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I'm in a similar boat - filed for SDI in February and they've been "verifying my identity" for 5 weeks now. The stress of not knowing when (or if) the payments will come while dealing with medical issues is honestly making my condition worse. I tried the state rep suggestion from earlier posts and it actually helped! My assemblyman's office said they'd put in a request to expedite my case. Also wanted to mention - if you're really struggling financially, some local food banks and churches have emergency assistance programs that don't require tons of paperwork. It's not much but every little bit helps when you're waiting on EDD. Keep pushing and don't give up!
I'm so glad to hear your assemblyman's office is helping! That gives me hope. I've been hesitant to reach out to local assistance programs because I keep thinking my SDI will come through "any day now" but you're right - every little bit helps when you're in survival mode. The stress definitely makes everything worse - I swear this whole ordeal has set back my recovery. Thanks for the reminder about food banks too, I hadn't even thought of that. It's crazy how many of us are going through this same nightmare with identity verification right now.
I've been through this exact situation! Was stuck in identity verification hell for 8 weeks last year. A few things that finally helped me break through: 1) Contact your state assemblyperson's constituent services office - they have direct contacts at EDD and can escalate your case, 2) Make sure you submitted the DE 1326C form (Identity Verification form) - this is often the missing piece that keeps cases stuck, 3) Try calling the SDI Technical Support line at 1-800-480-3287 early in the morning (like 8:01 AM) - better chance of getting through. Also, while you wait, look into your county's General Relief program and local food banks for emergency assistance. The financial stress while waiting is brutal, especially when you're already dealing with medical issues. Keep certifying every two weeks no matter what - you'll get all the back pay once it's resolved. Don't give up, the system is broken but you will eventually get through it!
This is incredibly helpful advice! I'm definitely going to try calling that technical support line first thing tomorrow morning. I had no idea about the DE 1326C form until someone mentioned it earlier - seems like EDD doesn't make it very clear that this form is required. It's so reassuring to hear from people who actually made it through this nightmare. The whole system really does seem broken when so many of us are stuck in the same verification limbo for months. Thank you for taking the time to share all these specific steps and phone numbers - it gives me a concrete plan to follow instead of just waiting helplessly.
I'm currently pregnant and this thread is so helpful - thank you everyone for sharing your experiences! I had no idea about the two separate benefits (PDL and PFL) and I'm definitely going to be extra careful about the paperwork when my time comes. @CyberSiren so glad you got it resolved! One question - when you mention the doctor's office resubmitting the DE 2501, did they have to completely start over with a new form or could they just submit a correction? I want to make sure my OB's office knows the right process ahead of time.
Great question @Daniel Price! From what I've learned through this whole ordeal, they typically need to submit a completely new DE 2501 form rather than just a correction. The key is making sure they mark it clearly as an "AMENDED" form and include a cover letter explaining the name correction. I'd definitely recommend talking to your OB's office billing department ahead of time - they're usually familiar with this process since name errors happen more often than you'd think. Also make sure they have your name spelled correctly in their system before your due date! @CyberSiren's experience shows it's totally fixable, but prevention is always better than correction.
As someone who just went through a similar name error nightmare with EDD last year, I wanted to add a few tips that might help others avoid this situation entirely: 1. **Before your appointment**: Email your doctor's office ahead of time with your full legal name exactly as it appears on your Social Security card. Ask them to double-check it in their system. 2. **At the appointment**: When they're filling out the DE 2501, ask to see the form before they submit it. I know you're dealing with a newborn and recovery, but this 30-second check could save weeks of headaches. 3. **After submission**: If possible, ask for a copy of what they submitted or at least confirmation of how they spelled your name. I learned this the hard way after my doctor's office somehow turned my last name "Johnson" into "Johnsen" on the form. The correction process took almost a month, and I was stressed the entire time about missing payments during maternity leave. @CyberSiren I'm so glad you got yours resolved! Your detailed update will definitely help other new moms going through this same frustrating situation.
