I'm new to this community but wanted to share my recent experience since it might help others! I just went through the exact same "other last names" verification error last week. Like everyone else here, I had never changed my name and was so confused why the system kept rejecting my "NO" answer. After reading through this thread, I tried the workaround of selecting "YES" and entering my current name exactly as it appears on my Social Security card, and it worked immediately! What's interesting is that I also encountered the address verification issue that @Mohamed Anderson mentioned. I had the same problem with addresses being rejected even though I had documentation proving I lived there. I ended up having to format my addresses exactly as they appeared on my old tax returns rather than how I normally write them (like using "Avenue" instead of "Ave"). It's really frustrating that we have to become detective work to figure out these system bugs, but I'm so grateful for threads like this. The EDD website has zero helpful information about these verification errors, so community solutions are literally the only way to get unstuck. Thanks to everyone who shared their workarounds - you're helping way more people than you probably realize!

As someone who just joined this community after dealing with EDD issues myself, I'm amazed at how helpful this thread has been! The collective problem-solving here is incredible - you've essentially created an unofficial user manual for EDD's buggy 2025 system update. I'm dealing with a different EDD issue (overpayment dispute) but reading through all these verification workarounds gives me hope that there are community-driven solutions for most of their system problems. It's ridiculous that we have to crowdsource fixes for a government agency's broken technology, but I'm so grateful for people like @Max Reyes who share their struggles and everyone who jumped in with solutions. This thread should honestly be pinned or turned into a guide for others facing similar verification errors. EDD really needs to acknowledge these widespread bugs and provide official guidance instead of leaving claimants to figure it out themselves!

This thread has been absolutely amazing to read through as someone completely new to dealing with EDD! I had no idea that they could automatically deduct from disability payments for old unemployment overpayments - that seems like such a critical piece of information that should be clearly communicated upfront. What really stands out to me is how Keisha's experience shows the importance of this community. Without the specific advice about "conditional offset waivers" and the proper phone numbers to call, she might have continued paying double for months without knowing she had the right to stop it. That $800 deduction during pregnancy would have been devastating for most budgets! I'm taking notes on all the practical advice shared here - calling the Collections Division directly instead of general EDD numbers, using specific terminology like "conditional offset waiver," getting confirmation numbers, and documenting everything. It's concerning that EDD's internal systems don't communicate properly, but at least knowing that helps you prepare. The recommendation about Claimyr also seems really valuable for actually getting through to someone who can help. The regular EDD phone system sounds like a nightmare from what I'm reading. Thanks to everyone who shared their knowledge, especially Oliver for the detailed technical explanations. This thread is going to help so many people avoid the stress and confusion that Keisha initially went through!

This entire thread has been such a valuable resource! As someone completely new to navigating EDD, I had no idea that automatic benefit offsets were even possible, let alone that they could happen without clear advance notice. Reading about Keisha's initial shock at discovering the $800 deduction really highlights how unprepared most people are for these situations. What I find most concerning is how the burden falls on individuals to know specific legal terminology like "conditional offset waiver" just to receive fair treatment. It seems like the system is designed to automatically take money first and require people to fight back with insider knowledge to stop it - especially problematic when dealing with vulnerable populations like pregnant women or people with disabilities. The community response here has been incredible though! Oliver's detailed explanations about the legal requirements and proper procedures were game-changing. The fact that EDD legally cannot collect through both payment plans AND benefit offsets unless explicitly agreed to is crucial information that should be much more widely known. I'm definitely saving all the practical tips shared here - the specific phone numbers, the importance of requesting confirmation numbers, and the recommendation about using services like Claimyr to actually get through to someone who can help. It's unfortunate that navigating government benefits requires this level of strategy, but I'm grateful this community exists to share these hard-won insights. Thanks to everyone who contributed their knowledge - this thread is going to help countless people avoid the financial stress and confusion that these automatic deductions can cause!

