This thread has been absolutely incredible to read through! I'm currently helping my disabled uncle with his SDI claim and we've been stuck on this exact same medical certification issue for over two weeks. His doctor also stopped using the online system due to technical problems. Reading through all these responses, I'm amazed at how many different solutions and workarounds people have discovered. The tip about calling EDD right at 8:00 AM to have them email the DE 2501B form directly sounds like our best bet - I had no idea that was even possible! I'm also definitely going to try the assembly member contact suggestion if we hit more roadblocks. As someone mentioned, it's ridiculous that we have to become experts in navigating government bureaucracy just to help family members access benefits they've already paid into, but this community has created an incredible resource here. One question for those who've been through this - when the doctor completes the form, is it better to have them fax it directly to EDD or should we hand-deliver it to an EDD office? My uncle lives about 45 minutes from the nearest EDD location, so I want to make sure we choose the most reliable submission method. Thank you all for sharing your experiences and creating such a supportive, informative discussion. My uncle doesn't know how to use computers, so having advocates like all of you sharing practical solutions makes all the difference for families like ours!

I've been through this exact situation with my father's SDI claim just last month! After reading through all these incredibly helpful responses, I wanted to add one more tip that saved us a lot of time. If you're still having trouble getting the DE 2501B form, try calling EDD's Technical Support line instead of the main claims line. I found their number buried on the website (it's different from the regular customer service number), and they were able to email me the form within 5 minutes. The tech support staff seemed much more familiar with the actual forms and less overwhelmed than the regular claims agents. Also, when you do get the form to your aunt's doctor, ask them to include their office's direct phone number on the form somewhere. This helped us when EDD had questions about my father's medical certification - instead of the whole thing getting delayed, EDD was able to call the doctor directly for clarification. The assembly member tip is absolutely brilliant - I wish I had known about that option! And definitely follow the advice about calling right at 8:00 AM. I tried calling at various times and the difference in wait times is incredible. Your persistence in helping your aunt navigate this system is really admirable. The bureaucracy is unnecessarily complex, but with all the great advice in this thread, you should be able to get her claim moving again soon. Keep us posted on how it goes!

I'm also completely new to this whole disability process and currently going through the exact same nightmare! My doctor is equally stubborn about technology and refuses to even look at the SDI Online system. I just mailed my DE 2501 form last week using certified mail (thankfully I read that tip somewhere) and I'm already obsessively checking both my mailbox and SDI Online account daily. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been both incredibly helpful and honestly terrifying - seeing timelines range anywhere from 2 weeks to 2+ months is so anxiety-inducing when you're already stressed about bills piling up and unable to work. I really appreciate all the practical advice being shared here about keeping detailed records, the 3-week call timeline, and that Claimyr service for getting through to EDD faster. It's absolutely ridiculous that in 2025 we're essentially penalized with longer processing times just because our healthcare providers refuse to modernize! The financial stress while waiting is overwhelming enough without having to become experts in navigating bureaucracy when we should be focusing on recovery. This community has been such a lifesaver for understanding what to realistically expect rather than just crossing my fingers and hoping for the best. Sending solidarity to everyone stuck in this paper submission waiting game - we shouldn't have to deal with this extra stress on top of our medical issues! 🤞

I'm also completely new to this disability process and dealing with the exact same frustrating situation! My doctor is equally old-school and refuses to touch anything digital - it's so maddening that in 2025 we're still dealing with paper delays. I haven't even submitted my forms yet but I'm already dreading the waiting period after reading everyone's experiences here. The timeline seems so unpredictable - some lucky people get processed in 2-3 weeks while others wait 6-8 weeks or even longer. I'm definitely taking notes on all the great advice here about sending certified mail for tracking, creating the SDI Online account beforehand, keeping detailed records, and that 3-week call timeline. It's really unfair that we're essentially penalized with longer processing times just because our healthcare providers won't adapt to modern technology. The financial anxiety while being unable to work is already overwhelming without adding weeks of bureaucratic uncertainty on top! This community has been so helpful for understanding what to realistically expect rather than just hoping for the best. Really grateful for everyone sharing their specific timelines and practical tips. Sending support to all of you currently stuck in the paper submission waiting game - we shouldn't have to stress about this bureaucracy when we should be focusing on our health! 🤞

I'm new to this community but unfortunately here because I'm dealing with the exact same frustrating situation! Had my rotator cuff surgery three weeks ago and just got hit with the "cannot identify physician" denial yesterday. My orthopedic surgeon was absolutely floored when I called - he said his name, license number, and signature are all completely legible on the form and he's been doing EDD certifications for over 15 years without a single issue. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been both reassuring and maddening. It's crystal clear this is a widespread systematic problem with EDD's processing system, not actual issues with our doctors' forms. The fact that so many experienced surgeons across different specialties are all equally bewildered by these denials really tells the whole story. I'm going to follow the proven game plan everyone has outlined - getting a typed physician attestation letter with his full credentials including both medical license AND NPI numbers, checking if his office is set up for electronic submission through the EDD provider portal, and having him complete a fresh DE 2501 with everything printed instead of handwritten. The detailed strategy from @Ethan Brown about what to include in the attestation letter is exactly what I needed. It's completely outrageous that while we're trying to heal from major surgery and stressing about finances, we have to become EDD appeals specialists just to get benefits we've been paying into our whole careers. But I'm so thankful to have found this supportive community where people are sharing actual solutions. I'll definitely update everyone on how my appeal goes - hopefully we can all get these bogus denials reversed and get the support we need during recovery!

