One additional point about pregnancy disability through SDI: make sure you understand how the benefit periods work. You can typically receive SDI benefits for up to 4 weeks before your due date and 6 weeks after vaginal delivery or 8 weeks after cesarean delivery (longer if there are complications). Since you're going on disability earlier (at 31 weeks), your claim will be based on medical necessity rather than the standard pregnancy period. After your SDI pregnancy disability benefits end, you may be eligible for Paid Family Leave (PFL) to bond with your baby for an additional 8 weeks. This requires a separate application but uses the same online system. I recommend applying for PFL about 2 weeks before your SDI benefits end to avoid gaps in payment.

Just wanted to add my experience from last month - I was in a similar situation at 29 weeks and chose to file online myself. It was honestly pretty straightforward, even though I was nervous about messing something up! The SDI Online portal walks you through each step and you can save your progress if you need to take breaks. One tip: have your employer's information handy (full company name, address, your employee ID if you have one) because they ask for detailed work history. Also make sure you're clear on your last day worked vs. first day disabled - those dates matter for your benefit calculation. I got approved in about 8 days total, but like others mentioned, the key was staying on top of my doctor's office to submit their part quickly. I called them the day after I filed online to confirm they got the electronic request. Save yourself the $25 and do it online - you've got this! And congratulations on your pregnancy, hope the rest of your bedrest goes smoothly. 💕

This is why we need blockchain and decentralized finance. No more trusting these corrupt middlemen with our money. 🚀🌕

I'm so sorry this happened to you! Same thing happened to my neighbor last month - unauthorized wire transfer from her Money Network account. She ended up having to file a police report in addition to the dispute with Money Network. The police said they're seeing more of these cases lately, especially targeting people who receive government benefits. For switching to paper checks, you can do it through the EDD website or by calling them (good luck getting through though). It took about 2-3 weeks for my neighbor's switch to go into effect. In the meantime, definitely keep all your documentation and consider freezing your credit just in case they got other personal info. Hang in there - you're not alone in this! 🙏

Hey OP, just wanted to say hang in there. I know it's tough, but you're not alone in this. We're all in the same boat, trying to navigate these choppy waters. Keep your chin up! 💪

I'm going through something similar right now - filed my claim about 10 days ago and radio silence. What's really frustrating is that you can't even get a straight answer about typical processing times when you do manage to get someone on the phone. I've been checking my online account obsessively but the status just says "pending" with no other details. At least we're all suffering together I guess 😅 Let me know if you find anything that works!

Have you checked your online account? Sometimes they update info there before sending notices. Might give you a clue about whats going on

@Toot-n-Mighty I went through something similar a few months ago! The key is having your documentation organized before you contact them. Make sure you have: - Original medical records with clear dates - Any appointment confirmations/receipts - Photos of any documentation they might have missed Also, when you do get through to someone, ask them to document the conversation in your file. That way if you have to call back, the next person can see what was discussed. Don't give up - I know it's frustrating but you've got this! 💪 And definitely try that assemblyman tip from @Giovanni Rossi if the regular channels don't work. Sometimes you need that extra push to get things moving.

One more thing - when you log into SDI Online using your existing account, check to make sure your contact information and payment preference is current. EDD often defaults to using your old debit card information from UI claims unless you specifically update it to direct deposit for your SDI claim. You'll need to update this separately within the SDI Online system, even if you already had direct deposit set up for unemployment.

Just went through this exact same situation a few months ago! You're right to be confused - the whole system is pretty unclear about this. Your existing ID.me account from unemployment will work perfectly for disability claims. When you log into the Benefit Programs Online portal, you'll see both UI Online and SDI Online options. Click SDI Online to access your disability claim info. The deposit to your old EDD card is probably your first SDI payment - they automatically use the same payment method from your previous claim unless you change it. Once you're in SDI Online, definitely switch to direct deposit if you prefer that over the debit card. The key thing is don't create a new ID.me account - that'll just cause headaches!