Just to update you on current processing times - as of June 2025, SDI claims with no issues are taking approximately 14-21 days to process. If there are any discrepancies or missing information, it can extend to 30+ days. Another tip: After your husband files his claim, he'll get a DE 2501P form in the mail. This shows his claim number, weekly benefit amount, and other important details. Keep this document safe - you'll need it for references and if you need to contact EDD about the claim status.

Welcome to the community! Just wanted to add one more helpful tip that saved me a lot of stress - after your husband files his SDI claim online, he'll get a confirmation number. Write that down immediately and take a screenshot! I lost mine the first time and had no way to track my claim status until I got the paperwork in the mail. Also, once he gets his Money Network card, download the app right away. You can check benefit deposits, set up direct deposit to your bank account (which is faster than using the card), and get notifications when payments are loaded. The app is way more convenient than calling the customer service line. Good luck with everything - sounds like you've got a solid plan thanks to all the great advice from everyone here!

I'm dealing with this exact same situation right now! My doctor mailed in my medical certification for a knee injury three days ago and I've been obsessively checking my SDI account every few hours. Reading through everyone's experiences here is so reassuring - I had no idea that 7-14 days was normal for mailed forms. The advice about having your doctor fax a copy too is gold! I'm definitely calling my orthopedist's office first thing Monday morning to see if they can send a fax as well. And I'm bookmarking that Claimyr service just in case I need it. It's crazy that in 2025 we're still dealing with such slow paper processing when everything else is digital. But at least knowing what to expect timeline-wise helps manage the anxiety. Thanks Aurora for starting this thread and everyone for sharing your experiences!

I'm currently going through this exact same situation! Had ankle surgery last week and my orthopedic surgeon also insisted on mailing the medical certification instead of submitting electronically. It's been 6 days since they mailed it and I'm already getting anxious seeing my account still stuck on "pending medical certification." Reading through everyone's experiences here is incredibly helpful - I had no idea that 7-14 days was the normal timeframe for mailed forms. It's honestly ridiculous that in 2025 we're still dealing with such slow paper processing when the rest of the world operates digitally. I'm definitely going to call my doctor's office tomorrow to see if they can fax a copy as well. That seems like such a simple solution that could save days of waiting. And I'm bookmarking that Claimyr service too just in case I need to actually get through to someone at EDD. Thanks Aurora for starting this discussion and everyone for sharing your timelines and tips. It really helps to know we're all dealing with the same frustrating process and that it does eventually work out!

Something else I just thought of - make SURE you certify for your UI correctly for the last period. If your SDI starts mid-week, you need to report that you were unable to work for those days on your UI certification. Don't claim availability for work on days your doctor has certified you as disabled. That's considered misrepresentation and can cause big problems.

Just wanted to add one more thing that might help - when you file your SDI claim online, there's a section where you can indicate that you were previously receiving other state benefits. Make sure to check that box and specify UI benefits. This creates a paper trail that shows you were transparent about the transition, which can help protect you if there are any questions later. Also, if you're planning to return to work after your pregnancy disability period ends, your UI claim should still be there waiting for you (assuming you still have benefit weeks remaining and meet eligibility requirements). You don't lose your UI claim by switching to SDI temporarily. Good luck with everything, and take care of yourself during this bedrest period! 💜

UPDATE: I took everyone's advice and stopped certifying for UI. I created an SDI Online account and filed my claim yesterday. My doctor submitted his portion this morning! Now waiting for approval. I used that Claimyr service someone mentioned to call EDD and actually got through to a representative who confirmed I did everything correctly. She said my SDI weekly benefit amount will be $520 (a bit less than my UI was) and to expect about 10-14 days processing time once the doctor certification is received. She also said I don't have to worry about the UI overlap since I reported my disability date accurately. Thank you all so much for the help! I'll update again when/if I get approved.

Great to hear you got through to someone at EDD and have your claim submitted! Just wanted to add a few tips for while you're waiting: 1) Check your SDI Online account every morning - sometimes they request additional info and the clock starts ticking from when they post it, not when you see it, 2) Keep all your medical records handy in case they need more documentation, and 3) If you don't hear anything in 2 weeks, don't hesitate to call again. The squeaky wheel gets the grease with EDD. Hoping for a quick approval so you can focus on healing instead of stressing about money! 🤞

One more thing - when you file your new claim, make sure you enter the date your PPD began preventing you from working (not the date your pregnancy disability ended). Those dates need to match what your doctor puts on the medical certification. If there's any discrepancy, it can delay your claim processing. I learned this the hard way and had to call EDD multiple times to fix it.

I went through something very similar about 8 months ago! My OB handled my pregnancy disability, then my therapist had to file a completely new claim when I developed severe postpartum anxiety. It's definitely frustrating having to start over, but here's what I learned: - Make sure your doctor is very detailed about your symptoms and how they specifically prevent you from working (sleep deprivation, concentration issues, panic attacks, etc.) - I filed my claim online the same day I saw my doctor to minimize delays - The waiting period sucks but there's no way around it - they treat it as a totally separate disability - My benefit amount stayed the same since I was still in the same base period - It took about 2.5 weeks to get my first payment after filing One thing that helped was having my doctor submit the medical certification electronically right after my appointment instead of mailing it. Ask about that option! Also, don't let anyone tell you this isn't a "real" disability - PPD is serious and you deserve support. Hang in there mama! 💙