I'm a tax professional who works with a lot of new parents, and I want to clear up some of the confusion in this thread. California SDI pregnancy benefits ARE subject to federal income tax - this is correct. However, I've seen several people mention different tax amounts owed, and I think it's important to understand that your actual tax liability depends on your total income for the year and your filing status. The 10% federal withholding is a flat rate that EDD offers, but it might not match your actual tax rate. If you're in a higher tax bracket (22% or 24%), you could still owe money even with the 10% withholding. Conversely, if you're in the 12% bracket and your total income for the year is lower due to unpaid leave, you might get a refund. My recommendation: definitely opt for the 10% withholding as a starting point, but also consider your overall tax situation for the year. If you expect to be in a higher bracket, consider making quarterly estimated payments or setting aside additional money. You can use the IRS withholding calculator or consult with a tax professional to get a better estimate based on your specific situation. Also, keep in mind that if your employer provides any supplemental disability benefits on top of SDI, those may have different tax implications. Always keep detailed records of all benefit sources!

This is exactly the kind of professional insight this thread needed! As someone who's been following along trying to figure out my own tax situation for upcoming maternity leave, your explanation about how the 10% withholding might not match actual tax liability really clarifies things. I hadn't considered that being in a higher tax bracket could mean still owing money even with withholding, or that reduced income from unpaid leave time could actually put me in a lower bracket for the year. Your point about using the IRS withholding calculator is brilliant - I'm definitely going to do that once I have a better estimate of my total time off and benefit amounts. And thank you for mentioning employer supplemental disability benefits having different tax implications - my company offers some additional coverage and I hadn't even thought to ask HR about the tax treatment of that portion. It's so helpful to get perspective from someone who sees these situations regularly rather than just anecdotal experiences. Do you typically recommend your clients set aside a specific percentage beyond the 10% withholding, or does it really vary too much person to person to give general guidance?

As someone completely new to this community, I can't thank you all enough for this incredibly detailed and helpful thread! I just started my own EDD SDI claim process yesterday after a workplace injury, and I was already feeling overwhelmed by all the forms and requirements. Reading through PrinceJoe's journey from complete desperation to success has been both eye-opening and reassuring - it really shows that even when the system seems impossible to navigate, persistence and the right strategies can make all the difference. The practical advice shared here is absolutely invaluable: the 8 AM calling strategy, financial hardship expedite options, assembly member contacts, and asking about the ARTU queue. I'm bookmarking this entire thread as my reference guide in case I run into any delays or issues with my claim. It's incredible how this community provides more actionable, real-world guidance than any official EDD resource I've found. Thank you all for sharing your experiences and creating such a supportive environment - it makes facing this potentially stressful process feel much less daunting knowing there are people here who truly understand the challenges and are willing to help others navigate them successfully!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm so grateful to have found this thread! I'm currently dealing with my own EDD SDI claim that's been stuck for 2 weeks due to missing medical documentation, and I was starting to feel completely lost in the system. PrinceJoe, your success story is incredibly inspiring - the fact that you persevered through 5 weeks of stress and finally got resolution with backdated payments gives me so much hope! The strategies shared here are absolute gold: the 8 AM calling approach, mentioning financial hardship for expedited processing, contacting assembly members, and asking about the ARTU queue. I had no idea any of these options existed! I've been calling at random times with zero success, but now I have a real action plan. It's amazing how this community provides more practical guidance than the official EDD website ever has. The support here makes dealing with this bureaucratic nightmare feel so much less isolating. Thank you all for sharing your experiences - I'm implementing the 8 AM strategy starting tomorrow morning!

