I've been self-employed for about 18 months now, but before that I worked at a regular W2 job for 6+ years where I had disability insurance deductions taken out of every paycheck. I'm scheduled for a C-section in mid-September and trying to figure out my options. I know about Paid Family Leave for bonding, but I'm confused about the pregnancy disability part. Since I previously paid into SDI for years before becoming self-employed, am I still eligible to file for disability benefits for my recovery period after the C-section? Or does that eligibility expire once you stop working for an employer? And if I am eligible, do I need to file for disability first, then switch to PFL for the bonding period? The EDD website is so confusing! Anyone with experience navigating this as someone who switched from employed to self-employed would be super helpful!

I've been receiving SDI benefits since my surgery in July, and my claim officially ends tomorrow (10/28/2025). My last payment was on 10/21 (I get paid biweekly). Will EDD automatically send me a payment for these final 7 days or do I need to do something special? Also, I need to care for my mom who's having her own surgery next week - will EDD automatically send me the PFL application through SDI Online after my disability period ends, or do I need to request it somewhere? First time dealing with this transition and worried about a gap in benefits since I can't return to work yet. Thanks for any help!

I'm at my wits end with this situation. Back in July 2023, I had to get knee reconstruction surgery and filed for SDI benefits. Everything seemed fine until I realized my claim was stuck in processing. After logging into SDI Online, I discovered EDD kept saying they were 'waiting for employer verification'. Here's where it gets ridiculous - I've worked at the same company for 8 years, our HR department swears they never received ANY requests from EDD, and I've sent in THREE separate employer verification forms myself! Every time I call EDD, I get transferred around until someone tells me 'we'll resend the verification request' but then nothing happens. It's been over 8 months now, and my claim has actually EXPIRED in the system. I can't even access it on the portal anymore to check status. The medical bills are piling up, and I'm out thousands in lost wages. Has anyone successfully revived an expired disability claim? Or found a way to make EDD actually communicate with employers? I'm desperate for any advice at this point!

I'm beyond frustrated with EDD right now. My partner just got denied for SDI benefits after being in a substance abuse treatment program for 11 weeks, and the reason makes NO sense. The denial letter states the rehab facility 'isn't certified in California' - but the facility IS 100% certified and licensed in California (and ONLY operates in California)!\n\nWe called EDD and got transferred to a specialist who claimed their system shows the facility IS licensed but 'not certified' - whatever that means? The rehab's case manager is completely confused because they have MANY other patients who receive SDI benefits while in their program without issues.\n\nThe facility thinks EDD might be using their old address from when they relocated last year, but even after they called to provide their current license/certification numbers, EDD still claims there's a certification issue.\n\nThis is 11 weeks of desperately needed benefits (around $8,200) that we're being denied for what seems like a clerical error. Has anyone dealt with this kind of bizarre denial reason? Should we appeal? Is there any specific documentation we should request from the facility to prove they're certified? I'm at my wit's end here.

I'm really frustrated with my situation and hoping someone can help. I've been a waitress for 6 years and developed severe knee pain (torn meniscus) that finally got so bad I couldn't walk through my shifts anymore. My doctor put me on disability in January 2025, and I received SDI benefits for about 4 weeks. At my follow-up, my doctor said I was 'good enough' to return to work, so I did, thinking I was healed. Well, after just 2 weeks back on the job with all the walking and carrying heavy trays, my knee pain is WORSE than before! I'm literally limping by the end of each shift and taking maximum doses of pain meds just to function. Do I need to file a completely new disability claim since I already returned to work? Or can I somehow reopen my original claim since it's the same injury? My doctor admits he cleared me too soon but I'm confused about the paperwork process. This isn't a workers comp situation - just my aging knees giving out after years in food service.