I'm in a very similar situation right now - returning to work next Monday after 10 weeks on SDI for stress/anxiety. Reading through all these experiences has been incredibly reassuring! Based on what everyone shared, it sounds like you should definitely receive your final prorated payment, though the timing might be anywhere from on schedule to about a week delayed. I've already taken the advice from this thread and updated my SDI Online account with my return date, taken screenshots for documentation, and contacted my bank about temporarily pausing some automatic payments. The "transition budget" idea someone mentioned is brilliant - I'm going to calculate my absolute minimum needs for the gap period this weekend. One thing I'm still nervous about is the emotional adjustment. Even though I feel ready medically, I keep worrying about whether I can handle jumping back into full-time work after being off for so long. It's so helpful to hear that these feelings are normal and that even people who successfully returned felt overwhelmed at first. Thank you to everyone for being so open about both the practical and emotional sides of this transition. This community has made me feel so much less alone in navigating all these details. I'll definitely update on how my final payment timing works out - hoping it helps the next person going through this!

I'm going through this exact transition right now too - returning to work in two weeks after being on SDI for anxiety and depression for about 12 weeks. This thread has been absolutely invaluable! Reading everyone's experiences has given me so much clarity on what to expect with that final payment. Based on all the shared experiences here, it seems like you should definitely receive your final prorated payment covering through 5/15, but the timing can vary quite a bit - anywhere from your normal schedule to about a week delayed. I love how everyone emphasized taking screenshots of your SDI Online account showing your return date - I just did that myself after reading these responses! The advice about creating a financial buffer and contacting your bank about pausing automatic payments is so practical and something I never would have thought of on my own. I'm definitely going to set up that "transition budget" someone mentioned and maybe look into a small line of credit as a safety net. What really resonates with me is how honest everyone has been about the emotional side of returning after stress-related disability. I keep oscillating between feeling ready and feeling terrified about jumping back into the work routine. It's so reassuring to hear that these mixed feelings are completely normal and don't mean you're not actually ready to return. Thank you to everyone for being so generous with sharing both your practical experiences and emotional insights. This community is such a support during what can feel like a really isolating transition!

As a newcomer to this community, I just wanted to add my recent experience to help confirm what everyone is saying - definitely apply right away! I went through this exact same situation about 5 weeks ago and was having the same confusion about the 7-day waiting period timing. What really helped me understand it was thinking of the waiting period as an automatic "deductible" that EDD's system handles - you don't need to manually wait or time anything yourself. When you submit your application, you simply enter the date your disability began, and their system automatically calculates everything from there, including when your benefit payments should start (day 8). I ended up applying on day 3 of my disability, and I'm so glad I didn't wait any longer! It took EDD about 18 days to fully process and approve my claim, so if I had delayed applying by those extra days thinking I needed to wait out the 7-day period, I would have been without income for nearly a month. One tip that really saved me stress - gather all your information before starting the online application: Social Security number, employer details, doctor's contact info, and have your medical paperwork right next to you. The system can timeout if you're taking too long to find documents, and having to restart multiple times is incredibly frustrating. You've got your doctor's paperwork ready which puts you ahead of the game! Don't second-guess yourself - submit that application today. This community has been so helpful for navigating what initially seemed like a really overwhelming process. Good luck with your claim!

As a newcomer to this community, I just wanted to share my recent experience to add to all the excellent advice here - definitely apply immediately! I went through this exact same confusion about 2 months ago when I started my medical leave. Like you, I was completely overthinking the 7-day waiting period and almost made the mistake of waiting to apply. What finally made it clear for me was understanding that the waiting period is just when EDD starts paying you, not when you're allowed to apply. Think of it like filing any insurance claim - you file right away so processing can begin, even though there might be a waiting period before you see any money. The 7-day period is automatically built into EDD's system, so when you enter your disability start date, their computers handle all the timing calculations. I applied on day 2 of my disability and I'm so grateful I didn't wait longer. Even applying that early, it still took EDD about 19 days to review and approve my claim. If I had waited those extra days thinking I needed to let the waiting period "finish" first, I would have delayed my first payment by over a week for absolutely no reason. One practical tip that saved me a lot of headaches - have everything organized before you start the online application: your Social Security number, employment information, doctor's contact details, and all your medical paperwork right there with you. The website can timeout pretty quickly if you're hunting around for documents, and having to restart the whole application is super frustrating. You're in great shape with your doctor's paperwork already completed! Trust all the consistent advice from this community and submit that application today. You'll be so glad you did. Good luck with your claim!

Hey Omar! Welcome to the community! I can see you've received incredible support and advice here already - this group really is amazing. Based on everything you've described (your weekly benefit amount showing up, empty pending applications section, and that "Claim Established" status), you are definitely approved! I went through something very similar after my rotator cuff surgery about 8 months ago. That exact combination of indicators meant my claim was fully processed and ready for payment. The anxiety while waiting for that first payment is absolutely brutal, especially when you're dealing with recovery AND financial stress at the same time. Since you mentioned your claim was established yesterday, you're probably looking at seeing that payment within the next 5-7 business days based on my experience and what others have shared. That first payment should include all your backpay from after the waiting period - so around $3,750 total, which I'm sure will be such a huge relief! One thing that helped me during the waiting period was writing down all the positive signs I was seeing (like you have) and referring back to that list whenever I started spiraling with worry. Sometimes anxiety can make us forget the good news we've already received. You absolutely did the right thing by going to your doctor's office in person to get that certification submitted. I had to do something similar, and while it felt awkward, that persistence is exactly what got your claim approved. Some medical offices really don't prioritize these forms like they should. This community has been such a lifeline for so many of us navigating the SDI process. Don't hesitate to reach out if you have any other questions as you continue recovering. Take care of yourself and try to focus on healing now that the financial piece looks like it's falling into place! 🙏

