You should ask specifically for the Notice of Change. Sometimes they'll say \

Got it! I'll make sure to ask for the Notice of Change directly and get the rep's info. Thank you all so much for the helpful advice - I feel much more prepared to handle this now!

ya its real but super confusing! i thought i was being scammed to but its just edd being weird as usual lol. took like a week after i put in my bank stuff to get paid so be ready to wait

Just as an update for anyone finding this thread later - EDD has now published an official FAQ page about the Money Network and My Banking Direct partnership. You can find it on the main EDD website under "Payment Information." It confirms that this is their legitimate payment processing system for all disability and unemployment claims in 2025 going forward.

For anyone else reading this thread who may be in a similar situation, I want to clarify a few important points about disability appeals and payments: 1. When an appeal is granted, there is indeed a required manual intervention step. The Appeals Board decision has to be implemented by an EDD SDI specialist. 2. Your employer can appeal the ALJ's (Administrative Law Judge) decision, but they must do so within 20 days of the decision. This appeal would go to the California Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board (CUIAB). 3. For partial disability claims related to pregnancy accommodations, make sure your medical provider clearly documents work restrictions and reduced earning capacity on the DE 2501 form. 4. Post-appeal payments typically take 2-3 weeks to process once a specialist has reviewed your claim, though backlogs can extend this timeline. 5. If you're experiencing a hardship due to delayed benefits, specifically mention this when you speak with a representative - they have procedures for expediting payments in hardship cases. This information applies specifically to California's State Disability Insurance program and may differ from other states' disability programs.

FINAL UPDATE: The money arrived! Almost exactly 8 days after speaking with the specialist, all my back payments were deposited to my EDD debit card. Total was $5,890 for the weeks I had reduced hours. For anyone else dealing with post-appeal payment issues, definitely be persistent and try all the methods suggested in this thread. What ultimately worked for me was: 1. Using Claimyr to get through to a real person 2. Specifically mentioning I had an approved appeal waiting for payment processing 3. Having all my documentation ready (appeal case number, judge's name, dates of decision) Thanks again to everyone who offered advice! This community was so helpful when I felt completely stuck.

EDD's rules can sometimes be flexible for unusual situations, but trying to navigate them is incredibly frustrating. When my partner had a complicated disability claim, we could NOT get through to anyone helpful on the phone for weeks. I eventually used Claimyr (claimyr.com) and got connected to an EDD rep in about 15 minutes. The website shows exactly how it works in their video demo: https://youtu.be/1X-mEsLtbmQ?si=1hcSq3KFtCr4oAmd The rep we spoke with was actually super helpful and explained exactly what documentation we needed for our unusual situation. For something as complicated as long COVID with cognitive issues, I'd definitely recommend speaking directly with EDD rather than trying to guess what they'll accept.

Has anyone mentioned Unemployment Insurance to you? If he was laid off, he might have qualified for UI while looking for work. Though I'm not sure if you can get UI and then switch to SDI later... the rules get really confusing when benefits overlap.

Your claim status will automatically update after your doctor's form is processed. The SDI system uses your wage data from the base period (which is different from regular unemployment). For claims filed in 2025, they look at wages earned approximately from January 2023 through December 2024, depending on exactly when you filed. The wage data comes directly from your employer's quarterly reports to EDD - you don't enter it yourself. Once your claim is approved, you'll see your weekly benefit amount calculated based on your highest quarter of earnings during that period. You can verify if your doctor's form was received by clicking on "View Medical Provider Form Receipt" in your SDI Online account. This will at least confirm if it's in their system.

I forgot to mention - if there's a discrepancy in your wage data (like if you worked for multiple employers or had a job change), you can submit a request for reconsideration AFTER your claim is processed. But for now, you just need to wait for the medical certification to be approved.