This thread has been incredibly eye-opening! I'm actually in the exact same situation - had a minor procedure in early March and was supposed to be out for 6 weeks, but I'm feeling much better and want to return to work next week (about 2 weeks early). I had absolutely no idea about the DE 2525XX form requirement or that just stopping certification could lead to serious overpayment issues down the road. The stories about fraud penalties and having to pay back thousands of dollars are honestly terrifying! It's so frustrating that EDD doesn't have a simple online option to end benefits early - you'd think they'd want to make it easy for people to return to work when they're ready. I'm definitely going to follow all the advice here: get my doctor to fax the supplemental form with my exact return date, try calling EDD (though it sounds like a total nightmare), and keep detailed documentation of everything. Thank you all for sharing your experiences - this thread is going to save me from making some potentially very expensive mistakes!

Wow, this thread is incredibly helpful! I'm actually dealing with a similar situation right now - had a procedure done in late February and was supposed to be out until early May, but I'm healing much faster than expected and want to return to work in about a week (roughly 3 weeks early). I had absolutely no idea about the DE 2525XX form requirement or that there could be serious consequences for not following the proper process. The stories about overpayment penalties are definitely eye-opening and kind of scary! It's really frustrating that there's no straightforward online option to end benefits early - you'd think EDD would want to make it easy for people to return to productive work when they're ready. Based on everyone's advice here, I'm going to: 1) Contact my doctor immediately to get the DE 2525XX form faxed to EDD with my exact return date, 2) Try calling EDD directly (though it sounds like that's going to be a challenge), and 3) Keep detailed records of everything including screenshots and copies of all forms. Thank you all so much for sharing your experiences - this thread has probably saved me from making some very costly mistakes! It's great to see so many people recovering ahead of schedule, even if the bureaucratic process makes it more complicated than it should be.

lol welcome to EDD hell. grab a seat, we'll be here a while 💀

I'm going through the exact same thing! My claim has been pending since December and it's driving me crazy. I've been reading through all these suggestions and they're super helpful. I'm definitely going to try the early morning calling strategy and reach out to my assembly member. It's frustrating that we have to jump through so many hoops just to get what we're entitled to, but at least we're not alone in this struggle. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and tips!

Hi Mateo! I just went through this exact situation a couple months ago - also 36 weeks pregnant when I filed and my employer submitted paper forms too. The anxiety is SO real, especially when you're that close to your due date! From my experience, paper forms typically add about 2-3 weeks to the processing time, but the good news is your benefits will definitely be backdated to your May 14th filing date. I filed in early March and my employer mailed their form about a week later. It took roughly 18 calendar days from when they mailed it until I saw my status change from "waiting period" to "processing." A few things that helped me stay sane during the wait: - Asked my HR for the tracking number when they mailed it (they used certified mail) - Called EDD at exactly 8 AM after 2 weeks to confirm they received the form - Checked my SDI account every morning instead of obsessively throughout the day The rep I spoke to confirmed that pregnancy disability claims do get some priority since they're time-sensitive. Given that you filed May 14th and your due date is June 8th, you should absolutely have everything approved in time - even with the paper processing delays. One thing to double-check with your employer tomorrow: make sure they're using the current version of the DE 2503 form (should say 2024 or 2025 revision date). I've seen people get delayed because their employer used an outdated form version. Hang in there! The waiting is definitely the hardest part, but you filed early enough that you should be totally fine. Keep us posted on how it goes! 💙

Hey Mateo! I'm a newcomer here but wanted to chime in since I just went through this exact process with my pregnancy disability claim about 6 weeks ago. The paper form submission anxiety is SO real - I was checking my account multiple times a day and driving myself crazy! From my experience, it took exactly 19 calendar days from when my employer mailed the DE 2503 until my status changed to "processing." The key thing that saved my sanity was getting the certified mail tracking number from my HR department - I could see exactly when EDD received it and start counting from there. A couple things that might help: - Follow up with your employer tomorrow to confirm they actually mailed it (mine "forgot" the first time 🙄) - Ask for tracking info if they used certified/priority mail - The waiting period status is just the standard 7-day waiting period, not waiting for documents - Your benefits will 100% be backdated to May 14th regardless of processing delays Given your timeline (filed May 14, due June 8), you're in great shape even with paper processing. I filed way later than you did and still got everything sorted before my maternity leave started. The EDD rep I eventually spoke to mentioned they do prioritize pregnancy claims since they're time-sensitive. Try not to stress too much - easier said than done when you're 36 weeks pregnant, I know! But you filed early and did everything right. The money will come through in time. Hang in there mama! 💕

I'm going through something very similar right now and this thread has been incredibly helpful! Based on what everyone's shared, it sounds like the key is getting very specific documentation from your employer and using the right legal terminology in your appeal. I'm definitely going to request that detailed breakdown letter from HR showing the percentage split and make sure to reference "partial wage continuation under UI Code Section 2626" like several people mentioned. The spreadsheet idea is genius too - creating a visual that clearly shows the wage gap seems like it would make it impossible for them to misunderstand. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and timelines, it's really reassuring to know this is fixable with the right approach! 🤞

This whole thread has been such a lifesaver! I'm dealing with the exact same issue right now - my employer is only covering about 70% of my salary but EDD thinks I'm getting full pay. Reading everyone's experiences has given me a clear roadmap: get that detailed HR letter with percentage breakdowns, use the magic phrase "partial wage continuation under UI Code Section 2626" in my appeal, create a spreadsheet showing the wage gap, and submit everything through the online portal. It's honestly ridiculous that we have to become legal experts just to get benefits we've been paying into, but at least now I know what actually works. Thanks to everyone who shared their success stories - it's so helpful to hear real timelines and know this isn't impossible to fix! 🙌

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is the importance of understanding California's "dual capacity" doctrine if his injury is work-related. Since he's been receiving EDD SDI while workers comp is processing, make sure to keep all those payment records - workers comp should reimburse EDD for those payments once his claim is accepted. Also, at 63, he might want to consider the "grid rules" for Social Security disability. These rules make it easier to qualify for SSDI as you get older, especially if you have limited education or transferable job skills. The combination of his age, work history, and medical condition could work in his favor. Don't forget about potential vocational rehabilitation benefits through workers comp too - even if he can't return to his old job, they might pay for retraining or job placement assistance. This could be valuable even if he ends up retiring. I'd recommend creating a timeline with all the important deadlines - when SDI expires, when to apply for various benefits, statute of limitations for workers comp, etc. Having everything mapped out visually really helps when juggling multiple systems.

I'm new here but dealing with a very similar situation with my mother who's 62 and transitioning from temporary to permanent disability. One thing that's been really helpful for us is requesting a "benefits coordination meeting" through the Social Security office - they can actually sit down with you and explain exactly how all the different benefits interact in your specific situation. Also, I learned that if your husband has been paying into Social Security for enough years, he might be eligible for something called "disabled widow(er)'s benefits" if you're married and one of you becomes disabled - though I'm not 100% clear on the details. Definitely worth asking about though! The waiting periods are brutal. We've been in limbo for months, but I found that being proactive about documentation really helps speed things along. Get copies of EVERYTHING - medical records, employment history, tax returns for the past few years. Having it all ready when they ask for it can save weeks of delays. Hang in there - this community has been so helpful for navigating all the bureaucracy!