I had a very similar situation with my disability claim last year! Based on my experience, here's what I'd recommend: Use May 14th as your return-to-work date since that's exactly what your surgeon specified. For the recovery date, you can use the same date unless your surgeon gave you a different one for "full recovery" vs "able to return to work." Make sure to attach a copy of that surgeon's letter to your claim - it's your strongest piece of evidence. When you fill out the forms, be specific and write something like "Return to work date per surgeon's letter dated [insert date]" so it's crystal clear where this date comes from. Also, definitely try to speak with an EDD agent to confirm they received the letter and ask them to make a note in your file. The documentation is key - keep copies of everything you submit. Good luck with your claim! 🤞

I've been through this exact situation! For your forms, definitely use May 14th as your return-to-work date since that's what your surgeon specifically stated. For the recovery date, if your surgeon didn't give you a separate date for "full recovery," it's completely fine to use May 14th for both - it just means that's when you'll be recovered enough to safely return to work. Here's what I found most helpful: When you submit your claim, include a note that says something like "Dates based on surgeon's letter dated [insert date of letter]" - this makes it super clear where your information is coming from. Also, upload that surgeon's letter to your EDD portal if you can, and keep the confirmation number they give you. If you need to call them (and I'd recommend doing so just to confirm they received everything), try calling right at 8 AM when they open. Ask the agent to confirm they can see the surgeon's letter in your file and request that they add a note about it. Having that verbal confirmation gives you peace of mind! Keep copies of everything you submit - trust me, you'll want them for your records. The whole process can feel overwhelming, but having that surgeon's letter is really your best asset here. You're on the right track! 👍

I'm so sorry you're going through this stress, Isaiah! Payment delays are unfortunately way too common with EDD. Here's what I'd suggest based on my own experience: 1) Log into your account and check EVERYWHERE - the inbox, history, notifications, and look for any "pending" status or action items you might have missed. 2) Verify your direct deposit info is still correct - sometimes banks update account numbers and we don't realize it. 3) If you don't see any obvious issues online, try the secure messaging system through your EDD portal rather than calling - it's slow but you'll actually get a response. 4) Check your email spam folder for any EDD notices. 5) If it's been over a week, contact your assembly member's office - they have EDD liaisons who can often resolve these issues much faster than going through normal channels. I know the waiting is absolutely terrible when you need the money, but hang in there! Most of these delays do get sorted out, even though the system is frustrating. Keep us updated on how it goes! 💙

Hey Isaiah! I totally understand your stress - I went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago and it was awful waiting for money I desperately needed. Here's what ended up working for me: First, log into your EDD portal and check EVERY section - not just the main dashboard. Look under "History," "Inbox," "Notifications," and "Claim Summary." Sometimes there's a small verification request or pending task hiding there that's blocking your payment. Second, double-check that your direct deposit info is still accurate - my payment got delayed once because my bank had updated my account number and I didn't realize it. Third, if you don't find anything obvious online, use the secure messaging system through your EDD account rather than trying to call. It's slower but you'll actually get a real response from a person. And finally, if it's been more than a week, definitely contact your assembly member's office like others have mentioned - they have staff specifically trained to help with EDD issues and can often get things moving way faster than the normal channels. I know the waiting is torture when you need the money for bills, but try to stay positive. Most of these delays do get resolved, even though the system is incredibly frustrating. Keep checking your account daily and don't give up! You've got this! 💪

For anyone else dealing with IME anxiety, I went through this exact same situation last year with a wrist injury from a workplace accident. Got the letter around week 8 of my claim and immediately thought they were trying to cut me off. Turns out it's just their standard operating procedure - they have to verify claims that go beyond certain time periods for liability reasons. My IME doctor was actually more thorough than some of my regular appointments! He spent time reviewing my X-rays and asking about how the injury affected my daily activities and work tasks. The whole thing took about 45 minutes, and my benefits continued without any hiccups. One thing that really helped me was writing down a list beforehand of all the specific tasks I couldn't do because of my injury (typing for long periods, lifting boxes, using tools, etc.). Having concrete examples ready made the conversation much smoother than trying to remember everything on the spot while nervous. The 45-minute drive does suck though - I had a similar situation where the office was way out of my usual area. Just factor in extra time for traffic and finding parking. You've got this!

