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have you tried going to an actual EDD office in person? sometimes thats easier than phones. My brother did that for his unemployment and got help same day
Unfortunately, SDI is handled differently from unemployment. The in-person EDD offices generally only handle unemployment insurance claims, not disability. SDI is primarily managed through the phone system and online portal. It's one of those frustrating government divisions of responsibility that makes little sense to us citizens!
UPDATE: We finally got through! For anyone with a similar issue - we used the Claimyr service that someone recommended here and it actually worked. Got connected to an EDD rep in about 30 minutes. The issue was exactly what someone here mentioned - because she's an IHSS provider, they needed to manually verify her wages. The representative was able to process everything and said her claim should be approved within 7-10 days. They also confirmed she still has to serve the 7-day waiting period before benefits start, but at least the claim is moving forward now. Such a relief! Thanks everyone for your help and suggestions!
Great news! Did they mention anything about retroactive payment for the days after the waiting period but before the claim was processed? Make sure she continues to certify for benefits every two weeks once her claim is approved, even if she's still waiting for the first payment to arrive.
Thank you all so much for the advice. I've made a checklist based on everything you've shared: 1. Continue UI certification honestly until surgery 2. Apply for SDI about a week before surgery (April 8-9) 3. Register for SDI Online through my existing BPO account 4. Make sure my doctor submits the DE 2501 with proper diagnosis codes ASAP after surgery 5. Understand there's a 7-day waiting period where I won't get paid 6. Follow up with my doctor's office to confirm they submitted paperwork 7. Keep that Claimyr service info in case I need to contact EDD directly Is there anything I'm missing? This has been incredibly helpful during such a stressful time.
That's a great checklist! One small addition - you might want to download and review the DE 2501 form yourself before your doctor fills it out, just so you understand what information they'll need to provide. It can help you have a more informed conversation with them about the requirements. You can find it on the EDD website. Wishing you a successful surgery and smooth recovery!
My sister had craniotomy last yr and it took her nearly 9 months to recover enough to work again but she had issues with her benefits the whole time. The EDD keeps sending her paperwork to reconfirm she was still disabled. Make sure ur doctor is willing to keep filling out forms every month or two becuz EDD will require it for long term disability cases. My sis got so frustrated with the whole system.
i had a high risk pregnancy last year and my doctor did monthly certifications. actually ended up being helpful because i needed to extend my disability longer than originally planned due to complications and we just adjusted the next certification instead of having to file a new claim or extension. Just make sure your doctor submits EARLY!
Since you mentioned you're the sole provider right now, I highly recommend documenting everything. Take screenshots of your SDI Online account showing received certifications, payment histories, etc. Also keep a log of when forms were submitted by your doctor. If a payment delay happens (which is common with monthly certifications), having this documentation makes it easier to resolve. When I had issues, the EDD agent I finally reached was able to fix things much faster because I had all the certification dates and confirmation numbers ready. Also, consider asking your doctor to note in your file why they're doing monthly certifications instead of the standard pregnancy disability period. This can help if you ever need to appeal a decision.
I wanted to add one more important point: Your SDI benefits will be based on your highest-earning quarter in your base period. Since you mentioned being laid off recently and only working part-time now, your benefit amount will likely be based on your previous full-time job's wages, not your current part-time position. This is actually good news financially. The current maximum weekly SDI benefit in 2025 is $1,580, though most people receive less based on their income. Just make sure all your wage information is accurate when you file your claim. Also, request your claim to start immediately after your last day worked - don't wait or there could be gaps in your income. The 7-day waiting period is unpaid, but benefits start after that.
THE EDD IS A COMPLETE DISASTER WITH DISABILITY CLAIMS!!!! I had to call FIFTY EIGHT TIMES last month to get someone on the phone about my disability claim that was stuck in pending!!! They make everything IMPOSSIBLE and half the agents don't even know their own rules!!! Make sure you keep COPIES OF EVERYTHING and get your doctor to be SUPER specific about why you can't work. They denied my first claim because the doctor didn't write enough details even though I literally couldn't walk!!!!
That sounds horrible! I'll definitely make sure my doctor is extremely detailed on the form. Did you eventually get approved after all that trouble?
Yes I finally got approved but it took almost 6 WEEKS and I had to have my doctor send in additional documentation!! Make sure your doctor specifically lists EXACTLY what job duties you can't do because of your condition. And don't trust what ONE agent tells you - always call back and confirm with someone else because they all say different things!!!
Liam Cortez
wait did u notify them through the "Report Returned to Work" button?? cuz thats wrong for giving birth!! my friend did that and got her benefits cancelled completely!!! you need the "Report Change in Disability" option!
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Nina Fitzgerald
•OMG no I definitely used the "Report Change in Disability" option and entered my delivery date. At least I did that right!
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Savannah Vin
Just checking in - were you able to get this resolved? Did your doctor submit the postpartum certification?
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Nina Fitzgerald
•Yes!! Thank you all for the help. My doctor submitted the postpartum certification yesterday morning. I also managed to speak with an EDD rep (after using that Claimyr service someone suggested - totally worth it). They confirmed everything is now in order and said I should receive the delayed payment within 3 business days, plus my regular payments will resume after that. Such a relief!
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