Learn What to Do After You Apply For Disability Insurance Benefits

You may be wondering, “What is the DI benefits program?” The program refers to disability insurance benefits . The DI benefits program provides short-term Disability Insurance (DI) to eligible workers who need time off work. You may be eligible for disability insurance benefits if you are unable to work because of a non-work related injury or illness, because you are pregnant or because you have just given birth to a child. Continue reading this page if you wish to find out more about the DI claim process, what happens after applying for Disability Insurance and disability insurance benefit payment amounts.

What happens after the DI Application?

The DI claim process will begin once the EDD receives your completed claim form. An EDD representative will let you know if you are eligible for DI Benefits within 14 days. Whether you qualify for DI Benefits or not, you will receive a Notice of Computation (DE 429D). This is not a confirmation that you are eligible to receive benefits.

If you are found eligible for DI Benefits, then before you begin to receive your benefit payments, you will have to incur a seven-day waiting period. Your benefit payments will begin on the eighth day of the claim. TheDI benefits amount you receive is determined based on the amount you have earned during a calculated base period. Your weekly DI Benefits payments will be made directly to an EDD Debit Card issued by Bank of America. Your card will be valid for three years. You can receive CA State Disability Insurance, or SDI benefits, for a maximum of 52 weeks.

To learn more about EDD debit cards, download our free guide.

When do I need to certify my DI benefits?

After filing a claim for DI, if you receive your claim as an automatic payment within 10 weeks, you will receive a Disability Claim Continuing Eligibility Certification (DE 2593). To continue to receive your disability insurance benefits , you must complete this form and send it back to the EDD. This will certify your DI claim process and enable you to continue to receive DI benefits.

If you do not receive automatic DI Benefits, then you will receive a Claim for Continued Disability Benefits (DE 2500A) every two weeks. This will enable you to continue your DI claim process by certifying your disability. If you do not return the DE 2500A, then you will lose your benefits. The quickest and easiest way to submit this form is through SDI Online.

To learn more about how to certify your DI benefits, download our comprehensive guide.

Learn How to Extend or Discontinue Your DI Benefits

You may need to extend your DI benefits if you have not fully recovered, and you have already reached the initial date your doctor provided to the EDD. To extend your DI benefits, your doctor must fill out form DE 2525XX and return it to the EDD, so your SDI benefits may continue.

There is no need to discontinue your SDI benefits if you are returning to work on the initial date your doctor provided to the EDD. You may need to discontinue your SDI benefits if you have recovered from your illness or injury, and you can return to work prior to the initial date your doctor provided to the EDD. If you are discontinuing your SDI benefits, then you will need to fill in one of the following forms, as applicable:

• The Recovery or Return to Work Certification portion of the Notice of Automatic Payment (DE 2587)
• The Disability Status section of the Claim for Continued Disability Benefits (DE 2500A)
• Question 1 of the Disability Claim Continuing Eligibility Certification (DE 2593)

If a relative who was claiming DI benefits is now deceased, then you will need to report the deceased claimant to the EDD via mail or by phone. To prevent having to pay back a DI benefits overpayment, you must contact the EDD to alert them as soon as you return to part-time or full-time work if you have made a recovery from your disability or you have received any owed salary from your previous employer.

If you do receive an SDI benefits overpayment, then you should contact the EDD at once. If you have any questions about an overpayment of Disability Insurance benefits , then you can direct them to the EDD. You can repay overpayments by personal check, money order or cashier’s check, or online by using your debit or credit card; in the latter instance, you will be charged a convenience fee each time you make your payment. If you are mailing your payment, then you should add your Social Security Number.

Note that for those applicants who are denied DI benefits, there is a next step. You can employ the DI denial appeal process if you are interested in trying to prove your case. There is a whole procedure attributed to how to appeal Disability Insurance Benefits decisions if you feel you are worthy of compensation despite the decision of the state.

To learn more about Disability Insurance benefits , download our comprehensive guide.