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!

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!

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.

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! 💪

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!

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.

I'm so grateful I found this thread! I'm at about 10 months on SDI for severe depression and anxiety that developed after a series of traumatic events, and my psychiatrist says I'll need at least another 6 months of intensive treatment before I can even consider part-time work. I had absolutely no clue about the 52-week maximum or that there could be months without any income while waiting for SSDI. Reading everyone's experiences here has been both incredibly helpful and honestly terrifying. The idea of potentially losing all income while still unable to work is giving me panic attacks, which obviously doesn't help my mental health recovery. I'm definitely going to start my SSDI application immediately based on all the advice here. One thing I'm worried about is how to document mental health disabilities for SSDI since it's not as visible as physical injuries. Has anyone here successfully navigated SSDI with primarily mental health conditions? I keep detailed mood tracking and have regular therapy notes, but I'm not sure if that's sufficient documentation for SSDI compared to things like X-rays or lab results. Thank you everyone for sharing such detailed experiences - it's awful that we have to become experts in disability law while dealing with serious health conditions, but this community support is absolutely invaluable. I'm saving this entire thread as my action plan!

I'm approaching my SDI limit as well and this entire discussion has been absolutely eye-opening. I've been on benefits for about 9 months due to complications from diabetes that have caused severe neuropathy and vision problems, and my endocrinologist says I'll need at least another 4-6 months before we can assess if I can handle any type of work safely. Like so many others here, I had zero idea about the 52-week hard cutoff or the potential months-long gap before SSDI kicks in. The thought of losing income while still unable to work is honestly panic-inducing, especially since my medical expenses are already overwhelming. Based on everyone's advice, I'm going to immediately start my SSDI application and schedule appointments with both my endocrinologist and ophthalmologist to discuss the documentation requirements. The diabetes complications affect so many daily functions - walking stability, fine motor skills, reading ability, driving - so I'll make sure they document all these functional limitations rather than just the medical diagnosis. I'm also going to start that symptom journal everyone mentioned, tracking daily pain levels, vision changes, balance issues, and how they impact basic activities. Thank you all for sharing such detailed experiences - it's unfortunate we have to navigate these complex systems while managing serious health conditions, but this community support is making all the difference in helping me prepare properly.