DE 2501: Claim for Disability Insurance (DI) Benefits (not unemployment)

DE 2501 is EDD's paper Claim for Disability Insurance (DI) Benefits, part of State Disability Insurance (SDI). It is for workers who cannot do their regular work because of an illness, injury or pregnancy that is not work-related. It is not an unemployment form.

Last checked: October 18, 2026

Who uses it: Workers who have SDI (CASDI) withheld from their pay. Not for people covered by a voluntary plan (ask your employer for forms) or state government employees (see your personnel office). Paid Family Leave uses a different form, DE 2501F.
When you get or need it: EDD recommends SDI Online in myEDD for faster processing. For paper, order the form through forms.edd.ca.gov or 1-800-480-3287, or get it from your provider, employer or an SDI office. EDD says the application cannot be printed or downloaded.
How to submit it: If you file online, do not also mail the paper form. For paper, mail it in the envelope provided to EDD, PO Box 989777, West Sacramento, CA 95798-9777. Do not fax it and do not submit the same claim twice.
Deadline: File no earlier than 9 days and no later than 49 days after the disability begins; you may lose benefits if you are late.

Open on the EDD site Official PDF

What each part means

Labels are quoted from the form; the explanation is EDD's own meaning in plain words, not advice on how to answer.

Part A: Claimant's Statement: You complete every item in black ink and sign. It includes the questions about whether the disability is work-related.
Part B: Physician or Practitioner's Certificate: Completed by a licensed physician or authorized practitioner. A religious practitioner uses DE 2502. The claim is complete only when both parts are received, and EDD generally processes it within 14 days.
Basic eligibility (EDD): You are unable to do your regular work for at least eight consecutive days; you were employed or actively looking for work when the disability began; you lost wages; you had at least $300 in wages with SDI withheld in the base period; you are under a licensed provider's care; and you file within 49 days.
UI versus DI: Unemployment insurance replaces wages for people who lost a job through no fault of their own and are able, available and looking for work. Disability insurance replaces wages for people who cannot work because of a disability. EDD says you cannot receive both at the same time, or for the same days.
Waiting period: DI has a seven-day non-payable waiting period, so benefits start on the eighth day.

What EDD warns about

If you are already collecting unemployment and become too sick to work, tell EDD when you certify (answer yes to the sick-or-injured question and enter the days) instead of filing a second claim for the same days.

Sources

Last checked: October 18, 2026. Legal information from the agency's own materials, not legal advice. Rules and forms change: confirm with EDD before you rely on a detail. We are not the EDD or the State of California. We never ask for your EDD login, Social Security number or any claim details.