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Congratulations on your upcoming induction tomorrow! I just went through this exact situation in December and wanted to share what worked for me. First, yes EDD pays every two weeks - usually on the same day of the week you first certified. The timing can vary by a day or two depending on holidays. For the birth notification - I was super worried about this too but didn't report immediately and had zero issues. What IS crucial is making sure your OB office submits the updated medical form after delivery. I actually called them the day after I gave birth just to remind them, and they said they automatically do it within 48 hours of discharge. Your replacement card situation should be fine - all payments accumulate in your account regardless of the physical card. I had a similar issue and once my new card arrived, everything was there waiting. One tip that saved me stress: ask your delivery nurse or hospital discharge planner if they have any EDD resources or can confirm your doctor's office handles the paperwork transition. Most hospitals deal with this all the time and can reassure you about the process. You've got this! Focus on your delivery tomorrow and don't stress too much about the EDD stuff - it will work out. Wishing you a smooth induction and healthy baby!
This is so helpful! I love the idea of asking the hospital staff about EDD - I hadn't thought of that. It's reassuring to hear from someone who just went through this recently. Did you have any issues with the timing of your payments during the transition? I'm mostly worried about any gaps while everything gets sorted out with the new medical forms.
I went through this exact same transition just 4 months ago and wanted to share my experience to hopefully ease some of your stress! EDD payments are definitely biweekly, usually hitting your card on the same day of the week. Mine always came on Wednesdays, but sometimes showed up Tuesday night. For the birth notification - I was panicked about this too but honestly didn't call EDD until my 2-week postpartum checkup when my doctor reminded me about the paperwork. No issues at all! The key thing is making sure your doctor's office is on top of submitting that post-delivery form. I'd suggest mentioning it to them tomorrow before your induction so it's on their radar. Your replacement card situation should be totally fine - I had to get a new one issued during my pregnancy claim and all my back payments were there when it arrived. One thing I wish someone had told me: if you're planning to take the full bonding leave after your recovery, start researching the PFL application process now while you have brain space. I waited until the last minute and it was stressful trying to figure it out with a newborn. Good luck with your induction tomorrow! Try not to worry too much about the EDD stuff - you have enough on your plate. The system usually works, even if it feels overwhelming right now. Congratulations on your little one! 🍼
I'm so sorry you're dealing with this stress while trying to recover! As someone new to this community but unfortunately familiar with employer intimidation tactics, I wanted to add that you might also want to consider reaching out to a disability rights organization or employment attorney for a free consultation. Many offer initial consultations at no charge and can give you specific advice about California law. From what I'm reading, everyone here is absolutely right - what they're calling "job abandonment" is actually you following proper medical protocol and maintaining communication. That's literally the opposite of abandonment! The fact that they're using this specific terminology suggests they're trying to create a paper trail to fight any future unemployment claim. One thing that might help is to ask your doctor to include in their documentation not just your return date, but also a statement about the risks of returning early or performing duties outside your restrictions. Having medical evidence that their "accommodation" could cause further injury strengthens your position significantly. Stay strong and trust your medical team's timeline. Your health is more important than their convenience, and you have more legal protections than they want you to believe!
Thank you so much for the suggestion about getting a free consultation with an employment attorney! I hadn't thought about that, but it makes total sense to get professional legal advice given how calculated their approach seems. You're absolutely right that their specific use of "job abandonment" terminology feels very deliberate - like they're building a case against me for future benefits. I'm going to call a few employment lawyers tomorrow to see if I can get some quick guidance on my rights here. And I love the idea of having my doctor include specific language about the risks of early return - that could be really powerful documentation if this goes to unemployment appeals. It's reassuring to hear from someone new to the community who immediately sees how wrong their tactics are. Sometimes when you're in the middle of it, you start to doubt yourself. Really appreciate the support and practical advice!
I'm new to this community but unfortunately not new to employer retaliation during disability claims. What you're experiencing is textbook intimidation designed to pressure you into returning before you're medically ready. The "job abandonment" label is particularly concerning because it's legally inaccurate and seems calculated to harm your future unemployment eligibility. A few things to consider that haven't been mentioned yet: 1. File a formal complaint with the California Labor Commissioner's office - they investigate retaliation against employees exercising their rights under disability laws 2. Check if your employer has an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) that might include legal consultation services 3. Consider having your doctor write a letter stating that returning early could worsen your condition and result in a longer recovery period 4. Document the financial pressure they're putting on you - this could be relevant for a constructive dismissal claim You're following your doctor's orders and maintaining communication - that's the definition of being a responsible employee, not abandonment. Don't let them gaslight you into thinking otherwise. Your recovery timeline is based on medical expertise, not their staffing convenience. Stay strong and trust your medical team. Many of us here have been through similar situations and can tell you that standing firm on your medical restrictions is always the right choice, even when employers try to make you feel otherwise.
