I'm going through the exact same thing right now! My first name is 14 characters and I was getting so stressed about this until I found this thread. It's incredible how many of us are dealing with this issue - makes me feel so much less alone in this frustrating situation. Based on all the amazing advice everyone has shared here, I'm planning to use the first 12 characters of my name in the field, write my full legal name in the margins with a clear arrow, and add a detailed note in the additional comments section explaining the truncation. It's really reassuring to hear from so many people who have successfully used this approach without any issues with their claims. It's honestly ridiculous that government forms in 2024 still can't handle names longer than 12 characters, but this community is proof that we can figure out solutions together! Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences - you've all helped turn what felt like a major problem into something totally manageable. This is exactly why I love this community! 🙏

I'm dealing with this exact same problem! My name is 13 characters and I've been stressing about this form for days. Reading through all these success stories has been such a relief - it's amazing to see how common this issue actually is and that EDD handles it all the time. I think I'll go with the approach most people here used: abbreviate to fit the field, write my full legal name clearly in the margins with an arrow, and add a note in the additional comments section. It's honestly wild that in 2024 government forms still can't accommodate longer names, but this community is incredible for helping each other navigate these obstacles. Thank you all for sharing what actually worked! 🙏

I'm going through almost the exact same situation right now! I've been dealing with chronic lower back pain and was on SDI for about 5 months. Tried to return to my job at a shipping warehouse last month, but after only 18 days the pain became absolutely unbearable again - especially with all the bending and lifting. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly reassuring. I had no idea about the recurrence claim process and was panicking thinking I'd have to start completely over with a new claim. It sounds like since I'm just past the 14-day mark, I'll need to file the recurrence claim through SDI Online. The advice about getting your doctor to document this as a "premature return to work" or "therapeutic work trial" is pure gold - I'm definitely going to ask my doctor to use that exact language. I kept a mental note of which specific tasks made my pain worse (the heavy package lifting and being bent over sorting belts were the worst), so I can help my doctor document those details too. @Elijah Knight - please keep us updated on how your recurrence claim progresses! Your situation sounds so similar to mine and I know a lot of us here are rooting for you. Thanks for being brave enough to share your story - it's helping so many people realize they're not alone in this struggle.

Wow, congratulations on getting your recurrence claim approved so quickly! That's incredible news and gives me so much hope for my own situation. 12 business days is way faster than I expected based on some of the horror stories I've heard about EDD processing times. I'm really glad to hear that the "therapeutic work trial" language worked well - I'm definitely going to make sure my doctor uses those exact words when she fills out the DE 2525XX form. It's such a relief to know that you kept your full $1,580 weekly benefit and didn't have another waiting period. Your success story is exactly what I needed to hear right now. I've been so stressed about this whole process, but knowing that it can work smoothly when you have the right documentation gives me a lot more confidence. Thank you for following through on your promise to update us - it really means a lot to everyone who's dealing with similar situations. I hope you're able to take the proper time to heal now without any pressure to rush back to work again. Thanks for being so generous with sharing your experience and helping the rest of us navigate this complicated system!

As someone new to this community and the SDI system, I just wanted to say how incredibly helpful this entire thread has been! Reading about @Serene Snow's experience with the duplicate receipt numbers really opened my eyes to the kinds of issues that can come up during the extension process. I'm currently preparing for what might be my first SDI claim, and all the practical advice shared here - from keeping detailed logs and taking screenshots to using the most recent receipt number and following up with healthcare providers - is exactly the kind of real-world guidance you can't find in the official EDD materials. The recommendation about Claimyr is also going straight into my notes for future reference. It's so reassuring to see how this community rallies around each other with practical solutions and emotional support during what can be incredibly stressful times. Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their experiences and help others navigate this complex system!

As someone who just went through a very similar situation last month, I can absolutely relate to the panic you felt! I had the exact same thing happen - submitted my extension, got a receipt number, then two days later the system prompted me again and gave me a completely different number. I was convinced I'd somehow messed up my original submission. Here's what I learned after finally getting through to an EDD representative: the system sometimes generates these duplicate notifications when your current benefit period is close to ending, even if you've already submitted your extension request. It's basically a failsafe to make sure nothing falls through the cracks, but it creates unnecessary confusion for us claimants. The key things that worked for me were: 1) Giving my doctor both receipt numbers with clear explanations of which came first, 2) Having them use the most recent one for their certification submission, and 3) Following up within 24 hours to confirm they'd submitted everything correctly. My extension was approved without any delays, and I learned that your place in the processing queue is based on your FIRST submission date, not the second one. The stress is so real when your savings are running low - I completely understand that anxiety. But this duplicate receipt issue is actually pretty common and doesn't indicate you did anything wrong. You're going to be okay!

Update: I FINALLY got through to someone at EDD this morning! Called right at 8:00am and only had to try 3 times. The agent confirmed they received my doctor's certification but said it's still in the processing queue. She said they're currently working on claims from about 2.5 weeks ago, so mine should be reviewed in the next few days. She also checked that there weren't any obvious issues with my paperwork. Such a relief to at least know what's happening! Thanks everyone for your advice.

Congratulations on finally getting through! Your experience really highlights how important timing is with EDD calls. For anyone else still struggling to reach them, I'd recommend keeping a log of when you call and what happens - sometimes there are patterns to when the lines are less busy. Also, if you do get disconnected while waiting, try calling back immediately as sometimes you can get back into the queue faster. The 8am strategy seems to work for a lot of people based on what I've seen in this community.

Just wanted to jump in and share my experience as someone who finally broke through the EDD phone fortress after 6 weeks of trying! 🎉 The key for me was combining several strategies I picked up from forums like this one. I used the rapid-fire menu navigation (1-1-2 as fast as possible), called at exactly 8:02 AM (not 8:00 or 8:01 when everyone else calls), and had all my documents ready to go. When I finally got a human, I was super polite and patient - turns out the rep had been dealing with angry callers all morning and really appreciated someone being kind. She went above and beyond to help me sort out my claim status. The whole ordeal is absolutely ridiculous and shouldn't require this level of strategic planning, but don't lose hope! Document every call attempt, try different times, and remember that the reps are human too. This community's tips and support have been invaluable - we're all just trying to get the help we deserve. Keep fighting the good fight, everyone! 💪

New member here! 👋 Just found this thread after spending the last two weeks in EDD phone hell myself. It's honestly both comforting and depressing to see I'm not alone in this struggle. I've been calling every day, multiple times a day, and getting that dreaded "due to high call volumes" message followed by an immediate hang-up. It's beyond frustrating when you're dealing with a time-sensitive claim issue and can't reach anyone for help. Reading through everyone's strategies here - the comma method, specific timing windows, the tier 2 specialist tip - gives me some hope that there might actually be ways to crack this system. I'm definitely going to try calling at 8:02 AM tomorrow with all my documents ready. It's ridiculous that we have to become phone ninjas just to access basic services, but I appreciate this community sharing their hard-won knowledge. At least we're all in this together! 🤝