I'm also brand new to this whole disability process and feeling pretty overwhelmed by everything I'm reading here! My doctor is similarly stuck in the past and absolutely refuses to use any online systems. I haven't even gotten my paperwork together yet but I'm already anxious about the waiting period after seeing how much the timelines vary. It's really frustrating that we're basically penalized with longer processing times just because our doctors won't embrace modern technology. I'm definitely bookmarking all the helpful advice here - the certified mail tip, creating an SDI Online account early, keeping detailed records, and planning to call at the 3-week mark if nothing shows up. The financial stress of not being able to work is already overwhelming without having to worry about weeks of bureaucratic delays on top of it. Really appreciate everyone sharing their real experiences and specific timelines - it helps so much to know what to actually expect rather than just hoping for the best. This community has been incredibly helpful for someone just starting to figure out this complicated system. Sending positive thoughts to everyone currently waiting for their claims to be processed! 🙏

I'm also new to this disability process and currently going through the exact same situation! My doctor is equally stubborn about technology and refuses to use SDI Online despite my pleading. I just mailed my forms yesterday and I'm already feeling that familiar anxiety about the unknown timeline ahead. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been both incredibly helpful and nerve-wracking - seeing processing times range from 2 weeks to 8+ weeks is definitely stressful when bills are already piling up. I really appreciate all the practical advice being shared, especially about sending certified mail (wish I had thought of that!) and the 3-week call strategy. It's so frustrating that we're essentially penalized with longer wait times just because our healthcare providers refuse to modernize. The financial stress while being unable to work is already overwhelming without adding weeks of bureaucratic uncertainty! This community has been such a lifesaver for understanding realistic expectations rather than just hoping blindly. Sending solidarity to everyone stuck in this paper submission nightmare - we shouldn't have to become bureaucracy experts when we should be focusing on healing! 🤞

This thread has been such a lifesaver for me! I'm currently going through my first SDI claim after a shoulder injury, and my payment just showed up as "issued" this morning. Instead of panicking like I probably would have, I found this discussion and now I know to expect 2-3 business days before it hits my account. @Jayden Reed, thank you so much for sharing your experience and coming back with the update - it's so reassuring to see real success stories! @Lola Perez, your explanations about the ACH system are incredibly helpful and really take the mystery out of the process. It's amazing to have found such a supportive community where people share practical knowledge and actually follow up with positive outcomes. I'll definitely come back to update once my payment comes through, but based on everyone's consistent experiences here, I'm feeling much more confident about the timeline now. Thank you all for creating such a valuable resource for newcomers like me!

I'm completely new to this community and the SDI system, just filed my first claim yesterday after injuring my ankle in a slip and fall accident. This entire thread has been absolutely incredible to discover! Reading through everyone's experiences about the payment delay between "issued" and "received" has already saved me from what I know would be major anxiety when I reach that stage. @Jayden Reed, I can't thank you enough for not only sharing your initial worry but especially for coming back to update everyone with the positive outcome - that kind of follow-through really demonstrates what makes this community so special and gives newcomers like me real confidence in the process. @Lola Perez, your detailed explanations about the ACH system and business day calculations are honestly the clearest breakdown I've found anywhere online about how this actually works behind the scenes. I'm definitely saving this thread as my reference guide for when I hopefully get to the payment phase soon. It's so reassuring to see such consistent experiences across so many different members and to know there's a supportive community here where people share real, practical knowledge. Thank you all for creating such an invaluable resource for those of us navigating the SDI system for the first time while dealing with injury recovery stress!

Just wanted to add that it's really important to keep all your medical documentation updated during this transition period. I made the mistake of not scheduling follow-up appointments with my doctor while I was attempting to work, and when I needed to go back on disability, there was a gap in my medical records that caused delays in processing my claim. Even if you're feeling better enough to try working, keep those doctor appointments scheduled so you have continuous documentation of your condition. Also, consider asking your doctor to write a note stating that your return to work is on a trial basis due to your medical condition - this can help support your case if you need to go back on disability quickly.

One thing I'd add is to consider doing a "trial work period" approach if your doctor thinks you might be able to handle part-time work. Start with just a few hours a week and gradually increase if you're tolerating it well. This way you can test your limits without jumping into full work mode right away. I did this with my employer when I was transitioning back - they were understanding about the gradual increase in hours. Also, make sure your employer knows about your medical situation so they can be flexible if you need to reduce hours or take time off for medical appointments. Some employers are required to provide reasonable accommodations under ADA, which could include modified schedules during your transition period.