Make sure you keep track of your claim status online after you file. With my pregnancy last year, my doctor submitted something incorrectly and I didn't realize it for two weeks. My claim showed as "pending - medical certification" but I assumed everything was fine. You might need to follow up with your doctor's office if it stays pending for more than a few days.

Just wanted to add another perspective as someone who went through this recently! I had to stop work at 32 weeks due to gestational diabetes complications. One thing that really helped me was calling my doctor's office the day after I filed my claim to confirm they received the medical certification request from EDD and ask when they planned to submit it. Some offices are super quick, others take their time, and it really makes a difference in how fast your claim gets processed. Also, don't forget to keep all your documentation - I had to provide additional medical records later when EDD requested more details about my specific complications. The whole process was stressful but everything worked out once I stayed on top of it. Good luck with everything and hope the rest of your pregnancy goes smoothly!

After your pregnancy SDI ends, you might also be eligible for Paid Family Leave (PFL) for bonding with your newborn before returning to UI. PFL gives you up to 8 weeks of partial wage replacement benefits. You can transition directly from SDI to PFL without a waiting period, which is a nice benefit many people don't realize exists.

I hadn't even considered PFL! That would be really helpful. So the order would be: UI → SDI for pregnancy → PFL for bonding → back to UI if needed? That sounds like the best approach to maximize my benefits.

Update: I was able to get through to EDD this morning! I used the Claimyr service that someone recommended here and got connected to a representative after about 30 minutes. They updated my return to work date in the system and gave me a confirmation number like someone suggested. Thanks everyone for your help!

Congratulations on getting through and handling this properly! For anyone else reading this thread in the future - Sofia's experience shows that persistence pays off. The key takeaways seem to be: 1) Call right at 8am when they open, 2) Consider using services like Claimyr if regular calling isn't working, 3) Always get a confirmation number when you report changes, and 4) Keep documentation of your attempts to contact them. It's frustrating that there's no online option for something this basic, but at least there are ways to get through eventually.

I know EDD says they process claims within 14 days but that's rarely the case anymore. From what I've seen lately (I work in medical billing), it's taking more like 3-4 weeks for most patients. You should file immediately, but also prepare financially for a delay. The SDI payment will be retroactive to the end of the waiting period, but that doesn't help with immediate bills. One thing that can speed up processing: if her doctor submits the medical certification electronically through SDI Online rather than mailing a paper form. Ask her doctor's office if they do electronic submission for EDD.

I went through this exact situation with my husband when he had colon cancer surgery last year. A few additional tips that might help: 1. Keep copies of EVERYTHING - your wife's claim confirmation, doctor's notes, any correspondence from EDD. I had to resubmit paperwork twice because they "lost" it. 2. If your wife works for a large employer, check if they have an HR person who handles disability claims. Some companies have staff who can help walk employees through the EDD process. 3. The EDD debit card usually arrives about a week after your first payment is processed, so don't panic if you don't see it immediately. 4. For the medical certification, some oncology offices are slow with paperwork because they're focused on patient care (understandably). Don't be afraid to call and politely follow up after a few days. Sending positive thoughts for your wife's recovery. The financial stress is real, but the disability benefits will help bridge the gap while she focuses on getting better.

UPDATE: I just got off the phone with EDD after trying ALL MORNING! The representative (who was actually pretty helpful) said the 6-week estimate is their standard response for ALL claims right now because they're backlogged from system upgrades they did in January. But she looked at my specific claim and said everything looks complete and properly submitted, so it should be processed within 2 weeks. She said they're prioritizing pregnancy claims that are closer to the disability start date (which makes sense). So I feel a bit better now! I'll update again when I hear something.

I'm in a very similar situation - 29 weeks pregnant and just submitted my SDI claim last week. Reading through all these responses has been so helpful! It sounds like the processing times are really all over the place right now. I'm planning to stop work at 37 weeks, so I have a little more buffer time than you do, but I'm still nervous about potential delays. One thing I noticed from everyone's experiences is that having everything submitted correctly the first time seems to make the biggest difference. I double-checked with my doctor that she used the exact wording "disabled due to pregnancy" like Yara mentioned, and made sure my employer submitted their portion promptly. Fingers crossed for both of us that we get approved quickly! Please keep us posted on your progress - it really helps to hear real experiences rather than just the official EDD timelines.