I'm also going through the SDI process for anxiety right now and this entire thread has been so incredibly helpful! Mary, I completely understand that overwhelming feeling when you're already dealing with severe anxiety and then the paperwork process adds even more stress on top of it. From reading everyone's experiences, it really sounds like the "Convert paper application to online" feature is your best bet. The fact that multiple people have confirmed it automatically cancels the paper application when you complete the online conversion takes away that duplicate claim worry completely. I wanted to add one thing that helped me - when I was preparing to do my online application, I gathered all my documents first (ID, employment info, doctor details) and wrote them down on a sheet of paper before starting. That way I wasn't scrambling to find information mid-application and could complete everything in one smooth session like Keisha recommended. Also, the email confirmations everyone mentioned are a lifesaver for anxiety. There's something so reassuring about having that paper trail showing each step is actually happening. You're being so proactive about getting the help you need, and that takes real strength when you're dealing with anxiety. Mental health conditions absolutely deserve the same support as physical ones. Wishing you a smooth process - please keep us updated on how it goes!

I just wanted to chime in as someone who recently went through this exact same situation! I had submitted my SDI application for stress/anxiety about 6 weeks ago and got it returned for a missing signature too. The frustration of dealing with bureaucracy while already stressed is just awful. I ended up using the "Convert paper application to online" feature that several people mentioned here, and it was honestly a lifesaver. The process was so much smoother than I expected - I had my application ID from the return letter, plugged it into the online system, and everything transferred over automatically. One thing I'd add to all the great advice here is to screenshot your confirmation page when you submit online AND save the confirmation email to a special folder. I'm naturally anxious about these things and having multiple copies of proof that I submitted really helped my peace of mind. My psychiatrist completed the electronic certification within 48 hours and said she much preferred it to paper forms. The whole thing processed in 9 days from when I submitted online vs what probably would have been weeks more with mail delays. Mary, you're absolutely doing the right thing seeking help for your anxiety. The system is frustrating but you have so many good options now thanks to everyone's advice. The dual approach sounds smart if it gives you peace of mind! Hang in there - you've got this! 💙

Hi Laila! I'm new to this community and just went through this exact same panic last month when I got my first SDI payment! That partial payment covering only a few days is completely normal - it had me thinking there was an error with my claim too. What you received (Jan 11-15) covers the period right after your 7-day waiting period ended until EDD's next payment processing cycle. You'll definitely get paid for your entire claim period through regular bi-weekly payments going forward! The waiting period (Jan 4-10) is never paid, which they really should explain better upfront. I found it super helpful to create a simple calendar marking expected payment dates roughly every 2 weeks so I could plan my budget and stop worrying about rent. You can also monitor everything through SDI Online to track your payment history and certification status. Don't stress - the regular payments will start flowing soon and you'll get the full amount you're entitled to. This community has been incredible for getting real answers about navigating EDD's confusing system - welcome and you're going to be just fine!

Hi Laila! I'm new to this community and just went through this exact same situation about two months ago - that partial first payment is completely normal but definitely panic-inducing! What you received for Jan 11-15 covers the period right after your 7-day waiting period ended until EDD's next payment processing cycle. You'll get paid for your entire claim period (minus the unpaid waiting week) through regular bi-weekly payments after this. The waiting period (Jan 4-10) is never paid, which honestly should be front and center in their communications instead of buried in fine print. I found it really helpful to set up a simple calendar marking expected payment dates roughly every 2 weeks so I could budget for rent and stop the anxiety spiral. You can track everything through SDI Online to see your payment history and upcoming certification dates. Don't worry - the regular payments will start flowing soon and you'll get everything you're entitled to for your claim period. This community has been amazing for getting real answers about EDD's confusing system when their own website leaves so many questions unanswered. Welcome and hang in there!

I'm new to this community and unfortunately here because I'm dealing with this exact same infuriating situation! Had my gallbladder surgery two weeks ago and just got the "cannot identify physician" denial letter today. My surgeon was absolutely baffled - she said her name, license number, and signature are all perfectly clear on the form and she's never encountered this issue before in her years of practice. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly eye-opening and helpful. It's obvious this is a widespread systematic issue with EDD's processing system rather than actual problems with our doctors' forms. The fact that so many experienced medical professionals across different specialties are all equally confused and shocked by these denials really shows where the problem truly lies. I'm going to follow all the proven strategies shared here - getting a typed physician attestation letter with her complete credentials including both medical license AND NPI numbers (had no idea about the NPI requirement until this thread!), asking if her office is registered for electronic submission through the EDD provider portal, and having her complete a fresh DE 2501 with everything printed clearly instead of handwritten. The detailed breakdown from @Ethan Brown about what to include in the attestation letter has been invaluable. It's completely ridiculous that while we're trying to recover from major surgery and stressing about bills, we have to become EDD bureaucracy experts just to get benefits we've paid into our entire working lives. But I'm so grateful to have found this supportive community where people are sharing real solutions and helping each other navigate this broken system. I'll definitely keep everyone updated on my appeal progress - hopefully we can all get these bogus denials overturned quickly!

