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I'm a benefits counselor, and while your sister won't qualify for SDI without California work history, there's an important detail to consider regarding her mental health conditions. If her anxiety and depression are severe enough to be disabling on their own (separate from the pregnancy), she might qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Unlike state disability, these federal programs don't require recent work in a specific state - they look at overall work history (SSDI) or financial need (SSI). The catch is these programs typically have a 5-month waiting period and a more stringent definition of disability. They require conditions that prevent substantial work and are expected to last at least 12 months. The application process is also lengthier than state disability. A disability attorney could help evaluate if this is a viable option in her situation.
This is really helpful information. Her mental health conditions have been ongoing for several years, and she was actually considering applying for disability in Nevada before she found out she was pregnant. I'll definitely look into the SSDI/SSI option and maybe consult with a disability attorney. Thank you!
I'm new to this community but wanted to share what I learned when I moved to California while pregnant two years ago. While it's true that SDI requires California work history, I discovered a few additional resources that might help your sister: 1. Emergency assistance programs - Many counties have one-time emergency funds for pregnant women in crisis situations. In Riverside County, try contacting the Community Action Partnership. 2. Food banks and pantries - Organizations like Feeding America Riverside/San Bernardino can help stretch the grocery budget while she gets other assistance set up. 3. Utility assistance - If money gets tight, programs like LIHEAP can help with electricity/gas bills during pregnancy. 4. Church and community organizations - Even if she's not religious, many churches in the Inland Empire have benevolence funds specifically for pregnant women and new families. The most important thing is to apply for everything simultaneously rather than waiting. Medi-Cal should be her first priority since it covers all pregnancy-related medical care. I hope things work out for your sister!
Welcome to the community! This is such comprehensive and practical advice - I hadn't thought about emergency assistance programs or utility help. The suggestion to apply for everything simultaneously is really smart too. I'm going to add the Community Action Partnership and food banks to my list of places to contact. Thank you for sharing your experience, it's exactly the kind of real-world guidance we needed!
Pro tip: Contact your local state representative's office. They often have liaisons who can help navigate EDD issues. I did this and got my problem resolved in 2 weeks after months of getting nowhere on my own.
Wait, really? How do you even find your local rep?
@profile 14 Just google '[your city] state representative' and it should come up. Most have forms on their websites for constituent services. Good luck!
I'm dealing with something similar right now! Filed the wrong type of claim and now it's a total mess with EDD. The overpayment notice is so frustrating when you haven't even received the money they claim you were overpaid. I've been documenting everything - dates, times, who I spoke with, reference numbers. Also trying the early morning call strategy but man, it's rough getting through. Definitely going to look into contacting my state rep's office based on the advice here. Hang in there, we'll get through this bureaucratic nightmare! 💪
Welcome to the EDD nightmare club! 😅 I'm new here but dealing with similar issues. Your documentation strategy is smart - I wish I had started doing that from day one. The overpayment notices when you haven't even received payments is like adding insult to injury. Thanks for sharing your experience, it helps to know others are going through this too. Definitely going to try that state rep route as well!
Thanks for all the help! I'll definitely gather all that documentation. Really appreciate everyone's advice here!
I'm so glad you found this community helpful! Your situation sounds really stressful, but it looks like you're on the right track now. Just wanted to add - when you do get through to EDD (whether through Claimyr or regular phone), make sure to ask them to put a note in your file about the OSDI/NY withholding situation. That way if there are any follow-up questions or delays, the next person you speak with will already have context. Also, don't forget to get your doctor's certification for the surgery recovery ASAP if you haven't already - that's usually the piece that takes the longest to get sorted out. Good luck with your claim! 🤞
Has anyone tried reaching out to their local representative? I've heard that can sometimes speed things up.
How do you even find out who your local rep is? 😅
Just google '[your city] state representative'. Most have contact forms on their websites. Good luck!
I'm in a similar boat - just filed last week and already feeling anxious about the wait time! Reading everyone's experiences here is both helpful and terrifying 😅 Sounds like the key is being super organized with documentation and having patience (easier said than done). Thanks for asking this question @Luca - definitely not alone in wondering about this process!
Nia Johnson
UPDATE: Just wanted to thank everyone for the help! I checked my Payment Activity section like suggested and it shows my next payment is scheduled for this Thursday! No email notification yet, but at least now I know it's coming. Such a relief!
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Carmen Ortiz
•That's great news! Now you know to check that section every couple weeks. In my experience, once the payment schedule gets established, it stays pretty consistent unless something changes with your claim.
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Nia Johnson
•Yes! I'm definitely going to check that section regularly instead of waiting for emails. Such a relief to have some predictability now.
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Emma Thompson
Great to see you got it figured out! For future reference, I've found that EDD SDI payments typically process on the same day of the week once your cycle is established. Since yours is showing Thursday, you can probably expect future payments every other Thursday going forward. One tip that saved me a lot of stress - I set a recurring calendar reminder for the day before my expected payment to check the Payment Activity section. That way I'm not constantly refreshing my account or worrying about missed emails. The system may be clunky, but once you learn to work around the notification issues, it becomes much more manageable. Glad you can breathe easier about rent now!
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Zara Malik
•That's such a smart idea about setting a calendar reminder! I'm definitely going to do that. It's so helpful to hear from people who've been through this before - makes the whole process feel less overwhelming. Thanks for the tip!
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