by Guest » Thu Mar 08, 2012 05:38 am
Hello. I am currently unemployed in CA and receiving unemployment insurance which will expire soon. I am currently pregnant. Should I file for disability insurance (maybe it's too early; baby due in 4 months) or file another claim for unemployment insurance and not collect on the period I am unable to work? I know you can't collect on both. If I file for disability, can I file for unemployment again?
Posted: Thu Mar 08, 2012 12:17 pm Post Subject:
You could choose to apply for an extension to your unemployment benefits. I'm not sure about this but if I remember correctly, in case you are pregnant you can file for SSDI 12 weeks prior to the due date. And yes, you can file for unemployment benefits again.
Posted: Thu Mar 08, 2012 02:30 pm Post Subject:
You could choose to apply for an extension to your unemployment benefits. I'm not sure about this but if I remember correctly, in case you are pregnant you can file for SSDI 12 weeks prior to the due date. And yes, you can file for unemployment benefits again.
Every word of this is wrong.
If you are unable to work due to your pregnancy, you are unable to collect UNEMPLOYMENT benefits. To collect UI, you must be able to work and actively seeking work.
Pregnancy will qualify you for CA State Disability Insurance (CA SDI), but not Social Security Disability (SSDI). SDI is a limited benefit and subject to qualification periods. If your period of unemployment is too long, you will not be eligible to collect a SDI benefit.
When your pregnancy ends, and you are ready to work and actively seek work, you might be eligible to collect UI benefits again. But that depends on how much of your benefit you've already used.
Posted: Thu Mar 08, 2012 10:58 pm Post Subject: Unemployment insurance or Disability Insurance
Thank you for your comments.
I am still actively seeking and able to work now. Should I file for a new claim for unemployment (as I mentioned previously that the claim I have will be expiring soon) or file the new claim after disability insurance (if I can qualify)?
Do you know if there is any difference with (1) filing a new claim with unemployment insurance at a later time (say 5-6 months) vs. (2) filing now, may have to cancel when collecting disability, and reopening the unemployment claim again after disability? Will the amount of unemployment benefit still be the same before and after disability (assuming I still have benefit left)?
I will be actively seeking work once I am able to work and will have someone watching my child once I am employed. Thank you.
Posted: Thu Mar 08, 2012 11:55 pm Post Subject:
If you are eligible for additional weeks of unemployment benefits, you should probably attempt to obtain them. It would be too soon to apply for SDI, unless a doctor can certify that you must not do anything.
However, there are lookback restrictions on collecting disability benefits under SDI. If you have exhausted the 99 weeks (or whatever it is now) of Unemployment Insurance benefits, you are likely well past the eligibility period for SDI.
But SDI and UI are both administered by the CA Employment Development Department (EDD), so you can ask them what your best choice is when you next go to the EDD office. They can answer all your questions about benefit eligibility and the amount of benefit you would receive.
Don't be afraid to ask. They don't bite. At least most of them don't.
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