As someone brand new to this community and currently drowning in my own EDD paperwork, this thread has been an absolute lifesaver! Mohammad, thank you so much for asking exactly what I've been wondering about but was too overwhelmed to even know how to ask. I literally just received my own 2500A form yesterday and was staring at it like it was written in ancient hieroglyphics. Reading everyone's advice here has made it crystal clear: fill it out immediately and don't mess around with EDD deadlines! The consensus from everyone who's been through this is pretty unanimous on that front. I'm definitely starting an EDD journal today (Emma, that idea is genius!), bookmarking that benefits calculator Omar mentioned, and mentally preparing myself for those legendary hold times when I call about my PFL timeline. It's wild how much practical wisdom exists in this community that you just can't find anywhere on the official websites. What really strikes me is how supportive everyone has been - sharing both the victories and the horror stories with such honesty. It makes this whole intimidating process feel way less isolating when you realize there's an entire community of people who understand exactly what you're going through. Count me in for EDD Anonymous if we ever make it official! 😅 Thanks to everyone for creating such a welcoming space for newcomers to learn from your hard-earned experience. Here's to all of us successfully navigating this bureaucratic maze together! 🙏

Just joined this community after getting completely overwhelmed by my own EDD situation, and wow - this thread is exactly what I needed! Mohammad, you asked all the questions I've been too intimidated to post about. As someone who literally just got my first disability paperwork last week, reading through everyone's experiences has been like getting a crash course in EDD reality. The message seems pretty clear: fill out that 2500A form immediately (EDD apparently worships deadlines), document absolutely everything, and brace yourself for some epic hold times. I'm definitely stealing the "EDD journal" idea - that's brilliant! And I had no clue about the benefits calculator either. It's amazing how much crucial info is just floating around in community wisdom that you can't find on any official site. What really gets me is how everyone here shares both the success stories AND the horror stories with such honesty. Makes me feel way more prepared for what's coming, even if it's going to be a wild ride. Thanks for creating such a supportive space where us newcomers can learn from people who've actually survived this bureaucratic obstacle course. Count me in for EDD Anonymous too! 😅

Just wanted to add that you should also check if your employer offers any supplemental disability insurance that might help bridge the gap during that 7-day waiting period. Some companies have short-term disability policies that can complement SDI benefits. Also, when you're calculating your expected benefit amount, remember that SDI typically pays about 60-70% of your average weekly wages (up to the maximum), but since you're doing partial disability, it gets more complicated. The formula considers your reduced earnings vs. your pre-disability earnings. Don't stress too much about the exact math - EDD will calculate it for you once your claim is approved. The most important thing is getting that medical certification completed accurately by your OB!

I went through this exact situation with my first pregnancy! You're definitely eligible for partial SDI - it's more common than you think. One thing I'd add to all the great advice here is to file your claim as soon as your doctor completes the DE 2501 form. Don't wait! The sooner you file, the sooner that 7-day waiting period starts. Also, when you're on partial disability, you'll need to report ANY changes in your work schedule immediately - if your doctor later says you need to reduce hours further or if your employer changes your schedule, notify EDD right away. I made the mistake of not reporting a schedule change quickly enough and it caused a delay in my payments. The good news is that once everything is set up properly, the partial disability payments are pretty reliable. Wishing you a healthy rest of your pregnancy!

I've been following this thread and wow, there's so much helpful info here! I'm dealing with a similar EDD error (different code but same frustration) and this community is honestly a lifesaver. Sean, it sounds like you've got a ton of great troubleshooting steps to try now - the early morning login timing, browser switching, ad blocker disabling, and making sure everything matches your official docs exactly. I'm bookmarking this whole thread because I have a feeling I'll need these tips eventually too! The fact that we all have to become IT specialists just to access our own benefits is absolutely wild, but at least we're helping each other figure it out. Really hope one of these solutions works for you - keep us updated on what finally does the trick!

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now! What's helped me so far is using a completely different device - I was trying on my laptop and kept getting E324, but when I switched to my phone using mobile data (not WiFi), it actually let me get further into the process. Haven't fully resolved it yet, but it seems like their system is really finicky about your connection and device fingerprint. Also, try logging in right when their system resets at midnight or super early in the morning - I've noticed way fewer errors during those times. The whole thing is such a mess, but don't lose hope! This thread has given me so many new things to try too.