I'm going through this exact same situation right now - got my IME letter yesterday for a shoulder injury claim and immediately started panicking! Reading through everyone's experiences here has been so helpful. It sounds like this really is just standard procedure rather than them singling out my claim. I've been on SDI for about 9 weeks now, so the timing matches what others have mentioned about the 8-10 week review period. The advice about keeping a pain journal and writing down specific limitations is gold - I'm definitely going to start doing that this week before my appointment. My biggest worry was that they'd catch me on a good day and think I'm faking, but it sounds like being honest about the fluctuating nature of the condition is actually the right approach. Thanks to everyone who shared their stories, especially those who came back with updates after their exams. It really helps to know that most people get through this without issues when they have legitimate medical documentation. Still nervous, but way less stressed than I was this morning!

I had this EXACT same problem and it drove me absolutely crazy! After weeks of trying, I finally figured out what was wrong. The issue for me was that my driver's license had a slight variation in how my address was formatted compared to what I was entering. Even though I thought I was being careful, there was a difference between "Street" vs "St" and "Avenue" vs "Ave" that was causing the validation to fail. The system is incredibly picky about matching EVERY detail exactly as it appears in the DMV database. Here's what I'd suggest: 1) Get a certified copy of your driving record from the DMV - this will show you exactly how your info appears in their system, 2) Try entering your info in different formats (with/without periods, abbreviations vs full words), and 3) If you have any special characters in your name or address, try both with and without them. Also, make sure you're not accidentally hitting space before or after any fields! The whole process is unnecessarily frustrating but don't give up - once you find the right combination it'll work. Sending you patience and good vibes! 🤞

I feel your pain! I went through this exact same issue a few months back and it was incredibly frustrating. One thing that helped me was using incognito/private browsing mode - sometimes cached data can interfere with the validation process. Also, try accessing the site during off-peak hours (like early morning or late evening) when there's less traffic on their servers. The system sometimes times out during busy periods which can cause validation errors even when your info is correct. Another tip: if you have multiple forms of ID (driver's license vs state ID), try the information from different ones - sometimes one will work when the other doesn't due to how they're recorded in the system. Don't lose hope, you'll get through this! The system is definitely broken but persistence usually pays off. Keep us updated on what works for you! 💪

Maya, I just wanted to jump in and say you're handling this perfectly! I went through the exact same situation about 8 months ago - filed online, doctor only did paper forms, and I was super stressed about the timing too. The mixed submission really is no big deal at all. What helped me was creating a little checklist of follow-up dates so I wasn't just sitting around wondering what was happening. I'd write down when I dropped off the form, when the doctor said they'd complete it, and then set a reminder to call them if I hadn't heard anything by that date. One small thing that saved me some anxiety - I asked my doctor's office if they could text me when they put the form in the mail. Most offices are happy to do this since it takes literally 10 seconds, and then you know exactly when to start watching for the "medical certification received" status in your SDI Online account. You're being so proactive about this whole process, which is exactly what you need to do. The people who run into major problems are usually the ones who file late or don't follow up with their doctors at all. You're clearly not going to let that happen! Good luck with your surgery next week - you've got this handled! 💪

Maya, I just wanted to add my experience since I literally just went through this exact same situation last month! I filed my SDI claim online and my doctor only does paper forms too - I was SO stressed about it but it turned out to be completely fine. One thing that really helped me was asking my doctor's office to fax me a copy of the completed DE 2501 before they mailed it to EDD. That way I could see exactly what information they submitted and make sure all the dates matched what I put in my online application. It also gave me proof of what was sent in case there were any questions later. Also, I noticed you mentioned you're worried about running out of savings - have you looked into whether your employer offers any short-term disability benefits that might bridge the gap? Sometimes people forget to check if they have that coverage through work, and it can help while you're waiting for SDI to kick in. The timing really isn't as scary as it seems at first! Since you filed so quickly after your last day of work and you're staying on top of the doctor's paperwork, you should be in good shape. The 7-day waiting period starts from March 11th regardless of when your claim gets approved, which is actually in your favor. You're doing everything right by being proactive about this. Most delays happen when people wait too long to file or don't follow up with their doctors. Keep us posted on how it goes!