I'm new to this community but going through almost the exact same situation! I'm 30 weeks pregnant and just moved from Sacramento to Portland last month for my partner's job. I worked in California until mid-April and had SDI deductions from every paycheck for over 2 years. Reading through all these experiences has been such a relief - I was so worried about eligibility after moving out of state, but it sounds like as long as you paid into the system during your base period (which we both clearly did), current residence doesn't matter for SDI benefits. I just wanted to add that when I called my previous California OB's office about potentially filling out medical certification forms, they told me they handle out-of-state SDI requests regularly and it's totally routine for them. So definitely reach out to your San Diego doctor if your Nevada doctor isn't familiar with the CA forms. Also, I've heard from multiple people that the 8 AM calling time for EDD really works - much shorter wait times than calling later in the day. You've got this! Sounds like you have all the documentation you need and a solid work history in California. Try not to stress too much during this already overwhelming time. Wishing you and your baby all the best! 🤰

I'm new here but wanted to share my experience since it's so relevant to your situation! I moved from San Francisco to Austin at 33 weeks pregnant last year and was in the exact same panic about CA SDI eligibility after submitting my Texas address on the application. The good news is you're absolutely eligible! I successfully received my full pregnancy disability benefits - 4 weeks before delivery and 8 weeks after (C-section). The address verification request is completely standard now due to fraud prevention measures they implemented after the pandemic. I just sent them my Texas lease agreement and utility bill, and it was processed without any issues. A few things that helped me: - My California OB was totally fine completing the medical certification even after I moved (they said it's very common) - The SDI Online portal was super helpful for tracking my claim status - Processing took about 3 weeks total once I submitted all documentation The key thing to remember is that eligibility is based on your base period contributions, not where you currently live. You paid into the system for 3 years, so you're definitely covered! Don't let the conflicting information in some comments stress you out - I literally just went through this successfully and received every penny I was entitled to. Focus on your health and your baby. The benefits will come through! 💕

Just wanted to share my recent experience with this! I actually did both - started with printing the DE 2501 form at home but then my case worker suggested switching to the online application midway through. Here's what I learned: the printed forms work fine, but if you're tech-savvy at all, the online system really is worth it. You get instant confirmation that everything was submitted correctly, and you can track your claim status in real-time. Plus, if there are any missing pieces of info, they'll flag it immediately instead of you finding out weeks later. That said, if your doctor is more comfortable with paper forms, don't stress - the printed version absolutely works. Just make sure you get delivery confirmation when you mail it so you know EDD received it!

Hey Mason! I just went through this process a few weeks ago and wanted to share what worked for me. I printed the DE 2501 form at home and had zero issues - EDD accepted it without any problems. Here's my step-by-step: 1) Go to EDD's website and search for "DE 2501 Claim for Disability Insurance Benefits" 2) Make sure you're downloading the 2025 version 3) Print on regular white paper in black ink only 4) Fill out Part A completely, then take it to your doctor for Part B 5) Mail it with tracking/delivery confirmation to your county's SDI office. The whole process took about 2.5 weeks from mailing to first payment. Don't stress about not having the "official" forms - the printed ones work just fine! The barcode thing some people mention only affects processing time by maybe a day or two at most.

Reading through this entire thread has been so educational! I'm currently employed but struggling with severe work-related anxiety and considering my options. What really stands out to me is how crucial it is to have that medical paper trail BEFORE leaving employment. @Darren Brooks - you mentioned having urgent care visits for panic attacks while still working, which seems like it's going to be key evidence for your claim. The fact that your doctor is willing to backdate the disability start date to when your symptoms actually became severe is also really smart. One question for those who've been through this process - how long did it typically take from filing to getting your first payment? I'm trying to plan financially in case I need to go this route. The 7-day waiting period that @Kara Yoshida mentioned is helpful to know about. Also wanted to echo what others have said - this community is amazing! The level of detailed, practical advice here is exactly what people in these difficult situations need. Thank you all for being so generous with sharing your experiences.

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm actually in a similar boat - left my job last month due to severe workplace stress that was causing migraines and anxiety attacks. My doctor had been treating me for stress-related symptoms while I was still employed, which I'm now realizing was crucial documentation. One thing I learned during my application process that might help others: EDD has a specific form (DE 2501) that your doctor needs to fill out for the medical certification. Make sure your doctor is familiar with this form and knows to be very detailed about how your specific symptoms prevent you from performing work duties. Also, if anyone is dealing with delays or needs to speak with EDD directly, I found that calling right at 8 AM when they open gives you the best chance of getting through. The phone lines get completely jammed later in the day. @Darren Brooks - sounds like you're doing everything right with the medical documentation and backdating! The fact that you sought medical care while still employed is going to work in your favor. Best of luck with your application tomorrow!

I went through SDI for my carpal tunnel surgery last summer and this thread is bringing back all the memories! The 7-day waiting period was definitely frustrating, but what helped me mentally was thinking of it as just part of the process rather than some unfair penalty. One thing I wanted to add that I haven't seen mentioned - if you're someone who gets paid bi-weekly or monthly, the timing of when your disability starts relative to your normal pay schedule can actually impact your cash flow significantly. I was lucky that my surgery fell right after a payday, so I had my regular paycheck to help bridge that first week gap. But if your surgery is scheduled right before payday, you might want to consider adjusting the timing if possible. Also, make sure you understand exactly what "unable to work" means for your specific job. My office job meant I was cleared to return part-time after 3 weeks with some restrictions, and the partial disability benefits actually worked out well for transitioning back. Just something to keep in mind when planning your recovery timeline with your surgeon!

I'm also preparing for a scheduled surgery and have been researching the SDI process - this thread has been incredibly informative! One additional tip I wanted to share that my financial advisor mentioned: if you have a Health Savings Account (HSA), you can actually use those funds not just for medical expenses, but also to help cover your living expenses during the reduced income period, as long as you're using the money for qualified medical expenses related to your surgery and recovery. Also, I've been working with my employer's benefits coordinator and learned that some companies have supplemental disability insurance policies that employees might not even know about. It's worth checking your employee handbook or asking HR directly - these policies sometimes cover that first week waiting period or provide additional benefits beyond what SDI offers. In my case, we have a voluntary short-term disability plan that I wasn't even aware of until I started asking questions about my upcoming leave. The planning process is definitely overwhelming at first, but everyone's shared experiences here make it feel much more manageable. Thanks to everyone who's contributed their insights - it's really helping those of us who are just starting this journey!

Hey Yuki! Just wanted to add that I literally just finished reporting my wages about an hour ago. One thing that caught me off guard was that the system automatically logs you out after being idle for just 15 minutes, so make sure you have everything ready before you start! I had to re-enter everything twice because I got distracted looking for paperwork 🤦‍♀️ Also, if you get any kind of confirmation number at the end, screenshot it or write it down - it's super useful if you need to reference your submission later. You're gonna do great though, and everyone here has given you amazing advice!

Hey there! Just wanted to chime in as another newcomer who's still figuring this all out. I actually tried to report my wages for the first time last week and made the classic mistake of not having all my documents organized beforehand - ended up timing out like LordCommander mentioned! 😭 One thing I learned is to also check if your employer reported your wages correctly on their end, because sometimes there can be discrepancies. My friend had an issue where her employer's report didn't match what she submitted and it caused a whole mess. Also, if you're getting any kind of workers comp or disability payments, make sure you know how to report those too - the categories can be confusing at first. This thread has been so helpful though, I'm bookmarking it for future reference! Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences 🙏