Register and apply for disability insurance online with the California EDD. To file your claim online, follow these steps: You will be assigned an EDD Customer Account Number once you complete the registration process.You can apply for State Disability Insurance at the Employment Development Department of California. To file a claim, visit edd.ca.gov. Mail your application to the EDD office nearest you. Mail your application to the EDD office nearest you. The State of California requires all employees to pay into its short-term disability insurance (SDI) program through payroll deductions. When filing using SDI Online, complete all required fields. How Do I File for California Short-Term Disability? What happens when California State Disability runs out?