I'm currently going through this exact same process! My doctor submitted my certification 7 days ago for a torn rotator cuff and I'm definitely feeling that same anxiety about checking the portal constantly. The financial stress while being out of work is no joke - I've already had to defer a couple of bill payments and I'm starting to worry about rent. This entire thread has been so incredibly helpful and reassuring though! It's amazing to see how many of us are all going through this waiting period at the same time. Based on everyone's experiences, it really seems like 7-14 business days is the standard range, so I'm trying to stay patient even though every day feels like forever when you're worried about money. I just set up the text notifications that Ruby mentioned - what a game changer! I had no idea that feature existed. Hopefully it will help me break this obsessive portal checking habit I've developed. I also called my doctor's office to confirm they submitted everything correctly and they assured me they did. Thanks so much for starting this discussion PixelPioneer - reading everyone's timelines and experiences has made me feel so much less alone in this stressful process. The community support here is really amazing. Fingers crossed we all start getting our approvals soon! 🙏

I'm going through this exact same situation right now! My doctor submitted my certification 3 days ago for a herniated disc and I'm already anxiously checking the SDI portal multiple times per day. The combination of being injured, out of work, AND waiting for financial relief is incredibly stressful. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been so reassuring though - it sounds like 7-14 business days is pretty standard for processing, so I know I'm still very early in the timeline. I had no idea about the text notification feature that Ruby mentioned, so I just went in and set that up. Hopefully that will help me stop refreshing the page every few hours! It's also really helpful to see that most delays seem to be administrative issues rather than problems with the medical certification itself. I called my doctor's office this morning to double-check they filled everything out completely, and they confirmed they did. Thanks so much for asking this question PixelPioneer - this whole thread has made me realize how many of us are going through this same nerve-wracking waiting period. The community support and shared experiences here are honestly keeping me sane! Fingers crossed we all get our approvals soon 🤞

This thread is so reassuring! I've been stressing about this exact situation for weeks. I was injured at my new job (only been there 4 months) and my doctor says I need at least 6 weeks off. My previous job paid almost double what I'm making now, and I was terrified I'd only get benefits based on my current low wages. Reading about the base period system and seeing so many success stories from people in similar situations has given me so much hope. I especially appreciate the former EDD worker's explanation - it really helps to understand how the system actually works behind the scenes. I'm definitely going to file my claim this week and not wait any longer. Thank you all for sharing your experiences and advice!

I'm dealing with a very similar situation right now and this entire thread has been a lifesaver! I've been at my current job for just 3 months when I injured my knee and need surgery. My previous employer where I worked for 5 years paid significantly more, so I was really panicking about my potential benefit amount. Reading everyone's experiences, especially the detailed explanation from Rachel about how the base period system works automatically, has completely eased my anxiety. It's incredible how this community comes together to help each other navigate these stressful situations. I'm filing my claim tomorrow and feeling much more confident thanks to all the advice shared here. For anyone else reading this who's in a similar boat - don't let fear hold you back from filing. The system really does seem designed to protect workers who change jobs. Thank you all for sharing your stories!

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm currently on SDI for a shoulder injury and expecting to receive this same form soon. I was already worried about how to handle the recovery question since I know I'll be returning to work with lifting restrictions before I'm completely pain-free. It's so reassuring to see that EDD actually expects and accommodates this common situation where people return to work during partial recovery. The consensus here is crystal clear - mark "No" for recovery if you still have symptoms/restrictions and "Yes" for return to work with your actual date. I really appreciate everyone who took the time to call EDD and share what the agents confirmed. This kind of real-world guidance is invaluable when dealing with confusing government forms. Thanks for creating such a helpful resource for all of us navigating these SDI return-to-work challenges!

I'm currently dealing with this exact situation! Been on SDI for plantar fasciitis and just got medical clearance to return to my teaching job next Monday with accommodations (supportive shoes, standing mat, ability to sit during lessons). This thread has been such a lifesaver - I was completely panicking about that form yesterday! The wording is so confusing and makes you feel like you're trying to game the system somehow. But seeing that multiple EDD agents have confirmed the "No" recovery/"Yes" return to work approach across so many different injury types gives me huge confidence. It's really eye-opening how common this partial recovery situation is - I had no idea so many people return to work before being 100% healed. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences, especially those who took the time to actually call EDD and report back. I'm definitely going to follow the consensus here and call EDD myself to confirm my Monday return date. This community is amazing for navigating these confusing processes!

