I went through this exact situation about 3 months ago and wanted to share my experience to hopefully ease some of your worries! I got married in November and had to file for SDI in December for a planned procedure. Like you, I was really stressed about potential delays or complications with the name change. Here's what I did and it worked perfectly: First, I made sure my Social Security name change was completely processed (I waited about 2.5 weeks after getting the confirmation letter). When filing my SDI claim, I was very thorough about indicating the name change - I listed my new married name as primary and clearly noted my maiden name in the "previous names" section. The key thing was coordinating with my doctor's office beforehand - I called them a few days before my appointment to remind them about my recent name change and asked them to make sure they included both my new name AND my SSN on all the medical certification forms they would submit to EDD. My claim was approved in exactly 13 business days with zero complications! The benefit amount was calculated correctly using my current wages, and I didn't need to provide any additional documentation like my marriage certificate (though I had it ready just in case). The SSN really is the magic identifier that helps everything sync up properly. As long as you're transparent about the name change on your forms and make sure your doctor includes both pieces of information, the system handles it quite well. Don't let the few horror stories scare you too much - most name change cases process smoothly when you follow the right steps!

I'm actually dealing with a very similar situation right now! Just got married two weeks ago and will need to file for SDI next month for a medical procedure. This entire thread has been incredibly helpful - I was really worried about delays but seeing so many recent success stories is so reassuring. Based on all the great advice here, I'm planning to: 1) Wait the full 3 weeks for my Social Security name change to fully process (just updated last week), 2) Be completely transparent about the name change on my DE 2501 form and list both names clearly, 3) Coordinate with my doctor ahead of time to make sure they include both my new name and SSN on all medical forms, and 4) Keep my marriage certificate handy digitally just in case. It's amazing how this community has turned what felt like a scary unknown process into something much more manageable with clear steps to follow. Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences - it really makes such a difference for those of us going through this for the first time!

I went through this exact same situation last year and it was so confusing at first! You've gotten excellent advice here - definitely file tomorrow (10/14) with 10/13 as your disability start date. One thing I'd add that I wish someone had told me: make sure you have a quiet, uninterrupted space when you're filling out the form tomorrow. The EDD system can be glitchy, and if you get distracted or have to step away, you might lose your progress and have to start over. I learned this the hard way when my kids interrupted me halfway through and I had to redo the entire thing. Also, after you submit, you'll get an email confirmation, but don't panic if it takes a few hours to arrive - their system sends them in batches. The important thing is getting that confirmation number on screen right after you hit submit. The waiting period is tough, but everyone's advice here about checking weekly instead of daily is spot on. Your claim will likely show "pending" for at least 7-10 days while they verify everything with your doctor. Hang in there, and hope you feel better soon!

I just went through this same process a few weeks ago and had the exact same confusion! You're absolutely right to file tomorrow (10/14) with 10/13 as your disability start date. Everyone here has given you spot-on advice. One thing I'd add that really helped me: print out or screenshot the blank DE 2501 form from the EDD website tonight so you can review all the fields before you start filling it out online tomorrow. This way you won't be surprised by any questions and can have all your info organized beforehand. The online form is basically the same as the PDF version, just in web format. Also, when you call your doctor's office tomorrow morning to confirm the start date, ask them specifically when they plan to submit their physician's certification. My doctor told me "within a few days" but it ended up being 8 days, which made me super anxious even though it was still within the allowed timeframe. You've got such a solid plan now thanks to everyone's advice here. The process is definitely more straightforward than it seems once you understand the date logic. Hope everything goes smoothly tomorrow and you have a speedy recovery!

I'm going through this exact same situation right now! My SDI payment for a shoulder injury showed as "issued" two days ago but my Money Network card still shows zero balance. Reading through all these experiences is so reassuring - I was starting to think something went wrong with my claim. It's really frustrating that EDD doesn't warn you about this delay when you're already stressed about being out of work and needing the money. I've been checking the app obsessively every few hours! Going to try to be patient and wait it out based on everyone's advice here. This community is so helpful for getting real answers that you can't find anywhere on the official websites.

