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Hi Omar! I'm currently going through the exact same process - due in July and just filed my SDI claim last week. The waiting is absolutely nerve-wracking, especially when you're trying to plan financially for the baby! One thing I learned from my sister who did this 2 years ago is to screenshot or print everything from your online account, including that confirmation number. She had an issue where EDD claimed they never received her claim, but she had the confirmation screenshot which saved her a lot of hassle. Also, if you're planning to breastfeed, you might want to look into whether your insurance covers breast pump rentals or purchases - some people don't realize this until after the baby arrives. Just thought I'd mention it since we're both in the same boat! Wishing you a smooth process and a healthy baby! 💕
Hi Amina! It's so nice to connect with someone going through the same thing at almost the same time! You're absolutely right about screenshotting everything - I'm definitely going to do that with my confirmation number and any other documentation. Thanks for the tip about the breast pump coverage too! I honestly hadn't even thought about that yet, but you're right that it's better to figure it out now rather than scrambling after the baby arrives. It's reassuring to know I'm not the only one feeling anxious about this whole process. Hopefully we both hear back from EDD soon! Best of luck with your pregnancy and claim - maybe we'll both have good news to share in a few weeks! 🤞
Hi Omar! I'm a newer member here but wanted to share what I learned from my recent SDI experience. The waiting period after filing is definitely the hardest part - you're doing everything right by staying on top of it! One thing that really helped me was calling my doctor's office to confirm they actually submitted the medical certification to EDD. Sometimes there are technical issues or the fax doesn't go through properly, and it's better to catch that early rather than wait weeks only to find out nothing was received. Also, when you do get your first certification form (DE 2500A), make sure to submit it right away even if you haven't received any payments yet. I made the mistake of waiting because I thought I needed to receive money first, but that actually delayed my payments by another two weeks. The whole process feels overwhelming when it's your first time, but you'll get through it! Your baby is lucky to have such a thoughtful parent already planning ahead. Congratulations! 🎉
Hi Diego! Thanks for sharing your experience - that's really helpful advice about double-checking with the doctor's office. I hadn't thought about technical issues with fax transmissions, but that makes total sense. I'll definitely call them tomorrow to confirm everything went through properly. And thank you for the heads up about submitting the DE 2500A form right away! I probably would have made the same mistake of waiting for payments first. It's so confusing when you're new to all this, but tips like yours make it much clearer. I really appreciate everyone in this community taking the time to help out us newcomers. It's making what felt like an impossible process seem much more manageable! 😊
I'm dealing with this exact same issue! My full legal name doesn't fit in their online form either, so I had to go the paper route. Reading through everyone's experiences here is so helpful - it sounds like calling with your paper application confirmation number is definitely the way to go. I'm planning to call tomorrow morning right at 8 AM with all my info ready. It's honestly shocking that in 2025 they still have these basic technical limitations, but I'm glad there's a workaround. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and tips - this thread is a lifesaver for people like us with longer names!
Good luck with your call tomorrow! Based on everyone's experiences here, it sounds like you're well-prepared with the 8 AM strategy and having all your paperwork ready. It's really frustrating that we have to deal with these outdated system limitations, but at least this thread proves it's definitely fixable. Make sure to be patient and polite with the rep - they're usually pretty helpful once they understand the situation. Hope you get it sorted out quickly and can finally get your online account set up!
I'm also dealing with this name length issue - it's so frustrating! My last name has 18 characters and the online form cuts it off. I actually tried shortening it by using initials for my middle names, but then I was worried it wouldn't match my official documents. Reading everyone's success stories here gives me hope though. I'm definitely going to try the approach of calling with my paper application confirmation number ready and asking them to manually create an online account. It's crazy that this is such a common problem but there's no official guidance on their website about it. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this thread is incredibly helpful!
@Quinn Herbert I totally feel your frustration! The 18-character cutoff is so arbitrary and ridiculous. You were smart to worry about the name matching your official documents - that could definitely cause issues down the line. I had a similar concern when I was tempted to abbreviate my name just to make it fit. From everything I ve'read in this thread, it sounds like the manual account creation route is definitely the way to go. At least then your full legal name will be properly recorded in their system. I m'in the same boat and planning to call next week - maybe we should check back in and let each other know how it goes? Good luck with your call!
Im so done with EDD. been trying to get through for weeks. might as well be playing the lottery at this point 🤡
I've been dealing with this same nightmare for weeks! One thing that's helped me is using the callback feature when it's available - instead of staying on hold, they'll call you back when it's your turn. Not all lines offer it, but when they do, it's a lifesaver. Also, I've had better luck calling on Wednesdays and Thursdays - seems like Mondays and Fridays are the absolute worst. Still frustrating that we have to jump through all these hoops just to get basic help though! 😤
Oh wow, I didn't even know there was a callback feature! That would save so much time and frustration. Which phone numbers have you found that offer the callback option? I've only been calling the main line and just sitting on hold forever. And thanks for the tip about mid-week being better - makes total sense that people probably call more on Mondays and Fridays. Going to try calling tomorrow (Thursday) and see if I can find that callback option! 🤞
The callback feature has been a game changer for me too! I found it on the 1-833-978-2511 line that @Paolo Longo mentioned earlier. When you get through the menu, there s'usually an option to request a callback instead of waiting on hold. It s'not always available during peak times, but when it is, you can just hang up and they ll'call you back within a few hours. Way better than burning through your phone battery sitting on hold all day! 📞
I went through something similar last year and it was definitely confusing at first. One thing that really helped me was creating a simple spreadsheet to track both claims - I put down the dates, amounts, status updates, and any correspondence for each one separately. Also, when you file the new claim, be super clear in your application that you have an existing claim and explain why you need the second one. The EDD workers appreciate the transparency and it helps prevent delays or complications down the line. Don't stress too much - as long as you're honest about your situation and keep good records, you'll get through this!
That spreadsheet idea is genius! I never thought of organizing it that way but it makes so much sense. Thanks for sharing that tip - I'm definitely going to set one up today. It's reassuring to hear from someone who actually got through this process successfully. Did you end up getting both claims approved or did you have any issues along the way?
Carmella Fromis
That's awesome that you got through to EDD and got it sorted out! Really glad the rep was helpful and put that note on your account. Wishing you a speedy recovery with your back injury - slipped discs are no joke. Take care of yourself and don't rush back to work before you're ready. The SDI benefits should help take some financial pressure off while you heal properly.
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Evan Kalinowski
•So relieved to hear everything worked out! It's really encouraging to see that EDD was actually helpful when you got through to them. Your story gives me hope that they can handle these kinds of mix-ups professionally. Take your time with the recovery - I've heard that rushing back too soon with disc injuries can make things worse in the long run. Thanks for sharing the update, it'll definitely help others who might find themselves in the same situation!
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Eloise Kendrick
This is such a perfect example of why it's so important to share these kinds of experiences in the community! Your situation started out scary but you handled it exactly right - filing the SDI claim immediately and not certifying for UI while disabled. It's really reassuring to hear that EDD was actually helpful when you got through to them. For anyone else reading this who might be in a similar boat: the key takeaway is that having both claims in the system isn't the problem, it's trying to collect from both simultaneously that causes issues. Hope your back heals up quickly and completely!
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