Hey there! I went through SDI for carpal tunnel surgery just last year, so I can definitely relate to your confusion about the process. Everyone here has given you great information - you're absolutely right that there's no regular certification required like with unemployment benefits. One thing I wanted to add that helped me tremendously: if your surgery is being done at a hospital or surgical center, ask them about their pre-operative financial counseling services. Many places have staff who specifically help patients navigate disability benefits and can even help ensure your surgeon fills out the EDD forms correctly from the start. Also, since you mentioned you'll be having surgery next month, make sure to apply for SDI as soon as your doctor gives you a specific surgery date and says you'll be unable to work. You can actually file up to 9 days before your disability begins, which can help speed up the process. The biggest relief for me was realizing that once approved, I could focus entirely on recovery without worrying about deadlines or paperwork. Your payments will just show up automatically based on what your doctor certified. Best of luck with your surgery!

Welcome to the community! I just wanted to chime in as someone who recently went through SDI for a wrist fracture. Everyone here has given you excellent advice - no bi-weekly certifications needed like unemployment! One small tip I haven't seen mentioned yet: consider downloading the EDD mobile app if you haven't already. While you won't need to certify regularly, it's handy for checking payment status and updating your contact info if needed during recovery. Plus, if you do get one of those random verification forms people mentioned, you can sometimes respond through the app instead of mailing paperwork. Also, if you're having the surgery done on your dominant hand, you might want to practice doing basic tasks with your non-dominant hand beforehand - things like opening medication bottles, using your phone, etc. It sounds silly, but it really helped me during those first few weeks when my mobility was limited. The peace of mind knowing your benefits will come automatically is huge when you're dealing with surgery recovery. Best wishes for a smooth procedure and quick healing!

Just went through this process last month! A few tips from my experience: Make sure to bring a list of ALL your medications to the doctor's appointment, including over-the-counter stuff. Also, don't downplay your symptoms - be honest about your worst days, not just the good ones. The doctor needs to understand the full impact on your daily life. And if you're seeing multiple specialists, try to get notes from all of them if possible. It really helps paint a complete picture of your condition. Hang in there - the process is stressful but you've got this! 💪

As someone who's navigated this process before, I'd recommend also asking your doctor to include any functional limitations in the note - like how many hours you can sit, stand, or walk, and if you have trouble lifting, concentrating, or performing repetitive tasks. The EDD reviewers really look for specific details about how your condition affects your ability to do typical job functions. Also, if your condition fluctuates (good days vs bad days), make sure that's documented too. Don't be afraid to follow up with your doctor if the initial note seems too brief - they're usually willing to add more detail if you explain what's needed. Best of luck with your claim! 🤞

I'm really sorry you're dealing with this stressful situation. As others have correctly pointed out, SDI only covers your own medical conditions, not caregiving responsibilities. Since you've used your full PFL allocation, here's another angle to consider: contact your local 211 service (dial 2-1-1) for comprehensive resource information. They often know about local programs that provide temporary childcare assistance or respite care for families dealing with medical situations. Also, consider reaching out to the hospital where your daughter will have surgery - many hospitals have social workers who can connect families with community resources, financial assistance programs, or even volunteer programs that help with post-surgical care. The Ronald McDonald House organization sometimes has resources beyond just housing that could be helpful. Some churches and community organizations also have emergency assistance funds specifically for situations like yours, even if you're not a member. Document everything with your employer now - your FMLA request, the medical necessity, timeline, etc. This protects you legally even if you can't get paid leave.

I'm a single parent who went through a similar situation with my son's surgery two years ago. Since you've maxed out your PFL, I'd suggest also checking if your state has any temporary caregiver assistance programs outside of EDD - some states have emergency family support funds that aren't well-publicized. Another thing that helped me was negotiating with my employer to use future sick days in advance, essentially borrowing against next year's accrual. Some companies will allow this in documented medical emergencies. Also, if you have a flexible spending account (FSA) or health savings account (HSA), you might be able to use those funds to pay for professional caregiving services during your work hours, which could allow you to work at least partial days. Don't forget to keep detailed records of all medical documentation and correspondence with your employer - this could be important if you need to pursue other legal protections or if your situation changes. Wishing you and your daughter the best with her surgery and recovery!

I went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago! The online switch worked perfectly for me - took about 2 payment cycles to fully kick in. One thing to watch out for: make sure your bank account info is 100% accurate when you enter it. I made a typo in my routing number the first time and it delayed everything by another month. Also, don't close or throw away the BofA card right away even after direct deposit starts working. I kept mine as a backup just in case there were any issues with the direct deposit. EDD systems can be finicky sometimes!

Just wanted to add my experience - I successfully switched from the EDD debit card to direct deposit about 3 months ago. The online process through SDI Online worked great, but there are a few things I wish I had known beforehand: 1. It took exactly 2 payment cycles before direct deposit kicked in (so plan for that timing) 2. You can still access any remaining balance on the BofA card even after switching - it doesn't expire 3. Make sure to use a checking account, not savings - some credit unions have issues with SDI direct deposits to savings accounts The whole process was way easier than I expected after reading horror stories online. Just be patient with the timing and you should be good to go!

I'm dealing with this EXACT same issue right now at 32 weeks pregnant! Got the "insufficient earnings" denial letter yesterday and I've been working full-time for over 2 years. It's so frustrating because you can literally see all your SDI contributions on every paystub, but somehow their system can't figure it out. Reading through all these responses is giving me hope though - sounds like this is a really common glitch with their base period calculations. I'm going to try the Claimyr service to get through to someone since calling the regular number has been impossible. @Layla Sanders - please keep us updated on how it goes with your correction! We're all rooting for you. The last thing any of us need is this kind of stress when we're already dealing with everything else that comes with being this pregnant. It's honestly ridiculous that so many women are going through this exact same problem. You'd think EDD would have fixed whatever is causing these base period calculation errors by now!

This is so frustrating but unfortunately very common! I went through this exact same denial 6 months ago when I was 35 weeks pregnant. The "insufficient earnings" error is usually because EDD's system is looking at the wrong quarters for your base period calculation. Since you filed in March 2025, your base period should be October 2023 through September 2024. I'd bet money they're either missing one of those quarters or looking at older data. Here's what I learned from my experience: - The reconsideration form (DE 1326C) is definitely faster than a formal appeal - Include pay stubs from ALL quarters in your base period, even if they seem obvious - Send everything certified mail for your records - Keep calling or try that Claimyr service others mentioned - sometimes an agent can fix it immediately The good news is once they identify the error, the correction happens pretty quickly. Mine was resolved within about 10 days total. Try not to stress too much (easier said than done, I know!) - this is clearly a system issue, not anything you did wrong. You've been working and paying into SDI, so you absolutely deserve these benefits! Keep us posted on your progress! 🤞