Resources

The California Employment Development Department (EDD) offers:

• An SDI website with detailed information on the program, including Paid Family Leave (PFL)
• Details about how to contact the SDI or PFL programs by online chat, over the phone, or at an office. You may need to try different methods to contact the EDD, because the main English phone line is often busy.
  • Tip: If you plan to call by phone, you might try calling one of the non-English phone numbers -- the people who answer them are knowledgeable about SDI and speak English in addition to the other language.
• Instructions for applying for SDI online.
• Instructions for applying for SDI by mail
• Instructions for applying for PFL online.
• Instructions for applying for PFL by mail.

Note: DB101 cannot answer questions about your SDI claim. If you have questions, please contact EDD.

If you are a California State Government employee who is not covered by SDI, call 1-866-758-9768 for information on the Non-industrial Disability Insurance program.

For professionals and advocates looking for more details on the State Disability Insurance program, the California law governing SDI is found in the Unemployment Insurance Code, Sections 2601 – 3306. Plus, EDD provides a detailed Overivew of California's Paid Family Leave Program for policy makers, program administartors, and stakeholders.

If you get Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), or Childhood Disability Benefits (CDB), and you're looking for a job, a trained Benefits Planner can help you avoid problems with your job plan. If you need help or have questions about your situation, you can call the Ticket to Work Help Line at 1-866-968-7842 or 1-866-833-2967 (TTY), Monday through Friday.

View DB101's full list of experts who can help you understand different benefits.

Various community-based organizations guide people through state, federal, public, and private health and income programs. Some organizations may work with specific populations while others work with people with any type of disability. Here are a few examples

Goodwill Industries services range from personal evaluation and office skills training to career counseling, childcare, and transportation. Some Goodwill Industries centers also do benefits planning for people who get SSI, SSDI, and Medicare. Find locations at www.Goodwill.org, or by calling (voice) 1-800-466-3945.

The California Foundation for Independent Living Centers lists centers serving people with all disabilities. Many of these centers do benefits planning for people who get SSI, SSDI, and Medicare. If they don't offer benefits planning themselves, Independent Living Centers can refer you to local benefits planners. Find the list of independent living centers at www.CFILC.org, or by calling (voice) 1-916-325-1690 or (TTY) 1-916-325-1695.

The California Department of Public Health's Office of AIDS lists 1,300 organizations offering HIV/AIDS services throughout California. Some of these organizations provide case management, benefits planning, and benefits counseling services that can include help with public and private benefits programs. You can search the list online, or call (voice) 1-800-367-AIDS (2437) or (TTY) 1-888-225-AIDS (2437).

Disability Rights California provides representation for consumers of public programs who are disabled. Website publications include topics on health care, benefit programs, and In-Home Supportive Services.