Frequently Asked Questions
APPEALS
You sent me a notice stating I am disqualified for State Disability Insurance
(SDI) benefits for the first three weeks I was disabled. I disagree. What can I do?
- You have a right to appeal any disqualification within 20 days of the
mailing date of the notice from SDI. You will receive a Disability Insurance Appeal Form, DE 1000A, with your disqualification notice. Complete the form with a detailed explanation of why you believe the disqualification is in error. If you've misplaced the form, you may also send SDI a detailed letter. Be sure to include your social security number and add your printed name and your signature to the letter.
What happens to my letter of appeal after you receive it?
- We carefully evaluate the detailed facts you have provided and notify you
of our findings. If you provided additional information showing you should be
paid, we begin payment on your claim and advise you. If we are not able to begin
payments, we forward your letter to the local California Unemployment Insurance
Office of Appeals and send you the location and telephone number of that office.
The Office of Appeals will notify you of a hearing date and time. At the hearing,
an Administrative Law Judge, an impartial third party, will listen to both sides of
the appeal issue and make a determination based on facts presented by you and by an
SDI representative.
What can I do if: (1) I have an appeal hearing date but have to be out of town on
that day, (2) I have no way of getting to the hearing, (3) I never received the hearing
notice and now I just received a letter saying my appeal hearing
was canceled because I didn't attend?
- For answers to these questions, call the Office of Appeals that is handling
your hearing. The telephone number for your local Office of Appeals is listed
on your hearing notice or any correspondence you received from that office.
I sent an appeal letter to SDI several weeks ago and haven't received an a
ppointment for a hearing. What is happening with my appeal?
- When the SDI field office forwards your appeal paperwork to a specific
Office of Appeals, we also send you a notice advising you of the location and
telephone number of the office handling your appeal. If you received this notice,
contact the Office of Appeals at the number listed; if you did not receive this
notice, contact SDI for assistance.
SDI Phone List
For more information please call SDI at 1-800-480-3287 or 1-866-658-8846 (En Español)
