Employee Handoff Materials — Ready to Drop Into Your Exit Package
Three pieces, all free, all ready to use. A one-page overview, a plain-language FAQ, and a step-by-step guide — everything a departing employee needs to understand California SDI and decide whether it applies to them.
The Three Materials
Each piece serves a different purpose. Together they take an employee from awareness to action without requiring anything from your HR team beyond handing them over.
The One-Page Overview
For distribution in exit packages — print or digital
This is the piece designed to go directly into your exit package. It is written for employees who have never heard of California SDI and explains in plain language what the program is, what conditions may qualify, how it differs from unemployment, and what to do next.
It is deliberately brief. The goal is not to explain everything — it is to make the employee aware that SDI exists and give them a clear next step. Everything else follows from that.
Did You Know You May Have Another Benefit Available?
If you are a California employee who has recently lost your job and are struggling emotionally, there may be a benefit program available to you that many people never learn about.
California State Disability Insurance (SDI) is a state program funded by your own payroll deductions. It provides short-term wage replacement benefits when a medical or mental health condition prevents you from working.
Conditions that may qualify include:
- Major depression
- Severe anxiety
- PTSD
- Panic disorder
- Burnout that has progressed to a clinically diagnosable condition
- Other conditions as certified by your healthcare provider
SDI is different from unemployment insurance. Unemployment is for people able and available to work. SDI is for people whose health condition is preventing them from working. Both programs may be relevant at different points in time.
First step: Speak honestly with your doctor, therapist, or psychiatrist about how you have been feeling and how it is affecting your ability to work. If they believe your condition qualifies, they can certify your claim with the California EDD.
To learn more: sdiadvisor.com | 213-716-2364
The Employee FAQ
Plain-language answers to the questions employees ask most
After receiving the one-pager, most employees have immediate questions. This FAQ anticipates and answers the ten most common ones — written at a general audience level with no jargon, in the order employees tend to ask them.
It can be distributed alongside the one-pager or provided separately. It is also suitable for posting on an internal HR resource page if your organization maintains one for departing employees.
The “What To Do Next” Guide
A clear, low-pressure path from awareness to action
For employees who have read the one-pager and the FAQ and want to know exactly what to do, this guide walks them through six concrete steps — from honest self-assessment through filing a claim — at a pace that respects that they may be in a difficult emotional state when they read it.
The tone is calm and encouraging without ever overpromising. Every step ends by reinforcing that eligibility decisions rest with the EDD and the treating provider, not SDI Advisor.
Frequently Asked Questions for Employees
These are the questions departing employees ask most often. This content can be distributed as a standalone handout.
What is California State Disability Insurance (SDI)?
California SDI is a state program that provides short-term wage replacement benefits to eligible workers who are unable to perform their regular job duties due to a non-work-related illness, injury, or pregnancy. It is funded entirely by employee payroll deductions — money that was already withheld from your paychecks during your employment.
Can a mental health condition qualify for SDI?
Yes. Mental health conditions are treated the same as physical conditions under the SDI program. If a licensed healthcare provider certifies that your condition prevents you from performing your regular work duties, you may be eligible. Conditions that commonly qualify include major depression, severe anxiety, PTSD, panic disorder, and burnout that has progressed to a clinically diagnosable condition.
How is SDI different from unemployment insurance?
Unemployment insurance is designed for people who are able and available to work but cannot find employment. SDI is designed for people who are not currently able to work due to a health condition. These are two separate programs. If you are struggling emotionally after a job loss to the point where it is affecting your ability to function, SDI may be more appropriate for your situation — or it may become relevant at a later point in time.
Do I have to have been employed to qualify?
Yes. SDI is available to California workers who have earned wages subject to SDI withholding during a specific base period prior to their claim. Most employees who have worked in California for at least a portion of the prior year will meet the wage requirement. The EDD will verify this when you file.
Does my employer find out if I file an SDI claim?
Your employer may receive a limited notice from the EDD to verify your wages and employment dates. They are not informed of your diagnosis or the specific nature of your condition.
Who decides whether I qualify?
Eligibility is determined by the California EDD in conjunction with your treating healthcare provider. Your doctor, therapist, or psychiatrist must certify that your condition affects your ability to work. SDI Advisor does not make eligibility determinations and cannot predict or guarantee any outcome.
