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I'm going through the exact same thing right now! My doctor cleared me to return Monday and I've been sitting here staring at my certification form for the past hour trying to figure this out. Reading through all these responses has been so helpful - sounds like the consensus is clear that I should certify through today (Sunday) since Monday is my official return date. It's honestly mind-boggling how EDD makes something this straightforward so confusing on their website. I was terrified of accidentally committing fraud or losing out on benefits I'm entitled to. Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences - this thread should honestly be pinned somewhere because I bet tons of people run into this same confusion when doing their final certification!
You've got it exactly right! Since your doctor cleared you to return on Monday, Sunday (today) should be your last day of disability that you include in your certification. I'm new to this community too and was in the same boat just a few weeks ago - staring at that form wondering if I was going to mess everything up! This thread really is a goldmine of information. I ended up following the advice here (certify through the day before your return date) and everything went smoothly. Just make sure to submit it today and keep a screenshot of your confirmation like others mentioned. You're so close to being done with this whole process - don't let EDD's confusing instructions stress you out when you've already got the right answer!
I just went through this exact same situation last month and can definitely confirm what everyone else is saying - you certify through your last day of disability (6/9), NOT your return-to-work date (6/10). I was equally confused when I first saw the certification form, but the rule is actually pretty straightforward once you understand it: disability benefits cover you up until the day before you're cleared to return to work. I made the mistake of calling EDD to ask about this and spent 2 hours on hold just to get the same answer that's already been given here multiple times. Save yourself the headache and just submit with 6/9 as your final day. I did mine correctly and got my final payment within about 5 business days with no issues. Also, definitely submit it today like others have mentioned - don't wait! I learned from reading forums like this that any delay in submitting your final certification can cause unnecessary complications with your final payment. You've got all the information you need now, so go ahead and get it done!
Reading through this thread as someone who just started the SDI process has been both incredibly helpful and pretty concerning! I submitted my claim last week after a work injury and it's currently showing as "received" but not yet "pending" - should I be worried about that status, or is that normal in the first week? The employer contact information issue that @Ella Lewis experienced is something I never would have thought to double-check. My company went through a merger earlier this year and I'm now realizing their address and HR contacts might have changed. I'm going to call them tomorrow to verify they have the current info on file. It's really frustrating that we have to become experts on EDD's broken system just to access benefits we've paid into, especially when dealing with medical issues. But I'm grateful for communities like this where people share real experiences and practical solutions. The tips about checking both online systems, calling at 8 AM, and even contacting assembly members are invaluable. Thanks to everyone for sharing your stories - it's clear that persistence and proactive follow-up are essential when dealing with EDD, unfortunately.
@Kirsuktow DarkBlade - Received "status" is actually normal for the first week or so! That just means EDD has your claim in their system but hasn t'started processing it yet. It should move to pending "within" a few days, and then hopefully to approved "after" they review everything. You re'smart to double-check your employer info after the merger - that s'exactly the kind of thing that could cause delays like Ella experienced. I d'also suggest getting the name and direct contact info for whoever in HR handles EDD verification requests, so you can follow up with them directly if needed. One thing I learned from this thread is to document everything from the beginning - dates, status changes, who you talked to, etc. It might seem like overkill now, but it could save you a lot of headache if you need to call EDD later and explain your situation to multiple reps. Hopefully your claim processes smoothly and you won t'need any of these workarounds, but it s'definitely better to be prepared! Keep us updated on how it goes.
This thread is such a goldmine of information! I'm about to file my first SDI claim next week for a scheduled surgery and I'm already feeling anxious about the process after reading everyone's experiences. The fact that claims can get stuck for weeks due to something as simple as an outdated employer address is really concerning. I'm definitely going to implement all the preventive measures mentioned here: - Verify my employer's current contact information with HR before filing - Take screenshots of everything with timestamps - Check both SDI Online AND BPO accounts regularly - Keep detailed records of all submissions and communications - Be prepared to call at 8 AM if my claim gets stuck The assembly member constituent services tip is brilliant - I had no idea that was an option for EDD issues. It's sad that we need these workarounds, but I'm so grateful for this community sharing real-world solutions. @Ella Lewis - I'm really glad you got your issue resolved! Your persistence in calling at 8 AM and getting to the bottom of the employer address problem probably saved you weeks more of waiting. Hopefully your payment comes through quickly now. It's frustrating that the EDD system is so broken that we need to become experts just to access our own benefits, but threads like this make the process much less intimidating. Thank you all for sharing your experiences!
@Eli Wang - You re'being really smart to prepare ahead of time! Having gone through this process myself recently, I can t'stress enough how helpful it is to be proactive. One additional tip I d'add to your excellent list: if possible, try to get a direct phone number or email for your employer s'HR department that handles disability/workers comp claims. Some larger companies have dedicated teams for this, and having that direct contact can be invaluable if EDD needs verification. Also, since you re'having scheduled surgery, make sure your doctor knows exactly what information EDD will need for the medical certification. Sometimes providers aren t'familiar with the specific forms or level of detail required, which can cause delays. It might be worth asking your doctor s'office if they ve'handled SDI paperwork before. The anxiety is totally understandable - this system shouldn t'be this complicated! But going in prepared like you are definitely increases your chances of a smooth process. Wishing you a successful surgery and hopefully a straightforward SDI experience!
