Information You Need To Apply
Before applying, be ready to provide information about yourself, your medical condition, and your work. We recommend you print and review the . It will help you gather the information you need to complete the application.
Information About You
- Your date and place of birth and Social Security number.
- The name, Social Security number, and date of birth or age of your current spouse and any former spouse. You should also know the dates and places of marriage and dates of divorce or death .
- Names and dates of birth of children not yet 18 years of age.
- Your bank or other and the account number.
Information About Your Medical Condition
- Name, address, and phone number of someone we can contact who knows about your medical conditions and can help with your application.
- Detailed information about your medical illnesses, injuries, or conditions:
- Names, addresses, phone numbers, patient ID numbers, and dates of treatment for all doctors, hospitals, and clinics.
- Names of medicines, the amount you are taking, and who prescribed them.
- Names and dates of medical tests you have had and who ordered them.
Information About Your Work:
- Award letters, pay stubs, settlement agreements, or other .
We accept photocopies of W-2 forms, self-employment tax returns, and medical documents, but we must see the originals of most other documents, such as your birth certificate.
Do not delay applying for benefits because you do not have all the documents. We will help you get them.
Note All Work And Earnings
When you claim your benefits, you will have to report any work you have done in the weeks being claimed as well as the gross earnings . Even if you have not received payment from the employer yet, the earnings must still be reported over the time worked. Failure to report work and earnings is a crime and can carry severe penalties.
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The Disability Application Process
Whether you apply online, by phone, or in person, the disability benefits application process follows these general steps:
- You gather the information and documents you need to apply. We recommend you print and review the . It will help you gather the information and documents you need to complete the application.
- You complete and submit your application.
- We review your application to make sure you meet our for disability benefits.
- We confirm you worked enough years to qualify.
- We evaluate any current work activities.
- We process your application and forward your case to the Disability Determination Services office in your state.
- This state agency makes the disability determination decision.
To learn more about who decides if you have a disability, read our publication .
Once You’ve Applied
Once we receive your application, well review it and contact you if we have questions. We might request additional documents from you before we can proceed.
Look For Our Response
When the state agency makes a determination on your case, youll receive a letter in the mail with our decision. If you included information about other family members when you applied, well let you know if they may be able to receive benefits on your record.
Check The Status
You can check the status of your application online using your personal mySocial Security account. If you are unable to check your status online, you can call us 1-800-772-1213 from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.
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What You Need To Know About California Short
Californias Employment Development Department runs a State Disability Insurance program. Under the program, you may be eligible for SDI benefits if you are unable to work because of the following reasons:
- You have a non-work-related illness or injury.
- You have a disability, either physical or mental, that prevents you from performing your customary work .
- You are pregnant.
- You need to take paid family leave to care for a sick relative or a newborn
SDI provides wage replacement benefits to eligible California workers. To be eligible for the benefit, you must have made SDI contributions that are paid through employee payroll deductions. If you are eligible, you can receive about 6070% of the wages you earned in the 518 months before you became disabled. You can receive short-term disability benefits for a maximum of one year. If your condition persists beyond 12 months, you may then be eligible for Social Security Disability Insurance benefits. You can read more about SSDI on our dedicated page here.
Appeal A Denial Of Benefits

If you were denied unemployment benefits, you may file an appeal online. The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity refers to those seeking benefits as Claimants. Claimants, employers, and authorized representatives may appeal a decision that was not made in their favor.
You must wait until after a determination is mailed or delivered to file an appeal. The determination will also contain instructions on how to file your appeal after a denial of benefits.
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What Is State Disability Insurance
California State Disability Insurance is a worker-funded program that provides partial wage replacement when a worker needs to take time off work due to pregnancy, childbirth, or a non-work related serious illness or injury. The State Disability Insurance program is administered by the Employment Development Department .
Update: California has made it easier for those affected by coronavirus to get SDI benefits. If you are off work due to COVID-19 illness or exposure, see our article oncoronavirus changes to Californias disability insurance program.
The State of California requires all employees to pay into its short-term disability insurance program through payroll deductions. When employees become unable to work due to disability, they can collect weekly benefits from the program until they are either ready to go back to work or the benefits expire. The program is administered by Californias Employment Development Department .
