I haven't had to go through an IME yet, but I've been reading this entire thread and wow - what an incredible resource this has become! As someone currently on SDI for similar anxiety issues, I'm bookmarking this whole conversation for future reference. @Connor O'Neill - by now you've probably already had your appointment (hope it went well!), but for anyone else who might be facing this situation, the advice here is gold. The consistent themes I'm seeing are: document everything, focus on functional work limitations rather than just symptoms, get that detailed doctor's letter, and practice explaining your condition clearly. One thing that really stood out to me from reading everyone's experiences is how much the anticipation and fear seems to be worse than the actual appointment itself. Nearly everyone mentioned being terrified by that initial letter but then finding the IME doctor more professional than expected. Thank you to everyone who shared their real experiences here - this kind of peer support and practical advice is exactly what people need when navigating these scary EDD processes. It's so much more helpful than the vague official information available online.

I went through an IME for my anxiety and ADHD claim about 8 months ago and completely understand that terror you felt getting that letter! Just wanted to add a few things that helped me that I haven't seen mentioned yet: **Bring a support person if possible** - even though they can't come into the exam room, having someone in the waiting area really helped my anxiety. They can also help you remember details before and after the appointment. **Ask about the timeline upfront** - when I checked in, I asked the receptionist how long the appointment typically takes. Knowing it would be about 45 minutes helped me mentally prepare and not panic if it seemed to be going long. **Prepare for "testing" questions** - the doctor asked me things like "what did you have for breakfast" and "what's today's date" which felt weird but I think they're checking cognitive function related to anxiety/depression symptoms. **Follow up is key** - after my exam, I called EDD every few days to check on the status. The squeaky wheel gets the grease, and it showed I was engaged in the process. The whole thing was way less scary than I built it up to be in my head. My benefits continued, and honestly the process helped me better understand and articulate my own limitations. You've got some great advice in this thread - you're going to do great!

JUST BE AWARE that even though you CAN get up to 52 weeks, EDD has been getting really strict about extensions lately! They denied my extension after 4 months even though my doctor said I needed more time, and I had to appeal. The whole process was a nightmare and I almost lost my apartment waiting for them to approve the extension. Make sure your doctor is SUPER detailed about why you can't work. I wish I'd known how hard they'd make it!

I'm going through something similar right now! I've been on SDI for about 3 months after a back injury and was getting worried about the same thing. What I learned from my case worker is that you should start the extension process about 3-4 weeks BEFORE your current certification expires, not when your claim balance gets low. The balance will automatically adjust once the extension is approved. Also, if you're worried about the process, you can ask your doctor's office to fax the supplementary form directly to EDD rather than mailing it - it's faster and you get a confirmation. Don't stress too much about the balance number you see online, it's just their initial estimate!

Thanks for posting this question! I was actually in the same situation a few weeks ago. I tried the online portal first (UI Online at edd.ca.gov) like some others mentioned, but unfortunately it didn't work for me - the phone number field was grayed out and wouldn't let me edit it. So I ended up having to call the 1-800-300-5616 number. I called right at 8am when they opened and got through in about 45 minutes, which wasn't too bad! The rep was super helpful and updated my number in like 2 minutes once I got through. Just make sure you have your SSN, claim number, and some form of ID ready. Hope this helps and good luck! 📞

I had this exact same issue last month! Here's what worked for me: I first tried the online portal at edd.ca.gov like others suggested - logged into UI Online and went to Profile > Contact Information. Unfortunately the phone number field was locked/grayed out for me too. So I ended up calling the customer service line (1-800-300-5616) around 8:15am on a Tuesday. The wait wasn't as bad as I expected - maybe 30-40 minutes. The rep was actually pretty helpful once I got through. Just have your SSN, claim number, and ID ready to verify your identity. The actual update took less than 5 minutes once they pulled up my account. Pro tip: if the online portal doesn't work for you, definitely call early in the morning for shorter wait times. Good luck Carmen! 🤞

Just adding to all the great advice here - I recently discovered that if you're already receiving disability benefits, the DE 2525XX form is also sometimes automatically included with your benefit payment stub or mailed separately around the time your claim period is about to end. I almost went through the whole request process before I realized it was sitting in a stack of mail I hadn't opened yet! 🤦‍♀️ So maybe check any recent EDD mail you might have received before going through all the request steps. Could save you some time and hassle. But if you don't have it, definitely follow all the excellent advice everyone's shared here - this thread is like a master guide for getting EDD forms!

This thread is amazing! As someone who just started the disability process, I had no idea there were so many different ways to get the DE 2525XX form. I was dreading having to call and wait on hold for hours, but now I have like 6 different options to try! 😅 Definitely going to start with checking my SDI Online account first, then try the Contact EDD feature if needed. The tip about calling right when they open is genius too. You all are lifesavers - thank you for sharing all your experiences and making this way less intimidating than I thought it would be! 🙏

This whole situation sounds incredibly frustrating! I'm actually going through my first disability claim process right now and threads like this are so helpful for understanding what to expect. Based on everyone's advice here, it seems like the key is getting to Kaiser's Work Status/Disability Services department rather than medical records. I'm taking notes on all the tips people have shared - especially about calling early in the morning and not mentioning the specific form number initially. One thing I'm wondering about - for those who successfully got their extensions approved, did you have any issues with payment delays after the approval went through? I'm trying to understand the full timeline from start to finish so I can plan accordingly if I need an extension later on. It's really reassuring to see so many people who have navigated this same bureaucratic maze successfully. The fact that Kaiser has this specialized department but doesn't make it easy to find is just mind-boggling. Thank you to everyone for sharing your experiences - it's saving newcomers like me so much time and stress!

I'm so sorry you're going through this bureaucratic nightmare! I just went through almost the exact same situation about 3 months ago and it was absolutely infuriating. The DE 2547A form definitely exists - it's the "Physician/Practitioner's Supplementary Certificate" required for disability extensions. The key issue is that you've been talking to the wrong department at Kaiser this whole time. Medical records literally cannot help you with this form. You need to call Kaiser's main number and ask specifically for their "Work Status Department" or "Disability Services" - this is a specialized team that handles ALL EDD-related paperwork. Here's what finally worked for me: When you call, don't mention the form number DE 2547A initially because it confuses their general staff. Just say "I need help with my disability extension certification for EDD." Once you're transferred to the Work Status team, they'll know exactly what you need and will coordinate directly with your treating physician. In my case, once I got to the right department, they submitted everything electronically to EDD within 5 business days and my extension was approved within 3 days after that. They even gave me a confirmation number to track the submission. Try calling first thing in the morning when they open - you're more likely to get through to someone knowledgeable. This whole system is poorly designed, but there ARE people who know how to navigate it. Don't give up - you'll get through this!