I finally got through!!! After trying the Claimyr service that someone mentioned above, I was connected to an agent within about 25 minutes. Turns out there WAS an issue with my doctor's certification - they submitted it with my birthdate off by one day so the system couldn't match it to my claim. The agent was able to override it and manually match it to my claim while I was on the phone. She said I should see payment within 3-5 business days. Such a relief! Just wanted to update everyone in case it helps someone else.

when i filed last year i found out if u call exactly at 1:13pm there's some kind of system reset and u can sometimes get through... worked for me after 2 weeks of trying! might be worth a shot

make sure ur doctor fills out the right form. my first claim got delayed cuz my doc used wrong code or something

My sister got denied for unemployment last year but received disability benefits after her surgery. The two programs have different funding sources and requirements. For SDI, your doctor's certification of your medical condition is the most important part. Since you mentioned you'll be off work for 6-8 weeks and your doctor is willing to complete the necessary paperwork, you should definitely apply for SDI benefits right away. Don't wait! The application process is fairly straightforward on the EDD website. Good luck with your recovery!

not sure if this is helpful but my cousin had sorta similar issue and she got her doctor to call EDD directly and explain her medical condition required immediate financial support. apparently some doctors offices have special contacts at EDD for urgent cases. might be worth asking your doctor?

One last piece of advice - if you're facing severe financial hardship because of this delay, ask EDD about their hardship priority processing. You need to specifically use that phrase when speaking with a representative. They don't advertise it, but they do have procedures to expedite benefits in cases of potential eviction, utility shutoffs, or inability to afford necessary medications. You may need to provide documentation of the hardship. Also, once your SDI is approved, they will pay retroactively from your disability start date (when your doctor certified you couldn't work), so you'll eventually receive all funds owed to you.

so did u fix it??? im curious what worked cuz i might be applying for disability soon too

Yes! I used Claimyr to reach EDD first (took about 25 mins instead of hours of redial). The EDD rep confirmed my correct address and gave me a reference number to use when calling BofA. Then I called BofA early the next morning (7:01am!) and the wait was only 15 minutes. They're sending a replacement card to my correct address with expedited shipping! Should have it by Friday. The EDD reference number really helped convince them to help me quickly.

UPDATE: My claim just reappeared in the system with APPROVED status! It was exactly 4 days from when it disappeared. You all were right - it seems to be part of their normal processing. For anyone else experiencing this, just be patient and keep checking. The first payment is already being processed too! Such a relief!

Great news about your claim being approved! For future reference for anyone reading this thread later: if your claim disappears for more than 7 business days, that's when you should start trying more aggressively to contact EDD. The normal "disappearing" period during processing is typically 2-6 days. Also, remember that pregnancy disability claims through SDI are different from Paid Family Leave (PFL) which you'll need to file separately after your recovery period if you want bonding time with your baby. The two programs have different claim processes.