I'm currently in a very similar situation with my disability extension! My doctor just submitted the extension paperwork last week and I was completely lost about what I needed to do on my end. This entire thread has been incredibly enlightening - I had no idea about the DE 2500A continued claim form requirement until reading everyone's experiences here. Just logged into my SDI Online account and found the continued claim form waiting for me in the Forms section. It's honestly shocking how EDD doesn't clearly communicate this two-part process anywhere on their official website. Without this community discussion, I probably would have missed the form entirely and experienced a payment gap. For anyone else going through this process, I highly recommend bookmarking this thread - it contains more useful, practical information than anything I found on EDD's official resources. The tips about taking screenshots of confirmation pages, setting calendar reminders for bi-weekly certifications, and being patient with processing times (5-7 business days) are all gold. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and helped clarify this confusing process. It's reassuring to know that others have successfully navigated these extensions even when EDD's system seems designed to trip you up!

I just went through this same situation last month with my disability extension! The confusion is totally understandable - EDD's communication about the process is practically nonexistent. What you need to know is that there are TWO separate steps required for extensions: 1. Doctor submits medical extension certification (sounds like this is done since you got a copy) 2. Your husband must complete a DE 2500A "Claim for Continued Disability Benefits" form The doctor's paperwork and your husband's continued claim form are processed as separate workflows by EDD, so even though the doctor submitted their part, your husband still has his own form to complete. Check his SDI Online account under the "Forms" section - there's likely a continued claim form waiting there that you might have missed. Don't wait for the doctor's extension to appear in the system first - submit the DE 2500A form right away! The two parts will sync up on EDD's end once they process both. Most importantly, keep doing those bi-weekly certifications without interruption regardless of what's showing in the system. That's the #1 thing that causes payment gaps. From my experience, it takes about 5-7 business days for the updated benefit period to show up in your account once both parts are submitted. If nothing updates after a week, then call EDD to follow up. Hope this helps and your husband's recovery goes smoothly!

As someone who just completed this process successfully about 2 months ago, I wanted to share a few key things that really made a difference for me: **Get organized from day one:** Create a simple tracking system (I used a Google doc) with columns for: Date, Action Taken, Who I Contacted, Response Received, Next Steps. This saved me so much stress when I needed to reference previous communications. **Your doctor visit is crucial:** Don't just mention you're stressed - be specific about symptoms that affect work performance. Things like "difficulty concentrating during meetings," "unable to handle normal workload," "experiencing panic attacks that prevent me from completing tasks." The more specific you can be about functional limitations, the stronger your documentation will be. **Expect the unexpected:** Even with perfect paperwork, there might be requests for clarification or additional documentation. Don't panic if this happens - it's really common and doesn't mean your claim will be denied. **Financial planning:** Plan for at least 3-4 weeks before seeing any SDI payments. The two-step process (Sedgwick approval first, then EDD filing) means there's more waiting than you might expect. **Most importantly:** Use this time to actually focus on your mental health. I know the paperwork stress feels overwhelming, but remember that you're doing this to get better. Don't feel guilty about taking the time you need. The whole process felt impossible at first, but having this supportive community and taking it one step at a time really helped. You're making the right choice by prioritizing your wellbeing! 💙

I'm also going through my first stress leave application and this thread has been incredibly valuable! As someone who tends to overthink everything, I was getting really anxious about whether I was doing this "right" or if I had enough documentation. Reading everyone's experiences has helped me realize this is a process that lots of people navigate successfully, even when it feels overwhelming at first. The practical tips about organization, timing expectations, and being specific with medical documentation are exactly what I needed to hear. I'm definitely going to set up that dedicated email folder and start keeping a daily symptom journal right away. One thing that's been weighing on me is feeling guilty about taking time off, but seeing so many people emphasize that prioritizing mental health is valid and necessary really helps. It's easy to minimize your own stress when you're in the middle of it, but work-related stress that affects your daily functioning is absolutely a legitimate health concern. Thanks to everyone who's shared their experiences and advice - it's making what felt like an impossible bureaucratic maze seem much more manageable. Having this supportive community makes such a difference! 💙

