I'm dealing with a similar situation right now with my disability claim and this thread has been incredibly eye-opening! I've been getting the runaround from EDD for weeks about some mysterious form they keep mentioning but never actually identifying by name or number. Reading through everyone's experiences, it's becoming clear that EDD staff really need better training on their own forms and procedures. The fact that they use casual terms like "hardship form" when they actually mean specific things like benefit continuation or expedited payment requests just creates so much unnecessary confusion for people who are already stressed and dealing with medical issues. Connor, I hope your doctor appointment goes well and you get the detailed documentation you need for the DE 2501HC. Based on what everyone's shared here, it sounds like you're on the right track now. For anyone else reading this who might be in a similar boat - this thread is honestly more helpful than anything I've found on EDD's official website. The real-world advice about getting specific functional limitations documented, sending everything certified mail, and trying the online portal for questions is pure gold. Sometimes community knowledge really is better than official channels!

I'm going through almost the exact same thing right now with my wrist injury claim! The terminology confusion is so real - my EDD rep kept saying "hardship documentation" but never gave me a specific form name or number. After reading through all these responses, I'm pretty sure they were talking about the DE 2501HC too since my physical therapist mentioned I'll likely need more time than originally estimated. This thread is honestly the most helpful resource I've found for understanding EDD's form maze. The advice about getting super specific functional limitations from your doctor is something I definitely need to remember for my next appointment. And wow, I had no idea about sending everything certified mail - that's going on my to-do list for sure! Connor, it sounds like you've got a solid plan now with the doctor visit and getting proper documentation. Thanks for starting this thread because it's helping way more people than just you deal with EDD's confusing system!

I just wanted to jump in here as someone who recently completed this whole DE 429D approval process! I know how stressful and confusing it can be when you first get that notice - I was totally freaking out when I saw "additional approvals" on mine about 7 weeks ago. Here's what actually happened in my case: they needed me to verify my identity through ID.me (which honestly wasn't as bad as I thought it would be) and submit some additional W-2 forms from jobs I had earlier in the year. The whole thing took about 6 weeks from start to finish, but I did get every penny of my back payments once everything was approved! The absolute best advice I can give based on my experience: • Check your UI Online account EVERY DAY - I cannot stress this enough! Set a phone alarm for the same time daily • When they ask for documents, respond within 24 hours max • Make sure any uploads are crystal clear PDFs, not blurry phone pics • Keep detailed records of everything you submit and when I know 6 weeks sounds like forever when you're waiting for benefits, but it really does go by and the relief when you finally get approved (with all back pay!) is incredible. This community was such a lifesaver for me during the process - everyone's shared experiences really helped me stay calm and know what to expect. Hang in there @Liam Fitzgerald - you're going to get through this! The "additional approvals" sounds scary but it's really just their standard verification process now. Feel free to ask questions as you go through it! 🙏

I went through the exact same DE 429D situation about 6 months ago and completely understand the anxiety you're feeling right now! When I first saw "additional approvals" I was convinced something had gone horribly wrong with my claim, but it turned out to be totally routine. In my case, they needed me to verify my identity through ID.me and provide additional documentation for a contract job I had worked earlier that year. The whole process took about 5 weeks, but here's the important part - I received ALL of my retroactive payments once everything was approved, so you don't lose any money during the waiting period. Based on my experience and what I've learned from this community, here are the key things that will help you get through this smoothly: • Check your UI Online account every single day (I set a 9am phone reminder and it saved me multiple times) • Respond to any document requests within 24 hours - don't procrastinate on this! • Upload documents as clear PDFs rather than photos for better quality • Keep detailed records of everything you submit and when The waiting is definitely the hardest part, but try not to stress too much. From what I've seen here, the vast majority of people successfully navigate the approval process. It's just EDD's way of being extra careful with verification these days due to all the fraud issues they've dealt with. You've got this @Liam Fitzgerald! This community has been amazing for helping people through these confusing processes, so don't hesitate to ask questions as you go through it. The "additional approvals" sounds scarier than it actually is! 💪

I had a similar issue last month! My doctor's office submitted my medical certification online and I had the receipt number, but SDI kept saying they couldn't find it in their system. What worked for me was having my doctor's office call SDI directly and reference the receipt number while I was on a three-way call. Turns out there was some kind of technical glitch where online submissions weren't properly linking to claim files. The rep was able to manually locate and attach the form to my claim on the spot. Might be worth asking your doctor's office if they can make that call with you - sometimes they have better luck getting through than we do!

