Thanks everyone for the explanations! I understand what happened now. The 7 days is basically a deductible period that I don't get paid for, and since I only had 4 additional days of disability after that, AND I used sick pay for the first 6 days, I basically didn't qualify for any benefit payment. Seems like SDI only makes sense for longer disability periods. I'll know better for next time, though hopefully I won't need surgery again! I may still try calling EDD just to confirm this understanding.

This is such a common misunderstanding! I went through something similar with my maternity leave last year. The key thing to remember is that SDI is really designed as income replacement for when you have NO other income coming in due to disability. Since your employer covered those first 6 days with sick pay, SDI views that as you already having income replacement for that period. It's frustrating because you're paying into SDI through payroll deductions, but the system assumes your employer benefits come first. For future reference, some people choose to save their sick days and go unpaid earlier to maximize their SDI benefits, but that obviously depends on your financial situation and employer policies.

I'm new to this community but wanted to reach out because your situation sounds incredibly similar to what my family just went through. My brother-in-law had a serious back injury from a construction accident in December, and we also had to navigate the DE 5005 form with mixed W2/1099 income. Reading through all these responses has been so helpful - this community really knows what they're talking about! I wanted to add a couple things that worked for us that might help: 1. If your husband has any old text message threads with clients (even from months ago), don't delete them! Screenshots of conversations about scheduling work or discussing payment can be really valuable supporting documentation. 2. We discovered that many local hardware stores keep customer purchase histories if your husband had an account or used a credit card regularly. These receipts for job materials helped us establish dates and show legitimate business expenses. 3. One thing our EDD caseworker specifically mentioned - if there are any gaps in documentation, write a brief explanation letter for each gap rather than leaving it blank. Something simple like "Client paid cash, no receipt available" shows you're being thorough and honest. The whole process took us about 8 weeks total, but we were approved and the back-pay covered everything from the injury date. The system really does work, even when the documentation isn't perfect. You're doing an amazing job advocating for your husband during such a difficult time. The fact that you're being so organized and asking the right questions shows you're on the right track. Wishing him a smooth recovery and hoping your claim gets processed quickly!

I'm new here but wanted to reach out because I'm currently going through something very similar with my husband who was injured in a workplace fall last month (fractured wrist and concussion). He also has mixed W2/1099 income from the base period - worked as a W2 employee at a warehouse until he was laid off in May, then did various gig work including food delivery and some under-the-table landscaping jobs. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly reassuring! When we first got the DE 5005 form, I honestly felt like giving up because his gig work documentation was so scattered. But seeing how many people have successfully navigated this process with similar situations gives me hope. One thing I wanted to add that might help - if your husband did any delivery work (DoorDash, Uber Eats, etc.), those apps actually keep pretty detailed records that you can request. We were able to get a full earnings summary from DoorDash that showed dates, times, and payment amounts which really helped fill in some gaps in our timeline. Also, I learned that if he ever posted services on neighborhood apps like Ring Neighbors or local Facebook community pages, those posts can serve as evidence that he was actively seeking self-employment work during that period. The organization tips everyone shared here are gold - we're definitely going to use the chronological folder system approach. It's amazing how much less overwhelming this feels when you have a clear plan and know that others have succeeded with imperfect documentation. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences. This community is such a lifeline during what feels like an impossible situation. Wishing your husband a speedy recovery - you're clearly doing everything right in advocating for him!

That's great news that your primary doctor is willing to help! Just wanted to add a few more tips from my experience helping people with similar situations: 1. Make sure to get the surgical center's contact information in case EDD needs to verify anything directly 2. Ask your Colombian surgeon to include specific details about work restrictions (like no lifting over 10 lbs, no bending, etc.) in their report - EDD loves specifics 3. Consider getting a letter from your employer confirming your job duties require physical work that would be restricted post-surgery 4. Keep all your travel documents (boarding passes, passport stamps) as proof of timeline The fact that your primary doctor is documenting everything before and after should really strengthen your case. Good luck with the surgery and recovery!

One more thing to consider - make sure you understand Colombia's medical record system and how to get copies of everything you'll need. Some countries have different documentation standards than what EDD expects. I'd recommend asking the Colombian surgical center upfront what records they provide post-surgery and if they can format them in a way that includes all the details California might want (procedure codes, recovery timeline, work restrictions, etc.). Also, find out about their policy for providing additional documentation if EDD requests more info later - you don't want to be stuck trying to get extra paperwork from abroad months after your surgery. The more prepared you are on the documentation side, the smoother your SDI claim should go.

I went through this exact transition last year and can confirm what everyone else is saying - SDI and PFL are definitely separate benefit periods! I was on SDI for 6 months after a motorcycle accident, then immediately switched to PFL when my wife had complications after childbirth. The process was actually pretty straightforward once I understood it. Key things: apply for PFL about 10 days before your SDI runs out (don't wait or you'll have a gap like someone mentioned), make sure your mom's doctor fills out every single section of the DE 2501F form, and keep copies of everything you submit. Since you worked full-time before your surgery and have only been on SDI since January, your base period wages should be more than sufficient. The good news is that caring for a parent after a stroke definitely qualifies for PFL - it's exactly what the program is designed for. One tip that saved me: when I called EDD to confirm my eligibility before applying, I asked them to walk me through the transition process step by step. They have a specific procedure for people moving from SDI to PFL and they were actually really helpful once I got through to someone. Hope your recovery continues to go well and that your mom gets the care she needs. You're doing the right thing by planning ahead!

I'm currently navigating a similar transition myself - been on SDI since February after knee surgery and my elderly father just had a fall that's going to require extended care. Reading through all these experiences has been incredibly reassuring! It's clear that SDI and PFL are separate benefit entitlements even though they're funded by the same payroll deductions we all make. What I'm taking away from everyone's advice: apply for PFL 1-2 weeks before SDI ends, get that DE 2501F form filled out completely by the doctor (no blank sections!), and keep detailed records of care needs. The fact that so many people have successfully made this transition gives me confidence that the system actually works as intended. @StellarSurfer - sounds like you're in a great position to transition given your work history before January. Caring for a stroke patient absolutely qualifies for PFL. I'm planning to call EDD this week using one of those callback services mentioned earlier to confirm my own eligibility timeline. Thanks to everyone who shared their real experiences here - this thread should be required reading for anyone dealing with overlapping disability and family care situations!

As someone new to this community, I'm amazed by how thorough and helpful all these responses have been! I'm currently dealing with a similar situation where I'll need an SDI extension soon, and this thread has been incredibly educational. The DE 2525XX form number is exactly what I was looking for, and all the practical advice about timing, working with specialists, and preparing documentation has given me a clear roadmap for when I meet with my doctor next week. It's so reassuring to see a community where people share their real experiences and help each other navigate this complex system. The tips about electronic submission through SDI Online, backup options like the DE 2501 form, and setting up EDD alerts are things I never would have known otherwise. Thank you all for creating such a supportive and informative discussion!

I'm new to this community and want to add my recent experience with the DE 2525XX form that might help others. I just went through my first extension about a month ago, and one thing that really helped was asking my doctor's office about their "rush" process for disability paperwork. It turned out they could expedite the DE 2525XX submission for an additional $15 fee, which was totally worth it for the peace of mind. They were able to complete and submit it electronically within 24 hours instead of their usual 3-5 business days. This might be especially helpful if you're cutting it close to your certification deadline. Also, my doctor mentioned that EDD has been processing extensions much faster lately - mine was approved within 48 hours of submission, whereas she said it used to take up to a week. Just wanted to share this in case it helps anyone who's worried about timing!