This thread has been absolutely incredible to read through! As someone who's been considering a transition from private sector to public education, I had no idea about the SDI exemption or any of these benefit complexities. Edward, I'm so relieved you were able to get the differential pay sorted out - it's really concerning that HR didn't mention this upfront when you were clearly stressed about having no income during your disability leave. What's really struck me throughout this entire discussion is how many experienced public employees are discovering benefits they never knew existed, even after years of service. It definitely highlights a major communication gap that could leave people vulnerable exactly when they need support most. I'm taking notes on all the valuable advice here - asking specifically about differential pay, catastrophic leave programs, voluntary disability insurance, EAP services, and involving union reps in benefits reviews. For anyone else reading this who might be new to public sector work like me, I think this conversation shows how important it is to be really proactive about understanding your benefits rather than assuming standard protections exist. The fact that so many critical programs exist but remain "hidden" unless you ask specific questions is honestly pretty troubling from a worker protection standpoint. Thank you to everyone who shared their knowledge and experiences here - this thread could literally save people from the kind of financial crisis Edward faced. This should definitely be required reading for anyone entering public employment!

This entire thread has been absolutely invaluable! As someone who just started working as a school counselor in a California district, I had no idea about the SDI exemption or any of these alternative benefits that everyone has discussed. Edward, I'm so thankful you shared your experience and kept advocating for yourself until you found the differential pay solution - it's really disturbing that HR didn't proactively mention this critical benefit when you first called clearly panicked about your financial situation. What's been most enlightening is seeing how many seasoned public employees are discovering benefits they never knew existed. It really exposes a serious communication gap in how these institutions inform their workers about available protections. I'm definitely scheduling a comprehensive benefits review meeting with my HR department next week, armed with a detailed list of questions based on everything shared here - differential pay policies, catastrophic leave banks, voluntary insurance options, EAP programs, and any emergency hardship funds. I'm also planning to connect with my union representative to get their perspective on benefits that might not be well-advertised through standard HR channels. It's clear that successful navigation of public sector benefits requires much more proactive self-advocacy than I initially realized. This discussion has transformed what started as Edward's crisis into an incredible educational resource that could prevent so many other public employees from experiencing that same financial panic. Thank you to everyone who contributed their knowledge - this thread should honestly be part of mandatory orientation for all new California public education employees!

This whole thread has been absolutely invaluable! I'm facing hip replacement surgery in a few weeks and honestly had no clue about any of these paper vs electronic complications. Reading everyone's experiences has completely changed how I'm going to approach this. The most helpful takeaways for me are: 1) Call the doctor's office NOW to ask specifically about SDI Online registration (using @Yuki Sato's exact wording), 2) Be prepared with the backup paper/fax plan if needed, 3) Use Claimyr to actually reach EDD, and 4) Keep detailed tracking of everything. What really strikes me is how much this seems to come down to asking the right questions with the right terminology. So many of the delays and confusion could be avoided if we just knew to ask "Are you registered for EDD's SDI Online system?" instead of the vague "do you handle disability forms electronically?" This community knowledge is honestly better than anything I've found on official websites. Thank you @Sofía Rodríguez for starting this discussion and everyone else for sharing your real-world experiences. I feel so much more prepared now! One question for the group - for those who used Claimyr, about how much did it cost to get through to EDD? Trying to budget for all the potential expenses during my recovery period.

This thread is absolutely amazing - wish I had found it earlier! I'm currently dealing with the exact same situation after my rotator cuff surgery two weeks ago. Filed online thinking everything would be seamless, then my orthopedic surgeon's office told me they "don't do computers for disability stuff." Reading through everyone's experiences, I realize I need to act fast. Going to print the DE 2501 form today and take it to my doctor's office tomorrow. The specific question about asking if they're "registered for EDD's SDI Online system" is brilliant - definitely going to try that first before defaulting to the paper route. Has anyone dealt with Workers' Comp crossover issues? My injury was work-related but I'm filing SDI because Workers' Comp is taking forever to approve. Worried about potential complications with having both claims in the system simultaneously. My employer's HR said it shouldn't matter but I'm paranoid about delays or conflicts between the two systems. Also planning to use Claimyr based on everyone's recommendations - $20 seems totally reasonable to avoid the endless phone tree nightmare. This community has been more helpful than three different EDD customer service attempts combined!