As someone who just went through this transition a few months ago, I want to add that timing really is everything! I was on SDI for pregnancy complications starting at 34 weeks and successfully transitioned to PFL with only a 6-day payment gap. Here's what worked for me: 1. I filed my PFL claim exactly 8 days before my SDI was scheduled to end 2. Made sure my doctor wrote the specific end date for my disability recovery (not just "cleared to return to work") 3. Had all my documentation ready to upload immediately - birth certificate copy, hospital discharge papers The most important thing I learned is that even though there might be a short payment gap, EDD does backdate the PFL payments to cover that period. I got nervous when I didn't see a payment for about a week, but then received a larger payment that covered the gap plus my regular weekly amount. One tip that really helped: I called EDD about 3 days after filing my PFL claim just to confirm they received it and everything looked correct. The wait time was only about 20 minutes in the afternoon, and the representative was able to confirm my claim was processing normally. That peace of mind was worth the phone call! Budget for about 10 days without a payment just to be safe, but know that the money will come through. The system isn't perfect but it does work if you file everything correctly and on time.

I'm currently 29 weeks pregnant and on SDI for pregnancy complications, so this thread has been incredibly helpful! Based on everyone's experiences, it sounds like the key is really in the timing and preparation. I'm going to start setting aside some money from my SDI payments now to cover that potential 1-2 week gap, and I'll make sure to file my PFL claim about 8-10 days before my SDI ends. One thing I'm wondering about - for those who successfully transitioned, did you find it helpful to give your doctor a heads up about the importance of specific end dates on the disability forms? I want to make sure my OB understands how critical the timing is for the transition. Also, has anyone had experience with the process if you end up delivering earlier or later than your due date? I'm worried about how that might affect the timing of everything. Thanks to everyone who shared their real experiences - it's so much more helpful than trying to figure this out from the EDD website alone!

I'm going through something similar right now - my doctor mailed in my certification form for a back injury last week and I'm also anxiously waiting for it to show up online. Reading through everyone's experiences here really helps put things in perspective. It sounds like 7-14 days is pretty normal for mailed forms, which is frustrating but at least I know what to expect now. The tip about having the doctor fax a copy too is brilliant - I'm definitely calling my doctor's office tomorrow to see if they can do that. And I had no idea about services like Claimyr to actually get through to EDD reps. Might have to try that if I don't see any movement by early next week. Thanks Aurora for posting about this and everyone for sharing your timelines. Sometimes just knowing you're not alone in the waiting game makes all the difference!

I'm dealing with this exact same situation right now! My doctor mailed in my medical certification for a knee injury three days ago and I've been obsessively checking my SDI account every few hours. Reading through everyone's experiences here is so reassuring - I had no idea that 7-14 days was normal for mailed forms. The advice about having your doctor fax a copy too is gold! I'm definitely calling my orthopedist's office first thing Monday morning to see if they can send a fax as well. And I'm bookmarking that Claimyr service just in case I need it. It's crazy that in 2025 we're still dealing with such slow paper processing when everything else is digital. But at least knowing what to expect timeline-wise helps manage the anxiety. Thanks Aurora for starting this thread and everyone for sharing your experiences!

I'm new to this community but dealing with a similar nightmare right now. My doctor's office filled in a return-to-work date on my last extension even though I specifically told them to leave it blank, and now my payments are completely frozen. Reading through everyone's advice here is giving me hope though! I'm definitely going to try the highlighting approach and calling first thing in the morning. It's so frustrating that such a small mistake can completely derail everything. Has anyone had success getting their doctor's office to actually understand why this matters so much? I feel like I'm talking to a brick wall when I try to explain it to them.

I'm going through this exact same situation right now! My doctor's office has done this THREE times despite me explaining the issue each time. What's really helped me is creating a one-page "cheat sheet" that I give them every time I need an extension form filled out. It has the specific field circled in red with "LEAVE BLANK - DO NOT FILL" written next to it, plus a brief explanation of why. I also started asking to speak directly with whoever will be filling out the form, not just the receptionist. It's extra work but it's saved me from more delays. Also, pro tip: if you do have to resubmit corrected paperwork, ask EDD for the confirmation number when you fax it - that way you have proof they received it if there are any issues later!

Hey Yuki! I'm pretty new to this too and just went through my first wage reporting experience last week. One thing that really saved me was having my employer's info ready (like their name, address, and phone number) because sometimes the system asks for it during the process. Also, if you work multiple jobs, you'll need to report wages from ALL of them - learned that the hard way! The good news is once you do it a few times, it becomes second nature. Good luck and don't hesitate to ask questions here - this community is super helpful! 🙂

Hey Yuki! Just wanted to add that I literally just finished reporting my wages about an hour ago. One thing that caught me off guard was that the system automatically logs you out after being idle for just 15 minutes, so make sure you have everything ready before you start! I had to re-enter everything twice because I got distracted looking for paperwork 🤦‍♀️ Also, if you get any kind of confirmation number at the end, screenshot it or write it down - it's super useful if you need to reference your submission later. You're gonna do great though, and everyone here has given you amazing advice!

This is such valuable information for anyone dealing with extension timing! I'm currently on SDI and my period ends in a few weeks, so this thread came at the perfect time. It's really eye-opening to see how different people's experiences were - some got backdated with no issues while others had to call EDD dozens of times. The consensus is clear though: avoid the gap if you possibly can! For anyone else in a similar situation, it seems like the key points are: 1) Try to reschedule your appointment before your current period ends, 2) Make sure your doctor uses the DE 2525XX form for extensions, and 3) Have them document continuous disability if there is any gap. Thanks everyone for sharing your real experiences - it's so much more helpful than trying to decode EDD's confusing website!

I just went through this exact same situation a few months ago and can share what worked for me. I was in a similar panic because my disability period was ending on a Friday and my doctor couldn't see me until the following Tuesday. After reading horror stories about payment gaps and calling EDD multiple times, I decided to be proactive. I called my doctor's office and explained the urgency - that I needed the appointment before my disability period ended to avoid payment interruption. They were actually really understanding and squeezed me in during a lunch break slot. My doctor filled out the DE 2525XX extension form right there during the appointment, and I submitted it to EDD the same day. The whole process went smoothly with no payment gap at all. Looking back, I think the key was being upfront with the doctor's office about why the timing mattered so much. Most medical offices deal with workers' comp and disability paperwork regularly, so they understand these deadlines. Don't be afraid to explain your financial situation - they often have flexibility for urgent cases like this. Really glad you were able to get your appointment moved up to October 12th! That should give you plenty of buffer time before your October 14th end date.