So happy to see your update with good news! This thread is going to be really helpful for anyone else dealing with the same situation. The step-by-step process you followed should be bookmarked - calling the doctor immediately, using a service to actually reach EDD, and making sure the right form gets submitted before the deadline. It's crazy that we have to jump through so many hoops for something that should be straightforward, but at least now others will know exactly what to do. Hope your sciatica continues to improve and you can get back to work when you're truly ready!

This is such a great success story and resource! As someone who works in healthcare administration, I see patients struggle with SDI extensions all the time. Your step-by-step approach is exactly what I recommend to patients: 1. Don't wait - contact your doctor immediately when you realize you need an extension 2. Be specific about the form needed (DE 2525XX for extensions) 3. Use services like Claimyr if you can't get through to EDD directly 4. Make sure everything is submitted BEFORE your current period ends The fact that you got the EDD rep to note the incoming extension in your file was brilliant - that's what prevents payment gaps. I'm definitely sharing this thread with colleagues who help patients navigate disability claims. Hope your sciatica improves soon and thanks for taking the time to update everyone!

Just went through this exact same situation last month! The key thing that helped me was organizing everything chronologically - it made it so much easier to tell my story coherently in the appeal. Also, don't be afraid to include a timeline of events in your appeal letter. The judges appreciate when you make their job easier by presenting the facts clearly. One more tip: if you have any witnesses (former coworkers, supervisors) who can back up your side of the story, get written statements from them. It carries more weight than just your word alone. You've got this! 💪

Just wanted to jump in here as someone who's been through the EDD appeals process twice (unfortunately). The most important thing I learned is to request your complete file from EDD before your hearing - they're required to give it to you and sometimes there are documents or notes in there that you didn't know existed that could help your case. Also, if you're dealing with identity verification issues specifically, make sure you send certified mail for any documents you submit. I had papers "lost" in their system and having that tracking receipt saved me from having to start over. The whole process is stressful but don't give up - I know people who won on their second or even third appeal. Document everything and keep copies of EVERYTHING! 📁

I've been experiencing this exact same "system exception" error for the past week! Like many others here, I'm also a disability claimant with time-sensitive documentation that needs to be submitted. It's really concerning that this seems to be predominantly affecting disability accounts - that can't be a coincidence. I've tried all the standard troubleshooting (multiple browsers, clearing cache, different devices, incognito mode) with no luck. What's particularly frustrating is that I can't even get through to customer service to report the issue or get an estimated timeline for resolution. I'm keeping detailed records of every attempt with timestamps and screenshots, and I'd encourage everyone else to do the same. If this causes us to miss important deadlines through no fault of our own, we'll need that documentation for appeals. Has anyone considered filing a complaint with the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing or reaching out to disability advocacy groups? This feels like a systematic issue that's disproportionately impacting people who rely on these services for their basic needs. We shouldn't have to jump through hoops or pay third-party services just to access our own accounts! 😤

I'm a newcomer here but I've been lurking and reading through everyone's experiences - I'm dealing with the exact same "system exception" error for the past 2 days! I'm also a disability claimant and it's really alarming to see how many of us are affected by this same issue. Based on what I'm reading, it definitely seems like there's a pattern here targeting disability accounts specifically. I've already started documenting everything with screenshots and timestamps after seeing the advice from @Jamal Wilson and others. I think the suggestion from @StarSurfer about contacting the Department of Fair Employment and Housing is brilliant - we need to escalate this beyond just EDD's broken customer service. I'm also going to reach out to my local disability advocacy center tomorrow to see if they can help amplify this issue. Has anyone tried creating a shared document or spreadsheet where we can all log our experiences? It might help establish the scope of this problem if we ever need to file group complaints or prove this is a systematic issue affecting disabled Californians' access to essential services. Thanks to everyone sharing their experiences and solutions - this community is a lifesaver when the actual system fails us! 🙏

I'm going through this too! My SDI got extended 6 weeks and nobody warned me about the certification changes. Just wanted to share that I found it helpful to take screenshots of my certification confirmation page each time I submit - it shows the date/time you completed it which can be useful if there are any disputes about timing. Also, I learned the hard way that if you're even one day late on certification, it can really mess things up. The system is super strict about those deadlines. I now have THREE different alarms set for each certification period because I'm so paranoid about missing another one. Hope your payment comes through soon - the financial stress on top of recovery is just awful! 😔

I'm so sorry you're going through this stress! I just went through the exact same thing with my extended maternity SDI - the sudden stop in payments with no warning about needing to certify is such a shock when you're already dealing with recovery and a new baby. From my experience, after you submit that continuation certification form, it usually takes about 3-5 business days for the payment to process and show up in your account. Since you completed it this morning, I'd expect to see something by Wednesday or Thursday of next week. And unfortunately yes, you'll need to certify every two weeks for the remainder of your extended period - it's totally different from the initial automatic payments. I wish they made this clearer upfront! One thing that really helped me was immediately checking my EDD portal after certifying to see when my next certification window opens, then setting multiple phone reminders. The windows are usually about 2 weeks apart but the exact dates can vary slightly. Hang in there - the payment should come through soon and once you get into the rhythm of the bi-weekly certifications, it becomes more manageable. You've got this! 💙

I went through something similar a few months ago. When you call, just be straightforward about it - tell them it was a one-time payment from your employer to help with living expenses, not regular wages or benefits. They'll probably ask if it's taxable income (it likely is) and whether you expect any more payments like this. The key is being honest and having your documentation ready. Also, heads up - they might adjust your benefits for that certification period, but it shouldn't affect future weeks as long as it was truly a one-time thing. Hope this helps!

I went through almost the exact same thing a few months back! When I called EDD, I just explained it as "supplemental assistance from my employer during a difficult time" - they understood pretty quickly. The rep asked me if it was a regular occurrence (it wasn't) and whether I had any documentation showing what it was for. I had an email from HR explaining it, which helped a lot. They did reduce my benefits for that one certification period, but everything went back to normal after that. Just be honest and clear about what it was - they deal with these situations more often than you'd think. You've got this! 💪