I'm also brand new to SDI and this thread has been incredibly eye-opening! I just got approved for my claim yesterday after a car accident and my employer is processing my vacation payout next week. Like so many others here, I was completely confused about whether vacation pay counts as "wages" when you're not actually working. After reading through everyone's real experiences, especially those terrifying overpayment stories, it's crystal clear that vacation pay MUST be reported as wages during the certification period when you receive it. It's honestly frustrating that EDD's official materials don't explain this clearly - we shouldn't have to learn critical reporting rules from community forums! But I'm so grateful everyone took the time to share their experiences here. The consensus is undeniable: report ALL forms of paid leave as wages when received, keep thorough documentation, and it's much better to have temporarily reduced benefits for one week than deal with collections and penalties later. Thank you to this amazing community for filling in the gaps where EDD's guidance falls short - this knowledge is invaluable for newcomers like me trying to navigate this confusing system!

I'm also brand new to SDI and just submitted my claim this week for a knee surgery. This thread has been absolutely invaluable! Like so many others here, my employer mentioned they'll be processing my vacation payout but gave me zero guidance on EDD reporting requirements. I was initially thinking the same way as the original poster - that vacation pay wouldn't be considered "wages" since I'm not actively working for it. But after reading through everyone's real experiences, especially those terrifying overpayment stories, it's crystal clear that ALL forms of paid leave must be reported as wages during the certification period when you actually receive the payment. It's honestly shocking that EDD's official documentation doesn't clearly explain something this basic - we shouldn't have to rely on community forums to understand critical reporting rules! But I'm so grateful everyone took the time to share their experiences here. The consensus couldn't be more obvious: report vacation pay, sick pay, PTO - everything - as wages when you receive it, keep all your documentation, and it's much better to have temporarily reduced benefits for one week than deal with collections and penalties months later. Thank you to this amazing community for providing the guidance that EDD's confusing materials fail to deliver clearly!

I'm so glad you found all the help you needed in this thread! As someone who's been through multiple SDI extensions, I can confirm that everything everyone shared here is solid advice. The DE 2525XX form is definitely the key, and electronic submission through SDI Online is by far the fastest route if your doctor's office can handle it. One small thing I'd add that saved me headaches during my second extension: ask your doctor to include not just why you can't return to work, but also what specific improvements or milestones need to happen before you CAN return. EDD seems to process extensions faster when they have a clear picture of your recovery timeline rather than just "needs more time." Also, that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier is legit - I was skeptical too but it actually got me through to a real person when I'd been trying for days on my own. Sometimes it's worth the small fee to avoid the phone system nightmare. Hope your appointment went well and you got everything submitted without any issues! This community really is amazing for helping each other navigate EDD's broken system.

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this stress on top of recovering from surgery! This exact same thing happened to me about 4 months ago and I was in complete panic mode too. The good news is that everyone here has given you perfect advice - that DE 2525XX form is exactly what you need and downloading it yourself is totally legitimate. I wanted to add one tip that really helped me: when you go to your doctor's appointment, ask them to submit a "rush" or "expedited" request if they're doing electronic submission through SDI Online. Many doctors don't know this is an option, but it can speed up processing from 5-7 days down to 2-3 days if you're close to your benefit end date. Also, don't feel bad about not knowing about this form - EDD's communication is absolutely terrible and their mailing system fails people constantly. You're being super proactive by handling this now, so you should have no gap in benefits. The fact that you found this community and got the right information means you're going to be totally fine! Good luck with your appointment tomorrow!

tldr; EDD is a dumpster fire, good luck to anyone dealing with them 🔥🗑️

Hey Carmen, I went through something similar last year. The DE-2517-16 notice usually means there's a timing issue with your claim filing. Since you filed in February but they're saying it wasn't within 49 days, there might be confusion about when your disability actually started vs when you filed. For the Form 4365DI, you can usually get it from their website or request it over the phone. Even though there's no specific due date listed, I'd recommend getting it in ASAP - EDD can be unpredictable about deadlines. When you call, ask specifically about: - What date they're using as your disability start date - Whether you can get good cause for the late filing - How to submit the 4365DI form (online, mail, or fax) Also, try calling right when they open (8am) for shorter wait times. Hang in there, the process is frustrating but you'll get through it!

