Just wanted to share my recent experience with this process! I submitted my extension paperwork about 3 weeks ago and it went pretty smoothly. One thing I learned is that you can track the status of your submission through your EDD online portal - they actually update it more frequently than I expected. Also, if your doctor's office is familiar with EDD forms, they might have helpful tips on how to word things properly. My doctor's assistant mentioned they deal with these extensions all the time and knew exactly what EDD looks for. Don't stress too much about it - the process is more straightforward than it seems once you get all the paperwork together!

Just went through this process myself last month! One thing I wish someone had told me earlier - if you're close to your current benefit end date, you can actually submit the extension request up to 30 days before it expires. Don't wait until the last minute like I did! Also, make sure to keep your doctor's original note for your records and only send copies to EDD. I learned this the hard way when they asked for additional documentation later. The whole process took about 2-3 weeks for me, so plan accordingly. Hope this helps and wishing you a smooth extension process! 🤞

Just wanted to say I'm sorry you're going through this. The healthcare/disability system in this country is so broken, especially for self-employed people. Hope you find some help and feel better soon!

I'm a freelance graphic designer who went through something similar a few years ago. One thing that really helped me was contacting 211 (dial 2-1-1) - they connect you with local resources for people dealing with medical issues and financial hardship. They helped me find a clinic that offered sliding-scale payments and connected me with a food bank when I couldn't work for a few months. It's not disability benefits, but it can help bridge the gap while you're dealing with your health issues. Also, if you're having trouble affording your Crohn's medications, GoodRx and similar apps can sometimes help reduce costs significantly. Wishing you the best!

UPDATE: I finally got through to EDD this morning! You were all right - the single week payment was a standard procedure while they reviewed my case. The agent confirmed my medical exam was approved but said there was a "payment processing delay" affecting the backpay. She manually released all my payments and said I should see the money in 24-48 hours. Thanks everyone for your help and advice!

Congratulations on getting this resolved! Your experience is really helpful for others going through the same thing. It's frustrating that EDD doesn't explain their post-examination payment process clearly on their website or in their communications. A simple notice saying "partial payment released while case under final review" would save everyone so much stress and confusion. At least now we know the single week payment is actually a positive sign, not something to panic about. Thanks for updating us with the resolution!

I just went through this exact same thing about 3 weeks ago! Got the terrifying "false statement" notice and was convinced they were going to demand thousands back. Like you, I had briefly attempted to return to work (in my case, it was just 4 days of light desk work) before my condition flared up again. The interview ended up being totally fine - they called about 45 minutes late, but the rep was actually pretty understanding. They mainly wanted to verify: - Exact dates I worked - How many hours per day - Whether my doctor approved it - Why I had to stop - If I reported the earnings correctly (which I had) The whole thing took maybe 12 minutes and they said everything looked good. My benefits continued without any interruption. My advice: Don't let that scary notice freak you out too much. Have your documentation ready (doctor's notes, earnings records, exact dates), but it sounds like you did everything right by reporting your work attempt. These interviews seem to be pretty standard when there are any work attempts during a claim. You've got this!

I'm going through this exact same situation right now and this thread has been incredibly helpful! I got my "false statement" notice two days ago and have been absolutely terrified about what it means. Like many of you, I had a brief work attempt during my SDI claim (chronic fatigue syndrome) that I reported properly, but it sounds like that's what triggers these interviews. Reading all your experiences really shows that the scary language on the notice doesn't match the reality of what these interviews are actually like. It seems like they're mostly just routine verification calls to make sure everything was reported correctly. I'm definitely taking all the advice here about preparing documentation - timeline with exact dates, doctor's notes, earnings records, etc. The fact that so many of you had positive outcomes after similar situations gives me hope that this will turn out fine. Thanks to everyone who shared their stories! This community is amazing for supporting each other through these stressful EDD situations.

Just wanted to add my experience as someone who recently went through this! I was on pregnancy disability for preterm labor at 32 weeks and had the exact same confusion about certification. Like everyone said, no need to certify - but I did have to update EDD when my baby was born earlier than expected. One tip: keep all your paperwork organized and take screenshots of your SDI Online account regularly. I had a payment delay issue that took weeks to resolve, and having documentation really helped when I finally got through to someone. Also, if you end up needing extended disability beyond what your doctor initially certified (like I did due to complications), make sure your doctor submits the supplemental forms promptly - any delay in paperwork means delay in payments. Wishing you a smooth rest of your pregnancy and delivery! 💕

As a newcomer to this community, I just want to say how helpful this entire thread has been! I'm currently 24 weeks pregnant and my doctor mentioned I might need to go on disability later in my pregnancy due to some complications. Reading through everyone's experiences has given me so much valuable information about the SDI process that I never would have known otherwise. The fact that you don't need to certify like with unemployment is such a relief to know ahead of time - I definitely would have been panicking about that too! And all the tips about transitioning to Paid Family Leave, keeping documentation, and what situations require notifying EDD are incredibly useful. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences, especially the detailed summary from Mei Lin. It's so refreshing to find a community where people actually help each other navigate these confusing government processes! I'm bookmarking this thread for future reference.