I'm new to this community but unfortunately joining because I'm dealing with this exact same nightmare! Had my hernia repair surgery last month and just received the dreaded "cannot identify physician" denial letter yesterday. My surgeon was completely shocked when I showed her the letter - she said her information is crystal clear on the form and she's been submitting EDD forms for 20+ years without any problems. What really stands out to me from reading everyone's experiences is how this seems to be a recent surge in these types of denials across all different medical specialties. It's obviously a systematic issue with EDD's scanning or processing system, but they're putting the burden on us to fix their mistakes while we're trying to recover and dealing with financial stress. I'm planning to follow the comprehensive strategy outlined by @Ethan Brown - getting a typed physician attestation letter with her full credentials including both medical license AND NPI numbers, asking if her office can submit electronically through the provider portal, and having her complete a brand new DE 2501 with everything printed clearly. The detailed advice everyone has shared here has been incredibly helpful for understanding what EDD actually needs for a successful appeal. It's absolutely insane that we have to become appeals experts while healing from surgery, but I'm grateful to find this community where people are sharing real solutions. I'll keep everyone updated on my progress - hopefully we can all get these ridiculous denials overturned and get the benefits we've rightfully earned!

As someone completely new to the EDD system, this thread has been incredibly eye-opening and honestly pretty alarming! Lorenzo, I'm so sorry you're dealing with this bureaucratic nightmare while trying to recover from such a serious injury. What really strikes me from reading everyone's experiences is how this UI/SDI overlap situation seems to happen to so many people, yet EDD doesn't provide clear guidance on handling these transitions. You were doing exactly what makes logical sense - filing UI after being laid off, then SDI after your injury - but the system somehow penalizes you for this normal sequence of events. The 5-week delay with your doctor's certification (especially with it getting lost initially!) really shows how these administrative delays can trap people between programs through no fault of their own. Having to choose between going without income or risking future overpayment issues is just an impossible position. After reading through all the advice here, especially Isaiah's terrifying overpayment story, the consensus seems crystal clear: stop UI certification immediately, call EDD to confirm your SDI transition, and document everything. Anastasia's tip about asking for the specific "benefit begin date" and Ana's advice about being proactive rather than waiting really seem like crucial steps. I hope you can get through to EDD soon and get this resolved without further complications. A three-fracture leg injury sounds incredibly painful, and dealing with all this bureaucratic stress while trying to heal must be exhausting. Please keep us updated - this thread is already helping so many people understand these complex benefit transitions!

As someone who's completely new to navigating the EDD system, this entire thread has been both incredibly informative and honestly quite frightening! Lorenzo, I'm so sorry you're dealing with this complex bureaucratic situation while trying to recover from such a serious three-fracture leg injury. What really stands out to me from reading everyone's experiences is how this UI/SDI overlap issue appears to be incredibly common, yet EDD seems to provide virtually no clear guidance on how to properly handle these program transitions. You were following what seems like the most logical sequence - filing UI after your layoff, then applying for SDI after your injury - but somehow the system treats this reasonable progression as problematic. The 5-week delay with your doctor's medical certification (especially with it getting lost in their system initially!) really illustrates how these administrative failures can create impossible situations where people are forced to choose between having no income or potentially facing overpayment penalties later. Based on all the advice shared here, especially after reading Isaiah's terrifying $2,900 overpayment experience, the consensus seems absolutely clear: stop UI certification immediately, call EDD to confirm your SDI will automatically start after the 23-day block period, and document everything thoroughly. Anastasia's tip about asking specifically for the "benefit begin date" and Ana's advice about being proactive with EDD rather than waiting seem particularly valuable. I really hope you can get through to EDD soon and resolve this without any additional complications. Please keep us updated on how your call goes - this thread has already become such an invaluable resource for anyone trying to navigate these confusing benefit program transitions!

Just wanted to add my perspective as someone who went through this process about a year ago. One thing that really helped me was setting up a dedicated email just for all the Sedgwick/EDD communications - it kept everything separate from my personal and work emails so I could find documents quickly when needed. Also, don't be discouraged if Sedgwick asks for additional documentation after you think you've submitted everything. In my case, they needed a more detailed letter from my doctor about 10 days into the process, which felt frustrating at first but is apparently pretty standard. The waiting period is definitely the hardest part, but try to use that time productively for your mental health - whether that's starting therapy, establishing better sleep routines, or just giving yourself permission to rest. The whole reason you're doing this is to take care of yourself! One last tip: if you're working with a therapist or counselor, ask them early on if they can provide a letter supporting your leave if needed. Having that backup documentation ready can speed things up if EDD requests additional mental health verification later in the process. You're taking a brave step by prioritizing your wellbeing. The bureaucracy is annoying, but you'll get through it! 💪

I'm in a similar boat as a first-timer with this whole process! Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly helpful and honestly a bit of a relief. I was getting really anxious about the 3-day timeline Sedgwick mentioned, but it sounds like I should mentally prepare for something closer to 2-3 weeks for the full approval. The organizational tips are going to be a lifesaver - I'm definitely setting up that dedicated email folder and starting the daily journal right away. I never would have thought to document my symptoms day-to-day, but that makes so much sense for when I need to explain things to my doctor or fill out forms. One thing I'm still trying to wrap my head around is the coordination between Sedgwick and EDD. From what I'm reading, it sounds like I need to wait for Sedgwick's approval before I can even start with EDD for the actual payments? That timeline feels a bit overwhelming when you're already stressed about finances on top of everything else. For those who've been through this - did you find it helpful to have a specific timeline in mind for how long you thought you'd need off, or is it better to keep that flexible and see how you feel as you go? I'm torn between wanting to give my employer some idea of expectations and not wanting to lock myself into something before I know how my recovery will go. Thanks to everyone for sharing your stories and advice - it's making this whole process feel so much more manageable! 💙