - sounds like this is a really common glitch with their base period calculations. I'm going to try the Claimyr service to get through to someone since calling the regular number has been impossible. @Layla Sanders - please keep us updated on how it goes with your correction! We're all rooting for you. The last thing any of us need is this kind of stress when we're already dealing with everything else that comes with being this pregnant. It's honestly ridiculous that so many women are going through this exact same problem. You'd think EDD would have fixed whatever is causing these base period calculation errors by now!
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Grace Patel
•@Maya Jackson I m'so sorry you re'going through this too! It s'honestly mind-boggling how widespread this issue seems to be. Like you said, if this many pregnant women are dealing with the exact same insufficient "earnings error," you d'think EDD would have identified and fixed whatever s'causing it by now. I actually did get through using Claimyr yesterday and the rep confirmed it was a base period calculation error on their end. She said it should be corrected within 3-5 business days, so I m'cautiously optimistic. Definitely try the service - it was such a relief to actually speak to a human being who could see the problem immediately instead of being stuck in phone tree hell. The whole situation is just adding so much unnecessary stress when we re'already dealing with late pregnancy anxiety and trying to prepare for maternity leave. Hang in there mama - based on everyone s'experiences here, it sounds like once you get through to the right person, these errors get fixed pretty quickly. Keep us posted on how it goes with your claim too! 💕
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Liam Sullivan
This is so frustrating but unfortunately very common! I went through this exact same denial 6 months ago when I was 35 weeks pregnant. The "insufficient earnings" error is usually because EDD's system is looking at the wrong quarters for your base period calculation. Since you filed in March 2025, your base period should be October 2023 through September 2024. I'd bet money they're either missing one of those quarters or looking at older data. Here's what I learned from my experience: - The reconsideration form (DE 1326C) is definitely faster than a formal appeal - Include pay stubs from ALL quarters in your base period, even if they seem obvious - Send everything certified mail for your records - Keep calling or try that Claimyr service others mentioned - sometimes an agent can fix it immediately The good news is once they identify the error, the correction happens pretty quickly. Mine was resolved within about 10 days total. Try not to stress too much (easier said than done, I know!) - this is clearly a system issue, not anything you did wrong. You've been working and paying into SDI, so you absolutely deserve these benefits! Keep us posted on your progress! 🤞
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Natasha Petrov
•@Liam Sullivan Thank you for breaking down the timeline so clearly! You re'absolutely right about those base period quarters - October 2023 through September 2024 makes perfect sense for a March 2025 filing. I have all my pay stubs organized by quarter, so I ll'make sure to include everything from that exact timeframe when I submit the reconsideration form. It s'really reassuring to hear that yours was resolved in about 10 days once you got the process started. The certified mail tip is smart too - I learned my lesson about having tracking for important documents after dealing with other government agencies in the past. I m'trying to stay calm about this whole situation, but it s'hard not to panic when you re'this close to your due date and counting on that income. Reading everyone s'experiences here has been such a lifesaver though - knowing this is a common system glitch and not some legitimate issue with my work history makes me feel so much better. I ll'definitely keep everyone updated on how the correction goes. Fingers crossed it s'as straightforward as yours was! 🤞
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