California Disability Insurance ‘s Best Toll
This is California Disability Insurance ‘s best phone number, the real-time current wait on hold and tools for skipping right through those phone lines to get right to a California Disability Insurance agent. This phone number is California Disability Insurance ‘s Best Phone Number because 31,020 customers like you used this contact information over the last 18 months and gave us feedback. Common problems addressed by the customer care unit that answers calls to 800-480-3287 include Speak to an agent, No response to my claim, Am I eligible?, File a claim, Renew a claim and other customer service issues. The California Disability Insurance call center that you call into has employees from California and is open Mon-Fri 8am-5pm PST according to customers. In total, California Disability Insurance has 2 phone numbers. It’s not always clear what is the best way to talk to California Disability Insurance representatives, so we started compiling this information built from suggestions from the customer community. Please keep sharing your experiences so we can continue to improve this free resource.
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Will My Job Be Protected While Im Taking Time Off Work Using State Disability Insurance
California State Disability Insurance does not provide job protection. Your job may be protected through other federal or state laws such as the Family and Medical Leave Act or the California Family Rights Act . For more information about the FMLA, visit the Department of Labor or call 653-9900. For more information about the CFRA, visit the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing or call 1-800-884-1684.
How Much Will I Receive From Sdi
Your benefit amount is calculated based on the amount of earnings you had in the highest-earning quarter of your base period, and is about 60-70 percent of your regular earnings. In 2018, the maximum amount of SDI you can receive is $1,216 per week. SDI payments are processed every two weeks.
The entire amount you receive in SDI benefits from a single claim may not exceed the total amount of wages you earned during your base period.
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Filing Too Early Or Too Late
The Employment Development Department requires that you file your claim for SDI benefits within a certain time frame. You must wait nine days after you become disabled to file a claim. Also, you must file your claim within 49 days of becoming disabled. If you file a claim too late, you will have to include a letter explaining why you missed the deadline.
The Basics About Disability Benefits
The SSDI program pays benefits to you and certain if you are insured. This means that you worked long enough and recently enough – and paid Social Security taxes on your earnings. The SSI program pays benefits to adults and children who meet our requirements for a qualifying disability and have limited income and resources.
While these two programs are different, the medical requirements are the same. If you meet the nonmedical requirements, monthly benefits are paid if you have a medical condition expected to last at least one year or result in death.
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Connect With A Video Chat Agent
During the call with your Video Chat Agent, theyll ask you to show your documents, so have them ready. To connect to a live call:
Note:
Working With Your Legal Team To Win Your Ssd Case

Finally, our legal team cannot file an application for benefits in California without your help. That is why we say we are your legal team. Because, a team requires cooperation from all of the players. We may be experts at the law, but you are the expert about your life. Our team needs to know why you cannot work. We need to know when you stopped working. Likewise, you need to explain the symptoms of your illness to us.
First, you need to become our client. You can review the forms we need to you to sign here. Once we receive these forms, we can represent you. We will help you file your application for benefits.
After we file your application, we will also collect your medical records. We will also need your help to do collect your records from your doctors. Likewise, we need records from your counselors and physical therapists. If you dont give us the information about your doctors, then we cant contact them for you.
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What Is Gethuman’s Relationship To California Disability Insurance
In short, the two companies are not related. GetHuman builds free tools and shares information amongst customers of companies like California Disability Insurance . For large companies that includes tools such as our GetHuman Phone, which allows you to call a company but skip the part where you wait on the line listening to their call technology music. We’ve created these shortcuts and apps to try to help customers like you navigate the messy phone menus, hold times, and confusion with customer service, especially with larger companies like Wells Fargo or Social Security. And as long as you keep sharing it with your friends and loved ones, we’ll keep doing it.