As someone who's been through this process multiple times, I can confirm that faxing to EDD is incredibly unreliable. I've had documents "lost" twice, which is why I now always send via certified mail AND fax, then follow up with a phone call within a week. It's overkill but it's the only way to have peace of mind. Maya, since you confirmed they have your paperwork, you're actually in a better position than most people - at least you know it's in the system! The 4-week timeline they gave you is probably accurate unfortunately. In the meantime, if you're facing financial hardship, definitely look into that expedited processing option that Finnegan mentioned earlier. You'll need documentation of your hardship, but it could cut your wait time significantly. Hang in there - I know the waiting is brutal but you're closer to resolution than you think! 🙏

I'm dealing with a similar situation and this thread has been incredibly helpful! I submitted my disability paperwork via fax two weeks ago and have been anxiously waiting. Reading everyone's experiences here has given me both realistic expectations and actionable advice. I'm definitely going to try the certified mail + fax combo approach that Malik suggested for any future submissions. Maya, I'm glad you were able to confirm they received your documents - that's honestly half the battle with EDD! The 4-week timeline is frustrating but at least you have some certainty now. For anyone else reading this, I think the key takeaways are: always follow up with a phone call, keep detailed records of everything, and don't be afraid to explore options like expedited processing if you qualify. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences and tips - this community is such a lifesaver when dealing with EDD's broken system! 🙏

This thread has been absolutely amazing to read through as someone completely new to dealing with EDD! I had no idea that they could automatically deduct from disability payments for old unemployment overpayments - that seems like such a critical piece of information that should be clearly communicated upfront. What really stands out to me is how Keisha's experience shows the importance of this community. Without the specific advice about "conditional offset waivers" and the proper phone numbers to call, she might have continued paying double for months without knowing she had the right to stop it. That $800 deduction during pregnancy would have been devastating for most budgets! I'm taking notes on all the practical advice shared here - calling the Collections Division directly instead of general EDD numbers, using specific terminology like "conditional offset waiver," getting confirmation numbers, and documenting everything. It's concerning that EDD's internal systems don't communicate properly, but at least knowing that helps you prepare. The recommendation about Claimyr also seems really valuable for actually getting through to someone who can help. The regular EDD phone system sounds like a nightmare from what I'm reading. Thanks to everyone who shared their knowledge, especially Oliver for the detailed technical explanations. This thread is going to help so many people avoid the stress and confusion that Keisha initially went through!

This entire thread has been such a valuable resource! As someone completely new to navigating EDD, I had no idea that automatic benefit offsets were even possible, let alone that they could happen without clear advance notice. Reading about Keisha's initial shock at discovering the $800 deduction really highlights how unprepared most people are for these situations. What I find most concerning is how the burden falls on individuals to know specific legal terminology like "conditional offset waiver" just to receive fair treatment. It seems like the system is designed to automatically take money first and require people to fight back with insider knowledge to stop it - especially problematic when dealing with vulnerable populations like pregnant women or people with disabilities. The community response here has been incredible though! Oliver's detailed explanations about the legal requirements and proper procedures were game-changing. The fact that EDD legally cannot collect through both payment plans AND benefit offsets unless explicitly agreed to is crucial information that should be much more widely known. I'm definitely saving all the practical tips shared here - the specific phone numbers, the importance of requesting confirmation numbers, and the recommendation about using services like Claimyr to actually get through to someone who can help. It's unfortunate that navigating government benefits requires this level of strategy, but I'm grateful this community exists to share these hard-won insights. Thanks to everyone who contributed their knowledge - this thread is going to help countless people avoid the financial stress and confusion that these automatic deductions can cause!

my neighbor was saying somethin about how if u were on disability for COVID specifically theres different rules? is that true or was she just confused??

This is such a helpful thread! I'm in a similar situation - just got off SDI after 4 months following a knee replacement. One thing I wanted to add is that if you're using a tax preparer instead of software, make sure to bring your 1099-G form with you to your appointment. My tax guy last year almost forgot to ask about it and I would have under-reported my income. Also, if you received both unemployment AND disability benefits in the same year (like I did briefly when my claim transitioned), you'll get separate 1099-G forms for each - don't forget about either one!