tldr; EDD is a dumpster fire, good luck to anyone dealing with them 🔥🗑️

Hey Carmen, I went through something similar last year. The DE-2517-16 notice usually means there's a timing issue with your claim filing. Since you filed in February but they're saying it wasn't within 49 days, there might be confusion about when your disability actually started vs when you filed. For the Form 4365DI, you can usually get it from their website or request it over the phone. Even though there's no specific due date listed, I'd recommend getting it in ASAP - EDD can be unpredictable about deadlines. When you call, ask specifically about: - What date they're using as your disability start date - Whether you can get good cause for the late filing - How to submit the 4365DI form (online, mail, or fax) Also, try calling right when they open (8am) for shorter wait times. Hang in there, the process is frustrating but you'll get through it!

@Yuki Sato This is incredibly helpful! I've been banging my head against the wall for weeks. I didn't realize there was a specific disability insurance line - I've been calling the general EDD number this whole time. The tip about documenting everything with screenshots is brilliant too. I'm definitely going to try calling 1-800-480-3287 first thing Monday morning with all my account info ready. Really appreciate you taking the time to share such detailed advice!

Hey William! I just went through this exact same nightmare a few months ago. Error e324 is definitely the duplicate account issue - I had the same problem after creating multiple accounts during the COVID unemployment mess. Here's what finally worked for me: - Call the EDD Disability line at 1-800-480-3287 (not the regular UI line) - Call RIGHT when they open - like literally at 8am sharp - Have both email addresses ready, your SSN, and any confirmation numbers - Tell them you need "account consolidation for duplicate disability accounts" The key thing is explaining that you're past the filing deadline DUE TO THEIR SYSTEM ERROR. They can extend deadlines for technical issues if you're persistent. I had to call 3 times before I got someone who actually knew how to fix it. Also, screenshot that error e324 every time it happens and save the timestamps - I wish someone had told me this earlier. It helped when I had to explain the timeline to them. Don't give up! The system is absolutely broken but there are people there who can help once you get the right person on the line. Took me 2 weeks of daily calling but I finally got my disability claim processed.

Hey @Victoria Scott! I just successfully updated my direct deposit info with EDD last week and wanted to share what worked for me since I see you're getting some great advice here already! I called the 1-800-300-5616 number at exactly 8:00 AM on a Tuesday morning. It took about 20 redial attempts to get past the busy signal (don't give up!), then I waited about 2.5 hours on hold - but I just put it on speaker and did other things. Once I got a rep, the actual process was super quick - maybe 5-6 minutes total. Make sure you have your SSN, new routing number, and account number written down clearly, and double-check that your name on the new account matches exactly what EDD has on file. The rep was actually really helpful and read all my info back to me for confirmation. They processed a small test deposit ($0.01) within 4 days, then my regular payment went to the new account 8 business days later. Definitely keep your old account open until you see at least one successful payment! The phone wait is brutal but totally worth it once it's done. You've got this! 💪

Hey @Victoria Scott! I'm new to this community but just went through the exact same situation last month. After reading through all the helpful advice here, I wanted to add my experience since it might give you some extra confidence. I called 1-800-300-5616 at exactly 8:00 AM on a Wednesday morning (the Tuesday/Wednesday timing seems to be the real key!). It took about 22 redial attempts to get past the busy signal, but don't let that discourage you - just keep hitting redial while doing other things. Once I got into the queue, I waited about 2 hours and 15 minutes on hold, but I put it on speaker and caught up on some shows. The actual update process was surprisingly smooth - the rep was really patient and professional, and it only took about 7 minutes total. Make sure you have everything ready: your SSN, new routing number, account number written down clearly, and verify that your name on the new bank account matches EXACTLY what EDD has on file (they're super strict about this). The rep read all my information back to me twice for confirmation, which was reassuring. They sent the tiny test deposit ($0.01) after 3 days, and my first real payment hit the new account exactly 9 business days later. Definitely keep your old account open until you see at least one successful deposit - that advice from everyone here is spot on! The waiting and multiple redials are frustrating, but once you get through, it's actually pretty straightforward. You've absolutely got this! 🙌