I'm currently dealing with this exact same situation! My first SDI payment for a wrist injury showed as "issued" yesterday afternoon but my Money Network card balance is still showing $0. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly helpful - I was starting to panic that something went wrong with my application. It's really frustrating that EDD doesn't clearly communicate these processing delays when you first get approved. When you're already stressed about being unable to work and counting on these benefits, the uncertainty is just brutal. I'm going to try to be patient and wait the 24-48 hours like everyone suggests, but I wish there was better transparency about these timelines. Thanks to everyone for sharing their real-world experiences - this is exactly the kind of practical information you need but can never find on the official EDD website!

I'm currently in this exact same situation and this thread has been absolutely incredible! I've been on SDI since January after a surgery complication and my lease is up in June. Like so many others here, I was planning to just use my award letter and bank statements, having no idea there was a specific benefits verification letter I needed from EDD. The comprehensive documentation packet approach that everyone keeps mentioning is clearly the way to go. I'm definitely going to use the Claimyr service - I've already lost count of how many hours I've spent on hold with EDD this month with nothing to show for it. The tip about being upfront with landlords from the beginning also makes total sense, even though it feels scary to lead with disability status. What strikes me most is how many people are dealing with this challenge right now, yet there's virtually no official guidance from EDD about rental applications. It's so frustrating that we have to work harder to prove our reliability when disability payments are often more stable than traditional employment income. But seeing all these success stories, especially Isabella's journey from panic to getting approved, gives me real hope. Thank you to everyone who shared practical solutions instead of just venting about the problem. This thread has turned what felt like an impossible situation into something totally manageable with the right preparation. You've all created an amazing resource that should honestly be pinned for anyone on SDI dealing with housing applications!

This thread has been such an amazing resource for everyone dealing with rental applications while on SDI! I'm actually in a similar situation myself - been on disability since late February due to a workplace injury and will be apartment hunting soon. Reading through all these experiences has been incredibly reassuring and informative. What really stands out to me is how this community has come together to share practical, real-world solutions instead of just complaining about the system. The comprehensive documentation packet strategy seems to be the golden ticket based on everyone's success stories. I had no idea about the difference between award letters and benefits verification letters - that's such crucial information that should be more widely known! The Claimyr service recommendation appears in so many comments here that it's clearly a game-changer for actually reaching EDD. I'm definitely going to try that instead of wasting entire days on hold. It's frustrating that we have to prove ourselves more than other renters when disability income is often more reliable than traditional employment, but seeing Isabella's success and all the other positive outcomes here gives me real confidence. This thread should honestly be turned into some kind of official guide for people on SDI - you've all created something incredibly valuable through sharing your real experiences. Thank you everyone for being so generous with your knowledge and support!

I'm so sorry this happened to you - what a stressful situation on top of having a new baby! I went through something similar (though not exactly the same) when my company had layoffs right after I returned from maternity leave. From what I learned, you should be eligible for unemployment after your disability ends since your job loss was due to company restructuring, not your performance. The key things the EDD will look at are: 1) you're medically cleared to work (which you are), 2) you're able and available for work, and 3) you lost your job through no fault of your own. A few practical tips: Keep all your documentation from HR about the position elimination, and when you apply for UI, be very clear about the timeline - that you were cleared to return to work but then informed your position was eliminated. Also, definitely look into the PFL option others mentioned for bonding time with your baby. Hang in there - you've got this! The system can be overwhelming but there are safety nets in place for exactly these situations.

I'm a single mom who went through almost the exact same situation 6 months ago! Position eliminated while on pregnancy disability - it felt like the worst possible timing. Here's what worked for me: 1. Apply for PFL immediately after your SDI ends (don't wait!) - those 8 weeks gave me crucial time to job search without the pressure 2. Start updating your resume and LinkedIn NOW while you're still on disability 3. When you do apply for UI after PFL, emphasize that you're "able and available" - I even mentioned in my application that I had childcare arrangements in place 4. Network like crazy - I found my current job through a former colleague who saw my LinkedIn post about looking for work The transition between programs was smoother than I expected. EDD actually has pretty good resources for new parents, even though the system can be confusing at first. You're going to get through this! Having a baby AND job hunting is exhausting, but remember that companies that eliminate positions of new moms during disability probably weren't great places to work anyway. You'll find something better! 💪