2 months is nothing, try 6 months! 😭 I'm about ready to give up on this whole process.

I'm going through the exact same thing right now - filed my claim 10 weeks ago and still haven't seen a penny. It's absolutely maddening when you're dealing with a disability and then have to stress about money on top of it. I've been following some of the advice here about calling early in the morning and documenting everything. One thing that helped me was creating a spreadsheet to track all my calls, reference numbers, and what each person told me. At least that way I have a clear record when I finally do get through to someone who can actually help. Hang in there - we shouldn't have to go through this but we're not alone in the struggle.

Wow, what a relief that you figured out the issue! The missing DE 2503 form from your employer is actually one of the most common causes of SDI claim delays, but EDD rarely tells people to check on this. It's so frustrating that you had to go through 6+ weeks of stress and financial hardship over something your employer should have handled automatically. For anyone else reading this thread with similar issues, this is a perfect example of why it's worth checking with your HR department early in the process. Employers are required to submit wage verification within 15 days of being notified about your claim, but many don't have good systems in place to track these deadlines. Hope your payments start flowing soon - you've definitely earned them after all this hassle!

This is such a helpful thread! I'm dealing with a similar situation - filed my SDI claim 4 weeks ago and still stuck in "waiting period" status. Reading through all these responses, I realize I never thought to check if my employer submitted their required forms. It's honestly shocking how many different things can go wrong in this process, and how EDD doesn't give you any visibility into what's actually causing the delay. Quinn, I'm so glad you found the issue with the missing DE 2503 form! That must be such a relief after 6+ weeks of uncertainty. For anyone else in this situation, this thread is gold - so many different troubleshooting steps I never would have thought of. Definitely saving this for reference and going to start working through the suggestions systematically. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences!

I'm in a very similar situation right now - submitted my pregnancy disability claim by mail 8 days ago and feeling anxious about the wait! Reading through all these responses is really helpful. It sounds like the consensus is that we just have to wait for that first letter with the claim number before we can access anything online, which is frustrating but at least now I know what to expect. @Adriana Cohn - I hope you get your letter soon! The bed rest situation makes the financial stress so much worse. I'm also dealing with complications that put me out of work earlier than the typical 4-week window, so I'm crossing my fingers that my doctor was clear enough on the medical forms. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - it's so reassuring to know others have been through this successfully even though the process is slow and stressful.

I just went through this process a few months ago and completely understand your anxiety! Unfortunately, you really do have to wait for that first letter with your claim number before you can access anything through SDI Online. The system can't match your account to a claim that hasn't been assigned a number yet. In my experience, it took about 14 business days to get that initial letter (not counting weekends). Since you're at day 10, you're getting close! Once you do get the claim number, registering for SDI Online is pretty straightforward - just make sure all your personal info matches exactly what you put on your DE 2501 form. Given that you're on bed rest due to complications, your claim might need a bit of extra review since it's starting before the standard 4-week window, but that doesn't necessarily mean delays if your doctor documented everything clearly. Try to hang in there - I know the financial stress is overwhelming, especially when you're dealing with pregnancy complications. The process does work, it's just painfully slow!

The whole system is SO UNFAIR for pregnant women!!! I've had friends who worked for counties, school districts, and federal jobs and ALL of them struggled with maternity leave compared to private sector friends. One of my friends even quit her county job at 6 months pregnant and got a corporate job JUST to get better maternity benefits!! Can you believe that?? In 2025 we're still forcing women to choose between careers and starting families. Makes me SO ANGRY.

I'm in a similar situation! Just started with my city government 6 months ago and found out I'm pregnant. Like you, I had no idea about the SDI exemption when I took the job. From what I've learned so far, definitely explore that inactive claim option that Ethan mentioned - it sounds like you might have a real shot since you're within the 18-month window! Also, I'd suggest documenting everything when you call EDD. Write down the rep's name, date, and exactly what they tell you in case you need to reference it later. The rules seem to have so many exceptions that even HR departments don't know about them all. Fingers crossed we both find some better options than just the basic county leave!

I feel your pain, OP. I was in the same boat last month. Hang in there!

Hey Tristan! I went through something similar a few months ago. Before you go the refund route, I'd suggest trying what Sofia mentioned about using a different browser first - that actually worked for me when I was getting constant error messages. Also, make sure you're not using any browser extensions that might be interfering (ad blockers, etc.). If you're still stuck after trying the technical fixes, calling really is your best bet. I know it's a pain, but I had success calling right at 8am when they open - got through on my third try. The refund process can take weeks and then you're basically starting from scratch, so it's usually faster to just troubleshoot the current application. Good luck! 🤞