Hey Emma! I totally get the nervousness - I was the same way when I first started certifying. From my experience, it usually takes about 3-5 business days for approval, but I've had it happen as quick as 2 days and as slow as a week during busy periods. The key things that helped me get faster approvals: make sure all your info is accurate, certify as early as possible when you're eligible (like Sunday nights), and double-check that you didn't miss any questions. If you filled everything out correctly and don't have any pending issues, you should be good to go! Try not to stress too much about it - I know it's easier said than done when you're waiting for your benefits. The system usually works, it just takes a bit of patience. Keep us posted on how it goes! 🤞

I've been certifying for about 6 months now and my experience has been pretty similar to what others have shared. The timing really does vary - sometimes I get approved in 2 days, other times it's taken up to a week. One thing I learned is to avoid certifying on Mondays if possible, since that seems to be when everyone does it and it can slow things down. I usually do mine on Sunday nights or Tuesday evenings and that seems to help. Also, don't panic if you don't see an update right away! I used to refresh the page constantly which just made me more anxious. Now I just check once a day until I see the approval. Hang in there Emma, you've got this! 💪

I had a somewhat similar situation but with paid family leave (PFL), not disability. I had an overpayment from UI and they did take 25% of each PFL payment. I wish I'd known about requesting a reduction because that really hurt my finances while I was caring for my mom. Make sure you get your hardship request in early!

Just wanted to add my experience to help - I had SDI for 6 months last year while recovering from surgery and had an outstanding UI overpayment of about $3,200. EDD automatically started taking 25% from each disability payment without any notice. However, when I called and explained that I was the sole income for my household and couldn't afford rent with the reduced payments, they lowered it to 15%. The key is to call as soon as you notice the deduction and be very specific about your monthly expenses vs income. Also, keep detailed records of all your conversations with EDD including dates, times, and representative names. The whole process took about 2 weeks to get resolved but it made a huge difference in my ability to cover basic expenses during recovery.

I'm dealing with the exact same situation right now! Filed my PFL claim on September 28th and still getting the "status not available" message. It's so frustrating because you need that income and have no idea what's going on. I've been checking every day hoping something changes. Reading through all these comments is actually really reassuring though - at least I know I'm not the only one going through this mess. Think I'm gonna try the early morning calling strategy that Teresa mentioned. Has anyone had luck with contacting their local assembly member's office? I heard sometimes they can help push things along with state agencies.

I'm going through the exact same thing! Filed my PFL claim on October 1st and it's been radio silence ever since. The "status not available" message is driving me crazy because I have no idea if they even received it properly. Reading all these comments is both comforting (knowing I'm not alone) and terrifying (realizing how broken the system is). I think I'm going to try calling at 8am sharp tomorrow morning like Teresa suggested, and if that doesn't work I might have to consider that claimyr service even though $20 feels steep. Has anyone tried faxing them? I know it's old school but sometimes those methods work better than the online portal. Really hoping we all get some resolution soon - this whole situation is so stressful when you're already dealing with family leave stuff! 😤

Pro tip: if you have a complex case, try asking for a tier 2 specialist when you finally get through. They're usually more knowledgeable and can actually make decisions on claims.

I've been struggling with the same thing for weeks! One thing that worked for me was using the callback feature on their website - you have to dig around a bit to find it, but it's under the "Contact EDD" section. I scheduled a callback for 8am and actually got a call back within 2 days. Way better than sitting on hold for hours. Also, try calling the disability line directly at 1-800-480-3287 instead of the main number - sometimes it's less busy. Good luck everyone! 🤞

Update: My card finally arrived today! That was 11 business days total. Everything looks correct and I was able to activate it without any issues. For anyone else waiting, hang in there - the timeline they give is pretty accurate. I've already set up direct deposit for future payments too. Thanks everyone for your help and reassurance!

Glad to hear your card arrived safely! 11 business days is right in that normal range everyone mentioned. It's such a relief when you finally get access to your funds after all that waiting and stress. Smart move setting up direct deposit right away - that will save you so much anxiety for future payments. Thanks for updating us with the good news!