Based on your additional information about the workers' comp situation, here's what I recommend: 1. File the new SDI claim immediately - don't wait. Your husband is eligible from the date the doctor certifies he's disabled again. 2. Make sure the doctor clearly documents this as a NEW injury event with a NEW diagnosis, even if it's the same body part. 3. On the application, there's no need to explain the complex situation with the previous workers' comp dispute - that will just confuse matters. 4. Be prepared that EDD may take longer than the standard 14 days to process this claim due to the unusual circumstances. 5. If your claim gets stuck in processing (which happens often with complicated cases), you'll need to be persistent about following up. The key is having the doctor be very explicit that this is a new disabling condition with a specific date of injury after returning to work. The medical documentation will make or break this claim.

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this stressful situation! I went through something similar about 6 months ago with my wife. She had been on SDI for a knee injury, returned to work for about 2 weeks, then had a completely unrelated car accident that injured her back. Here's what I learned from our experience: definitely file a new claim as others have mentioned, but also be prepared for potential delays. EDD's system automatically flags cases where someone files multiple claims in a short timeframe, which can add 2-3 weeks to processing time. One thing that really helped us was having the doctor include a brief statement in the medical certification explicitly saying something like "This is a new injury unrelated to patient's previous disability claim." Our doctor initially just filled out the standard form, but when we asked him to add that clarification, it seemed to help the claim move through faster. Also, make sure you apply online if possible - it's generally faster than mailing paper forms. You can do it through EDD's SDI Online portal. Best of luck with everything!

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!

lol good luck. EDD is where hope goes to die 💀

I went through this same nightmare last year. Here's what finally worked for me: call the 1-800-480-3287 number at exactly 8:01 AM (not 8:00, they're swamped then). Press 1-2-1 quickly, then when you get to the "due to high call volume" message, DON'T hang up. Just wait it out - I know it's painful but I've gotten through after 2-3 hours of holding. Also, make sure you have your claim number, SSN, and all your paperwork ready because they'll want to verify everything immediately. The wait is brutal but you WILL eventually get through to someone who can actually help. Hang in there! 💪

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 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!