California Disability
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How long for SDI case update? Anxious and need advice
Hey everyone, I'm trying to get an update on my disability insurance case. It's been a while since I filed and I'm getting anxious. Anyone know how long it usually takes to hear back? Any tips on speeding up the process?
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First-time SDI claim after work injury - When will payments actually arrive?
I just had my doctor submit an SDI claim for me 3 days ago after a pretty bad fall at my construction job (back injury). This is my first time ever applying for disability and I'm freaking out about the timeline. My rent is due on the 15th and I literally have no savings after paying for initial medical costs. Can anyone tell me realistically how long it takes from when your doctor submits the claim until you actually see money in your account? Do they backpay from the date of injury? My doctor mentioned something about a waiting period but was really vague. Also, is there any way to check if they've received everything correctly? The EDD website is so confusing! Any help from people who've actually gone through this recently would be seriously appreciated.
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Great news! Glad you got through and got some clarity. The UI/SDI confusion happens fairly often since they're both EDD programs but completely separate systems. Thanks for updating us!
That's such a relief! I'm glad you were able to get through and get answers. The UI/SDI system overlap causing confusion makes total sense - I bet that trips up a lot of people. It sounds like you should be able to make your rent after all if the funds come through early next week. Definitely keep us posted on how it goes, and I hope your back injury heals up quickly too. Construction work is tough enough without dealing with EDD bureaucracy on top of it!
Do I report an old unclaimed paycheck on my EDD SDI certification form?
Just got a super confusing letter in the mail that's making me worry about my current SDI claim. A payroll company I barely remember working for (maybe 2023? 2022?) sent me notice that I never cashed a paycheck from them, and if I don't claim it now, it'll go to the State Controller's Unclaimed Property Office. I completely forgot about this job - it was just a short gig while I was between positions before my current disability. My question is: do I need to report this old unclaimed check on my SDI certification form? It's not income I earned during my disability period, but I'm receiving it now while on disability. The letter doesn't even show when I actually worked these hours! Would reporting this affect my disability benefits? Really stressed about making a mistake on my certification!
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Just to provide additional clarity - according to EDD's SDI guidelines, you only report wages for work performed during your disability period. Your certification form will ask something like "Did you work during the past two weeks?" and "Did you receive any wages?" - both questions are referring to the certification period only. Past wages for work performed before your disability are completely irrelevant to your current claim and certification. Make sure to keep documentation of when this payment was actually earned (any letter from the payroll company) just in case questions ever come up, but you absolutely should not report this on your certification form.
This is so helpful, thank you! I'll definitely keep all the documentation from the payroll company just in case. Really appreciate everyone's advice on this!
this happend 2 me too but it was unemployment not disability. edd is confusing af!!! i think its different rules for each program
You're right - the rules are different for UI and SDI! For unemployment (UI), you must report ANY income received during the certification period, regardless of when it was earned. For disability (SDI), you only report work/wages earned during the current disability period. This is one of the most common points of confusion between the different EDD programs.
That's such an important distinction! I had no idea the rules were different between UI and SDI. Really glad I asked here because I would have probably overthought this and maybe even reported it incorrectly. Thanks everyone for clearing this up - feeling much more confident about my certification now!
EDD SDI extension when still in physical therapy with return-to-work date approaching
I've been on disability since January after a pretty serious back injury at work. My doctor initially estimated I'd be recovered by June 17th, which is what's on my current certification. The problem is I'm still doing PT three times a week and making slow progress, but there's no way I'll be ready to return to my construction job by the 17th (which is only 10 days away). My physical therapist agrees it's too soon, but I'm confused about what happens next. Do I need to ask my doctor for an extension? Will there be a gap in my payments? Has anyone gone through extending their disability claim beyond the original estimate? The EDD website is so confusing about this process.
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OP, did you get this sorted out? Remember that if there is any gap in your disability payments, you might be eligible for Partial Return to Work benefits if you go back part-time while completing your therapy. That's what I ended up doing - went back 20 hours a week while finishing PT, and SDI paid a portion of the difference. Just another option to consider if the extension doesn't work out smoothly.
Update: Good news! My doctor submitted the extension paperwork yesterday right after my appointment. They extended my disability through July 22nd. The nurse said it should process without any gap in benefits as long as I keep doing my certifications on time. I had no idea about the Partial Return to Work option though - that's good to know as a backup plan. Thanks everyone for all the advice - it was exactly what I needed!
That's such great news! I'm so glad your doctor got the extension paperwork submitted in time. It's really reassuring to hear a success story about this process working smoothly. I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - been on disability for a knee injury and my original return date is coming up but I'm nowhere near ready to go back to my warehouse job. Your post gave me the push I needed to call my doctor's office first thing Monday morning instead of waiting until closer to my deadline. Thanks for sharing your experience and congrats on getting the extension sorted out!
Pregnancy SDI filing timing - confused by doctor's note dates
My OB just gave me an off-work note for my pregnancy (high blood pressure issues) with dates from 2/20/2025 through 4/29/2025. I'm not sure exactly WHEN I should file my SDI claim online. Should I wait until my first actual day off work (2/20) or file the day after (2/21)? Or can I file now since I have the paperwork? This is my first pregnancy and I'm worried about doing something wrong and delaying my benefits. Also, does anyone know if weekends count in the 7-day waiting period? Thanks so much for any advice!
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pregnant with my 3rd baby here! trust me file RIGHT AFTER your last day worked. dont wait. the system takes forever especially for pregnancy claims because there are so many. my last claim took 5 weeks to process even tho my dr submitted everything right away!!
Wow, 5 weeks is a long time! Did you have to keep certifying during that waiting period? I'm trying to make sure I have enough saved to cover a potentially long gap.
yeah you still have to do all the certifications even while waiting! its so annoying. but once approved they pay everything retroactively. congrats on your pregnancy btw!!
One thing I learned from my own pregnancy SDI claim - make sure you keep working right up until your disability start date (2/20 in your case). I made the mistake of taking a few sick days before my official disability period started, and EDD questioned whether I was actually disabled or just using regular sick time. It delayed my claim by weeks while they investigated. Also, if you're planning to use any accrued vacation time after your baby is born, don't mention that in your initial application - it can complicate things. Focus solely on the medical disability period your doctor has certified. Good luck with everything!
StarSeeker
Not to be that guy, but... welcome to the wonderful world of government bureaucracy! 🎉 Where everything moves at the speed of a three-toed sloth on tranquilizers. Buckle up, it's gonna be a long ride. 🐌
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Sean O'Donnell
LOL too real 😂 Sometimes you gotta laugh or you'll cry
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Zara Ahmed
Aint that the truth. I swear they must be using carrier pigeons to process these claims 🐦
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Anastasia Popova
I'm in a similar boat - filed my SDI claim about 5 weeks ago and the waiting is driving me crazy! From what I've gathered lurking in this community, it seems like the timeline really varies. Some folks get updates in 4-6 weeks, others are waiting months. One thing that helped ease my anxiety a bit was setting up text alerts through the EDD website so I get notified of any status changes. Also been checking my online account religiously (probably too much lol). The hardest part is not knowing if everything is processing normally or if something got stuck. Hope we both hear something soon! 🤞
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