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If I could give 10 stars I would If I could give 10 stars I would Such an amazing service so needed during the times when EDD almost never picks up Claimyr gets me on the phone with EDD every time without fail faster. A much needed service without Claimyr I would have never received the payment I needed to support me during my postpartum recovery. Thank you so much Claimyr!
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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!
Thank you, I really appreciate the kind words. It's definitely a challenging situation!
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!
Thanks for mentioning 211 - I had no idea that service existed! That sounds like exactly what I need right now. I've been struggling with the cost of treatments and medications, so both the sliding-scale clinic option and GoodRx suggestion are really helpful. It's reassuring to hear from someone who's been in a similar situation as a freelancer. Sometimes you feel so alone dealing with this stuff when you don't have traditional employer benefits to fall back on.
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As someone who's completely new to the SDI system, this entire thread has been such a lifesaver! I'm currently dealing with my first continued claim and was absolutely terrified when my form didn't become available until yesterday - literally one day before the deadline. I kept refreshing the EDD portal thinking something was broken or that I had made a mistake somewhere in my application process. Reading through everyone's experiences here, especially @Kristian Bishop's update showing everything worked out perfectly, has given me so much peace of mind. It's really unfortunate that EDD doesn't explain this timing anywhere on their website - when you're already stressed about your health and worried about making ends meet, the last thing you need is panicking about whether your benefits will come through on time. I submitted my certification as soon as the system allowed and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that my payment processes smoothly like everyone else's did. Thank you all for creating such a supportive community and sharing your experiences - it makes navigating EDD's confusing system so much more manageable for newcomers like me!
Welcome to the community! I completely understand that terror you felt when your form didn't appear until the last day - I'm also brand new to SDI and went through the exact same panic just last week. I was refreshing the portal constantly thinking I had somehow broken my account or missed a crucial step! This thread has been absolutely invaluable for learning that this nerve-wracking timing is actually how the system is designed to work, even though EDD provides no explanation whatsoever about it. @Kristian Bishop s'positive outcome really shows that despite the anxiety-inducing process, everything does work out correctly when you follow the steps. It s'so frustrating that they put people through this unnecessary stress when we re'already dealing with health challenges, but having this supportive community to share experiences and reassure each other makes such a huge difference in navigating EDD s'poorly communicated processes!
This entire discussion has been so incredibly helpful! I'm currently on week 2 of my very first SDI claim and was starting to panic when I realized my continued claim form wouldn't be available until the day before the deadline. Like so many others here, I kept checking the portal multiple times a day thinking there was a glitch or that I had somehow messed up my account setup. Reading through everyone's experiences, especially @Kristian Bishop's positive update that everything processed perfectly on schedule, has been such a huge relief. It's really frustrating that EDD doesn't provide any clear communication about this timing being completely normal - when you're already dealing with a disability and financial stress, the added anxiety about potentially missing payment deadlines is overwhelming. I'm definitely going to follow the advice about taking screenshots of my certification confirmation and will make sure to certify as soon as the system allows. Thank you all for creating such a supportive community where newcomers can learn from others' experiences - it makes navigating EDD's confusing processes so much more manageable!
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Great question about HR complications @Omar Zaki! I actually did run into some issues with my employer when I had surgery in Mexico last year. My HR department had never dealt with international medical leave before and initially tried to tell me I couldn't use FMLA for "vacation surgery" (even though my procedure was medically necessary). I ended up having to provide them with the same medical necessity documentation I gave to EDD, plus I had my US primary care doctor write a letter explaining why the international treatment was the best option for my specific condition. Once HR understood it wasn't cosmetic/elective tourism, they were much more cooperative. Pro tip: give your HR department a heads up early in the planning process and offer to provide documentation about the medical necessity. Some companies have policies about international medical procedures that aren't clearly written anywhere, so it's better to have those conversations upfront rather than after you've already scheduled everything. Also, make sure you understand how your employer handles the coordination between state disability benefits and any company-provided short-term disability insurance. In my case, the company policy required SDI approval before they would approve the additional employer benefits. The bureaucracy definitely adds some complexity, but it's all manageable if you plan ahead and communicate clearly with everyone involved!
