I'm going through this exact same verification process right now and wanted to share what I've learned from my experience so far. When I got that letter, I immediately panicked thinking I'd done something wrong by reporting the freelance income! After talking to a few people who've been through this, here's what I gathered for my submission: - Tax return with Schedule C (this seems to be the most important document) - All 1099-NEC forms from clients - 6 months of bank statements showing freelance payments - A one-page summary letter listing the type of work, typical monthly income range, and doctor's estimated return date I submitted everything through SDI Online about a week ago and I'm still waiting, but the representative I spoke with said 2-3 weeks is typical for mixed income verifications. The key thing she emphasized was to respond quickly and include your husband's EDD Customer Account Number on every single page. You absolutely did the right thing reporting everything upfront - I've heard that trying to hide freelance income can lead to much bigger problems down the road. The verification is just their standard process since they can't contact a "boss" to verify self-employment like they do with regular jobs. Hang in there!

Adding onto this - does anyone know how to submit form 2503 for yourself online? I wanted to use SDI online, but it said the employer must register in California and file quarterly payroll taxes at least once with the EDD in order to register to use SDI online. Since I just recently became self-employed (sole proprietor) after my W-2 job, I'm not registered in CA. This is making me think I will need to submit everything through the mail. If anyone knows, appreciate any input. Thanks in advance!

Has anyone tried contacting their local representative about SDI issues? I've heard sometimes they can help push things along.

I'm going through something similar right now! One thing that helped me was requesting a detailed breakdown of my payment calculation. You can do this through your online account or by calling (if you can get through). They should be able to show you exactly how they calculated your benefit amount and what deductions were taken. Sometimes there are things like overpayments from previous claims or adjustments that aren't immediately obvious. Also, make sure to keep copies of EVERYTHING - every form you submit, every correspondence, dates of phone calls, etc. This documentation becomes super important if you need to escalate or appeal later.

Just wanted to say I'm sorry you're going through this. The healthcare/disability system in this country is so broken, especially for self-employed people. Hope you find some help and feel better soon!

I'm a freelance graphic designer who went through something similar a few years ago. One thing that really helped me was contacting 211 (dial 2-1-1) - they connect you with local resources for people dealing with medical issues and financial hardship. They helped me find a clinic that offered sliding-scale payments and connected me with a food bank when I couldn't work for a few months. It's not disability benefits, but it can help bridge the gap while you're dealing with your health issues. Also, if you're having trouble affording your Crohn's medications, GoodRx and similar apps can sometimes help reduce costs significantly. Wishing you the best!

Just wanted to add my experience as someone who recently went through this! I was on pregnancy disability for preterm labor at 32 weeks and had the exact same confusion about certification. Like everyone said, no need to certify - but I did have to update EDD when my baby was born earlier than expected. One tip: keep all your paperwork organized and take screenshots of your SDI Online account regularly. I had a payment delay issue that took weeks to resolve, and having documentation really helped when I finally got through to someone. Also, if you end up needing extended disability beyond what your doctor initially certified (like I did due to complications), make sure your doctor submits the supplemental forms promptly - any delay in paperwork means delay in payments. Wishing you a smooth rest of your pregnancy and delivery! 💕

As a newcomer to this community, I just want to say how helpful this entire thread has been! I'm currently 24 weeks pregnant and my doctor mentioned I might need to go on disability later in my pregnancy due to some complications. Reading through everyone's experiences has given me so much valuable information about the SDI process that I never would have known otherwise. The fact that you don't need to certify like with unemployment is such a relief to know ahead of time - I definitely would have been panicking about that too! And all the tips about transitioning to Paid Family Leave, keeping documentation, and what situations require notifying EDD are incredibly useful. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences, especially the detailed summary from Mei Lin. It's so refreshing to find a community where people actually help each other navigate these confusing government processes! I'm bookmarking this thread for future reference.

Hi Luke, I'm sorry to hear you're dealing with this frustrating situation. The timing sounds really unfortunate - having your benefits stop right after getting a permanent disability determination must be stressful. A few thoughts that might help: 1. It sounds like there may be a processing delay or miscommunication since your doctor already submitted the 2525xx form and you can see it was received. You might want to call EDD directly to clarify the status and let them know the form was already submitted. 2. Sometimes the automated system sends out notices even when paperwork is already in process. The fact that you can see the form in your physician documents is a good sign. 3. Keep documentation of everything - screenshots showing the form was received, dates, confirmation numbers if you have them. 4. If calling doesn't resolve it quickly, consider reaching out to your local assembly member's office - they often have staff who can help navigate EDD issues. Hopefully this gets cleared up soon once they process the paperwork that's already been submitted. The bureaucracy can be slow but persistent follow-up usually helps. Good luck!