How much does SDI pay?
SDI typically pays approximately 60 to 70 percent of your weekly wages, up to a state-established maximum. The exact amount depends on your prior earnings. Benefit payments can last up to 52 weeks depending on your condition and ongoing medical certification.
What is the first step if I think I might qualify?
The most important first step is to speak honestly with your treating healthcare provider about how you are feeling and how it is affecting your ability to function. If your provider believes your condition qualifies, they can certify your claim with the EDD. From there, you would file your claim directly with the California EDD at edd.ca.gov.
What does SDI Advisor do?
SDI Advisor is a free educational resource. We help Californians understand the SDI program, answer questions about the process, and feel prepared before speaking with their healthcare provider or the EDD. We do not diagnose conditions, provide treatment, or determine eligibility.
How do I contact SDI Advisor?
Visit sdiadvisor.com or call 213-716-2364. There is no cost for general information and guidance.
What To Do Next — A Guide for Employees
If you think California SDI may apply to you, here are your next steps. Take them at your own pace.
Honest Self-Assessment
Ask yourself whether anxiety, depression, or another condition is genuinely affecting your ability to function day-to-day — not just causing stress, but interfering with sleep, concentration, or your capacity to search for work. If the answer is yes, the next step is a conversation with your doctor.
Speak With Your Treating Healthcare Provider
Schedule an appointment with your doctor, therapist, or psychiatrist and speak honestly about how you have been feeling and how it is affecting your ability to work. You do not need a formal diagnosis before this conversation — your provider will help determine whether your symptoms meet the clinical threshold for certification.
Learn About the SDI Process
Before filing, make sure you understand how the program works. SDI Advisor can answer questions at no cost — what the EDD looks for, what your provider needs to certify, how long the process takes, and what to expect after filing. Visit sdiadvisor.com or call 213-716-2364.
File Your Claim With the California EDD
Once your healthcare provider is prepared to certify your condition, file your SDI claim directly with the California EDD at edd.ca.gov. You will need your Social Security number, prior employment history, and your provider’s contact information. Your provider completes a separate medical certification that the EDD uses in their review.
Follow Up and Stay Engaged
After filing, the EDD will review your claim and may request additional information. Respond promptly, stay in contact with your provider, and reach out to SDI Advisor if you have questions about any communications you receive from the EDD.
Focus on Your Health
Benefits and paperwork matter, but your health matters more. SDI exists precisely to give you the financial breathing room to focus on getting better without the added pressure of immediate financial crisis. Use that time well.
How to Use These Materials in Your Exit Package
A practical note for HR professionals on distributing these resources.
The simplest approach is to add the one-page overview to your standard exit package — the same stack of materials you already hand to every departing California employee. No explanation required beyond a single sentence.
If you want to say something verbally when handing over the materials, here is suggested language that is low-pressure and requires no additional knowledge on your part:
“Along with your standard separation materials, we are including information about a California benefit program that many employees are not aware of. This is for your information only — there is no obligation to do anything with it. If you have questions, the contact information is on the handout.”
That is all that is needed. The materials take it from there. If an employee asks a question you cannot answer, the appropriate response is simply to direct them to SDI Advisor directly.
“I am not the right person to answer detailed questions about that program. I would encourage you to reach out to SDI Advisor directly — their contact information is on the handout.”
This protects you, serves the employee, and requires no additional preparation on your part.
Want a customized version? If you would like a version of the one-pager with your organization’s name or a note from your HR team, contact Michael Steiner directly at 213-716-2364 or through the contact form at sdiadvisor.com. There is no cost for customization.
Request Your Free HR Materials
Contact Michael directly to receive print-ready versions of all three materials or to discuss a customized one-pager for your organization.
Or call Michael directly: 213-716-2364
SDI Advisor is an educational resource only. We do not provide legal, medical, or financial advice, and we do not determine benefit eligibility. All eligibility and benefit determinations are made solely by the California Employment Development Department (EDD) and the individual’s treating healthcare provider. Including SDI Advisor materials in employee exit packages does not constitute an endorsement of any specific outcome or benefit determination.