Thanks for sharing your HR experience @Sophie Duck! That's exactly the kind of insight I was hoping to hear. The point about them initially calling it "vacation surgery" really highlights how misunderstood medical tourism can be, even when it's clearly medically necessary. I can see how having both your Mexican surgeon AND your US primary care doctor provide documentation would help establish legitimacy from multiple angles. Your tip about discussing company policies upfront is really smart - I bet a lot of people don't think to check if their employer has specific rules about international medical procedures until it's too late to adjust their plans. And the coordination between SDI and employer short-term disability benefits is something I definitely wouldn't have considered on my own. It sounds like the key theme throughout this entire thread is the same: over-communicate and over-document everything from the very beginning. Whether it's with EDD, your doctors, or your employer, being proactive and transparent seems to prevent most of the potential roadblocks that could derail the whole process. This thread really has become an incredible resource - between the medical documentation requirements, the EDD procedures, and now the employer considerations, it's like a complete playbook for anyone considering medical treatment abroad while maintaining their benefits and job security.
This has been such an amazing thread to read through! As someone who's been considering a similar procedure but was completely overwhelmed by the paperwork requirements, seeing everyone's detailed experiences has been incredibly helpful. I'm curious about one aspect that hasn't been discussed much - did anyone have to deal with follow-up appointments or complications while still in Mexico? I'm wondering how that affects the SDI documentation if you need additional medical care beyond the original planned procedure. Also, for those who mentioned Facebook groups for medical tourism - do you have any specific group recommendations? I'd love to connect with others who've used the same facilities or surgeons I'm considering. The level of preparation this thread has outlined is definitely more intensive than I initially expected, but seeing the 4-6 week approval timelines when everything is properly documented gives me a lot more confidence. Thanks to everyone for sharing such detailed real-world advice - this community is incredible!
Great question about follow-up care @Alina Rosenthal! I actually had to deal with this exact situation during my recovery in Guadalajara. I developed some unexpected swelling that required an additional consultation and medication adjustment. My surgeon was really helpful about documenting everything - he provided updated medical notes explaining the complication, the additional treatment provided, and how it affected my recovery timeline. When I submitted this extra documentation to EDD along with my original claim, they actually processed everything together without any issues. The key was making sure my doctor clearly explained that the follow-up care was directly related to the original procedure and medically necessary for proper healing. As for Facebook groups, I found "Medical Tourism Mexico Support Group" and "Surgery in Mexico - Real Experiences" to be super helpful for connecting with people who used similar facilities. The administrators are pretty good about verifying that members have actual experience rather than just promoting certain clinics. Definitely join a few groups and search for posts about your specific procedure type - you'll find tons of practical advice about which doctors are familiar with US paperwork requirements!
@Alina Rosenthal - Adding to what @Aaron Boston shared about complications, I d also'recommend asking your Mexican surgeon upfront about their policy for providing additional documentation if follow-up care is needed. Some doctors charge extra fees for completing supplemental forms, while others include it as part of their surgical package. It s better'to clarify this before your procedure so there are no surprises if you need extra paperwork. For Facebook groups, I d also'suggest Mexico Medical "Tourism - Honest Reviews and looking" for procedure-specific groups if you re having'something specialized. Many of these groups have pinned posts with recommended doctors who are experienced with US insurance requirements, which can save you a lot of research time. One more tip from my experience: if you do need follow-up care while in Mexico, ask your surgeon to provide you with copies of all additional medical records in both Spanish and English if possible. Even though you ll need'certified translations anyway, having both versions helps speed up the translation process and reduces the chance of errors. The extra documentation actually seemed to strengthen my case with EDD since it showed comprehensive medical care and proper recovery monitoring.