This is incredibly thorough advice - thank you for taking the time to share all these actionable steps! I hadn't even thought about filing with the Labor Commissioner's office, but you're absolutely right that this feels like retaliation for exercising my disability rights. The EAP suggestion is brilliant too - I completely forgot my company offers that and it might give me access to legal consultation without paying out of pocket. Your point about documenting the financial pressure is really smart - they've definitely been emphasizing how this is "costing the company" and making me feel guilty for following my doctor's timeline. It's so helpful to hear from people who've been through this that I'm not overreacting or being unreasonable. Sometimes when you're dealing with pain and recovery, it's hard to think clearly about your rights. The validation that this is textbook intimidation really helps me feel more confident about standing firm. I'm going to start working through your suggestions tomorrow. Thank you for the encouragement and for confirming that trusting my medical team is the right choice here!
Good on you for self-reporting right away! That really shows integrity. I went through something similar last year - returned to work 4 days early from my disability leave and got an overpayment notice about 8 weeks later. The amount was around $520 and they gave me several payment options including a 6-month payment plan with no interest since I had self-reported. The whole process was actually pretty painless once I got the notice. Just make sure to keep checking your mail regularly because the notice can sometimes get buried in other EDD correspondence. You're doing everything right by being proactive about this!
Thank you so much for sharing your experience! It's really reassuring to hear from someone who went through the exact same thing. A 6-month payment plan with no interest sounds very reasonable - I was worried they'd want it all back immediately. I'll definitely keep an eye on my mailbox for that notice. It's good to know that being proactive and honest about these situations actually works in your favor with EDD. This whole thread has been incredibly helpful!
I had a very similar situation about 6 months ago! Went back to work 3 days before my doctor's release date and got an overpayment notice about 2 months later. The key thing that worked in my favor was that I had already reported the correct return-to-work date through SDI Online before they sent the notice - just like you did. No penalties at all, and they actually included a letter acknowledging that I had self-reported which made the whole process smoother. The overpayment was around $380 for those 3 days, and I was able to pay it online once I got the notice. Don't stress too much - you did exactly the right thing by reporting it immediately when you realized the discrepancy. EDD actually handles these voluntary overpayment cases pretty fairly in my experience.
Make sure you keep all your paperwork in order. Sometimes they "lose" stuff and you need to resend it. Happened to me twice 🙄
Hey Omar, I totally understand your frustration! I went through something similar earlier this year. After my doctor recertification, it took about 8-10 business days for my payment to process and show up. The waiting is definitely nerve-wracking, especially when you're counting on that money. One thing that helped me was setting up text alerts through the EDD website so I got notified as soon as there was any update on my claim status. Also, don't hesitate to call if it goes beyond 2 weeks - sometimes there are small hiccups that need manual review. You've got this! 💪
Chloe Harris
So happy to see your update with good news! This thread is going to be really helpful for anyone else dealing with the same situation. The step-by-step process you followed should be bookmarked - calling the doctor immediately, using a service to actually reach EDD, and making sure the right form gets submitted before the deadline. It's crazy that we have to jump through so many hoops for something that should be straightforward, but at least now others will know exactly what to do. Hope your sciatica continues to improve and you can get back to work when you're truly ready!
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Anastasia Sokolov
•Yes, this thread is going to be so valuable for others! I'm bookmarking it myself even though I don't need SDI right now. The whole process seems unnecessarily complicated, but at least @Ava Rodriguez documented exactly what worked. I had no idea about services like Claimyr to actually get through to EDD - that alone could save people days of frustration. Hope your back heals up quickly!
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Aisha Ali
This is such a great success story and resource! As someone who works in healthcare administration, I see patients struggle with SDI extensions all the time. Your step-by-step approach is exactly what I recommend to patients: 1. Don't wait - contact your doctor immediately when you realize you need an extension 2. Be specific about the form needed (DE 2525XX for extensions) 3. Use services like Claimyr if you can't get through to EDD directly 4. Make sure everything is submitted BEFORE your current period ends The fact that you got the EDD rep to note the incoming extension in your file was brilliant - that's what prevents payment gaps. I'm definitely sharing this thread with colleagues who help patients navigate disability claims. Hope your sciatica improves soon and thanks for taking the time to update everyone!
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Freya Pedersen
•This is exactly the kind of resource I wish I had when I was dealing with my own disability claim confusion last year! @Ava Rodriguez your documentation of the whole process is going to help so many people. I had no idea about the difference between forms for under 8 weeks vs over 8 weeks - that explains why I got so many conflicting answers when I called EDD. The Claimyr service sounds like a game changer too. Thank you @Aisha Ali for breaking down the steps so clearly from a healthcare perspective. Definitely saving this thread for future reference!
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