I completely understand your panic right now - I went through this exact same situation with my continuing certification forms earlier this year and it was absolutely terrifying! Here's what I learned that might help you: There IS an unofficial grace period of about 5-7 days before EDD actually stops payments, even though they don't advertise it. So while today is technically the deadline, you're not going to wake up tomorrow with zero income. For your doctor's office, here's what finally worked for me after weeks of getting nowhere: Show up in person tomorrow morning and ask to speak directly with the medical records coordinator or whoever handles disability paperwork (not the front desk staff). Tell them this is an "urgent financial matter" affecting your ability to pay rent and buy groceries. Sometimes they just don't realize these deadlines are literally about survival. If they still won't prioritize it, politely but firmly tell them you'll need to wait there until it's completed - I actually had to camp out in the waiting room for several hours, but it worked because they realized I was serious about not leaving. Once you get those forms, definitely fax them yourself at 855-341-0202 instead of trusting the mail system. You'll get instant confirmation that EDD received them. And absolutely yes - after this nightmare is over, switch to a provider who uses SDI Online for electronic submissions. It's a total game changer and eliminates all this stress! You're doing everything right by being persistent. This community has your back and you WILL get through this! Keep us updated on how it goes tomorrow.

I'm really sorry you're dealing with this stressful situation! I've been on disability for a while now and have unfortunately experienced similar delays with doctor's offices. Here are a few things that might help: First, try calling EDD's Provider Relations line at 1-877-238-4373 - they can sometimes contact your doctor's office directly to expedite urgent forms. I've had success with this when my provider was being unresponsive. Second, if you do manage to get through to EDD on the regular line, ask them to put a note on your account documenting that the delay is provider-related, not patient-related. This can protect you if there are any issues with your claim. And definitely keep trying to reach someone in the medical records department at your doctor's office rather than just the front desk. Explain that this affects your ability to pay for basic needs - sometimes that urgency gets lost in translation. The electronic filing through SDI Online that others mentioned is definitely worth asking about for future certifications. Some doctors don't advertise that they offer it, so it's worth specifically asking. Hang in there - most of us in this community have been exactly where you are right now, and it's incredibly frustrating that we have to fight so hard for benefits we're entitled to. You're doing all the right things by being persistent!

Thank you everyone for all this helpful advice! I'm going to fill out both sections of the form today, make sure all my dates line up correctly, and have my tax documentation ready in case they request it. I'll also try that Claimyr service to speak with an EDD rep directly about my specific situation. It's such a relief to hear from other self-employed people who've successfully navigated this process. I'll update once my claim is processed!

As someone who just went through this process with my own business 6 months ago, I wanted to add a few more tips that helped me avoid delays: 1. When you submit your claim, take photos or scan everything before mailing - I had to resubmit documents that got "lost" in their system 2. If you've been inconsistent with SDI payments in the past (like I was during slow business periods), be prepared to provide extra documentation showing your quarterly filings 3. Consider starting your claim exactly 4 weeks before your due date even if you feel fine - you can always work a few more days and just report them, but starting the claim early ensures the paperwork is in motion 4. Keep a detailed log of every interaction with EDD including dates, times, and rep names - this saved me when there was confusion about my case The whole process took about 3 weeks for me once I got everything submitted correctly. You're doing great by asking these questions now rather than scrambling after the baby arrives! Best of luck with everything! 🍀

This is such a common issue unfortunately! I went through the same thing about 6 months ago. In my case, it turned out to be a combination of problems - my employer had submitted incomplete paperwork AND there was a processing delay on EDD's end. What really helped me was creating a detailed timeline of all my dates (leave start, doctor visits, when forms were submitted, etc.) and having that ready when I finally got through to someone. Also, don't just rely on phone calls - I submitted a written inquiry through their online portal AND sent a certified letter. Sometimes having multiple touchpoints in their system helps move things along. The whole process took about 5 weeks to resolve, but I did get all my back pay. Stay persistent and document everything - you've got this! 💪

I'm dealing with this exact same situation right now! Just got my first PFL payment and it was only for one day when I expected much more. Reading through all these responses is really eye-opening - I had no idea there were so many potential causes like employer paperwork issues, date discrepancies, or gaps between SDI and PFL. I'm going to start by checking my medical certification forms for any date errors, then contact my HR department to verify they submitted everything correctly. It's frustrating that such small administrative issues can cause such big problems with payments we're entitled to. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this community is a lifesaver when dealing with the EDD maze! 🤞

btw i think the confusion is cuz workers comp, ssi and private disability insurance all have diff tax rules than SDI. google "publication 15a" from irs it explains all this tax stuff. most ppl dont realize state disability is taxed federally

I'm really sorry you're going through this surprise tax situation! As a newcomer here, I wanted to share that I just went through something similar. I also received SDI benefits last year and was shocked when I got the 1099G. What helped me was using a tax calculator online to estimate what I'd owe before filing, so I could prepare mentally and financially. Also, if you're using tax software like TurboTax or H&R Block, they usually walk you through setting up payment plans right during the filing process, which saves you from dealing with IRS notices later. The community here seems really knowledgeable about these SDI tax issues - I wish I'd found this group earlier in my disability journey!

I'm new to this community but going through the exact same situation! Had my IME yesterday and it was shockingly similar to what you described - doctor came in, asked maybe 3 basic questions about my condition, and then just said "alright" and walked out. No physical examination, didn't even touch my medical file while I was there. The whole thing lasted maybe 75 seconds max. I've been spiraling with anxiety since then, convinced that such a brief appointment must mean automatic denial. But reading through all these comments has been such a huge relief! It's both frustrating and comforting to see how standardized these rushed "examinations" apparently are. What really gives me hope is seeing multiple people here who had equally brief appointments but still got approved. The consistent message seems to be that your treating physician's documentation is what actually matters, not what happens in that joke of an IME appointment. My orthopedist has been incredibly thorough documenting my injury and limitations since it started, so I'm trying to focus on that rather than obsessing over the inadequate "exam." Still going to be checking my EDD portal obsessively though! Thanks for posting about this - it's such a relief to know we're not alone in this bizarre experience.

Welcome to the community Alejandro! Your experience sounds exactly like what so many of us have been through - it's almost like these IME doctors are following the same script across different locations. The 75-second appointment with basic questions and no physical exam is unfortunately the standard playbook for these evaluations. I completely understand the anxiety spiral you're experiencing right now. I went through the exact same thing after my IME, but this thread has been incredibly helpful for managing those fears. What's really struck me reading everyone's stories is how little correlation there seems to be between the appointment length and the actual outcome. Your orthopedist's thorough documentation is definitely going to be your strongest asset here. From what everyone has shared, that's what EDD really relies on for their determinations rather than the brief face-to-face meeting. The IME seems to be more about checking for obvious red flags or inconsistencies rather than conducting a comprehensive evaluation. Try to hang in there during the waiting period (easier said than done, I know!). Based on the timelines others have shared, you should hopefully see a status update within the next 1-2 weeks. Keep us posted on how things go - positive updates like Logan's really help everyone else still in the waiting phase!