I went through something similar last year when I accidentally put the wrong employer info on my claim. The appeal process was actually more straightforward than I expected. Here's what helped me: 1) Call early in the morning (like right at 8 AM when they open) - way better chance of getting through. 2) Have all your paperwork ready before you call - correct dates, pay stubs, anything that proves when you actually returned to work. 3) Be honest about the mistake but stay focused on the solution. I literally said "I made an error on my form and need to correct it" and they were fine with that. 4) Ask for a confirmation number for your appeal and write down the rep's name. The whole thing took about 3 weeks to resolve once I submitted the appeal paperwork. Don't stress too much - honest mistakes happen and they deal with this stuff regularly. You got this! 💪

I've been through the EDD appeal process twice, and honestly, it's not as scary as it seems at first. The key is being organized and patient. When you call, be straightforward about the date error - they see this kind of mistake all the time. Make sure you have your correct return-to-work date ready, along with any proof like pay stubs or an email from your employer. The rep will likely walk you through filing an appeal right over the phone, and they'll send you forms to complete. One thing that really helped me was keeping a log of every conversation - date, time, rep's name, and what was discussed. The whole process took about 6-8 weeks for me, but it was worth it to get everything sorted out. Don't let the bureaucracy intimidate you - you're fixing an honest mistake, not trying to game the system. Stay calm, be polite to whoever you talk to (they really are just doing their job), and follow up if you don't hear back within the timeframe they give you. You'll get through this! 🙂

Good luck with your surgery! Hope recovery goes smoothly. Take care!

Just wanted to add that you should also consider the timing of when to file your SDI claim. I'd recommend filing it about a week before your surgery date so there's time for initial processing. The 7-day waiting period starts from when your doctor certifies you as disabled (usually the surgery date), not when you file the claim. Also, keep copies of everything you submit - the medical certification, your application, any correspondence. If there are any issues or delays, having your own records makes it much easier to resolve problems. I learned this the hard way when my claim got stuck in processing for weeks and I had to re-submit documents that supposedly got "lost in the system.

my brother got a letter from irs asking bout his disability $ bc he never reported it on his taxes but it turned out the irs was wrong and he had to send proof it was state disability not unemployment. such a hassle. make sure u keep records just in case!

Hope your rotator cuff is healing well! I went through a similar situation a couple years ago with a work injury. Just wanted to add - if you used any medical expenses related to your injury for tax deductions, make sure those align with the period you were actually working vs on disability. My accountant caught that I had some PT expenses that overlapped with my disability period and it helped maximize my deductions. Also, if you had any employer-provided short-term disability that kicked in before SDI, that might be taxable (but sounds like you went straight to state disability). Good luck with your taxes!

I just went through this last month! Your money is definitely still being deposited - the expired card just blocks your access to it. I called the BofA EDD number (1-866-692-9374) and they sent a replacement card right away. One thing that really helped me was setting up text alerts through the BofA prepaid website before my card fully expired. Even though I couldn't use the physical card, I could still see when deposits hit my account, which gave me peace of mind while waiting for the new card. The whole process took about a week with regular shipping, but like others mentioned, you can pay for expedited delivery if you need it faster. Just make sure to activate your new card as soon as it arrives - that part is super important! Congrats on getting approved for SDI! The hardest part is behind you now.

I'm dealing with this exact situation right now! My card expired in February and I was so worried when I saw my first payment marked as "paid" but couldn't access it. Called the BofA EDD number this morning and they confirmed the funds are safe in my account - just need to wait for the replacement card. The rep told me it's happening a lot lately because so many people are returning to disability claims after cards from 2022-2023 have expired. She said they're processing tons of replacement card requests right now. One helpful thing she mentioned - if you're really desperate for access to funds while waiting for the new card, you can sometimes get a temporary debit card issued at certain BofA branches, though not all locations offer this for EDD accounts. Might be worth calling ahead to ask if your local branch can help. Hope this helps ease some anxiety - sounds like we're all in the same boat with expired cards! The money is definitely there waiting for us.

I just went through this same situation 4 months ago and can confirm what everyone else is saying - you cannot delay SDI benefits after delivery. I had the exact same misconception initially! What helped me was understanding that SDI pregnancy benefits are structured in two distinct phases: 1. Pre-delivery disability (up to 4 weeks before due date) - this part IS optional 2. Post-delivery recovery disability (6-8 weeks after birth) - this part is NOT optional and must start at delivery The key insight is that once you give birth, you're automatically considered medically disabled for recovery purposes. Your doctor will certify this disability period, and EDD requires you to claim benefits starting from your delivery date if you're taking any time off work. However, I found a great solution working with my HR department: they coordinated my company's paid leave with SDI through "concurrent benefits." During my 8-week recovery period (I had a C-section), I received both SDI payments AND my company topped up the remaining amount to reach my full salary. This gave me the best of both worlds without any timing games. My suggestion: Schedule a meeting with HR and ask specifically about "concurrent benefits" or "wage supplementation during SDI." Most established companies have policies for exactly this situation. You'll likely end up with better total compensation than trying to sequence the benefits separately, plus you avoid any risk of EDD issues. The system really is designed to work together - I just wish someone had explained it to me this clearly from the start!

I'm so glad I found this thread! I'm 32 weeks pregnant and was having the exact same confusion about timing SDI benefits. Reading through everyone's experiences has been incredibly enlightening. Just to add my perspective as someone currently navigating this - I met with my HR representative last week after initially thinking I could delay SDI, and they confirmed what everyone here is saying. Our company has a "benefit coordination" policy where they supplement SDI payments to bring you up to 100% salary during the disability period. What I found really helpful was asking HR for a written timeline showing exactly how the benefits work together. They gave me a document that breaks down: - Weeks 1-6 post-delivery: SDI + company supplementation = full salary - Weeks 7-14: Paid Family Leave for bonding - Additional weeks: Company's separate parental leave policy (if applicable) I think the key thing I learned is that most established companies have already figured out how to coordinate state and company benefits optimally. We don't need to game the system - the system is designed to work together! For anyone else in this situation: definitely ask your HR for a written breakdown of how your specific company coordinates benefits. It takes all the guesswork out of it and helps you plan your finances properly. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences here - this community is so valuable for navigating these complex systems!