I went through this exact situation 6 months ago and it was absolutely devastating at the time. EDD withheld my entire PFL payment for an overpayment I didn't even know about until they took my money. Here's what worked for me: I submitted the DE 1446W hardship waiver AND immediately called to request a payment arrangement while the waiver was being processed. The key is to be very detailed about your baby expenses - formula, diapers, medical copays, childcare if you're planning to return to work, etc. I also included a letter from my pediatrician stating that financial stress could impact my ability to care for my newborn. It took about 6 weeks, but my hardship waiver was approved and they released the held payments. Don't give up - they do approve these waivers, especially for new parents. The system is definitely broken, but there are ways to work within it. Document everything and keep pushing!

I'm going through this nightmare right now too! Just had my son 5 weeks ago and EDD is holding ALL my PFL payments because of some overpayment from unemployment I got during COVID. I had absolutely no idea they could just take money from a completely different program - it feels like theft when you're counting on that money for basic baby needs. Reading through everyone's advice here has been incredibly helpful though. I'm definitely going to try the DE 1446W hardship waiver form and the Claimyr service to actually get through to someone. It's so frustrating that we have to fight this hard just to get benefits we're entitled to, especially when we're already exhausted new parents. Thank you to everyone sharing their experiences and tips - it's reassuring to know I'm not the only one dealing with this mess and that there might actually be a way out!

As someone new to this community and the SDI system, I just wanted to say how incredibly helpful this entire thread has been! Reading about @Serene Snow's experience with the duplicate receipt numbers really opened my eyes to the kinds of issues that can come up during the extension process. I'm currently preparing for what might be my first SDI claim, and all the practical advice shared here - from keeping detailed logs and taking screenshots to using the most recent receipt number and following up with healthcare providers - is exactly the kind of real-world guidance you can't find in the official EDD materials. The recommendation about Claimyr is also going straight into my notes for future reference. It's so reassuring to see how this community rallies around each other with practical solutions and emotional support during what can be incredibly stressful times. Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their experiences and help others navigate this complex system!

As someone who just went through a very similar situation last month, I can absolutely relate to the panic you felt! I had the exact same thing happen - submitted my extension, got a receipt number, then two days later the system prompted me again and gave me a completely different number. I was convinced I'd somehow messed up my original submission. Here's what I learned after finally getting through to an EDD representative: the system sometimes generates these duplicate notifications when your current benefit period is close to ending, even if you've already submitted your extension request. It's basically a failsafe to make sure nothing falls through the cracks, but it creates unnecessary confusion for us claimants. The key things that worked for me were: 1) Giving my doctor both receipt numbers with clear explanations of which came first, 2) Having them use the most recent one for their certification submission, and 3) Following up within 24 hours to confirm they'd submitted everything correctly. My extension was approved without any delays, and I learned that your place in the processing queue is based on your FIRST submission date, not the second one. The stress is so real when your savings are running low - I completely understand that anxiety. But this duplicate receipt issue is actually pretty common and doesn't indicate you did anything wrong. You're going to be okay!

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.

I'm currently dealing with this exact situation and this thread has been a lifesaver! Got my "false statement" notice yesterday and was completely panicked until I found all of your stories here. Like many of you, I had a brief return-to-work attempt (just 8 days) during my SDI claim for anxiety and depression before my symptoms got worse and I had to stop again. The pattern is so clear from reading everyone's experiences - it seems like ANY work attempt during a disability claim triggers these interviews, even when everything is reported correctly. The scary language on the notice really doesn't match what these calls actually are. I'm scheduled for my interview next Monday and I'm preparing everything you all have suggested: exact timeline with dates, doctor's documentation about the work attempt and why I had to stop, earnings records, and a list of potential questions. @Lucas Lindsey - how did your interview go? I hope it went smoothly! And thank you to everyone else who shared their outcomes - knowing that most of these turn out to be routine verification calls really helps with the anxiety. This community support is incredible when dealing with EDD stress!

I've been having the exact same issue! The callback system worked perfectly for me last month, but this week it's been a total disaster. I answer within the first ring and just hear silence or a dial tone. Really frustrating when you're already dealing with disability claim stress. I noticed it seems to happen more during busy hours (10am-2pm), so I'm going to try Amelia's suggestion about calling early morning. Has anyone had luck getting through to report this as a technical issue to EDD directly?

I'm experiencing this too and it's incredibly frustrating! I've been trying to get through for my disability claim review for over a week now. The callback system used to be such a lifesaver, but lately it's been completely unreliable. I'll get the callback notification, answer immediately, and then just dead air or it hangs up on me. I'm wondering if this is related to increased call volume or if there's a genuine technical problem on their end. Has anyone tried using the online contact form as an alternative? I know it's slower, but at this point I'm willing to try anything. This whole situation is adding so much unnecessary stress to an already difficult process.

That's awesome that you got through to EDD and got it sorted out! Really glad the rep was helpful and put that note on your account. Wishing you a speedy recovery with your back injury - slipped discs are no joke. Take care of yourself and don't rush back to work before you're ready. The SDI benefits should help take some financial pressure off while you heal properly.

This is such a perfect example of why it's so important to share these kinds of experiences in the community! Your situation started out scary but you handled it exactly right - filing the SDI claim immediately and not certifying for UI while disabled. It's really reassuring to hear that EDD was actually helpful when you got through to them. For anyone else reading this who might be in a similar boat: the key takeaway is that having both claims in the system isn't the problem, it's trying to collect from both simultaneously that causes issues. Hope your back heals up quickly and completely!