How to get disability or Paid Family Leave pay without papers

This page explains how to apply without a Social Security number. It is general information, not legal advice. For benefit amounts and how long they last, see State Disability Insurance: who can get it and how long it pays.

Can I get this pay without papers?

Yes, if you qualify. The EDD says you can apply for Disability Insurance (DI) and Paid Family Leave (PFL) even if you do not have a Social Security number. Citizenship and immigration status do not affect eligibility.

• Disability Insurance pays part of your wages when you cannot do your regular work because of an illness, injury or pregnancy that is not from your job.
• Paid Family Leave pays part of your wages when you stop work to care for a seriously ill family member, bond with a new child, or help with a family member's military deployment.

Unemployment is different. For unemployment, EDD's page for undocumented workers says a non-citizen must have a Social Security number, must have been authorized to work when earning the wages used for the claim, and must prove current work authorization each week. See Your rights at work.

Disability Insurance is for an illness or injury that did not come from your job. Hurt at work? See Hurt at work? How to get workers comp.

How do I know if I paid in?

You need to have earned at least $300 and had State Disability Insurance taken out of your pay in your base period, which is a 12 month stretch that ends a few months before you apply. Look at your pay stubs for a State Disability Insurance deduction. Not sure? Ask EDD when you call.

Paid in cash? You can still apply, but EDD must be able to check your wages. Send strong proof, like bank deposit records or payment app records. If EDD cannot verify your wages, it may deny the claim.

Why do I have to apply on paper?

The online system needs your own Social Security number. Without one, you must ask for a paper form and mail it in. This takes longer, so start early.

How do I get the paper form?

You cannot download the English forms. Order them one of these ways:

• Online, on the EDD page for workers without an SSN. EDD says it mails forms within 10 days.
• In person at an SDI office.
• From your doctor's office or your employer.
• By phone: 1-800-480-3287 for Disability Insurance, 1-877-238-4373 for Paid Family Leave.

The Spanish Paid Family Leave form, DE 2501F/S, can be downloaded and printed from the EDD site.

How do I fill out the form without a Social Security number?

Follow EDD's instructions for workers without an SSN:

• Your Social Security number (Question A1 on the DE 2501): if you do not have one that belongs to you, leave it blank.
• Other numbers you used (Question A5 on the DE 2501): leave it blank, or write the number you used to earn your wages. Either way, attach a letter and proof of your wages.
• Other names: if you earned wages under another name, list it (Question A9 on the DE 2501, Question A7 on the DE 2501F).

EDD says listing the number you used to earn wages will not affect your path to citizenship. If you have an immigration case, or used someone else's number, talk to a trusted immigration lawyer or DOJ accredited representative before you send anything. See Free legal help in the Bay Area.

What letter do I attach?

Write a short letter and send it with your form. Include:

• Your preferred language
• Other names you used to earn wages
• Every Social Security number you used to earn wages, if any
• How you were paid: by check, deposit or cash. For cash, say how much and how often.
• If you are filing late, why

The checklist below has a fill in version.

What proof of wages do I send?

EDD asks for proof like:

• W-2 forms for this year and last year, or
• Pay stubs from the last 18 months
• For cash pay, detailed proof, such as bank deposit statements or payment app records

Send copies, never originals. If EDD cannot verify your wages, your claim may be denied, so send as much as you can.

Where do I mail it?

Mail your claim to the address printed on your form. Do not send it to EDD's general mailing address for questions. EDD says not to mail applications or claim papers there (Contact SDI). Mail it in a way you can track if you can, and keep a copy of everything.

Who else has to sign?

• Disability Insurance: your doctor or other licensed health professional must complete and sign the medical part. It is your job to make sure they do it, within 49 days of when your disability started.
• Paid Family Leave to care for someone: the sick person's doctor must certify that they need care, and the person you care for signs to authorize it. For bonding with a new baby, no doctor's form is needed.

When do I file?

Late? File anyway, with a letter explaining why.

