I've been in a similar situation and it's so frustrating! One thing that really helped me was being super proactive with both sides. When I called my doctor's office, I specifically asked them to walk me through what information they need from me to complete the form properly, and I also asked for the name of the person who would be handling it so I could follow up directly with them. For EDD, I found that calling first thing in the morning (like right at 8 AM when they open) gave me the best chance of getting through. Also, make sure to ask EDD for a specific timeline on when they expect to process the new form once it's received - having that info helped me know when to follow up. The whole process took me about 3 weeks total, but staying on top of both ends really made the difference. Don't give up - you'll get through this! 💪

I'm going through this exact same situation right now and it's such a headache! Reading through all these responses is actually really helpful though. I think the key takeaway is that you really have to be your own advocate and stay on top of everyone involved. I'm definitely going to try that early morning calling strategy and see if my doctor's office has someone who specializes in disability paperwork. It's wild that we have to become experts in navigating this system just to get the help we need, but it sounds like persistence really does pay off. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences - it's reassuring to know I'm not the only one dealing with this mess!

This thread is absolutely gold for anyone navigating the SDI system! I'm dealing with my first disability claim and was completely lost until I found this discussion. Adrian, your situation is almost identical to mine - I also had internet issues and ended up submitting paper forms last week, then immediately regretted it when I heard how much slower the processing is. The advice from everyone here has been incredibly reassuring, especially Marcus's step-by-step approach and the confirmation that you can create the online account without causing duplicates. I had no idea that was even possible! And wow, the Claimyr service sounds like a complete game-changer - I've been putting off calling EDD because I've heard such horror stories about the wait times, but 10-15 minutes to actually speak with someone? That's incredible. It's honestly frustrating that we need third-party services to access our own benefits, but I'm just grateful there are solutions that work. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this is exactly the kind of real-world guidance you can't get anywhere else. Definitely bookmarking this thread and the Claimyr link for when I need to check on my own claim status!

Just wanted to chime in as another newcomer who's been silently following this thread - it's been absolutely invaluable! I'm currently waiting on my first SDI claim (also submitted on paper due to website issues) and was getting really anxious about the timeline until I read Adrian's update. The 18-20 business day confirmation from EDD is actually much more reasonable than I expected based on some of the horror stories floating around online. What really impressed me about this discussion is how everyone came together to provide practical solutions rather than just complaining about the system (though those complaints are totally valid!). The Claimyr recommendation is brilliant - I had no idea services like that existed, and it's honestly ridiculous that we need third-party help to reach our own government agencies, but I'm grateful for any tool that works. For anyone else in our situation: this thread basically has everything you need to know about handling the paper application dilemma. Don't submit duplicates, create your online account anyway, use Claimyr to actually get through to EDD if needed, and expect about 3-4 weeks for processing. Thanks everyone for sharing your real-world experiences - it makes such a difference to hear from people who've actually navigated this system successfully!

Hey OP, make sure you change ALL your passwords, especially your email. These hackers often get access to multiple accounts. Enable two-factor authentication wherever you can too!

This is exactly why I always recommend setting up direct deposit from day one instead of using those prepaid cards. They're such easy targets for scammers. Sorry this happened to you OP! Make sure you keep copies of everything - the dispute form, any emails, records of phone calls. The more documentation you have, the better. Also, if you haven't already, check if your bank offers any fraud protection services. Some will reimburse you for losses while disputes are pending. Hope you get your money back soon! 🤞

I'm so sorry this happened to you - what a stressful situation on top of having a new baby! I went through something similar (though not exactly the same) when my company had layoffs right after I returned from maternity leave. From what I learned, you should be eligible for unemployment after your disability ends since your job loss was due to company restructuring, not your performance. The key things the EDD will look at are: 1) you're medically cleared to work (which you are), 2) you're able and available for work, and 3) you lost your job through no fault of your own. A few practical tips: Keep all your documentation from HR about the position elimination, and when you apply for UI, be very clear about the timeline - that you were cleared to return to work but then informed your position was eliminated. Also, definitely look into the PFL option others mentioned for bonding time with your baby. Hang in there - you've got this! The system can be overwhelming but there are safety nets in place for exactly these situations.

I'm a single mom who went through almost the exact same situation 6 months ago! Position eliminated while on pregnancy disability - it felt like the worst possible timing. Here's what worked for me: 1. Apply for PFL immediately after your SDI ends (don't wait!) - those 8 weeks gave me crucial time to job search without the pressure 2. Start updating your resume and LinkedIn NOW while you're still on disability 3. When you do apply for UI after PFL, emphasize that you're "able and available" - I even mentioned in my application that I had childcare arrangements in place 4. Network like crazy - I found my current job through a former colleague who saw my LinkedIn post about looking for work The transition between programs was smoother than I expected. EDD actually has pretty good resources for new parents, even though the system can be confusing at first. You're going to get through this! Having a baby AND job hunting is exhausting, but remember that companies that eliminate positions of new moms during disability probably weren't great places to work anyway. You'll find something better! 💪

I went through the exact same thing last year with my maternity disability! Got my first payment and it was like $200 less than expected - I was SO stressed because I had bills due too. Turns out EDD had automatically enrolled me in tax withholding even though I didn't remember selecting it, plus they deducted for some overlap with my last work paycheck. What really helped me was calling my bank (BofA) and asking them to show me the exact deposit details - sometimes they can see more info about deductions than what shows up in your EDD account right away. Also, if you're really tight on rent money, some utility companies and even landlords have started offering payment plans specifically for people dealing with EDD payment issues since it's become so common. The good news is once you get the tax withholding sorted out (which you already did!), your future payments should be much more predictable. Just keep an eye on that overlap issue - if your employer pays you for any days that EDD also covers, that can cause problems down the road.

I had a similar scare a few months ago during my disability leave for wrist surgery! My payment was about $300 short and I immediately thought something was wrong with my claim. After reading through all these responses, I'm so glad I'm not the only one who panicked over this! One thing I learned that might help others - if you're still confused after checking SDI Online, you can also look at your DE 2515 form (the one they mailed when your claim was approved). It usually lists your gross weekly benefit amount, so you can compare that to what you actually received and figure out what got deducted. Also, for anyone dealing with rent stress because of partial payments - I found out that some local assistance programs specifically help with housing costs when people are dealing with disability benefit delays or reductions. Your county's social services department might have emergency rental assistance available. Worth looking into if you're in a tight spot financially while sorting out the EDD payment issues! Hope everyone gets their payment amounts figured out soon. This system really needs better communication about deductions upfront!