Protip: If you're having trouble with the online system, sometimes going old school and mailing in a paper form can actually be faster. Crazy, I know, but it worked for me!

I went through this exact same process about 6 months ago! One thing I'd add to the great advice already given - make sure you update your name with EDD BEFORE you start any claims process. I made the mistake of filing my PDL claim with my maiden name still on file, and it created a whole mess that took weeks to sort out. The system got confused and kept rejecting my documentation. Also, when you upload your marriage certificate, make sure it's a certified copy - they wouldn't accept a regular photocopy when I tried. Save yourself the headache and get everything updated first! Good luck with your pregnancy and congratulations again! 💕

Hey Andre, congrats on winning your appeal! That's such a huge victory after all that stress. I went through something similar last year and can share what worked for me. After my lump sum payment, I got into a pretty reliable bi-weekly pattern - usually within 1-2 days of the expected date. Since your claim ends August 7th and you just got paid Monday, you should expect your next payment around August 4th-5th (give or take a day), which would be perfect timing for your August 1st rent! Then you'd get a final prorated payment for the remaining few days after August 7th. One tip that really helped me: set up notifications through your bank app for any deposits, and also check the EDD debit card balance regularly since sometimes payments go there instead. The uncertainty is nerve-wracking, but once you're in the system post-appeal, it does become more predictable. Hang in there!

Hey Andre, huge congratulations on winning your appeal! That's such a relief after dealing with EDD's maze of bureaucracy. From what I've experienced and seen in this community, you should be on a pretty predictable bi-weekly schedule now. Since you got your lump sum on Monday, expect your next regular payment around two weeks from then - which should work out perfectly for your August rent timing. One thing that really helped me track everything was keeping a simple calendar note of when each payment hit. EDD processes on business days, so if your 14-day cycle lands on a weekend, it might shift by a day or two. Also double-check both your bank account AND the EDD debit card since they sometimes switch between payment methods without notice. Since your claim ends August 7th, you should get at least one more full bi-weekly payment, plus a final prorated payment for those last few days. The system actually becomes pretty reliable once you're past the initial appeal chaos - it's just their communication that's terrible! You've got this!

As someone completely new to this community and the SDI system, I can't thank everyone enough for sharing their experiences in this thread! I'm currently going through the application process after a work-related injury and honestly had no idea about any of these ongoing certification requirements. Reading through all these responses has been both incredibly helpful and pretty eye-opening about how confusing EDD's system really is. It's shocking that such critical information about biweekly certifications isn't clearly explained during the initial application. I'm definitely going to follow everyone's advice here: set up weekly account checks, create biweekly reminders for certification forms, get direct deposit set up immediately, and keep detailed records of everything. The fact that so many people have missed payments simply because they didn't know about these requirements is really concerning. This community seems like it's going to be invaluable for navigating all of this. @Joshua Wood, I hope your recovery is going well and that you're now getting your payments regularly after finding that certification form!

As a newcomer to this community and SDI benefits, I'm amazed by how helpful this thread has been! I'm currently dealing with my first disability claim after a surgery last month, and like so many others here, I had absolutely no idea about the ongoing certification requirements. The initial paperwork process was confusing enough, but nobody mentioned that I'd need to keep submitting forms every two weeks to continue receiving payments. Reading through everyone's experiences has been such a wake-up call - it's clear that EDD's communication about these critical steps is really lacking. I'm definitely going to implement all the advice shared here: checking my SDI Online account weekly, setting up those biweekly certification reminders, and getting direct deposit set up ASAP. The fact that people are discovering these requirements through missed payments or community forums like this instead of clear communication from EDD is really troubling. Thank you to everyone who's taken the time to share their knowledge and experiences - it's going to save newcomers like me from making costly mistakes while we're already dealing with health issues and financial stress.

I'm dealing with a similar situation - filed my SDI claim 6 weeks ago and still waiting. One thing that helped me was creating a timeline of everything I've done (dates I called, when my doctor submitted paperwork, etc.) so I could reference it when I finally got through to someone. Also, if you haven't already, try logging into your SDI Online account to see if there are any updates or missing documents they need. Sometimes they don't notify you right away about additional requirements. Hang in there - the wait is brutal but you're not alone in this struggle! 💪

I'm in a similar situation - filed my claim 5 weeks ago and the silence is deafening! One thing I learned from others here is to definitely verify your doctor actually sent the paperwork AND to the correct fax number. I called my doc's office three times before they finally confirmed they had submitted it. Also, try calling EDD right at 8am when they open - I've had better luck getting through early morning. The waiting is absolutely brutal when you're counting on that money. Stay strong and keep pushing! 🤞

Has anyone had luck calling the EDD directly? I've been trying for days and can't get through. It's so frustrating!

Just went through this exact process last month! One thing I'd add to the great advice already given - make sure your doctor's note specifically states that you're "able to return to work" or "no longer disabled" rather than just saying your condition has improved. EDD is really picky about the wording. Also, if you have multiple medical conditions on your claim, the note needs to address all of them. Learned this the hard way when they rejected my first submission because it only mentioned my back injury but not my anxiety disorder. Hope this helps save you some time!