@Yuki Sato This is incredibly helpful! I've been banging my head against the wall for weeks. I didn't realize there was a specific disability insurance line - I've been calling the general EDD number this whole time. The tip about documenting everything with screenshots is brilliant too. I'm definitely going to try calling 1-800-480-3287 first thing Monday morning with all my account info ready. Really appreciate you taking the time to share such detailed advice!

Hey William! I just went through this exact same nightmare a few months ago. Error e324 is definitely the duplicate account issue - I had the same problem after creating multiple accounts during the COVID unemployment mess. Here's what finally worked for me: - Call the EDD Disability line at 1-800-480-3287 (not the regular UI line) - Call RIGHT when they open - like literally at 8am sharp - Have both email addresses ready, your SSN, and any confirmation numbers - Tell them you need "account consolidation for duplicate disability accounts" The key thing is explaining that you're past the filing deadline DUE TO THEIR SYSTEM ERROR. They can extend deadlines for technical issues if you're persistent. I had to call 3 times before I got someone who actually knew how to fix it. Also, screenshot that error e324 every time it happens and save the timestamps - I wish someone had told me this earlier. It helped when I had to explain the timeline to them. Don't give up! The system is absolutely broken but there are people there who can help once you get the right person on the line. Took me 2 weeks of daily calling but I finally got my disability claim processed.

Hi Angelica! I'm new to this community but your situation really speaks to me as I'm about to face something very similar. I left my W2 job at a financial services company about 4 months ago to start my own tax preparation business, and I'm currently 6 months pregnant. Reading through your experience and all the responses here has been incredibly educational! From everything I've learned in this thread, it sounds like you have a really solid case. The fact that EDD already reversed your initial denial is actually huge - that seems to be where a lot of people get stuck. The self-employment questionnaire is definitely intimidating, but it makes sense that they're just trying to verify genuine income loss due to your disability, which is obviously clear with recent childbirth. Your situation with having paid into SDI during your base period while at the tech company seems to be exactly what the system is designed for. The timing of your switch to consulting actually works in your favor since you built up that contribution history first. I'm taking so many notes from everyone's advice about documentation and timeline specificity. It's also really valuable to learn about the Voluntary Disability Insurance program - I had no idea that existed and will definitely be enrolling before my leave! The waiting must be absolutely brutal with a newborn and financial uncertainty. But based on all the similar success stories shared here, it really seems like you're on the right track. Congratulations on your baby, and thank you for sharing your experience - it's helping those of us preparing for this process! 🍼💜

Hi Angelica! I'm new to this community but your situation really resonates with me. I'm currently 8 months pregnant and just left my corporate job last month to start freelancing, so I've been frantically researching how all of this will work when I need to take leave. Reading through your experience and all these incredibly helpful responses has been both reassuring and educational. It's amazing how many of us are dealing with this exact W2-to-self-employment transition scenario, yet EDD makes the process feel so confusing and isolating. From everything I've learned here, it sounds like you have a really strong case! The fact that EDD already reversed your initial denial is actually a huge win - that seems to be the biggest hurdle based on what others have shared. The self-employment questionnaire is definitely nerve-wracking, but it makes sense that they're just verifying you're experiencing genuine income loss due to your disability. Your solid base period of SDI contributions from your tech job seems to be exactly what makes these cases successful. I'm feeling much more confident about my own situation after seeing how similar our timelines and circumstances are. I'm definitely taking notes on all the documentation advice shared here - keeping detailed records of income patterns, being specific about timelines, and having everything organized but waiting for them to request it. Also making a mental note to look into that Voluntary DI program for the future! Congratulations on your baby! I can't imagine juggling all this EDD stress while caring for a newborn. Based on all the success stories shared here, it really sounds like you're on the right track. Thank you for sharing your experience - it's helping those of us who are about to go through this same process! 🤞💜