I've been on CA disability twice and wanted to share a few additional tips that really helped me! First, your sister should download the Bank of America mobile app once she gets her card - it's actually easier to manage transfers and check balances through the app than the website. Second, if she's worried about the first payment timing, she can call the EDD automated phone line at 1-866-401-2849 to check if her payment has been issued (it usually gets loaded onto the card 1-2 days after the "paid" date shows in her online EDD account). One thing I learned the hard way - if she needs cash quickly and there's no BofA ATM nearby, Walmart MoneyCenter locations will let you withdraw up to $999 per transaction for just a $3 fee, which is way better than most ATM surcharges. Also, once she sets up the online account, she can get text alerts when payments are loaded onto her card, which is super helpful for budgeting. Hope her claim goes smoothly and congratulations on the upcoming baby!

Just wanted to add something that saved me a lot of stress when I was on disability - your sister should definitely take a photo of both sides of the EDD card as soon as it arrives and store it securely on her phone or in a safe place. The card number, expiration date, and security code are all you need to set up online transfers or make online payments, so if she ever loses the physical card, she can still access her funds digitally while waiting for a replacement. I had my card fall out of my wallet once and this backup saved me from being completely stuck without access to my money for over a week. Also, make sure she memorizes or writes down the PIN separately from where she stores the card info - you need both for ATM withdrawals but keeping them separate is safer if one gets compromised. The EDD system can be frustrating enough without adding preventable headaches on top of it!

I'm going through something very similar right now and this thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm about 10 weeks into FMLA for a herniated disc and my doctor just told me I'll likely need at least another 2-3 months of recovery time. Reading through everyone's experiences has given me so much valuable information about options I didn't even know existed. One thing I wanted to add that might help others - I discovered that my company has a "return to work coordinator" who specializes in these situations. They've been much more knowledgeable about accommodation options than regular HR and have actually been advocating FOR me rather than just protecting the company's interests. If your company has someone in this role, definitely ask to be connected with them. Also, I've found it really helpful to keep a daily symptom diary documenting how my condition affects my ability to work. My doctor said this kind of detailed documentation can be really valuable when requesting accommodations or extensions. The stress of worrying about job security definitely makes recovery harder, but knowing there are so many potential protections and resources available has given me much more peace of mind. Thank you to everyone who's shared their experiences - this community support means everything when you're navigating something this challenging!

This has been such an incredibly thorough and supportive discussion - I'm amazed by how much valuable information everyone has shared! As someone who's been dealing with a similar situation (currently 8 weeks into FMLA for chronic migraines), I'm taking notes on all of these strategies and resources. One thing I wanted to add that has helped me is creating a "medical leave binder" with sections for: doctor's notes, SDI paperwork, employer communications, accommodation requests, and a timeline of key dates. Having everything organized this way has made it so much easier when I need to reference specific information or provide documentation to different parties. Also, I learned that some companies have "employee resource groups" for people with disabilities or chronic conditions - these can be great sources of informal support and practical advice from colleagues who've navigated similar situations. It might be worth asking HR if your company has anything like this. The collective wisdom in this thread has transformed my anxiety about FMLA running out into a sense of empowerment about the various options available. Thank you all for being so generous with your experiences and knowledge - this is exactly the kind of community support that makes such a difference when facing these challenges!

This is such a common problem with EDD unfortunately! I went through something similar last month. What worked for me was asking my doctor's office to resend the forms via certified mail AND fax at the same time, then calling EDD with both tracking numbers. Sometimes their different departments don't communicate well internally. Also, try calling EDD first thing in the morning around 8 AM - I've had better luck getting through then. Hope this helps and you get it sorted out soon! 🤞

This is exactly why I always ask for delivery confirmations when sending anything to EDD! I had a similar runaround last year where they claimed they never got my forms, but my doctor's office had the fax confirmation showing it went through. What finally worked was having my doctor's office call EDD directly while I was on a three-way call - suddenly the forms "appeared" in their system. It's like they need to hear it straight from the source sometimes. Don't give up, keep pushing them to actually look for your paperwork!

Just wanted to add that if you're dealing with a workplace injury like you mentioned, you might also want to look into workers' compensation benefits. Since your back problems are from a workplace injury, you could potentially be eligible for both workers' comp and SDI depending on your situation. Workers' comp might cover more of your medical expenses related to the injury. It's worth asking your doctor or HR about this too - sometimes people don't realize they can pursue both options. Hope your claim goes smoothly!

I've been through the SDI process twice and want to echo what others have said - definitely give your doctor a heads up that EDD will be sending them certification forms electronically. My orthopedist told me that a lot of doctors aren't familiar with the EDD system and sometimes the emails end up in spam folders or get overlooked. Also, since you mentioned this is a workplace injury, I'd strongly recommend looking into workers' compensation as well. You can file both claims - they serve different purposes and you're potentially entitled to both. Workers' comp will cover your medical bills related to the injury, which SDI won't do. Don't let your unhelpful HR department stop you from getting the benefits you deserve! One more tip: when you file your SDI claim online, save/screenshot every confirmation page and keep detailed notes of dates and reference numbers. The system can be glitchy and having documentation saved me when there was a processing delay with my claim. Good luck with everything - you've got this! 💪

lol welcome to EDD hell. where everything's made up and the rules don't matter 🤡

I went through this exact same thing a few months ago! The trick that finally worked for me was going to a local EDD office in person with two forms of ID. I know it's a hassle, but they were able to update my phone number on the spot and I could log in again that same day. Might be worth checking if there's an office near you that's doing walk-ins. Good luck! 🤞