Hi Angelica! I'm new to this community but your situation really speaks to me as I'm about to face something very similar. I left my W2 job at a financial services company about 4 months ago to start my own tax preparation business, and I'm currently 6 months pregnant. Reading through your experience and all the responses here has been incredibly educational! From everything I've learned in this thread, it sounds like you have a really solid case. The fact that EDD already reversed your initial denial is actually huge - that seems to be where a lot of people get stuck. The self-employment questionnaire is definitely intimidating, but it makes sense that they're just trying to verify genuine income loss due to your disability, which is obviously clear with recent childbirth. Your situation with having paid into SDI during your base period while at the tech company seems to be exactly what the system is designed for. The timing of your switch to consulting actually works in your favor since you built up that contribution history first. I'm taking so many notes from everyone's advice about documentation and timeline specificity. It's also really valuable to learn about the Voluntary Disability Insurance program - I had no idea that existed and will definitely be enrolling before my leave! The waiting must be absolutely brutal with a newborn and financial uncertainty. But based on all the similar success stories shared here, it really seems like you're on the right track. Congratulations on your baby, and thank you for sharing your experience - it's helping those of us preparing for this process! 🍼💜

Hi Angelica! I'm new to this community but your situation really resonates with me. I'm currently 8 months pregnant and just left my corporate job last month to start freelancing, so I've been frantically researching how all of this will work when I need to take leave. Reading through your experience and all these incredibly helpful responses has been both reassuring and educational. It's amazing how many of us are dealing with this exact W2-to-self-employment transition scenario, yet EDD makes the process feel so confusing and isolating. From everything I've learned here, it sounds like you have a really strong case! The fact that EDD already reversed your initial denial is actually a huge win - that seems to be the biggest hurdle based on what others have shared. The self-employment questionnaire is definitely nerve-wracking, but it makes sense that they're just verifying you're experiencing genuine income loss due to your disability. Your solid base period of SDI contributions from your tech job seems to be exactly what makes these cases successful. I'm feeling much more confident about my own situation after seeing how similar our timelines and circumstances are. I'm definitely taking notes on all the documentation advice shared here - keeping detailed records of income patterns, being specific about timelines, and having everything organized but waiting for them to request it. Also making a mental note to look into that Voluntary DI program for the future! Congratulations on your baby! I can't imagine juggling all this EDD stress while caring for a newborn. Based on all the success stories shared here, it really sounds like you're on the right track. Thank you for sharing your experience - it's helping those of us who are about to go through this same process! 🤞💜

I'm also navigating this process for the first time and this entire thread has been such a goldmine of information! As someone who's been putting off taking stress leave because the whole system seemed so daunting, reading everyone's step-by-step experiences has finally given me the confidence to move forward. The timeline clarification is huge - I was also expecting that 3-day turnaround to mean full approval, so knowing to mentally prepare for 2-3 weeks helps manage expectations. The organizational tips are going straight into my action plan: dedicated email folder, daily symptom journal, tracking spreadsheet, and that Sedgwick mobile app. What really resonates with me is how many people mentioned the guilt factor. I've been minimizing my own stress and wondering if it's "bad enough" to warrant leave, but seeing the emphasis on functional limitations and work performance impact helps reframe this as a legitimate health issue that deserves proper attention. The point about being proactive with follow-ups rather than just waiting passively is something I definitely needed to hear - I tend to assume no news is good news, but it sounds like staying engaged in the process is crucial. Thank you to everyone who's shared their experiences so openly. This community support is already making such a difference in how manageable this feels! 💙

I'm also going through my first stress leave application and wanted to jump in with a huge thank you to everyone who's shared their experiences here! As someone who's been anxious about this whole process, reading through all these detailed accounts has been incredibly reassuring. The timeline reality check has been especially helpful - I was definitely expecting that 3-day processing time to mean full approval, so knowing to plan for 2-3 weeks total (plus additional time for EDD) helps me set realistic expectations. I'm already implementing so many of the organizational tips: setting up the dedicated email folder, downloading the Sedgwick app, and starting that daily symptom journal. What really resonates with me is how many people have mentioned the guilt aspect. I've been second-guessing whether my situation is "serious enough" to warrant leave, but reading about functional limitations and work performance impact helps reframe this as a legitimate health concern rather than a personal failing. The advice about being specific with medical documentation is crucial - I was planning to just get a generic stress note, but now I understand I need to clearly articulate how this affects my ability to perform specific job functions. This community support is already making what felt like an impossible bureaucratic maze seem so much more manageable. Thank you to everyone for creating such a welcoming space for newcomers to learn from your experiences! 💙