I'm dealing with the exact same issue right now! Sent my SDI documents about 5 weeks ago and haven't heard a peep from EDD. It's so stressful not knowing if they even received everything. I've been checking my online account obsessively but there's no update. Has anyone had success with sending documents multiple times through different methods? I'm starting to wonder if I should resend everything via certified mail just to be safe. This whole process is so nerve-wracking when you really need the benefits to come through.
I'm going through the same thing! It's such a relief to know I'm not alone in this. The waiting and uncertainty is definitely the worst part. From what I've read in the other comments here, it seems like sending via certified mail is a good backup plan - at least then you'll have proof they received it. I'm also thinking about trying that fax suggestion someone mentioned earlier, even though it feels so outdated. Hang in there - we'll get through this!
I'm in a similar situation - sent my SDI documents about 4 weeks ago and still waiting for any kind of response from EDD. It's so frustrating not knowing if they even received everything! I've been checking my online account daily but there's been zero updates. Reading through all these comments, it sounds like this is unfortunately pretty normal for EDD right now. I think I'm going to try the certified mail approach that Emily mentioned - at least that way I'll have proof of delivery. Has anyone had luck with calling the 1-800-480-3287 number? I keep seeing busy signals but maybe I need to try calling right when they open. This whole process is such a nightmare when you're already dealing with a disability and need the income support.
I work as a benefits specialist and see this issue frequently. Here's what I recommend doing immediately: 1) File a DE 1326C form (Claim for Additional Disability Benefits) - you can find it on the EDD website, 2) Gather ALL proof of wages from that missing period - bank statements showing direct deposits, tax documents, even email confirmations of pay if you have them, 3) When you call EDD, specifically ask for the "Wage Investigation Unit" and explain that your employer underwent major changes/closures during your disability period. The key thing to understand is that even if your physical workplace closed, your employer's tax ID and wage reporting should still be in EDD's system. They can often locate wages that were reported under different subsidiary names or after management changes. Don't give up - I've seen people get thousands in backpay once this gets resolved properly. The investigation usually takes 2-4 weeks once initiated.
Thank you so much for this detailed breakdown! This is exactly the kind of step-by-step guidance I needed. I'm definitely going to file that DE 1326C form today and start gathering all my bank statements. It's really reassuring to hear from someone who works in benefits that this is a common issue with a real solution. The part about wages possibly being reported under different subsidiary names makes total sense given all the management changes at my company. I'll make sure to mention that specifically when I finally get through to the Wage Investigation Unit. Really appreciate you taking the time to explain the whole process!
I went through something very similar when my previous employer got acquired and all the HR systems changed while I was on maternity leave. What saved me was keeping meticulous records - I had screenshots of my online pay stubs and bank deposit notifications on my phone. When I finally got through to EDD (took about 3 weeks of trying), they were able to cross-reference my bank deposits with their employer tax records. The whole process took about 6 weeks total, but I ended up getting almost $2,000 in backpay once they corrected my benefit calculation. Don't lose hope! Also, if you have any old work emails or even text messages from your manager about pay schedules or bonuses during that period, save those too - EDD accepted those as supporting documentation in my case.
Liam Sullivan
I'm going through the exact same thing right now! My automatic payments stopped coming about 10 days ago with no explanation. What's really frustrating is that I can't even get a straight answer from anyone about what's causing the delay. I've been checking my UI Online account obsessively but there's nothing new there. It's like we're all just stuck in limbo waiting for EDD to figure their stuff out. Really hoping someone here has found a solution that actually works.
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Diego Flores
•I feel your pain! The lack of communication from EDD is probably the most frustrating part. Have you tried reaching out through multiple channels at once? Sometimes hitting them from different angles (phone, online messaging, even social media) can get their attention faster. Also, if you haven't already, try logging in at different times of day - sometimes the system updates overnight and you might catch new information early in the morning.
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Anastasia Kozlov
I'm so sorry you're going through this - I know exactly how stressful it is when bills are piling up and you're not getting the payments you were promised. One thing that helped me when I had a similar issue was creating a paper trail by sending messages through the UI Online portal AND following up with certified mail to document everything. Also, check if there are any local EDD offices near you that do walk-ins - sometimes showing up in person can get faster results than phone calls. In the meantime, if you're really struggling with bills, contact your utility companies and creditors to explain the situation - many have hardship programs or will work with you on payment plans while you sort this out with EDD. Don't lose hope, this will get resolved!
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Mae Bennett
•This is really solid advice! I especially like the idea about creating a paper trail - documentation is so important when dealing with government agencies. The certified mail tip is brilliant because it creates an official record that they received your inquiry. I've also heard that some people have had luck reaching out to their local state assembly member's office - they often have staff dedicated to helping constituents navigate issues with state agencies like EDD. It might be worth a shot if the other methods don't work out. Hang in there, these delays are unfortunately common but they do get resolved eventually!
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