Thank you everyone for the helpful responses! Just to confirm what I've learned: SDI benefits are NOT taxable at either federal or state level, so no 1099G form is issued. But I should check if he had any supplemental coverage through work since those might be taxable. This is such a relief - I was worried we were missing important tax documents!

Just want to add that if you're still unsure about anything tax-related, it might be worth consulting with a tax professional, especially since your partner had surgery and there could be medical expense deductions to consider too. But yes, everyone here is correct - California SDI benefits are not taxable income. I went through the same confusion when my husband was on disability after his accident. The peace of mind from getting professional advice was worth the small fee for us.

just to add another data point - i'm on sdi right now for pregnancy disability and my employer paid out some vacation hours on my last check. i reported it on my certification and my payment was reduced for that period but then went back to normal for the next one. better to report and get slightly less for one period than deal with overpayment mess!

I went through this exact situation when I was on SDI for a knee surgery. Based on my experience and what I learned from EDD, you absolutely MUST report vacation payouts as wages. I made the mistake of not reporting mine initially because I thought "I'm not working so it's not wages" - but EDD considers it earned income regardless of when you receive it. I ended up getting an overpayment notice 2 months later for $800. The good news is that when you do report it correctly, it usually only reduces your benefits for that specific certification period, not permanently. Make sure to report it for the week you actually receive the payment, not when it was earned. Keep all your documentation too - pay stubs, HR emails, everything. It's such a pain but way better than dealing with overpayment collections later!

I'm so glad you found all the help you needed here! This community is amazing. Just wanted to add one more tip - if you run into any issues with your doctor's office being slow to submit the form, you can also check the status of your extension online through your EDD account. Sometimes it shows as "pending" even before you get any official notification, which can give you peace of mind that it's in the system. Good luck with your appointment tomorrow and I hope your recovery goes smoothly!

I'm so glad you found all the help you needed in this thread! As someone who's been through multiple SDI extensions, I can confirm that everything everyone shared here is solid advice. The DE 2525XX form is definitely the key, and electronic submission through SDI Online is by far the fastest route if your doctor's office can handle it. One small thing I'd add that saved me headaches during my second extension: ask your doctor to include not just why you can't return to work, but also what specific improvements or milestones need to happen before you CAN return. EDD seems to process extensions faster when they have a clear picture of your recovery timeline rather than just "needs more time." Also, that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier is legit - I was skeptical too but it actually got me through to a real person when I'd been trying for days on my own. Sometimes it's worth the small fee to avoid the phone system nightmare. Hope your appointment went well and you got everything submitted without any issues! This community really is amazing for helping each other navigate EDD's broken system.

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!

I went through something very similar! Error e324 is usually related to having multiple accounts in their system. Here's what worked for me: 1. Don't try to create any new accounts - this will make it worse 2. Call the EDD Disability Insurance line specifically (not the UI line) at 1-800-480-3287 3. Have ALL your information ready: SSN, both email addresses you might have used, any confirmation numbers from previous claims 4. Tell them you need to "consolidate duplicate accounts" and explain the disability filing deadline issue The key is being super clear that you have a legitimate disability claim but can't file due to their system error. They can extend your filing deadline if you can prove the technical issues prevented you from filing on time. I also recommend sending yourself emails documenting each attempt you make - screenshot the error, note the time/date. This creates a paper trail if you need to appeal later. Don't give up! The system is broken but there are people there who can help once you get through to the right person.

@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!