California Disability Insurance Contact Info
California Disability Insurance S Best Toll
This is California Disability Insurance s best phone number, the real-time current wait on hold and tools for skipping right through those phone lines to get right to a California Disability Insurance agent. This phone number is California Disability Insurance s Best Phone Number because 31,020 customers like you used this contact information over the last 18 months and gave us feedback. Common problems addressed by the customer care unit that answers calls to 800-480-3287 include Speak to an agent, No response to my claim, Am I eligible?, File a claim, Renew a claim and other customer service issues. The California Disability Insurance call center that you call into has employees from California and is open Mon-Fri 8am-5pm PST according to customers. In total, California Disability Insurance has 2 phone numbers. Its not always clear what is the best way to talk to California Disability Insurance representatives, so we started compiling this information built from suggestions from the customer community. Please keep sharing your experiences so we can continue to improve this free resource.
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What If Im Wrongfully Fired Or Told By My Employer That I Cannot Take Time Off Due To My Disability
Being able to enforce your rights is important. Not all employers are aware of how State Disability Insurance works and some are not supportive of employees taking time off. If you suspect you were wrongfully terminated or disciplined for taking leave, we recommend getting free legal counsel and support from one of our members, Legal Aid At Work.
Filing A Weekly Claim
When do I file my first weekly claim for payment?
- File your first weekly claim on Sunday afternoon or evening or Monday before 7 p.m. after filing your unemployment claim in the previous week. For example: If you filed your initial application on Tuesday you should file for your first week of unemployment on the following Sunday or Monday. You may file weekly claims on the Internet or telephone.
- The calendar week for unemployment compensation purposes runs from midnight Sunday to midnight the following Saturday. You may file on any day of the week, Sunday through Saturday, but filing early in the week assures the most prompt payment. You will not receive a benefit payment until that week has been claimed. If you do not file within 14 days, your claim will become inactive and you will have to file an application to re-open your unemployment claim.
- You must file each week to be eligible for your weekly payment.
- If there is a state or bank holiday, your payment will be delayed.
What information do I need to file a weekly claim for payment online or by phone?
You will need the following information to file a weekly claim for payment:
There is no toll-free phone number available for the Weekly Claim Line. We recommend that you file your weekly claims online to avoid long-distance charges.
What questions will I be asked?
You will be asked a series of questions when you file a weekly claim.
How do I file my weekly claim online?
Do I have to claim every week or can I skip weeks?
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When Will I Receive A Benefit Payment If I Just Filed Online
Most benefits are issued within two weeks after a completed claim is received.
There is a seven-day, non-payable waiting period for Disability Insurance benefits. Benefits start on the eighth day.
The Governors Executive Order N-25-20, signed March 12, 2020, waives the one-week unpaid waiting period for COVID-related DI claims with a start date of January 24, 2020, through September 30, 2021. You can collect DI benefits for the first week you are out of work.
Note: The Governors Executive Order N-08-21, signed June 11, 2021, returns the requirement to serve the one-week unpaid waiting period for COVID-related DI claims with a start date on or after October 1, 2021. You can collect DI benefits starting on the eighth day you are out of work.
If you are eligible, the EDD processes and issues payments within a few weeks of receiving a claim.
Paid Family Leave does not have a waiting period.
Social Security And Short
Receiving short-term disability benefits does not impact your eligibility for Social Security Disability Insurance benefits. In fact, many California residents receive short-term disability benefits as they wait for their SSDI application to process. The Social Security Administration allows you to receive both SSDI benefits and short-term disability benefits at the same time.The SSA may reduce your Social Security disability benefits for the time that you are eligible for both benefits if the combined amount of your SSDI and short-term disability benefits is above 80% of your pre-disability earnings. If you would like to check if you are eligible for SSDI benefits, you can take our free SSDI assessment quiz here. If you would like one of our Social Security Disability attorneys to review your situation for free, simply ask us a question or be called back regarding your SSDI eligibility, you can also send a message to LaPorte Law Firm here.
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How To File For Disability Benefits In California
Filing for Social Security disability benefits in California is something that Cannon Disability Law can help you with. Especially, if you have a mental illness or physical condition that prevents you from working for longer than 12 months.
There are two federal programs that can help you. The first is Social Security Disability Insurance. SSD benefits also come with Medicare benefits.
The second program is Supplemental Security Income . Receiving monthly SSI benefits also means you will get Medicaid benefits. Learn more about Medicaid benefits here. Both SSDI and SSI programs are run by the Social Security Administration.