How long after approved for disability do you get your money

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Get answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs) we receive about Disability Insurance (DI) benefits and payments.

If you think you’re eligible for disability benefits, file a claim to apply.

How do you calculate what my weekly benefit amount for Disability Insurance will be?

We will calculate your weekly benefit amount using a base period. This base period covers 12 months and is divided into four consecutive quarters of three months each.

Your weekly benefit amount is about 60 to 70 percent (depending on income) of wages earned 5 to 18 months before your claim start date, up to the maximum weekly benefit amount. You must have been paying SDI taxes on these wages (usually noted as CASDI on your paystub). Your base period does not include wages paid at the time your disability begins.

You can get a general estimate of your weekly benefit amount using our Weekly Benefit Calculator. This calculator should be used as an estimate only.

I got my first benefit payment. Why wasn’t I paid for the first seven days?

The first seven days of every new claim is a non-payable waiting period. The first payable day is the eighth day of your claim. Review the step-by-step overview for the DI Claim Process to learn more.

The Governor’s 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 Governor’s 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.

Do I need to report my Disability Insurance benefits for tax purposes?

No, your Disability Insurance (DI) benefits are not reportable for tax purposes. However, if you are receiving Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits, become unable to work due to a disability, and begin receiving DI benefits, a portion of your DI benefits will  be reported for tax purposes.

If this happens, we will send you a notice with your first benefit payment. This notice will tell you that your benefits are being reported to the IRS. In January we will provide you with a 1099G form showing the reportable amounts paid (no more than your original UI maximum). We will also send a copy of the 1099G to the IRS.

What changes must I report to the EDD when I am receiving benefits?

You must report in writing or contact us immediately if you:

• Have returned to part time or full time work.
• Have recovered from your disability.
• Have received any wages.
• Need to report a date of death for a deceased claimant.

It is important to report your wages to:

• Receive the correct benefit amount.
• Prevent an overpayment.

If you don’t report your income or a change in work status, you could receive an overpayment, penalties, and a false statement disqualification.

How do I stop benefits for a deceased claimant?

There are two ways you can notify us of the deceased claimant’s date of death to stop their benefit payments:

• Phone: Call us at 1-800-480-3287.
• Mail: Use the PO Box address printed on the payment notice.

If eligible, benefits are payable through the date of death. We will need the following information to stop benefit payments and contact you with additional instructions:

• Claimant’s full name
• Claimant’s date of death
• Your full name
• Your address
• Your phone number

I am expecting my first benefit payment, but have not received it yet. What should I do?

We will issue payments in one of two ways:

• Electronic: If you choose this option, your benefit payments will be deposited to a debit card sent to you. Or, they will be added to an unexpired debit card from a previous Unemployment Insurance, Disability Insurance, or Paid Family Leave claim. Once your first payment is approved, expect the payment to be available within five business days.
• By Mail: If you choose this option, your benefit payments will be issued by EDD check. Allow 10 days from the date the check was issued for delivery.

If you have not received your payment in the timeframe listed above, contact us. If it has been more than 10 days since your check was issued, we will confirm if your check has already been cashed. If it has, we will mail you a copy of the check and the endorsing signature. If the signature is yours, no further action is needed. If the signature is not yours, contact us for further instructions.

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