UI / SDI questions

[Socalx09]

I have never had to deal with this so I did not know the proper way to do this.

Unfortunately my dad’s health has gone downhill. He has had three accidents in 25 days at work in the work van. He use to be a good driver, and rarely got into accidents.

2 weren’t his fault technically, but the last one, he fell asleep while driving and hit a light pole on his way to dialysis. He denies the sleep part, but waking up at 330am to a phone call that your dad hit a light pole and to come down was scary. He was ok, but the truck was not. I always said he would work until it killed him. He does dialysis 3x a week from 4-830am and then goes to work for 6-10 hours a day.

Anyways, he is good friends with the owner, but I knew he was a liability at this point. He worked for a week after, but his boss said the insurance company wasn’t going to insure him and let him go. I was relieved since when I did see my dad on a work day with dialysis, he was destroyed.

Back to my question-
I filed unemployment and SDI. His doctor told me to file with the state first and then next year he will go on SSDI since his kidney functioning is worsening. What I did not know is if you collect unemployment first and then SDI, the SDI will be taxed. I did put in his UI application he was unable to work at all. I couldn’t reach the UI office multiple times to cancel the claim so I submitted a request online to cancel and was told it would take 5 days to process. It has been longer than 5 days and I just received a notice that his UI was approved. They want to certify the weeks. I am now worried the state may tax his SDI. Searching online forums it says to not certify the weeks and do not accept payment from UI. I will try to get on the phones early tomorrow to hopefully reach someone to cancel the UI claim. He is in the waiting period for SDI. He has never filed for either in his career so he has the max pay allowed on SDI for 1 year.

Anyway ever had to deal with this? I can get on the phone with someone with SDI within an hour, but Unemployment just says we have reached our maximum phone calls to answer and to call back later and it hangs up automatically. I believe my dad was going to go on Tuesday to the EDD office and wait. That may be the best option at this point to hopefully reach someone.

Btw- He is completely bored, and going crazy knowing he is now “retired”. I haven’t yet taken his personal keys as he seems fine during the day since he can rest after dialysis He really only drives to Home Depot or the grocery store. I am a bit worried since he says he might go to the havasu house to drive the boat around and get out of town for a weekend.

I recommend to hug a caregiver this week, I am having a serious burnout with grandma and my dad with handling it all. I find myself sitting at home with no tv on and just silence when I get home. I had IVIG infusions last week and they changed the brand and I had a migraine for 30+ hours. Being on hold with SS, Medicare, SDI, etc sucks with a migraine.

Anyways, you guys are always the best at advice and helping me get through a rough time! Hopefully I’ll have a fun boating or off-roading thread soon! I need a vacation.

 

[bilz]

I can only offer my best wishes and prayers for you and your family. Being a caregiver is rough and it will test you in ways you've never dreamed of. Stay strong!

 

[monkeyswrench]

I'm sorry you're going through this. I'm no help with the taxes and UI stuff though. It sounds like your dad was pushing himself too hard, and that can be detrimental to his health. He'll need a hobby, maybe tinkering in the garage o something, but something he can stop and take a rest when needed. He's worked solid his whole life, he's going to need time to adjust to the program.

 

[HNL2LHC]

Sorry no help on the insurance. Also sorry to hear of the direction that this has gone. Best to your father and the family.

 

[Socalx09]

Thank you all. I appreciate it. Always weathering some storms over here, but the sun will come out eventually.

I did get a call from his dialysis center health advocate and she answered a lot of questions. Wasn’t expected to get help on a weekend. Im suppose to reach out to SDI to have them note that we are trying to cancel his claim for unemployment with proof of the reference email I sent them so it’s at least on record on their end since they are easier to get a hold of.

Also, she is filing an application for Medicare since he is 61 and the application for end renal failure is different from the online one I was doing. There is also a special fund that he may be eligible for to cover his insurance premiums if he qualifies for. She will send in his paperwork to see if he can get any help there.

 

[Socalx09]

I'm sorry you're going through this. I'm no help with the taxes and UI stuff though. It sounds like your dad was pushing himself too hard, and that can be detrimental to his health. He'll need a hobby, maybe tinkering in the garage o something, but something he can stop and take a rest when needed. He's worked solid his whole life, he's going to need time to adjust to the program.

I need to make him a list of small projects to get done at his house or mine to keep him busy that won’t be taxing on his body. He has no idea how to not go to work and relax. I think he feels useless right now. And I forgot about the whole social part of going to work. That’s a huge loss as well.

 

[SBMech]

I need to make him a list of small projects to get done at his house or mine to keep him busy that won’t be taxing on his body. He has no idea how to not go to work and relax. I think he feels useless right now. And I forgot about the whole social part of going to work. That’s a huge loss as well.

Just do your best to keep him busy until he adapts. That is the best part about humans, we can adapt to almost anything. It just takes some time.

Love him daily with the touchy feely and maybe try to get his friends involved in a card night, bowling, pool hall nights to keep the social aspect of his life going.

Men from his generation have issues reaching out, retrain him to believe it's ok to meet his buddies out, even to just call and chat. Their generation has issues with socialization IMO.

 

[Boat 405]

The SDI is all taxable no question. Just went through this with a family member. The SDI is very hard to deal with, it can take weeks if not months to get the first paychecks rolling in. You have to stay on them. Basically the way it works is during his time of employment. A certain amount of money goes into SDI and in an event where he is injured and cannot work the amount of money gets taken out of that and as you found out there is a max I think it’s about $1600 a week. Or 1620 or something. But yes, you will pay tax on all of it.

 

[Socalx09]

My dad got approved California state disability due to his condition. He was notified yesterday that a card will be mailed to him and it is not taxed as it was not a replacement for unemployment. At least that’s what the person told us yesterday. If it were to be taxed, he would receive a 1099G form.

He went to Glamis for thanksgiving between dialysis days and had fun just camping with family there. We weren’t able to go. He is doing things around the house slowly on non dialysis days. His current project is to repaint all the outdoor light fixtures. I do notice how much he is sleeping on dialysis days. He gets home at 845am and doesn’t wake up until 2pm and is still very weak on those days. I wish he would change his 4am start time since he no longer has to go to work, but he’s stubborn. Maybe in a few weeks, he will make that change since so much change has happened to him lately. He may have a bbq night for his hunting buddies once a month so that’s good.

He is coming around to doing home dialysis, but that port requires him not to get submerged in the lake-Only to his waist. It is easier on the body and he can do it at nights while sleeping. But, giving up swimming in the lake is a battle.

I have learned that at least with him- I have to suggest things one at a time or he will shut me down.

I hate to say it, but losing his job and having the wake up call of a car accident may have been the best thing for him long term. He wasn’t going to ever say “I can’t do this.”