I've been in the same boat! What worked for me was calling the alternate number (1-800-480-3287) instead of the main SDI line. Also try calling right at 8am when they open - set multiple alarms and be ready to dial exactly at 8:00. Another trick is to press 0 immediately when you hear the menu options, sometimes it bypasses the automated system. If you do get through, ask the rep to put a note on your account about the call drops so they're aware of the technical issues. Hang in there!

I've been dealing with EDD for my disability claim too and it's absolutely maddening! What's worked for me is calling multiple numbers in rotation - sometimes one line is less busy than others. Also, if you have a smartphone, try using the speakerphone and just let it dial while you do other things. I've literally had it on redial for 3+ hours before getting through. Another tip: if you get disconnected while already in the queue, try calling back immediately - sometimes you'll get placed back in line faster. The system is broken but don't give up! Your benefits are worth the fight 💪

Just wanted to add my experience from last month - I had spinal fusion surgery and went through this exact same process. One thing that really helped me was keeping a detailed timeline of everything: - Date I stopped working - Surgery date - Date I filed SDI claim - Date doctor submitted medical certification - All communication with EDD This was super helpful when I had to call EDD to check on my claim status. Having all the dates ready made the conversation much smoother and the rep was able to quickly see where things stood. Also, don't forget that you can certify for benefits every two weeks once you're approved - mark those dates on your calendar! Missing a certification deadline can cause payment delays even after you're approved. One last thing - if your back surgery recovery takes longer than initially expected (which is pretty common), your doctor can submit additional medical certifications to extend your SDI. I ended up needing an extra 3 weeks beyond my original certification and the extension process was actually pretty straightforward. Recovery from back surgery is tough enough without the financial stress. Sounds like you've got a great plan now - file tonight, use some sick pay for immediate needs, and stay on top of your doctor's office. You'll get through this!

Just wanted to share something that might help with your immediate financial situation while waiting for SDI - if you have any credit cards with cash advance options, some banks are offering temporary hardship programs for medical situations. I had to use this after my surgery last year while waiting for disability payments. Also, don't forget to check if your employer offers any kind of emergency hardship fund or advance on future paychecks. Some larger companies have these programs but don't really advertise them - you have to ask HR specifically. One more thing - if you're a union member, many unions have emergency assistance funds for members dealing with medical situations. Worth checking if that applies to your situation. The combination of everyone's advice here sounds solid - file tonight, use some sick pay strategically, and stay on top of your doctor's office. The retroactive payment feature of SDI is really going to help once it kicks in. Hang in there!

UPDATE: Just wanted to let everyone know what worked! I followed the advice about creating a completely new email address and contacting ID.me specifically about a "merged identity verification" issue. The ID.me rep had to escalate to their specialized team, but they unlinked my driver's license from the old account. Then I used Claimyr to get through to an EDD specialist who was able to link my new ID.me account to my disability claim. The whole process took about 5 days but IT WORKED! All my back payments just hit my account this morning. Such a relief! Thanks everyone for your help!

I'm going through this exact same nightmare right now with my disability claim after a car accident! Been stuck in the ID.me verification loop for over 2 weeks and it's absolutely maddening. Reading through all these responses gives me hope that there's actually a way out of this mess. @Mateo Warren your detailed update about what finally worked is a godsend - I'm going to follow your exact steps starting tomorrow. The tip about using "merged identity verification" terminology with ID.me seems crucial. It's insane that we have to become system experts just to access benefits we've already earned, but at least now I have a proven roadmap to follow. Has anyone else tried the Claimyr service? I'm a bit hesitant to pay for something that should be free, but if it actually gets me to someone who can fix this mess, it might be worth it. My medical leave ends in 3 weeks and I'm getting desperate!

I'm new to this community but also facing a very similar situation with upcoming surgery while unemployed! I have a herniated disc that requires surgery in about 8 weeks, and I left my job last month for unrelated reasons. Reading through all these detailed experiences has been incredibly helpful and reassuring - especially seeing that so many people have successfully navigated SDI approval even without current employment. What really stands out from everyone's stories is how crucial it is to establish your disability start date based on when your doctor determines you're unable to work, not just the surgery date. My back pain has definitely been progressively worsening over the past few months, making it difficult to sit for extended periods or lift anything heavy. Based on all the advice shared here, I'm planning to schedule an appointment with my surgeon this week to document these current limitations and establish when my condition became disabling. The success stories from @Joshua Hellan, @Asher Levin, and others give me confidence that this can work out with proper documentation and timing. Thank you all for sharing such detailed experiences - this thread has been invaluable for understanding how to approach this complex situation! I'll definitely update once I go through the process.

I'm new to this community but in almost the exact same situation! I have a lumbar fusion surgery scheduled in about 7 weeks and left my job about 2 weeks ago for completely unrelated reasons. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly eye-opening and honestly quite relieving - I had no idea that you could potentially qualify for SDI even without current employment. The key insight about establishing your disability start date based on when your doctor determines you're unable to work (rather than waiting for surgery) is something I never would have known without this thread. My lower back condition has been progressively deteriorating over the past few months - I'm now having constant pain that makes it nearly impossible to sit at a desk for more than 30 minutes or lift anything over 15 pounds. Based on all the success stories shared here, especially @Joshua Hellan's experience with disc surgery and @Asher Levin's situation, I'm planning to call my spine surgeon first thing Monday morning to schedule an appointment specifically to document these current functional limitations. The recovery period they've quoted me is 4-5 months, so getting this documentation right is crucial. Thank you to everyone who has shared such detailed experiences - this community is an absolute goldmine for navigating these complex situations! I'll definitely update with my progress as I go through the process.

Hi Ana! Welcome to the community! 😊 I can totally understand your stress about making an error - I went through the exact same thing when I first applied for SDI benefits. I accidentally mixed up my disability start date by a few days and was panicking that it would mess up my entire application. The good news is that everyone here has given you excellent advice! Date corrections really are super common and the SDI reps handle them all the time. I ended up calling the 1-800-480-3287 number right at 8 AM on a Tuesday morning and got through after about 20 minutes on hold. The representative was incredibly understanding and fixed my date error in less than 5 minutes once we were connected. A couple of tips that helped me: definitely have your SSN ready, and if you have any medical documentation that shows the correct disability start date, keep that handy too. Also, don't worry too much about not having your original confirmation number - they can look up your application with just your personal info. The correction didn't delay my benefits at all, and everything processed on the normal timeline. You're taking the right step by addressing it quickly! This community is amazing for support, so don't hesitate to update us on how your call goes. You've got this! 💪

Hey Ana! I just wanted to jump in as another newcomer who's been lurking in this community for a while. Reading through all these responses has been so reassuring - it's clear that date corrections like yours are super routine and nothing to panic about! I'm actually in a similar boat - I made an error on my application too (wrong employer start date) and have been putting off calling because I was so nervous about it. But seeing everyone's positive experiences here has given me the courage to finally make that call tomorrow morning along with you! It sounds like the key takeaways are: call right at 8 AM, have your SSN and correct information ready, and don't stress too much since these corrections happen all the time. The fact that everyone's benefits processed on time despite their errors is such a relief to hear. Thanks for posting this question - you've helped more people than just yourself! This community is amazing for supporting each other through these bureaucratic challenges. Wishing you the best of luck with your call! 🤞✨