I'm dealing with something similar right now! Filed my SDI claim two weeks ago and they keep saying they're missing documents that I know I submitted. The whole system seems to have serious technical issues. One thing that helped me was screenshotting everything - not just the receipt numbers, but the actual submission confirmation pages. Also, if you submitted through the doctor's portal, ask them for a copy of their submission confirmation too. Sometimes having multiple pieces of evidence helps when you finally get someone on the phone. It's so frustrating that we have to jump through all these hoops when we're already dealing with health issues! 😞

I'm going through this exact same situation right now and it's such a headache! Reading through all these responses is actually really helpful though. I think the key takeaway is that you really have to be your own advocate and stay on top of everyone involved. I'm definitely going to try that early morning calling strategy and see if my doctor's office has someone who specializes in disability paperwork. It's wild that we have to become experts in navigating this system just to get the help we need, but it sounds like persistence really does pay off. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences - it's reassuring to know I'm not the only one dealing with this mess!

This is such a helpful thread! I'm actually dealing with a similar issue right now where my doctor's office said they submitted the form but EDD has no record of receiving it. What I've learned from reading everyone's experiences is that communication gaps happen on both sides. One tip I'd add is to ask your doctor's office for a copy of the completed form before they send it to EDD - that way you can review it yourself to make sure everything looks complete and matches what EDD is asking for. Also, if possible, try to get the fax confirmation receipt from them as proof it was sent. The system is definitely broken but it sounds like being super organized and following up constantly is the only way to get through it. Hang in there Connor - you're not alone in this frustrating process!

I just went through something very similar with my own PFL claim! Based on everyone's advice here, I definitely think appealing is your best bet. I wanted to add one more tip that helped me - when you're gathering documentation, don't forget about any medical appointments or pediatric visits that happened during those 5 weeks she took off later. Those appointment records with dates can serve as additional proof that she was actually on leave caring for your baby during that time period. Also, I see people mentioning Claimyr - I used them too and it was honestly a lifesaver. The $20 or whatever it costs is so worth it compared to losing entire days trying to get through to EDD. The representative I spoke with through their service was actually really knowledgeable about PFL appeals and gave me specific guidance on what language to use in my appeal letter. One last thing - make sure you keep copies of EVERYTHING you submit for your appeal. EDD has a tendency to "lose" paperwork and you'll want to have backup copies ready. Good luck with your appeal - it sounds like you have a really strong case!

I'm going through something very similar right now with my PFL claim! After reading through all these responses, I'm convinced that appealing is definitely the way to go rather than just repaying. It sounds like EDD's system just isn't set up well for handling split leave periods, but the appeals process seems to work when you have the right documentation. I wanted to add one thing I learned from my own research - when you're writing your appeal letter, try to frame it as "EDD made a processing error" rather than "we made a mistake." From what I've read, appeals tend to be more successful when you position it as a system issue rather than user error. You clearly intended to take the leave in two periods, EDD just processed the payment incorrectly. Also, definitely get that employer documentation everyone is mentioning! Even a simple email from HR confirming the dates she was out for both periods can make a huge difference. The timeline with pediatric appointments that someone mentioned is brilliant too - we have those records from when my partner was on leave and they really help establish the pattern of being home with the baby. This whole situation is so stressful but it sounds like you have all the right pieces to win this appeal. Keep us posted on how it goes!