One more thing - don't forget to keep copies of EVERYTHING you send to EDD for your own records. They lost my verification documents TWICE last year during my pregnancy disability claim. The third time I sent them, I included a note saying I had already sent them twice before with the exact dates. Suddenly they "found" them! 🙄 The whole system is a mess.

Pro tip from someone who's been through this nightmare multiple times: Create a simple tracking spreadsheet with dates of when you sent documents, tracking numbers, and what you included. Also take photos of everything before you send it. I learned the hard way that EDD has different processing times for mailed vs uploaded documents - uploaded docs usually get processed faster (3-5 business days vs 10-14 for mail). But like others said, some verification requests ONLY accept mailed copies, so check your specific letter carefully. Also, if you're really worried about the deadline, you can try faxing copies to their verification fax line at (916) 464-3300 while you're waiting for your mailed copies to arrive. Just make sure to include a cover sheet with all your info!

Ugh, the EDD is the worst! I swear they make these "mistakes" on purpose to discourage people from claiming benefits. Stay strong and fight it!

I went through something similar last year and it was absolutely terrifying at first! Here's what helped me: 1. **Get everything in writing** - Call EDD and ask them to mail you a detailed breakdown of exactly what they think you were overpaid and why. Don't just take their word over the phone. 2. **Check your work history** - Sometimes they miscalculate your base period wages or don't account for overlapping eligibility periods correctly. 3. **Look into hardship waivers** - If you do end up owing money, EDD has programs to waive repayment if it would cause financial hardship. Most people don't know about this! 4. **Keep detailed records** - Screenshot everything, save all emails, and keep a log of every phone call with dates and representative names. The good news is that a lot of these "overpayments" get overturned once you provide the right documentation. Don't let them intimidate you - you have rights in this process! Feel free to DM me if you need help navigating the appeal paperwork.

Friendly reminder to everyone: DOCUMENT EVERYTHING. Every call, every letter, every online status change. It'll save your butt if there's ever a dispute.

Hey Dallas! I just went through this same situation a couple months ago. My doctor was super slow with the medical certification too - turned out they were waiting for some additional test results. I called their office every other day (nicely but persistently) and finally got them to submit it. Once they did, my claim moved pretty quickly - about 2 weeks after that. The key thing is that your claim basically sits in limbo until they get that medical cert, so definitely stay on your doctor about it. You can also ask them to fax it directly to EDD instead of mailing it - that speeds things up. Don't stress too much about the processing time once everything's submitted though, they're actually pretty good about backdating to when your disability actually started. Good luck! 🤞

UPDATE: I wanted to let everyone know what happened. I applied for SDI and made sure my doctor documented that my condition started in January while I was still employed. I got approved! My weekly benefit amount is based on my wages from last year. It took about 10 days for the claim to be processed. I did have to call EDD once to clarify something on my application (used that Claimyr service someone mentioned - worked great). Thank you all for the helpful advice!

Congratulations on getting approved! This is such a helpful success story for others in similar situations. Your case really shows how important it is to have proper documentation of when the medical condition started relative to employment. I'm dealing with a similar timeline issue with a workplace injury that happened before my hours were cut, so this gives me hope. Thanks for taking the time to update everyone - it means a lot to see positive outcomes in this community!

I'm going through something very similar right now! Filed my SDI claim in late March for a back injury, sent in identity verification documents in early April, and I'm still waiting too. It's been about 5 weeks since they received my docs. Reading through everyone's experiences here is both reassuring and terrifying - reassuring that I'm not alone, but terrifying that this could drag on for weeks more. The financial stress is unreal. I've had to ask family for help with rent and I'm rationing groceries. What really gets me is that we've been paying into this system through payroll deductions for YEARS, and when we actually need it, they make it nearly impossible to access. I'm definitely going to try that Claimyr service and the portal messaging suggestion. Has anyone had luck with contacting their state assembly member's office? I've heard they sometimes help with EDD issues but not sure if that applies to SDI claims. Hang in there everyone - we shouldn't have to fight this hard for benefits we've earned!

I'm so frustrated reading all of these experiences because they mirror exactly what I'm going through! Filed for SDI in early April after a knee surgery, sent identity verification docs three weeks ago, and still nothing. The system shows "pending verification" and I've called probably 100+ times with no luck getting through. What really bothers me is that I've been working in California and paying into SDI for over 8 years - they should already have all my employment history and tax records. Why do they need me to prove who I am when I've been faithfully paying into their system this whole time? I'm definitely going to try the Claimyr service and messaging through the portal. The assembly member contact is also a great suggestion I hadn't thought of. It's maddening that we need to use third-party services and political contacts just to access benefits we've literally paid for, but here we are. Thanks to everyone for sharing their timelines and strategies. At least knowing others are going through the same thing makes me feel less alone in this bureaucratic nightmare. Hoping we all get resolution soon!