i had a baby in 2023 and the BEST advice i can give you is document EVERYTHING. time of calls, who you talked to, what they said. because when i finally got thru they tried to tell me different things each time. when i could quote exactly what the last person said they suddenly "found" my paperwork lol

I'm so sorry you're going through this stress during your pregnancy! I just went through something similar last month and wanted to share what finally worked for me. After weeks of getting nowhere with the regular phone lines, I ended up contacting my local state senator's office (not just assembly - try both!). They have dedicated EDD caseworkers who can expedite urgent cases. Since you have preeclampsia concerns and are due in 3 weeks, this definitely qualifies as urgent medical need. When I called, I explained that I was pregnant with complications and hadn't received SDI payments for 6 weeks despite proper documentation. They submitted a priority inquiry that same day, and EDD called ME back within 48 hours to resolve the issue. Turns out there was a glitch in their system that flagged my claim for manual review but no one was assigned to review it. Also, if you haven't already, try logging into your SDI Online account from a different browser or device. Sometimes their website doesn't display all the information properly, and there might be a document request or message you can't see. The representative told me that pregnancy disability claims with medical complications (like preeclampsia) should be processed as priority cases, so definitely mention that when you do get through to someone. Hang in there - you WILL get your money, and it should be backdated to your first day of disability. Focus on your health and that baby! 💕

This is such a perfect example of why the EDD system needs major improvements! The fact that something as common as switching from vaginal delivery to C-section can cause weeks of payment delays is absolutely ridiculous. New parents shouldn't have to become claims experts just to get the benefits they're legally entitled to. I'm so glad you persisted and got it resolved, Ethan - your story will definitely help others who find themselves in the same frustrating situation. It's crazy that manual intervention was needed for something that should be a routine system update. Hopefully EDD will eventually streamline this process, but until then, posts like yours are invaluable for helping people know when to push back instead of just waiting indefinitely.

This entire thread is incredibly valuable for anyone dealing with pregnancy disability claims! What strikes me most is how common this issue seems to be, yet there's virtually no clear information from EDD about what to expect when delivery methods change. Ethan, I'm so glad you shared your experience and kept everyone updated - it really shows the importance of advocating for yourself rather than just assuming delays are normal. The fact that multiple people here have dealt with similar processing issues suggests this is a systemic problem that EDD should address. For anyone else facing this situation, it seems like the key takeaways are: 1) delivery method changes trigger manual reviews that aren't well communicated, 2) the payments will eventually come through retroactively, but 3) you may need to speak with a representative to get things moving. Thanks to everyone who contributed their knowledge here - this is exactly the kind of real-world insight that helps navigate these bureaucratic maze situations!

guys. GUYS. i just got my money today after waiting for 3 months. there is hope! hang in there! 🎉🎉🎉

I'm going through the exact same thing right now! Filed my claim 6 weeks ago and radio silence since then. It's so frustrating because you're dealing with a disability AND financial stress at the same time. I've been reading through all these comments and it sounds like persistence is key. Maybe we should start a support group for people stuck in EDD limbo 😅 Seriously though, thanks for posting this - it helps to know we're not alone in this mess.

whatever u do, DON'T ignore this!! my friend did and ended up owing thousands 😱 deal with it now before it snowballs

I went through something similar about 6 months ago! Turned out their system had a bug that was automatically adding years to recovery dates. The rep I spoke with said it was happening to a bunch of people. The good news is they were able to fix it retroactively once I explained the situation. Just make sure to ask them to put a note in your file about the system error so it doesn't happen again. Also, if you have any medical documentation showing your actual recovery timeline, have that ready when you call - it helped speed up my case resolution.

This exact same thing happened to me about 6 months ago when I was on disability for my shoulder surgery! The timing was absolutely infuriating - I got the identity verification letter on a Thursday asking for documents by the following Tuesday, but then Saturday morning I woke up to see my claim was disqualified. Like, seriously?? How am I supposed to respond to your request when you deny me before I even have a weekend to gather the paperwork? What worked for me was doing exactly what others have suggested - I immediately uploaded everything to the online portal AND sent certified copies by mail, then filed the appeal the same day. The whole thing took about 4 weeks to fully resolve, but once I got connected with a knowledgeable EDD rep, they confirmed it was 100% a system error and reversed everything. The most frustrating part is knowing this happens to SO many people and they just... haven't fixed it? It's like they're intentionally making it harder for people who are already dealing with injuries and medical issues. But don't give up - you WILL get through this and get your benefits. Just keep all your documentation organized and stay persistent with the calls. This community has been a lifesaver for navigating EDD's broken system!

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this nightmare - it's absolutely infuriating that EDD's broken system is causing you stress while you're already trying to recover from a back injury. Reading through all these similar experiences just confirms what a widespread problem this is with their automated systems. Based on what everyone has shared, it sounds like you're on the right track by uploading your identity documents immediately and filing the appeal. I'd also recommend calling them daily if possible - I know it's exhausting, but sometimes persistence is the only thing that works with EDD. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is that you might want to reach out to your state assembly member's office for help. Many of them have caseworkers who specialize in EDD issues and can sometimes cut through the red tape faster than going through normal channels. It's worth a shot if the regular appeals process drags on too long. Keep documenting everything and don't let their broken system discourage you from fighting for the benefits you're entitled to. From what I'm seeing here, these identity verification glitches almost always get resolved eventually - it's just a matter of pushing through their dysfunction. Hang in there!