What happens after I mail it?

• Notice of Computation (DE 429D for Disability Insurance, DE 429DF for Paid Family Leave): shows the weekly amount you may get, based on your wages. It does not mean you are approved yet.
• Notice of Claim Error (DE 2535): EDD sends this if something is missing and it cannot reach you by phone. Answer it fast.
• EDD Client Number: if the number you used to earn wages was also used by someone else, EDD may give you an EDD Client Number instead. With this number, you are paid by check only.
• Approval comes as a payment notice (DE 2500E).
• Denial comes on a DE 2517 (Disability Insurance) or DE 2514 (Paid Family Leave).

EDD says it can take up to 14 days to process a complete Disability Insurance claim. Paper claims and missing papers can take longer.

Denied? You can appeal. Mail the appeal form, DE 1000A, within 30 days. A legal aid clinic can help.

Can I get help in my language?

Yes. Here is what EDD offers:

• Phone interpreters, free. Call 1-800-480-3287 for Disability Insurance or 1-877-238-4373 for Paid Family Leave. Say or press 3, then tell the agent what language you speak.
• Spanish: separate lines (1-866-658-8846 for Disability Insurance, 1-877-379-3819 for Paid Family Leave) and a Spanish Paid Family Leave form.
• Other languages in writing: EDD has language pages in Arabic, Armenian, Farsi, Hindi, Japanese, Korean, Khmer, Punjabi, Russian, Simplified Chinese, Spanish, Tagalog, Thai, Traditional Chinese and Vietnamese. In Chinese, for example, EDD has a guide to filling out the Paid Family Leave claim (DE 2475) and fact sheets. The claim forms themselves are not on those pages, so you fill out the English or Spanish form.
• Your letter: write your preferred language in your letter so EDD knows how to reach you.
• Step by step guide: Legal Aid at Work has an Undocumented Workers' Guide to Disability Insurance and Paid Family Leave in English, Chinese, Korean, Punjabi, Spanish, Tagalog and Vietnamese. EDD links to it from its page for workers without an SSN.

Ask a trusted bilingual helper to sit with you. You sign the form, so make sure you understand every answer.

What mistakes should I avoid?

• Do not write a number on line A1 that is not yours. Leave it blank.
• Do not wait for the form to arrive before calling your doctor. Ask them now.
• Do not send originals.
• Do not miss the deadline. 49 days for Disability Insurance, 41 for Paid Family Leave.
• Do not ignore mail from EDD. Missing papers stop your claim.

Will this affect my immigration case?

EDD says Disability Insurance and Paid Family Leave will not affect your path to citizenship, and your information is kept confidential. Federal public charge rules changed on September 18, 2026. If you have, or plan to file, an immigration application, ask a trusted immigration lawyer or DOJ accredited representative how any benefit might matter for you.

Who can help?

These are free public offices and nonprofit clinics. Contact them to confirm hours, languages and openings. Being listed here is not a referral or a promise of service.

• EDD Disability Insurance: 1-800-480-3287, TTY 1-800-563-2441. Paid Family Leave: 1-877-238-4373, TTY 1-800-445-1312. EDD for workers without an SSN
• Legal Aid at Work, Workers' Rights Clinic: free help for people within its income limits, or age 60 and over, in Spanish and many other languages. East Palo Alto line: (415) 404-9093. Workers' Rights Clinic

More local help: Free help with a work problem in the Bay Area.

Common questions

My employer paid me in cash. Can I still apply? You can apply. Send detailed proof of your pay. EDD may deny the claim if it cannot verify your wages.

Can I get the money by direct deposit? EDD's Disability Insurance page says direct deposit is only for claims filed online. Paper claims are paid by debit card or check. With an EDD Client Number, it is check only.

Does this keep my job safe? No. These programs pay you; they do not protect your job. Other laws may. See Will my job be safe while I take family or medical leave?

Is there a checklist I can print?

You worked for this. Asking for it is not a favor. It is your right. Take the first step today.