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I went through the exact same thing a few months ago! My extension was approved but payments were delayed for almost 3 weeks. Turns out there was a "pending review" flag on my account that wasn't showing up in the online portal. What finally worked for me was filing a complaint through the SDI ombudsman office - they have more power to actually investigate these delays. You can find the form on the EDD website under "file a complaint." Got my payment within 5 days after that. Hang in there, you'll get through this! 💪
I went through something similar earlier this year. A few things that helped me figure out what was going on: 1. Log into your SDI Online account if you haven't already - sometimes there are notices or requests for additional info that don't get mailed out 2. Check if your extension was actually processed - you should see it reflected in your claim status 3. Sometimes there's a waiting period between when your original benefits end and the extension kicks in, even if approved 4. Make sure your doctor used the most recent version of the form - they updated it a few months ago The good news is that if your extension gets approved, you should get back pay for any missed weeks. But yeah, the waiting and uncertainty is the worst part. Hope you get it sorted out soon!
I had a similar experience last year - my SDI payments just stopped out of nowhere even though I thought everything was filed correctly. Turns out there was a processing backlog and my extension was sitting in limbo for almost 3 weeks. What finally helped was sending a follow-up fax with copies of everything (the extension form, my doctor's notes, etc.) along with a cover letter explaining the situation. I know fax seems old school, but they seem to respond to those faster than online submissions. Also, if you have any documentation showing when you originally submitted the extension, include that too - it helps establish a timeline. The whole process is incredibly stressful when you're depending on those payments. Keep pushing and don't let them forget about your case!
The fax tip is gold! 📠 I never would have thought of that but it makes total sense - sometimes the old ways work best with government agencies. Did you send it to their main fax number or is there a specific one for extensions? Also wondering if you kept calling while waiting for the fax response or just let that process play out. Three weeks in limbo sounds terrifying when you're counting on those payments! 😰
Welcome to the community! You're smart to start documenting everything from the beginning - it really does make a huge difference when dealing with EDD. One thing I'd add is to also keep track of any phone calls you make (date, time, who you spoke with, confirmation numbers if they give you any). The recovery forms usually come around the 12-week mark, but every case is different. Don't hesitate to ask questions here - this community has been incredibly helpful for navigating all the confusing parts of the SDI process. Good luck with your claim!
Thank you so much for the warm welcome and the great advice about documenting phone calls too! I hadn't thought about tracking confirmation numbers but that makes total sense given what I'm reading about EDD's system. It's really reassuring to know there's a supportive community here to help navigate all of this. I'm definitely going to bookmark this thread as a reference for when I eventually get to that 12-week mark. Appreciate everyone sharing their experiences!
This is such a helpful thread! I'm currently going through my first SDI claim after a work injury and this conversation has answered so many questions I didn't even know I had yet. The recovery form process sounds like it would be really confusing if you weren't expecting it - I'm glad @Sofia Rodriguez got it sorted out and thanks to everyone for explaining the timeline and process so clearly. I'm definitely going to start keeping detailed records of everything from day one based on everyone's advice here. It's great to see how supportive this community is!
I'm so sorry for your loss, Ravi. Grief can be incredibly overwhelming and it's completely understandable that you need additional time off to process everything. I went through something similar when I lost my father a few years ago - the mental health impact was much harder to deal with than I expected. Just to add to what others have said: when you meet with your psychiatrist, make sure they understand that EDD requires very specific language about how your grief is functionally impairing your ability to work. Generic statements won't cut it. They need to document things like concentration problems, sleep disturbances, anxiety levels, and how these symptoms specifically prevent you from performing your job duties. Also, don't feel bad about needing this time - mental health is just as valid as physical health when it comes to disability claims. Take care of yourself first, and the paperwork will work itself out. Wishing you the best during this difficult time.
This is such thoughtful advice, thank you. I've been struggling with exactly what you mentioned - concentration issues and sleep problems that make it impossible to focus at work. It helps to know that these are the specific things my psychiatrist should document. I appreciate you sharing your experience and the reminder that mental health is just as important as physical health. Sometimes it's hard not to feel guilty about needing time for grief, but you're right that I need to take care of myself first.
I'm really sorry for your loss, Ravi. Losing a parent is one of the hardest things we go through, and it's completely understandable that you need time to grieve properly. Based on what everyone has shared, it sounds like you have a clear path forward with filing a new claim. One thing I wanted to add that might be helpful: when you're working with your psychiatrist on the DE 2501 form, ask them to include how your grief symptoms specifically impact your work performance. Things like difficulty concentrating during meetings, inability to make decisions, frequent crying episodes, or panic attacks can all be documented as functional limitations. Also, if you haven't already, consider asking your psychiatrist about connecting you with grief counseling resources. Having that additional support documented in your treatment plan can actually strengthen your disability claim by showing you're actively working on recovery. The fact that you're being proactive about this transition shows you're handling a difficult situation really well. Take it one step at a time, and don't hesitate to reach out here if you run into any issues with the process. This community has been through it all and we're here to help each other navigate these complicated systems.
Thank you so much, Zainab. Your advice about asking my psychiatrist to document specific work-related impacts is really helpful - I hadn't thought about breaking it down that specifically. You're absolutely right about the grief counseling too. I actually just started seeing a grief counselor last week, so I'll make sure my psychiatrist includes that in the treatment plan documentation. It's reassuring to know that being proactive about treatment can actually help strengthen the claim. I really appreciate this community - everyone has been so supportive and knowledgeable about navigating what feels like an overwhelming process during an already difficult time.
Douglas Foster
I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - been waiting 18 days since my doctor submitted everything for my pregnancy-related disability claim. It's so stressful not knowing when the money will come, especially when you have bills to pay! Reading through these responses is both reassuring and concerning - reassuring that I'm not alone and will eventually get paid, but concerning that it might take another 2+ weeks. Has anyone found any patterns in terms of what day of the week payments typically get processed? I've heard some people say they only process payments on certain days.
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Miguel Ortiz
•I've been tracking this pretty closely through my own claim and from what others have shared here. EDD seems to process SDI payments in batches, typically Tuesday through Thursday. I've never seen weekend processing. From what I observed, if your claim gets approved on a Friday, you'll likely see payment Tuesday/Wednesday of the following week. Also wanted to mention - pregnancy disability claims sometimes have additional verification steps since they involve both temporary disability and potential coordination with paid family leave later. Hang in there, the wait is brutal but you'll get through it!
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Carmella Popescu
I went through something very similar with my shoulder injury claim earlier this year. After 3 weeks of waiting with just "claim received" status, I discovered there was actually a mismatch between the dates my doctor put on the certification and what I had originally reported when I first called in. Even though it was just a 1-day difference, it triggered an automatic review that held up everything. The frustrating part is that nowhere in my online account did it show there was an issue - it just sat there saying "received" indefinitely. When I finally got through to someone (took me 4 attempts over 2 weeks), they fixed it in under 5 minutes and payment came through 3 days later. Don't give up on calling - keep trying different times of day. I had better luck calling right when they opened at 8am rather than later in the day when the wait times get crazy long.
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