I'm so glad I found this thread! I'm a new mom (baby born 3 weeks ago) and just starting my SDI claim process. Reading through everyone's experiences has been incredibly helpful - especially knowing that the timing can be unpredictable but the payments do come through eventually. @Taylor Chen, congratulations on your little one and thank you for sharing your journey! It's such a relief to see real experiences from other moms who've been through this. The tip about checking the SDI Online account for "Paid" status is something I'll definitely remember. This community is amazing for navigating all the EDD confusion!

As a newcomer to this community, I just want to say how incredibly helpful this entire thread has been! I'm currently 36 weeks pregnant and planning to apply for SDI maternity leave soon, so reading through everyone's real experiences with payment timing has been invaluable. @Taylor Chen, congratulations on your baby and thank you for being so detailed about your timeline - it really helps set realistic expectations. The tip about checking the SDI Online account for "Paid" status is something I never would have known to do! It's also reassuring (though frustrating) to hear that delays are normal with EDD. I'll definitely be bookmarking this thread for when I'm in the same situation in a few weeks. This community seems like such a supportive place for navigating these government systems!

I'm currently dealing with almost the same situation! What I learned (after many frustrating calls to EDD) is that the base periods used for calculating SDI and UI can be different too, which affects your benefit amount. SDI looks at a different earnings period than UI might when they calculate your benefit. Also, I don't know if this applies to you, but when I talked to the disability office, they mentioned that if you're receiving any severance pay from your employer, it can affect your UI eligibility. Might be worth checking if you're getting any severance as part of your layoff package.

I'm really sorry you're going through this - getting laid off while recovering from surgery is incredibly stressful. I went through a similar transition about 6 months ago and can share what I learned. Unfortunately, everyone here is right that your UI benefits will be significantly lower than your SDI. In my case, I went from about $1100/week on disability to $520/week on unemployment. The calculation methods are completely different, and UI has much lower caps. A few things that might help: - Apply for UI about a week before your SDI ends to minimize gaps - Keep all your layoff paperwork showing it's due to "restructuring" not performance - Ask HR if they're offering any COBRA subsidies or other benefits during the transition - Look into local food banks or assistance programs to help bridge the income gap Also, definitely explore what @Caleb Bell mentioned about potentially extending your disability if your doctor thinks you're not ready to return to work. With back surgery complications, that might be worth considering. Hang in there - this is a tough situation but you'll get through it!

Has anyone had luck with the online portal? I've been trying to update my info there but keep getting error messages 😫

Hey Sophia! I went through something similar last month. Here's what worked for me: call the 1-800-300-5616 number right at 8am when they open - set multiple alarms! Have your Social Security number, claim number, and any documents from the notice ready before you call. The wait can be 2-3 hours, so use speaker phone and do other stuff while waiting. When you finally get someone, be super nice and explain your situation clearly. They're more likely to help if you're patient with them. Also, if the first person can't help, politely ask to be transferred to a specialist. Don't give up! It's frustrating but you'll get through eventually. Keep us posted on how it goes! 💪

I'm in a similar situation right now - filed my SDI claim on March 10th after shoulder surgery and it's been stuck on "waiting period" for over two weeks too. Reading through this thread gives me hope that it might just be a system glitch or documentation issue. I'm going to try calling my HR department first to make sure they submitted everything on their end, and then look into that Claimyr service if I still can't get through to EDD directly. It's so frustrating when you're already dealing with recovery and then have to stress about whether your benefits will come through. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - it really helps to know I'm not alone in this!

I'm dealing with this exact same issue right now! Filed my SDI claim on March 15th after carpal tunnel surgery and it's been stuck on "waiting period" for almost 2 weeks. This thread has been incredibly helpful - I had no idea there could be so many hidden issues that don't show up in the online portal. Based on what everyone's shared, I'm going to: 1. Call my HR department tomorrow to verify they submitted their portion 2. Contact my doctor's office to double-check they didn't mark any uncertain boxes about return-to-work dates 3. Try that Claimyr service if I can't get through to EDD directly It's so reassuring to know this is a widespread issue and not something I did wrong. The stress of not knowing what's happening while you're already dealing with recovery and medical bills is just awful. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and solutions - this community is a lifesaver!

Im so tired of dealing with the EDD. been waiting on my benefits for 3 months now. this whole system needs an overhaul

Hey @Savannah, I went through something similar last year. First thing - check if there's a "pending issue" flag on your online account. That's usually what holds things up. Also, try calling the 2511 number (1-800-480-3287) instead of the main line - it's specifically for SDI and sometimes has shorter wait times. If you've been waiting more than 2 weeks past your expected payment date, definitely escalate it. Don't give up! 💪