As someone who's been through the SDI process for work-related injuries, I wanted to add a few practical tips for your situation: 1. When you're filling out your application, be very specific about your job duties. Don't just put "line cook" - describe that you need to grip knives for extended periods, lift heavy pots/pans, and perform repetitive chopping motions. This helps EDD understand why you can't work during recovery. 2. Keep copies of ALL your medical records related to the carpal tunnel diagnosis, not just the surgery forms. Sometimes they ask for additional documentation showing the progression of your condition. 3. If your restaurant uses a payroll service like ADP, give them a heads up that EDD might contact them for wage verification. This can speed up the process. 4. Since you mentioned a cyst removal too, make sure your surgeon includes both procedures on the medical certification - don't let them forget the "minor" procedure since it all affects your recovery time. You've got this! The fact that you're planning ahead puts you way ahead of most people. With 3+ years of steady employment and a legitimate medical need, you should have no issues qualifying.

I went through SDI for carpal tunnel surgery about 6 months ago and wanted to share a few things that really helped me navigate the process smoothly: First, when you talk to your surgeon about the medical certification, ask them to schedule a follow-up appointment about 2 weeks post-surgery. This gives them a chance to reassess your actual recovery progress and adjust the timeline if needed - way better than guessing at the initial appointment. Second, since you're in food service, make sure to mention to EDD that you'll likely need both hands fully functional before returning. Unlike office workers who might be able to work with one hand in a brace, kitchen work requires bilateral hand strength and coordination for safety reasons. Also, a heads up - your first certification form will arrive about 10 days after your claim is processed, and then you'll get them every 2 weeks after that. Set reminders on your phone because late submissions can delay payments. One last thing: if your restaurant has workers comp insurance, double-check that this isn't considered a work-related injury. If it is, you might need to file through workers comp instead of SDI, which could actually get you better benefits. Just something to consider! Good luck with your surgery - you're being smart by planning ahead!

I'm in a somewhat similar situation - been unemployed for 6 months and starting to feel the mental health impact too. Reading through these responses has been really eye-opening about the possibility of transitioning to SDI. I had no idea that mental health conditions could qualify if properly documented by a psychiatrist or psychologist. One thing I'm curious about - for those who successfully made the transition, did you find that having a longer unemployment period actually helped establish the timeline of when your mental health condition became disabling? It seems like there might be a difference between temporary job search stress versus a clinical condition that develops over time and genuinely prevents you from working. Also, has anyone dealt with potential employer questions about gaps in employment history when you eventually do return to job searching after SDI? I worry about how to explain that period professionally. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this community has been incredibly helpful for navigating these complex EDD programs.

I'm dealing with a very similar situation and wanted to share what I've learned from my own research and experience with EDD. I've been unemployed for about 7 months now, and the mental health impact has been significant - to the point where my doctor is now considering whether I qualify for SDI. A few things I've discovered that might be helpful: 1. The transition IS possible, but timing is crucial. You absolutely cannot be certifying for UI (claiming you're able and available to work) while simultaneously applying for SDI (claiming you're unable to work due to disability). This seems to be where people get into trouble. 2. Your base period for SDI will likely be different from your UI base period, which could mean a different benefit amount. In my case, it would actually be slightly higher because it looks further back when I was earning more. 3. Mental health conditions are legitimate disabilities IF they meet the legal definition - meaning they substantially limit your ability to perform major life activities, including work. It's not about being sad or stressed about unemployment; it's about having a diagnosed condition that genuinely prevents you from working. 4. The medical certification is everything. Your doctor needs to be specific about how your condition limits your work capacity, not just that you have anxiety or depression. I'm still deciding whether to pursue this route, but it's reassuring to know it's a legitimate option for those of us whose mental health has truly been impacted to the point of disability during this difficult job market. The stories shared here have been really helpful in understanding the process. Wishing you the best with your psychiatrist appointment - having that professional relationship already established seems like it will be really valuable.

Have you checked your mail? Sometimes they send updates through snail mail that don't show up online. I know, it's like we're living in 1995 or something 🙄

Just wanted to chime in as someone who's been through this nightmare recently. I actually had success using a combination of the strategies mentioned here. First, I tried calling right at 8am when they open (thanks @Nathaniel Mikhaylov for that tip!), but when that didn't work after a few days, I sent a detailed email to the address @Eva St. Cyr shared. In the email, I included my claim number, social security number, and a clear timeline of my situation. Got a response in 4 business days with my claim status. Also, don't sleep on contacting your local assembly member's office - they have caseworkers who can help navigate EDD issues. It's frustrating that we have to jump through so many hoops, but hang in there! The system is broken but there are ways to work around it.

OP, any updates? Did you manage to get through to them?

I had a similar issue last month! My doctor's office submitted my medical certification online and I had the receipt number, but SDI kept saying they couldn't find it in their system. What worked for me was having my doctor's office call SDI directly and reference the receipt number while I was on a three-way call. Turns out there was some kind of technical glitch where online submissions weren't properly linking to claim files. The rep was able to manually locate and attach the form to my claim on the spot. Might be worth asking your doctor's office if they can make that call with you - sometimes they have better luck getting through than we do!

Friendly reminder to take care of yourselves while dealing with this stress, folks. Don't let EDD drama consume your life. Remember to breathe, stay hydrated, and maybe scream into a pillow once in a while. We're all in this together! 💪

I'm going through the exact same thing right now! Filed my PFL claim about 5 weeks ago and it's been stuck on "pending" ever since. The phone system is absolutely ridiculous - I've probably spent 20+ hours on hold just to get disconnected. Reading through all these comments, it sounds like contacting my assembly member might be the way to go. Has anyone had luck with specific assembly offices being more responsive than others? Also really considering that Claimyr service that @Sofia Peña mentioned, even though $20 feels steep just to talk to someone who should be accessible for free 😤 Thanks for starting this thread - at least we know we're not alone in this nightmare!