One more important thing to consider: if you're currently collecting UI while actually being unable to work due to pregnancy complications, this could potentially be considered misrepresentation. When you certify for UI, you're declaring that you're able and available for work. I recommend being proactive about this. Contact EDD and explain the situation - that you misunderstood the programs and need to switch from UI to SDI. They can help you make this transition properly and potentially avoid any overpayment or penalty issues. For your SDI claim, make sure your healthcare provider clearly documents your pregnancy-related limitations. Be aware there's a 7-day waiting period for SDI (no benefits paid for the first week). After delivery, the transition from pregnancy disability to PFL should be fairly straightforward with the right documentation. You'll need to have your doctor complete a DE 2501 form to establish your pregnancy disability claim.
As someone who's been through a similar situation, I want to echo what others have said - you really need to switch to SDI ASAP if your doctor has you on bed rest. I made the mistake of staying on UI too long during my pregnancy complications and it created a huge mess with EDD later. The good news is that since you were working and paying into the system until recently, you should definitely qualify for SDI and then PFL after delivery. The benefit amounts are typically much better than UI too - I was shocked at how much more I received on disability compared to unemployment. One tip: when you call EDD to make the switch, be honest about the timing and that you realize you may have been on the wrong program. They're usually more helpful when you're upfront about mistakes rather than trying to hide them. Also, make sure your doctor fills out the DE 2501 form completely - any missing info will delay your claim. You're going to be a great mom and this benefits stuff will all work out! Focus on taking care of yourself and the baby first, everything else is just paperwork that can be sorted out.
Pro tip: Try applying super early in the morning or late at night. Less traffic on the site, might have better luck getting through. Worked for me!
I had the exact same E324 error last week! What finally worked for me was using a different browser entirely (switched from Chrome to Firefox) and making sure I wasn't using any browser extensions or ad blockers. Also double-check that you're entering your SSN exactly as it appears on your card - no dashes or spaces. The EDD system is super picky about formatting. If all else fails, the phone number for SDI is 1-800-480-3287, but yeah, expect to wait on hold for hours. Hope this helps!
Thanks so much for the detailed help! The browser switch tip is something I hadn't thought of. I've been using Chrome with a bunch of extensions running, so that could definitely be the issue. Going to try Firefox with a clean setup and pay extra attention to the SSN formatting. Really appreciate you sharing what worked for you! 🙏
Fatima Al-Qasimi
I'm going through the exact same thing right now! My claim was approved 10 days ago with my weekly benefit amount showing ($892/week) but still no payment date. I've been calling nonstop and finally got through yesterday - the rep told me there's a "routine verification process" for first-time SDI claims that can take 10-21 business days after approval. She said as long as my status shows "active" (which it does) and there are no pending forms, the payment will come through automatically. Still nerve-wracking when bills are due though! Thanks @NebulaNova for sharing your Claimyr experience - that might be my next step if I don't see movement by Monday. It's oddly comforting to know so many of us are dealing with this same delay!
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Natasha Petrova
•@Fatima Al-Qasimi That s'really helpful that you actually got through to someone! 10-21 business days seems like such a wide range, but at least now we know it s'an official routine "verification process and" not just random delays. I m'at day 12 now and starting to feel more confident that it ll'come through soon based on everyone s'experiences here. It s'so frustrating that they don t'communicate this timeline upfront - would save so much stress! Definitely keep us posted on when yours comes through, and I ll'do the same. Thanks for sharing what the rep told you!
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Amara Okafor
I'm in the exact same boat! My SDI claim was approved 9 days ago with a weekly benefit amount of $1,123 showing, but still no payment date. After reading through this thread, I feel so much better knowing this delay is actually normal - I was starting to think something was seriously wrong with my claim. The information about the payment batches on Sundays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays is really helpful too. I've been checking my account obsessively every day! @NebulaNova, thanks for sharing your Claimyr experience - that gives me hope that if there is some hidden flag or issue, it can be resolved quickly. I think I'll wait until Monday to see if anything processes over the weekend, and if not, I might try that service. It's such a relief to know I'm not alone in this frustrating waiting game!
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Luca Marino
•@Amara Okafor I m'so glad this thread helped you feel better too! I was literally losing sleep over this before finding everyone s'experiences here. It s'crazy how EDD doesn t'clearly communicate that 2-3 weeks is normal for the first payment - would save so much anxiety. I m'on day 15 now and still waiting, but reading about everyone else s'similar timelines has really helped me stay calm. The payment batch schedule info was a game-changer for me too - now I know to check on Sundays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays instead of obsessively refreshing every day. Fingers crossed we both see movement soon! This community has been a lifesaver during this stressful process.
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