I found a method to get someone on the phone. I used this site's (claimyr.com) calling tool that dials the phone menu, stays on hold, waits for a live agent to pick up, then sends the call to my phone. It does cost $20, but it works. Here's a video about it: https://youtu.be/1X-mEsLtbmQ

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - it's been 3 weeks since my doctor submitted additional paperwork and radio silence from EDD. One thing that helped me was calling the technical support line instead of the regular claims line (1-800-563-2441). They can sometimes see different information in the system or at least confirm whether your doctor's submission was properly processed. Also, if you have any local disability advocacy groups in your area, they often have contacts or know the best strategies for your specific region. Don't give up - I know it's exhausting but your persistence will pay off eventually! 💪

Update on your situation? Were you able to get through to someone who could help? The key is getting to a tier 2 specialist who understands the Workers' Comp to SDI transition process.

I'm dealing with a very similar situation right now! My work injury happened in 2021 and I just transitioned from Workers' Comp to SDI in December 2024. The first EDD rep I spoke with told me the exact same thing - that I couldn't get retroactive payments because my Workers' Comp rate was higher. I knew this didn't sound right, so I kept calling back until I got someone more experienced. The third person I spoke with immediately understood that these were CONSECUTIVE benefits, not overlapping ones, and was able to process my retroactive payments within a week. My advice: Don't take no for an answer from the first rep you talk to. Ask to be transferred to a disability specialist or supervisor. Also, when you call, lead with "I need help with a Workers' Compensation to SDI transition" - this seems to get you routed to people who actually understand these cases. The system is definitely confusing, but you're absolutely entitled to those benefits for the period after your Workers' Comp ended. Keep fighting for it!

Ugh, the EDD is such a mess. I swear they're understaffed on purpose to discourage people from claiming benefits. It's a broken system.

I totally feel your pain! I've been through the same nightmare trying to reach EDD. What finally worked for me was calling exactly at 8:00 AM when they open - like literally hitting redial at 7:59:59 AM. I also had better luck with the technical support line (1-800-300-5616) rather than the main claims line. Another trick I learned: if you get the busy signal, hang up immediately and call back - don't wait for it to disconnect you. It took me 47 tries one morning, but I finally got through to someone who actually helped. Stay strong and keep trying - you'll get there! 💪

UPDATE: I got through to EDD this morning using that Claimyr service someone suggested (took 20 minutes instead of days of trying). The rep confirmed I should withdraw the SDI claim and file for PFL instead. She also mentioned that school employees with "reasonable assurance" of returning DO face additional scrutiny but PFL can still be approved with strong medical documentation. My wife's starting the PFL application today and we've scheduled an appointment with a benefits counselor at the regional center next week to discuss additional options. Thank you all for the help and guidance! Will update when we hear about the PFL claim.

So glad you were able to get through to EDD and get on the right track! Just wanted to add - when you're working with your son's psychiatrist on the medical certification, ask them to specifically mention things like safety risks, need for constant redirection, inability to be left alone, etc. EDD looks for concrete examples of why supervision is medically necessary, not just the diagnosis itself. Also, if your son has an IEP or 504 plan at school that documents his needs, include copies of those too - it helps show the consistency of his condition across different settings. Rooting for you both!

Ugh, the EDD strikes again! 🙄 I swear they do this on purpose to save money. Hang in there, OP. You're not alone in this mess.

I went through something similar a few months ago! My payments just stopped out of nowhere too. Turns out there was a "routine review" they triggered on my account that I never got notified about. I'd suggest logging into your EDD account and looking under the "Inbox" or "Notifications" section - sometimes important messages get buried there. Also check if your certification status changed to "pending" instead of "paid." If you can't find anything obvious, definitely try the online contact form first before calling. It took them about 2 weeks to respond to mine, but at least you'll have a paper trail. Hope this helps! 🤞