I'm in a similar situation! Just started with my city government 6 months ago and found out I'm pregnant. Like you, I had no idea about the SDI exemption when I took the job. From what I've learned so far, definitely explore that inactive claim option that Ethan mentioned - it sounds like you might have a real shot since you're within the 18-month window! Also, I'd suggest documenting everything when you call EDD. Write down the rep's name, date, and exactly what they tell you in case you need to reference it later. The rules seem to have so many exceptions that even HR departments don't know about them all. Fingers crossed we both find some better options than just the basic county leave!

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now! I'm 12 weeks pregnant and work for the state (different agency but same SDI exemption issue). After reading through all these responses, I'm definitely going to look into that inactive claim provision too since I left my private sector job about 14 months ago. One thing I wanted to add - if you do end up needing to rely on your county's leave program, make sure you understand ALL the details. My friend discovered her county had additional vacation/sick time provisions specifically for pregnancy that HR didn't initially mention. Sometimes there are supplemental benefits or the ability to use accrued time differently during maternity leave. It's worth asking for the full employee handbook section on pregnancy/family leave rather than just getting a quick verbal summary from HR. Thanks everyone for all the helpful info - this thread has been super informative!

This might sound weird, but are you using any VPN or ad blockers? I had issues with EDD's site when I had those on. Turned 'em off and suddenly everything worked fine. 🤷‍♀️

I've been dealing with EDD issues for months and found that sometimes their system has temporary hiccups with card verification. A few things that worked for me: 1) Make sure you're entering the 3-digit code from the back of your card (not the longer number on the front), 2) Try using incognito/private browsing mode, and 3) If you have special characters or spaces in any of your info, that can sometimes cause weird validation errors. Also, double-check that your address on file with EDD matches exactly what's on your card account - even small differences can cause problems. Good luck! 🤞

I'm in a very similar situation - submitted my hardship form about 5 weeks ago for a $4,800 overpayment and still waiting for any response. The stress is absolutely overwhelming, especially when you're already dealing with financial difficulties that led to needing the hardship form in the first place. I've been calling religiously but can never get through to an actual person. Reading everyone's experiences here is both reassuring (that this wait time is unfortunately normal) and frustrating (that the system is this broken). I'm going to try some of the suggestions mentioned here like sending a secure message through SDI Online and keeping a detailed log of all my contact attempts. It's maddening that they expect us to respond to everything immediately but take months to process our requests. Hoping we all get resolutions soon - this limbo is exhausting.

I'm new to this community but unfortunately not new to EDD issues. I've been waiting 7 weeks now for a response to my hardship form for a $6,200 overpayment, and like everyone else here, the waiting is absolutely killing me. What's really frustrating is that I submitted everything they asked for - detailed financial statements, medical documentation explaining why I can't work full-time, bank statements, you name it. But still nothing. I did want to share one thing that might help others - I finally got through to someone last week (after literally hundreds of call attempts) and they confirmed my form was received and is "in review." The rep couldn't give me a timeline but did say that as long as the hardship request is pending, they won't start garnishment. So at least there's that small peace of mind. The rep also mentioned that if you submitted your form by mail rather than through SDI Online, it can take an extra 2-3 weeks just for them to process it into their system. Might be worth calling to confirm yours was actually received and entered, especially if you mailed it in like I did initially. Hang in there everyone - this process is broken but from what I'm reading here, most people do eventually get some kind of resolution.

I'm new to this community and currently waiting for my SDI application decision after submitting everything last week for a shoulder injury. Reading through this entire discussion has been incredibly educational and reassuring! I had no idea that SDI was so different from unemployment benefits in terms of certification requirements. The detailed explanations about the DE 2500A form, timeline expectations, and all the practical tips like Informed Delivery and calendar reminders are exactly what I needed to hear. I've been anxiously wondering what comes next if I get approved, and now I feel much more prepared. Special thanks to everyone who shared their personal experiences - it really helps to hear from people who've actually been through this process. I'm definitely going to implement the tracking system suggestions and stay organized with all the important dates. This community is amazing for providing such thorough, helpful information when the official EDD resources can be so confusing!

I'm new to this community and just went through my first week of approved SDI benefits for a wrist injury from a fall. This entire thread has been absolutely invaluable! I was so confused about what happens after approval and kept checking my online account thinking I was missing some kind of weekly requirement. Learning that SDI doesn't require the same certification process as unemployment is such a huge relief. All the tips here about watching for the DE 2500A form, setting up calendar reminders, and using Informed Delivery are going straight into my organization system. I especially appreciate the advice about staying in communication with my doctor about recovery timelines - I have a follow-up next week and will definitely ask about whether my initial 6-week estimate is still realistic. It's incredible how much anxiety gets reduced when you actually understand how the process works. Thank you everyone for creating such a supportive and informative discussion!

Hi Mateo! I just went through this exact situation a couple months ago - also 36 weeks pregnant when I filed and my employer submitted paper forms too. The anxiety is SO real, especially when you're that close to your due date! From my experience, paper forms typically add about 2-3 weeks to the processing time, but the good news is your benefits will definitely be backdated to your May 14th filing date. I filed in early March and my employer mailed their form about a week later. It took roughly 18 calendar days from when they mailed it until I saw my status change from "waiting period" to "processing." A few things that helped me stay sane during the wait: - Asked my HR for the tracking number when they mailed it (they used certified mail) - Called EDD at exactly 8 AM after 2 weeks to confirm they received the form - Checked my SDI account every morning instead of obsessively throughout the day The rep I spoke to confirmed that pregnancy disability claims do get some priority since they're time-sensitive. Given that you filed May 14th and your due date is June 8th, you should absolutely have everything approved in time - even with the paper processing delays. One thing to double-check with your employer tomorrow: make sure they're using the current version of the DE 2503 form (should say 2024 or 2025 revision date). I've seen people get delayed because their employer used an outdated form version. Hang in there! The waiting is definitely the hardest part, but you filed early enough that you should be totally fine. Keep us posted on how it goes! 💙

Hey Mateo! I'm a newcomer here but wanted to chime in since I just went through this exact process with my pregnancy disability claim about 6 weeks ago. The paper form submission anxiety is SO real - I was checking my account multiple times a day and driving myself crazy! From my experience, it took exactly 19 calendar days from when my employer mailed the DE 2503 until my status changed to "processing." The key thing that saved my sanity was getting the certified mail tracking number from my HR department - I could see exactly when EDD received it and start counting from there. A couple things that might help: - Follow up with your employer tomorrow to confirm they actually mailed it (mine "forgot" the first time 🙄) - Ask for tracking info if they used certified/priority mail - The waiting period status is just the standard 7-day waiting period, not waiting for documents - Your benefits will 100% be backdated to May 14th regardless of processing delays Given your timeline (filed May 14, due June 8), you're in great shape even with paper processing. I filed way later than you did and still got everything sorted before my maternity leave started. The EDD rep I eventually spoke to mentioned they do prioritize pregnancy claims since they're time-sensitive. Try not to stress too much - easier said than done when you're 36 weeks pregnant, I know! But you filed early and did everything right. The money will come through in time. Hang in there mama! 💕