Just wanted to say I'm sorry you're going through this. The healthcare/disability system in this country is so broken, especially for self-employed people. Hope you find some help and feel better soon!

I'm a freelance graphic designer who went through something similar a few years ago. One thing that really helped me was contacting 211 (dial 2-1-1) - they connect you with local resources for people dealing with medical issues and financial hardship. They helped me find a clinic that offered sliding-scale payments and connected me with a food bank when I couldn't work for a few months. It's not disability benefits, but it can help bridge the gap while you're dealing with your health issues. Also, if you're having trouble affording your Crohn's medications, GoodRx and similar apps can sometimes help reduce costs significantly. Wishing you the best!

I just went through this exact same thing about 3 weeks ago! Got the terrifying "false statement" notice and was convinced they were going to demand thousands back. Like you, I had briefly attempted to return to work (in my case, it was just 4 days of light desk work) before my condition flared up again. The interview ended up being totally fine - they called about 45 minutes late, but the rep was actually pretty understanding. They mainly wanted to verify: - Exact dates I worked - How many hours per day - Whether my doctor approved it - Why I had to stop - If I reported the earnings correctly (which I had) The whole thing took maybe 12 minutes and they said everything looked good. My benefits continued without any interruption. My advice: Don't let that scary notice freak you out too much. Have your documentation ready (doctor's notes, earnings records, exact dates), but it sounds like you did everything right by reporting your work attempt. These interviews seem to be pretty standard when there are any work attempts during a claim. You've got this!

I'm going through this exact same situation right now and this thread has been incredibly helpful! I got my "false statement" notice two days ago and have been absolutely terrified about what it means. Like many of you, I had a brief work attempt during my SDI claim (chronic fatigue syndrome) that I reported properly, but it sounds like that's what triggers these interviews. Reading all your experiences really shows that the scary language on the notice doesn't match the reality of what these interviews are actually like. It seems like they're mostly just routine verification calls to make sure everything was reported correctly. I'm definitely taking all the advice here about preparing documentation - timeline with exact dates, doctor's notes, earnings records, etc. The fact that so many of you had positive outcomes after similar situations gives me hope that this will turn out fine. Thanks to everyone who shared their stories! This community is amazing for supporting each other through these stressful EDD situations.

Just wanted to add my experience as someone who recently went through this! I was on pregnancy disability for preterm labor at 32 weeks and had the exact same confusion about certification. Like everyone said, no need to certify - but I did have to update EDD when my baby was born earlier than expected. One tip: keep all your paperwork organized and take screenshots of your SDI Online account regularly. I had a payment delay issue that took weeks to resolve, and having documentation really helped when I finally got through to someone. Also, if you end up needing extended disability beyond what your doctor initially certified (like I did due to complications), make sure your doctor submits the supplemental forms promptly - any delay in paperwork means delay in payments. Wishing you a smooth rest of your pregnancy and delivery! 💕

As a newcomer to this community, I just want to say how helpful this entire thread has been! I'm currently 24 weeks pregnant and my doctor mentioned I might need to go on disability later in my pregnancy due to some complications. Reading through everyone's experiences has given me so much valuable information about the SDI process that I never would have known otherwise. The fact that you don't need to certify like with unemployment is such a relief to know ahead of time - I definitely would have been panicking about that too! And all the tips about transitioning to Paid Family Leave, keeping documentation, and what situations require notifying EDD are incredibly useful. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences, especially the detailed summary from Mei Lin. It's so refreshing to find a community where people actually help each other navigate these confusing government processes! I'm bookmarking this thread for future reference.

Yes, mental health disabilities often do face more scrutiny unfortunately. I went through this exact transition from pregnancy to postpartum depression/anxiety last year. EDD required additional documentation from my psychiatrist including specific functional limitations (like concentration issues, inability to handle work stress, etc.) that they didn't ask for during my pregnancy claim. My doctor had to be very detailed about how my symptoms specifically prevented me from doing my job duties. They also requested a follow-up review after just 2 weeks instead of the usual 4-week certifications. It was frustrating but my claim was approved - just took longer than expected. One thing that helped was having my doctor include references to established medical guidelines for postpartum mental health conditions. Also make sure your PCP is comfortable certifying mental health disabilities - some primary care doctors prefer to refer to specialists for these types of claims, which could complicate your transition timeline. Stay strong - the extra paperwork is worth it to get the support you need during recovery! And definitely prepare for the possibility of shorter certification periods initially.

I'm currently going through a similar transition right now - from pregnancy SDI to continuing disability for chronic pain and depression. My experience so far has been that the key is really staying on top of the timing like everyone mentioned. I actually had my PCP submit the DE 2525XX form about 10 days before my OB's certification expired, and I called EDD the day after to confirm they received it. The rep I spoke to said that was smart because it gives them time to process it before any gap occurs. One thing I learned that might help - when you talk to your PCP, ask them to be as specific as possible about your functional limitations. Don't just say "back pain" - have them document things like "unable to sit for more than 30 minutes" or "cannot lift more than 10 pounds." The more detailed they are about how your conditions prevent you from doing your specific job duties, the smoother the approval process seems to go. Also, I'd recommend keeping copies of everything - your claim number, the dates from your OB's certification, and confirmation that your PCP submitted their forms. Having all that info handy made my follow-up calls with EDD much easier. Good luck with your transition!

Hi Luke, I'm sorry to hear you're dealing with this frustrating situation. The timing sounds really unfortunate - having your benefits stop right after getting a permanent disability determination must be stressful. A few thoughts that might help: 1. It sounds like there may be a processing delay or miscommunication since your doctor already submitted the 2525xx form and you can see it was received. You might want to call EDD directly to clarify the status and let them know the form was already submitted. 2. Sometimes the automated system sends out notices even when paperwork is already in process. The fact that you can see the form in your physician documents is a good sign. 3. Keep documentation of everything - screenshots showing the form was received, dates, confirmation numbers if you have them. 4. If calling doesn't resolve it quickly, consider reaching out to your local assembly member's office - they often have staff who can help navigate EDD issues. Hopefully this gets cleared up soon once they process the paperwork that's already been submitted. The bureaucracy can be slow but persistent follow-up usually helps. Good luck!