About This Guide

Why This Guide Exists

When a FedEx pilot based in California becomes disabled, they face a unique and challenging situation. They must navigate two separate bureaucratic systems—California's Employment Development Department (EDD) for State Disability Insurance (SDI) and The Hartford for Long-Term Disability (LTD)—that were never designed to work together smoothly.

The core problem is simple but impactful: The Hartford reduces your LTD payments by the amount they expect you to receive from CA SDI, regardless of whether you've actually received that payment. This can leave pilots with significantly reduced income during an already stressful time.

Each pilot who goes through this process has historically had to figure it out from scratch, wasting dozens of hours and potentially missing deadlines or making mistakes that cost them money. This guide consolidates the hard-won knowledge of pilots who have successfully navigated this process.

What This Guide Provides

• Process Documentation: Step-by-step guidance through the CA SDI claim process
• Benefit Calculator: Estimate your SDI and LTD benefits before filing
• Interactive Checklist: Track your progress through each phase
• Timeline Generator: Visualize expected dates and critical deadlines
• Contact Directory: Important phone numbers and addresses
• Document Templates: Letter templates for common situations

Important Disclaimers

Accuracy of Information

While we strive to keep this information accurate and up-to-date, laws, regulations, and procedures can change. Always verify information with official sources:

• California EDD: edd.ca.gov/en/disability/
• Your specific plan documents from The Hartford
• ALPA representatives for union-related questions

Individual Situations Vary

Every disability claim is unique. Your specific situation may require different steps or produce different outcomes than described in this guide. When in doubt, consult with:

• An attorney specializing in disability benefits
• A financial advisor familiar with pilot benefits
• ALPA's Retirement & Insurance Committee

Calculator Estimates

The benefit calculator provides estimates only. Actual CA SDI benefits are determined by EDD based on your specific earnings record. Actual LTD benefits are determined by The Hartford based on your plan documents and their review of your claim.

Privacy

This website is designed with privacy in mind:

• No accounts required: You don't need to create an account or provide personal information
• Local storage only: Your checklist progress is stored only in your browser
• No data collection: Calculator inputs are not stored or transmitted anywhere
• Minimal analytics: We use privacy-respecting analytics only to understand general usage patterns

Contributing

If you've been through the CA SDI process and have knowledge to share, corrections to suggest, or updates to provide, we welcome your contributions. This guide is maintained by pilots who want to help their colleagues navigate this challenging process.

Version Information

Last Updated: January 2026
SDI Rates Current Through: 2026