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This thread has been incredibly helpful and eye-opening! As someone who's never had to deal with medical leave before, I had no idea that Sedgwick and EDD were completely separate systems. The way everyone has broken this down - Sedgwick for job protection/leave approval and EDD for actual wage replacement - makes it so much clearer. I'm saving this entire conversation as a reference because I have a feeling this knowledge will come in handy someday, either for myself or to help family members navigate this confusing system. It's honestly shocking that employers and HR departments don't explain this distinction more clearly upfront. Miguel, your sister is so lucky to have you researching this for her! It sounds like she would have completely missed out on benefits she's entitled to if you hadn't asked these questions. The fact that so many people in this thread have similar stories really shows how broken the communication around this process is. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and practical tips - this is exactly the kind of real-world advice that makes all the difference when you're dealing with a stressful medical situation.
I'm so glad I found this thread! I'm actually dealing with this exact situation right now - I've been on medical leave for 2 weeks through Sedgwick and just realized I might be missing out on EDD benefits. My HR department literally just said "file with Sedgwick for your leave" and never once mentioned that state disability was a separate application. Reading through everyone's experiences here, it's clear I need to get on the EDD website immediately. The fact that so many people have had the same confusion really shows how poorly this is communicated by employers. It's frustrating that we have to figure this out on our own when we're already dealing with health issues. Miguel, did your sister end up getting everything sorted out? I'm hoping to learn from her experience since I'm in a similar boat with the timing. Thanks to everyone who shared such detailed advice - this thread is going to save me from potentially losing out on benefits I've been paying into!
Justin Evans
I'm going through the exact same thing right now! Got SDI for pregnancy from July to October 2024 and have been stressing about not receiving any tax forms. This entire thread has been such a lifesaver - I had no idea SDI pregnancy benefits weren't federally taxable! I've been checking my EDD online account and mailbox obsessively thinking I was missing something crucial. It's such a relief to know this is completely normal and that so many others have gone through the same confusion. Really wish EDD made this clearer in their communications! Now I can finally stop worrying and get my taxes filed. Thank you all for sharing your experiences - this community is amazing for helping navigate all these confusing benefit details!
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Amara Nnamani
•I'm so glad this thread helped you too! I was in exactly the same situation - constantly refreshing my EDD account and checking the mail every day thinking I had missed some important tax document. It's crazy how much anxiety this causes when you're just trying to file your taxes correctly! I really appreciate everyone who shared their experiences here because it saved me from potentially calling EDD and sitting on hold for hours. You're absolutely right that EDD should make this information way clearer - maybe put it right in the benefits summary or send a note explaining why no tax forms are issued for SDI. At least now we all know what to expect and can help other people who go through this same confusion!
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Logan Scott
I'm so grateful I found this thread! I'm currently on SDI for pregnancy (started in December 2024) and was already starting to worry about tax forms for next year. Reading everyone's experiences has been incredibly helpful - it's such a relief to know that SDI pregnancy benefits aren't federally taxable and that's why we don't receive 1099 forms. I love how supportive this community is in sharing real experiences and helping each other navigate these confusing situations. It's amazing how much stress this can save people who are already dealing with the challenges of pregnancy and recovery. Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their knowledge and experiences - it really makes a difference for those of us who are new to all this!
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Ana Rusula
•Welcome to the community! It's so smart that you're thinking ahead about taxes even while you're currently on SDI. This thread really is a goldmine of information - I wish I had found something like this when I was going through the same confusion last year! Since you're on pregnancy SDI now, just remember that when you transition to Paid Family Leave (PFL) for bonding time after your baby arrives, those benefits WILL be taxable and you'll get a 1099-G for them next tax season. But for the SDI pregnancy portion, you're all set - no tax forms needed! Hope your recovery is going well and congratulations on your upcoming arrival!
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