I'm new to this community but unfortunately here because I'm dealing with this exact same infuriating situation! Had my appendectomy two weeks ago and just got the "cannot identify physician" denial letter today. My surgeon was completely bewildered - she said her handwriting and license information are perfectly clear on the form and she's never had this problem in 12 years of practice. What's really striking about reading everyone's experiences is seeing this obvious pattern of systematic failures with EDD's processing system across so many different surgeries and experienced doctors. It's clearly not a physician competency issue when surgeons with decades of experience are suddenly being told their forms are "illegible." I'm going to follow the comprehensive strategy that @Ethan Brown outlined - getting a typed physician attestation letter with her complete credentials including both medical license AND NPI numbers, asking if her office can submit electronically through the EDD provider portal, and having her complete a brand new DE 2501 with everything printed clearly. The detailed advice everyone has shared here about what to include has been incredibly valuable. It's absolutely ridiculous that while we're trying to recover from surgery and manage financial stress, we have to become EDD bureaucracy experts just to access benefits we've been paying into. But I'm grateful to have found this supportive community where people are sharing real solutions and helping each other navigate this broken system. I'll definitely keep everyone updated on my appeal progress - hopefully we can all get these bogus denials overturned and receive the support we need during recovery!

I went through a similar situation when I had to have emergency appendix surgery just 2 weeks into a new job! The good news is that since you worked full-time for 2 years at your previous company, you definitely have enough work history to qualify for SDI. Just make sure you keep all your old paystubs showing the SDI deductions - EDD might ask for them as proof of your base period wages. Also, don't stress too much about the job protection issue. A lot of employers are understanding about medical situations, especially when it's something that was already planned. My new employer actually held my position even though they weren't legally required to. It's worth having an honest conversation with your manager about the situation. Best of luck with your knee surgery!

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet - if you're concerned about your new employer's reaction, you might want to frame this as a pre-existing medical condition that was already scheduled before you started. Most reasonable employers understand that people can't control the timing of necessary medical procedures, especially when it was planned months in advance. Also, consider asking your surgeon if there's any flexibility in your return-to-work timeline. Sometimes they can clear you for modified duties (like desk work only) before full clearance, which might help with your employer relationship. Just make sure any work restrictions are clearly documented on your SDI forms. The fact that you're being proactive about this shows professionalism, and most managers appreciate that kind of communication over surprises!

I just went through this process a few months ago and wanted to share what worked for me. The anticipation was honestly worse than the actual exam. Here are some practical tips: **Before the exam:** - Request your complete medical file from your psychiatrist/therapist to bring with you - Write down how your symptoms specifically impact your job duties (can't handle customer complaints due to anxiety, panic attacks triggered by deadlines, etc.) - List all medications and recent changes - they care a lot about side effects affecting work ability - Get a letter from your doctor explaining your prognosis and expected recovery timeline **During the exam:** - Be honest about both good and bad days - they expect mental health to fluctuate - Focus on functionality, not just feelings ("I can't concentrate for more than 15 minutes" vs "I feel sad") - Mention if you're having medication adjustments that are making things temporarily worse **For payment delays:** This is super common! When you call EDD, ask specifically if there are any "pending issues" or "verification flags" on your account. Sometimes they have internal holds they don't tell you about. The whole process took about 40 minutes for me, and I was approved for another 8 weeks. Mental health claims do get approved when properly documented - don't let the horror stories scare you too much. You're dealing with a legitimate medical condition and deserve support while you recover.

I'm really sorry you're going through this stress - dealing with an EDD medical exam while already struggling with mental health issues is so overwhelming. I went through a similar situation about a year ago for my depression/anxiety claim. Here's what I learned from my experience: **For the exam preparation:** - Document specific work-related limitations (like if phone calls trigger panic attacks, or if you can't concentrate during meetings) - Bring a timeline of your treatment and any medication changes - Ask your psychiatrist to write a detailed letter explaining why you can't perform your specific job duties yet **During the exam:** - Be completely honest about your symptoms and how they affect daily functioning - Don't try to appear "sicker" but definitely don't minimize your struggles either - The doctor asked me about my daily routine, sleep patterns, and ability to handle workplace stress **For the payment delays:** This is unfortunately super common! When you finally get through to EDD, specifically ask if there are any account flags or pending verification issues. Sometimes there's a hidden hold causing the delays that they don't communicate clearly. My exam lasted about 35 minutes and I was approved for another 10 weeks. Remember that you have legitimate medical documentation and you deserve support while you recover. Mental health conditions are real medical conditions that can absolutely prevent someone from working. Try to focus on getting through one day at a time, and know that many people in this community are rooting for you!