Hey Omar! Welcome to the community! I can see you've received some absolutely fantastic advice here already, which really shows how supportive this group is. Based on everything you've described - your weekly benefit amount showing ($1,250/week), empty pending applications section, and especially that "Claim Established" status - you are definitely approved! I went through something very similar after my knee replacement surgery last summer, and those exact same indicators meant my claim was fully processed and ready for payment. The combination of recovering from major surgery while stressing about finances is incredibly overwhelming, but you're really in the home stretch now. One thing I learned during my experience is to take screenshots of your claim status page every time you check it. It creates a helpful visual record of your progress and can provide reassurance when anxiety kicks in. Also, if you haven't already, double-check that your direct deposit information is correct in the system - you'd be surprised how often small typos can cause payment delays. Your persistence with getting that medical certification submitted really paid off! Some medical offices unfortunately don't prioritize these forms, and your advocacy for yourself made all the difference. That first payment should include all your backpay (around $3,750 based on your benefit amount), which should provide huge relief. Hang in there - based on what everyone else has shared and my own experience, you should see that payment within the next week. Focus on your recovery and try not to stress too much about the timing. This community is here if you need any other guidance along the way! 🙏

I went through this exact same situation about 8 months ago and completely understand the stress you're feeling about the timing! My doctor submitted the medical certification electronically within 24 hours of me sending it over, and my timeline was: Day 1 - filed claim, Day 2 - medical cert submitted, Day 4 - status showed "Medical Certification Received", Day 11 - status changed to "Paid", Day 13 - direct deposit hit my account. The key things that helped me were: 1) Confirming with my doctor's office that they submitted everything correctly with the right diagnostic codes, 2) Setting up text alerts in my SDI Online account so I didn't have to obsessively check, and 3) Making sure my direct deposit info was properly set up (which it sounds like you already did). Based on your timeline and the fact that you got the electronic submission done so quickly, you should definitely make your rent deadline. The electronic processing really does speed things up compared to paper submissions. Don't panic if your status stays on "Pending" for a week or more after showing "Medical Certification Received" - that's totally normal! Keep us updated on your progress!

I just wanted to share my recent experience since I'm seeing a lot of people going through similar timelines! I filed my SDI claim last month and my doctor submitted the medical certification electronically within 36 hours. Here's how my timeline played out: Day 1: Filed claim online Day 2: Doctor submitted medical cert electronically Day 3: Status showed "Medical Certification Received" Day 9: Status changed to "Paid" Day 11: Direct deposit hit my account A few things that really helped me during the process: - I called my doctor's office the day after I sent them the form to confirm they had everything they needed and understood the urgency - I set up both text alerts AND email notifications in my SDI Online account - I checked my account every morning around 6:30 AM when the system typically updates The waiting period between "Medical Certification Received" and "Paid" was definitely nerve-wracking, but it sounds like you're doing everything right with the electronic submission and direct deposit setup. Based on your current progress, you should be well within your rent deadline. The fact that your doctor is completing it within 48 hours is fantastic - that quick turnaround really makes a difference in the overall timeline. One last tip: make sure to save screenshots of your claim status updates as you go. It helped me feel more in control and gave me documentation in case I needed to reference anything later. Good luck with your claim!

As someone who just went through this exact nightmare a few months ago, I totally feel your panic! The DE 2525XX form everyone mentioned is definitely what you need - I had to download and print it myself too when EDD's mailing system failed me. One thing that really helped speed up my process was asking my doctor's office if they could fax the completed form directly to EDD instead of mailing it. Some offices will do this as a backup to electronic submission, and it's faster than regular mail but still creates a paper trail. The fax number should be on the form itself. Also, don't stress too much about the timing - I submitted my extension form about 3 days after my original benefits were supposed to end, and there was no gap in payments once it got processed. EDD backdates the extension to cover any brief overlap period. You're being super proactive by getting this sorted now, so you should be totally fine. The hardest part is just knowing what form you need, and you've got that figured out now thanks to this amazing community!

Wow, reading through this entire thread has been so eye-opening! I'm currently about 3 weeks into my SDI claim for a knee injury, and I had absolutely no idea about the DE 2525XX form or the potential issues with EDD's mailing system. This is exactly the kind of information I wish was more readily available when you first start a disability claim. The fact that so many people have had the same experience with missing extension forms really highlights how broken EDD's communication system is. It's honestly unacceptable that people dealing with medical issues have to become experts in bureaucratic procedures just to get the benefits they're entitled to. I'm definitely bookmarking this thread and saving that DE 2525XX form link just in case I need it down the road. The tips about electronic submission through SDI Online, calling at 8 AM sharp, and asking specifically for billing/medical records staff who might be more familiar with disability systems are all gold. Also really appreciate the detailed checklist items like making sure the doctor includes the specific new end date and their medical license number. Sienna, I hope your appointment went well and you were able to get everything sorted out! Please update us when you can - I think a lot of people would benefit from hearing how it all worked out. This community is truly amazing for supporting each other through these stressful situations.