Friendly reminder to everyone: DOCUMENT EVERYTHING. Every call, every letter, every online status change. It'll save your butt if there's ever a dispute.

Hey Dallas! I just went through this same situation a couple months ago. My doctor was super slow with the medical certification too - turned out they were waiting for some additional test results. I called their office every other day (nicely but persistently) and finally got them to submit it. Once they did, my claim moved pretty quickly - about 2 weeks after that. The key thing is that your claim basically sits in limbo until they get that medical cert, so definitely stay on your doctor about it. You can also ask them to fax it directly to EDD instead of mailing it - that speeds things up. Don't stress too much about the processing time once everything's submitted though, they're actually pretty good about backdating to when your disability actually started. Good luck! 🤞

I just wanted to add my experience for anyone else who might be going through this. I filed my SDI claim about 6 months ago and had a similar "pending" situation that lasted almost 4 weeks. What I learned is that EDD's processing times can vary significantly based on their current workload and the complexity of your case. In my situation, the delay was caused by my employer being slow to respond to EDD's request for wage information. Once I called and found out what was holding things up, I was able to follow up directly with my HR department to expedite their response. The claim was approved within 3 days after that. My advice would be: don't just wait passively - be proactive about calling, and if you can't get through on the regular lines, definitely consider using a service like Claimyr. Also, make sure to document everything and keep copies of all your submissions. The peace of mind is worth it, and having detailed records really helps when you do get through to speak with someone at EDD.

I'm new to this community and currently going through the SDI application process myself. This entire thread has been incredibly valuable - thank you Sofia for sharing your journey and everyone else for the detailed advice! I submitted my claim last week and was already starting to worry about the timeline, but reading through all these experiences has given me a much better understanding of what to expect and what to do if things get delayed. The tips about checking for date discrepancies, continuing to certify while pending, and having services like Claimyr as a backup option are exactly the kind of practical information you can't find on the official EDD website. It's amazing how this community comes together to help each other navigate such a complex and stressful system. I'll definitely keep everyone posted on my progress and hopefully can pay it forward by sharing my experience to help the next person who finds themselves in a similar situation!

I just went through my first holiday payment delay with EDD SDI during Thanksgiving and wanted to share what happened. My payment period ended on November 21st (the Thursday that was Thanksgiving), and I was really worried about delays since it was my second payment ever on disability. What actually happened was interesting - the payment showed as "Paid" in my SDI Online portal on the 21st as scheduled, but because of the holiday banking closures, I didn't receive the direct deposit until the following Monday (November 25th). So it was only a 1-day delay from when I would normally see it in my account. Based on this experience, I think you'll likely be okay since your period ends on Christmas Eve (24th) rather than Christmas Day itself. The key is that EDD seems to process the payments on schedule even during holidays, but the banking delays are what cause the actual deposit to be late. I'd recommend checking your SDI Online account on the 24th to see if it shows "Paid" status - if it does, you'll know the payment is coming even if there's a banking delay. Good luck and happy holidays!

I'm new to SDI and just started my claim this month, so this entire thread has been incredibly educational! I had no idea that holiday timing could affect payments in so many different ways. Reading everyone's experiences - from the Thanksgiving delays to the Christmas Eve scenarios - really helps set realistic expectations for what to expect during my time on disability. What strikes me most is how the actual EDD processing seems to happen on schedule, but it's the banking holidays that cause the delays in when you actually see the money. That's a really important distinction that I wouldn't have understood without reading all these real experiences. For anyone else who's new to this system like me, it seems like the key takeaways are: 1) Check your SDI Online portal on your certification end date to see payment status, 2) Set up direct deposit and banking alerts if possible, 3) Always plan for potential delays around holidays, and 4) The timing of when your period ends relative to the actual holiday makes a big difference. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences - this community is such a valuable resource for navigating the confusing world of EDD!

