Based on everyone's responses and current processing times, I'd suggest giving it until about the 15-business day mark before getting too concerned. If you haven't received payment by then, definitely pursue more aggressive follow-up options. In the meantime, document every attempt you make to contact EDD (dates, times, outcomes) as this can be helpful if you need to escalate your case later.

I'm going through the exact same thing right now! My doctor submitted my certification last Thursday and I'm checking my SDI account obsessively every day. It's so stressful when you're already dealing with health issues and then have to worry about money on top of it. From what everyone is saying here, it sounds like 7-14 days is pretty normal, but the uncertainty is the worst part. I really hope yours comes through soon - back surgery is no joke and you shouldn't have to stress about rent while you're trying to recover. Definitely try that Claimyr service that Grace mentioned if you can't get through by phone. At least then you'd know if there are any issues with your claim instead of just waiting and wondering.

This entire thread has been incredibly helpful and honestly a real wake-up call for me. I'm currently at about 8 months on SDI for a traumatic brain injury from a motorcycle accident, and my neurologist says I'll need at least another 6-8 months before I can handle even basic cognitive tasks required for work. I had absolutely no idea about the 52-week hard limit or that there could be such a massive gap between SDI and SSDI benefits. Reading everyone's experiences about going months without income while still disabled is terrifying, especially since TBI recovery is so unpredictable. Some days I feel almost normal, other days I can barely follow a conversation or remember what I had for breakfast. The cognitive issues make navigating these complex systems even more challenging. Based on all the advice here, I'm going to start my SSDI application immediately and ask my case manager at the brain injury center to help me understand the documentation requirements. I'll also start that symptom journal focusing on cognitive function, memory issues, fatigue levels, and how they affect my ability to work. Thank you everyone for sharing such detailed experiences - it's awful that we have to become experts in disability law while recovering from serious injuries, but this community support is absolutely invaluable. I'm saving this entire thread as my reference guide!

I'm coming up on my SDI limit in a few months too and this thread has been absolutely crucial information that I wish someone had told me earlier. I'm dealing with lupus and rheumatoid arthritis that developed suddenly last year, and my rheumatologist says I'll need ongoing treatment for at least another year before we know if I can return to any type of work. The unpredictable flare-ups make it impossible to maintain any consistent schedule. What really concerns me after reading everyone's experiences is that gap period between SDI ending and SSDI starting. I'm already struggling financially on reduced SDI payments, so the idea of potentially going months with no income is honestly keeping me awake at night. I'm definitely going to start my SSDI application this week and also look into those county assistance programs several people mentioned. One question for those who've been through this - when you applied for SSDI while still on SDI, did you need to report the SDI income on your SSDI application? I want to make sure I don't accidentally create any complications by applying for both simultaneously. Thank you all for sharing such detailed experiences - this community support is making a huge difference in helping me prepare for this transition.

Thanks everyone for the explanations! I understand what happened now. The 7 days is basically a deductible period that I don't get paid for, and since I only had 4 additional days of disability after that, AND I used sick pay for the first 6 days, I basically didn't qualify for any benefit payment. Seems like SDI only makes sense for longer disability periods. I'll know better for next time, though hopefully I won't need surgery again! I may still try calling EDD just to confirm this understanding.

This is such a common misunderstanding! I went through something similar with my maternity leave last year. The key thing to remember is that SDI is really designed as income replacement for when you have NO other income coming in due to disability. Since your employer covered those first 6 days with sick pay, SDI views that as you already having income replacement for that period. It's frustrating because you're paying into SDI through payroll deductions, but the system assumes your employer benefits come first. For future reference, some people choose to save their sick days and go unpaid earlier to maximize their SDI benefits, but that obviously depends on your financial situation and employer policies.

I'm dealing with this exact same issue right now! My claim was approved 3 weeks ago but still no card. It's so stressful when bills are due and you can't access your own benefits. Reading through all these comments is actually really helpful - I had no idea about calling BoA directly or that there could be glitches where the card request never gets sent. Definitely going to try calling them tomorrow morning with my SSN and claim info ready. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences, it's reassuring to know we're not alone in this mess! 🤞

I'm going through the exact same thing right now! My claim was approved almost 3 weeks ago but still no Money Network card. It's absolutely maddening when you're approved for benefits but can't actually access them. Reading through all these comments has been so helpful though - I had no idea about calling Bank of America directly to check if the card was even issued! That glitch Sean mentioned where EDD approves the claim but never sends the card request to BoA could totally be what's happening. I'm definitely calling BoA at 1-866-692-9374 first thing tomorrow morning with my SSN and claim number ready. It's somewhat reassuring to know so many others have dealt with this (though I wouldn't wish it on anyone). Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and tips - gives me hope there's actually a way to resolve this nightmare! 🙏

Just wanted to chime in as someone who works in medical administration - when your OB/GYN fills out the DE 2501, make sure they're very specific about the procedure details. Don't just put "hysterectomy" - have them specify the type (total, partial, laparoscopic, etc.) and any complications or factors that might extend recovery. EDD sometimes questions vague medical descriptions and this can delay processing. Also, if you had any complications during or after the hysterectomy that your doctor documented, make sure those are included too. The more detailed medical justification you provide upfront, the less likely they are to request additional documentation later. Wishing you a smooth recovery from both surgeries!

I'm dealing with something similar right now - had shoulder surgery in October and then needed emergency gallstone removal in December. What really helped me was getting my second surgeon to explicitly state on the DE 2501 that this was a "separate and unrelated medical condition requiring additional disability time beyond the original claim period." My claim specialist at EDD told me that exact wording helps their system process it correctly as a supplemental certification rather than just an extension. Also, don't forget to keep doing your bi-weekly certifications even during the transition - I almost missed one because I thought my claim was "on hold" but it's not, it just gets extended with new dates. The whole process took about 8 days from when my doctor submitted the form to when I saw the updated end date in my account. Hope this helps and wishing you a speedy recovery from both surgeries!