I just went through this whole SDI process for my appendectomy last month and wanted to share a few things that might help! The 7-day waiting period is definitely real - no way around it. But here's what I wish I had known: you can actually call your doctor's office a few days before your surgery to get the disability certification paperwork started. My surgeon was able to pre-date everything so I could file my claim immediately after surgery instead of waiting for appointments. Also, make sure you have the EDD SDI Online account set up BEFORE you need it. I tried creating it while I was still groggy from anesthesia and made mistakes that delayed my claim by almost a week. One last tip - take screenshots of everything when you submit your claim online. The confirmation numbers and reference info become really important if you need to follow up later. The whole process was actually pretty smooth once I got past that first week gap, but having everything organized ahead of time made a huge difference!

I've been reading through all these responses and they're super helpful! I'm in a similar boat - scheduled for surgery in about 6 weeks and trying to get all my ducks in a row financially. One thing I'm still unclear on though - if I use sick time or PTO to cover that first week waiting period, does that affect my SDI benefits calculation at all? Like, will EDD see that I got paid for that week and somehow adjust my benefits? Or are they completely separate systems? I want to make sure using my accrued time off won't accidentally mess up my SDI claim. Also, has anyone had experience with filing for both SDI and FMLA at the same time? My employer mentioned I might need to coordinate both, but I'm not sure how that works timing-wise.

I went through this exact same process about 8 months ago and I totally understand your panic! The financial stress is real when they just cut off your only income like that. Here's what happened in my case: My payments stopped the day they scheduled my DE 2546 exam, just like yours. I had to wait about 3 weeks total - 2 weeks until my appointment, then another week for them to process the doctor's report. The good news is I did get backpay for all the weeks they held my benefits once I was approved for continued disability. A few things that helped me: 1. I called EDD multiple times asking about hardship payments but never got one - seems hit or miss 2. I brought a thick folder with every medical record, test result, and prescription list to the exam 3. My regular doctor wrote a detailed letter explaining my limitations which I think really helped 4. Most importantly - keep certifying every two weeks even though you're not getting paid! This was crucial for getting my backpay processed quickly The examining doctor was actually pretty thorough and fair in my case. Try not to stress too much about them being biased - if your condition is legitimately disabling and well-documented, you'll likely be approved. The waiting is awful but hang in there!

I'm currently going through this same situation and wanted to share what I've learned from calling EDD multiple times. The payment suspension during DE 2546 exams is unfortunately standard procedure - they won't resume payments just from confirming your appointment. You have to wait for the actual exam AND the processing of results. However, I did find one potentially helpful option: if you can demonstrate severe financial hardship, some EDD reps said they might be able to process a partial payment while you wait. It's not guaranteed and seems to vary by who you talk to, but worth trying. I'd recommend calling first thing in the morning when wait times are shorter. Also, make sure to bring not just your medical records to the exam, but also a detailed list of how your condition specifically prevents you from working. The examining doctors often focus on functional limitations rather than just the diagnosis itself. Document things like how long you can sit/stand, lifting restrictions, concentration issues, etc. The whole process is incredibly stressful when you're already dealing with a disability, but from what I'm reading here, most people do get approved if their condition is legitimate. Hang in there and keep pushing through the system!

I'm new to this community but had to create an account just to share my experience after reading this amazing thread! I've been dealing with my own SDI claim disaster for the past 5 weeks - my claim has been stuck in "pending" status and I've literally called EDD over 300 times (yes, I've been keeping count out of pure frustration). The phone system is absolutely useless - I either get busy signals, wait on hold for 2-3 hours just to get disconnected, or on the rare occasion I get through, the rep says they "can't access" my file. Reading through everyone's success stories with the assembly representative route is genuinely giving me hope for the first time in over a month! I had zero clue this was even possible. Like everyone else, I thought state reps only handled major political issues, not individual cases like ours. The fact that so many people here got results in 24-48 hours while I've been stuck in this nightmare for over a month is both incredibly encouraging and infuriating. I just looked up my assembly member using that website everyone mentioned and I'm calling their district office first thing tomorrow morning. My disability benefits are literally my lifeline right now since I can't work, and I'm already facing eviction notices because I haven't been able to pay rent. This community is absolutely incredible for sharing real solutions that actually work instead of just venting about problems. Thank you to Eva, Yara, Ali, and everyone else who took the time to document what worked and came back with updates - you're literally helping people keep roofs over their heads. I promise to report back with my results to keep this chain of success stories going for the next person who desperately needs help!

Just wanted to add another voice to this incredible thread! I've been struggling with my SDI claim for about 6 weeks now and stumbled across this discussion while desperately searching for solutions. Like everyone else here, I've been trapped in the EDD phone system nightmare - probably made 200+ calls with nothing but busy signals, disconnections, and reps who claim they "can't access" my file. Reading through all these assembly representative success stories is honestly the first ray of hope I've had in weeks! I had absolutely no clue this option existed. It's mind-blowing that Eva got results in under 24 hours when I've been banging my head against the wall for over a month. The fact that multiple people here resolved their claims in 1-2 days through their state reps while the regular EDD system is completely broken just shows how backwards this whole process is. I just found my assembly member on that findyourrep website and I'm calling their district office first thing in the morning. My disability payments are my only income and I'm already maxed out on credit cards trying to survive while waiting for this mess to get resolved. Thank you SO much to everyone who shared their real experiences and especially those who came back with updates - you're literally providing a lifeline to people who are drowning in this broken system. I'll definitely report back with my results to help keep this success story chain going for others who desperately need it!

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!