I'm going through this exact same situation right now and was completely panicking until I found this thread! Been on SDI since August for chronic fatigue syndrome, got my first DE 2525XX in October when I had to switch from my GP to a specialist, and just received another identical form yesterday with zero explanation. Like everyone else here, I thought something was seriously wrong with my claim or that they were going to cut my benefits. It's such a relief to learn this is just routine quarterly verification - EDD's communication about this process is absolutely terrible! They could save everyone so much stress by simply adding "routine medical recertification" somewhere on the form. I'm calling my specialist tomorrow to schedule an urgent appointment to get this completed. Based on all the excellent advice here, I'll make sure my doctor includes current functional assessments and work limitations, even though my condition has been stable. I'm also going to start keeping detailed records of everything I submit to EDD going forward. This community thread has been infinitely more helpful than anything on EDD's website or their impossible-to-reach phone system. Thank you all for sharing your experiences and timelines - knowing this is just bureaucratic routine and not a red flag makes this so much less terrifying!

I'm dealing with this exact same situation and was so relieved to find this thread! I've been on SDI since July for a workplace shoulder injury, got my first DE 2525XX form in September when I switched to an orthopedic specialist, and just received another identical form this week. I was absolutely convinced they were going to terminate my benefits or that I had done something wrong with my previous submission. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly reassuring - it's clear this is just EDD's standard quarterly verification process, even though they do an absolutely terrible job of communicating that! A simple note saying "routine medical recertification - required every 3-4 months for ongoing claims" would prevent so much unnecessary panic and confusion. I'm scheduling with my orthopedist tomorrow morning to get this completed ASAP. Based on all the great advice in this thread, I'm going to ask them to prioritize it and complete it same-day during my appointment, and make sure they include detailed current functional assessments even though my recovery has been pretty stable. This community is amazing - you all provided more clarity and useful information in one thread than I could find anywhere on EDD's website or get from their phone system. It's such a relief to know this is just normal bureaucratic routine and not some kind of red flag with my claim. Thank you everyone for sharing your timelines and experiences!

I'm new to this community and just wanted to say thank you for such an incredibly detailed and helpful discussion! I'm actually in a similar boat - been dealing with chronic pain issues and my doctor is recommending extended leave, possibly up to 8 months. Reading through all these responses has been like getting a masterclass in disability rights and job protection. A few things I learned from this thread that I want to highlight for anyone else in similar situations: - SDI provides income but NOT job protection - Multiple laws can overlap (FMLA, CFRA, ADA/FEHA) to potentially extend protection beyond 12 weeks - The "interactive process" is legally required and should start EARLY - Documentation is absolutely critical - get everything in writing - Ask HR specifically about ALL available leave options under company policy AND legal requirements - Your doctor can be a powerful advocate in suggesting specific accommodations Miguel, your systematic approach is inspiring and I'm definitely going to follow your checklist. The advice from Natasha (working in disability rights) and Malik (HR perspective) was particularly valuable in understanding both sides of the process. One question for the group: has anyone had success negotiating a "trial return" or graduated re-entry as part of their accommodation? I'm wondering if that might be another angle to explore with employers who are hesitant about indefinite leave. Thanks again everyone for sharing your knowledge and experiences so generously!

As someone who just went through a similar process with a chronic illness, I wanted to add that it's also worth checking if your company has any "return-to-work" coordinator or occupational health nurse on staff. Many larger employers have these roles specifically to help navigate complex medical leave situations, and they often know about accommodation options that general HR might not think to mention. Also, regarding the trial return/graduated re-entry that Julia mentioned - I actually negotiated something like this! My employer agreed to a "working trial period" where I could test my ability to handle job duties for 30 days with the understanding that if my condition flared up, I could return to medical leave without it being considered a "failed return." Having that safety net made both me and my manager more comfortable with attempting a comeback. The key was presenting it as a structured plan with specific metrics for success (like "able to work 6+ hours per day for 3 consecutive weeks" rather than vague goals). My doctor helped draft the parameters, which gave it more credibility with HR. Miguel, you're doing everything right by being so thorough and proactive. The fact that so many people here have shared successful strategies shows there are definitely paths forward, even when the initial situation seems overwhelming!