Just to follow up - if you manage to get your income verification documents submitted properly, the typical processing time in 2025 has been about 10-14 business days. While that's the official timeline, I've seen it take anywhere from 7 days to 4+ weeks depending on their current backlog. If it's been more than 14 business days since submission, that's when you should start trying to contact them directly about the status of your verification.

Pro tip from someone who's been through this multiple times with irregular income: When you're gathering all those W-2s, also grab any 1099s you might have received. Film industry workers often get both W-2s AND 1099s depending on how different productions classified you (employee vs contractor). EDD wants to see ALL income sources during your base period, not just W-2 income. I learned this the hard way when they initially denied my claim because I only sent W-2s but had significant 1099 income that pushed me into a higher benefit tier. Also, if any of your employers went out of business or you can't locate a W-2, you can use your final paystub from that job - it shows your year-to-date earnings and SSN. Good luck with getting this sorted before your trip!

Thank you for the detailed advice! I'll start documenting everything better and will call that Division of Workers' Comp number tomorrow. I had no idea there were resources like that available. This whole system is so confusing to navigate.

As someone who went through a similar situation with a workplace back injury, I can share what worked for me. The key is being persistent but strategic. Here's what I learned: 1. **Keep detailed records** - I created a simple spreadsheet tracking every call, email, and interaction with dates and names 2. **Call the insurance company at different times** - I found early morning (8-9 AM) had shorter hold times 3. **Ask for supervisor escalation** - If the first person can't help, politely ask to speak with a supervisor or claims manager 4. **Get everything in writing** - Follow up phone calls with emails summarizing what was discussed The 90-day rule that Anastasia mentioned is real, but most claims should be decided much faster. In my case, once I got through to the right person, they discovered my employer had submitted incomplete medical records. Once that was fixed, approval came within a week. Don't give up - you're entitled to these benefits, and the squeaky wheel really does get the grease in this system. The financial stress is real, but going the SDI route for a clear workplace injury could create more problems down the line.

Quick update for anyone following this thread or finding it later - my claim was approved today! That makes it 12 days total from submission to approval. My first payment should be deposited in the next 24-48 hours according to the portal. Not as fast as some of you, but way better than 5 weeks! Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences.

Congrats on getting approved! 12 days is definitely reasonable given everything I'm hearing about current processing times. I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - filed my SDI claim 8 days ago after a work injury and checking the portal obsessively lol. Did you get any notification when it switched from "pending" to "approved" or did you just have to keep checking? Also hoping my recovery goes smoothly like yours hopefully will!

Has anyone tried using the UI Online mobile app? Is it any better than the website?

I've been dealing with this same issue for weeks! What finally worked for me was calling the technical support line (1-800-300-5616) instead of the main number. It's supposed to be for UI Online issues, but they can sometimes transfer you or help with general questions. Also, try calling exactly at 8:00 AM - not 8:01, but right when they open. Set multiple alarms and be ready to redial immediately if you get a busy signal. It took me about 30 tries one morning, but I finally got through. Don't give up! 🙏

Have you checked if there are any action items in your inbox on the EDD website? Sometimes they need additional info but don't make it obvious.

I'm dealing with the exact same issue! Filed my continuous claim form 16 days ago and still nothing. What's really frustrating is that my previous payments always came through within 3-4 days. I've been checking my UI Online account obsessively but there's literally no status update - it just shows "pending" with no explanation. Has anyone noticed if this is affecting people who filed around mid-December specifically? I'm wondering if there's some kind of system issue or if they're just overwhelmed with holiday processing. Really hope we all get some movement on our claims soon! 🤞