I'm so sorry you're dealing with this stress right after having your baby! I went through the exact same thing in January 2025. The payment stoppage after delivery is completely routine - EDD needs to verify your delivery info to determine if you're continuing on disability or transitioning to paid family leave. Since you submitted through the online portal this morning, you should expect to see movement in about 5-7 business days based on current processing times. The good news is they will backpay you for any missed payments, so you won't lose any money - it's just the cash flow timing that's stressful. A few tips that helped me: 1) Call your utility companies now to explain the EDD processing delay - most have policies for this exact situation, 2) Double-check with your OB's office that they submitted your updated medical certification with the correct delivery date/method, 3) Keep checking both your SDI online account AND your bank account, as sometimes the payment appears before the portal updates. This whole process is so poorly designed for new parents, but you're doing everything right. The payment will come through! Congratulations on your little one! 💕

I'm currently dealing with this exact same situation! Had my baby 4 days ago via C-section and my SDI payments stopped immediately after delivery. I submitted the birth information through the online portal yesterday and have been anxiously checking my account every few hours since then. Reading through all these experiences has been such a huge relief - I was starting to panic that I had done something wrong or that there was an issue with my claim! It's so reassuring to know that 5-7 business days seems to be the current standard processing time and that this payment stoppage is completely routine. The financial timing is definitely stressful though - I have several bills due next week that I was counting on this payment for. Based on everyone's advice here, I'm going to call my utility companies and credit card company tomorrow morning to explain the EDD processing delay and request extensions. I really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences and timelines. It's helping me stay calm during what's already such an overwhelming time with a newborn. The fact that so many new moms are dealing with this exact same bureaucratic hassle really shows how much the system needs improvement! Fingers crossed we all see our payments processed by early next week. Congratulations to all the new mamas here - we've got this! 💕

Im so done with EDD. been trying to get through for weeks. might as well be playing the lottery at this point 🤡

I've been dealing with this same nightmare for weeks! One thing that's helped me is using the callback feature when it's available - instead of staying on hold, they'll call you back when it's your turn. Not all lines offer it, but when they do, it's a lifesaver. Also, I've had better luck calling on Wednesdays and Thursdays - seems like Mondays and Fridays are the absolute worst. Still frustrating that we have to jump through all these hoops just to get basic help though! 😤

This thread has been such a valuable resource! I'm about 5 weeks into my SDI claim and have been constantly worried about certification deadlines. Emma, your story is incredibly reassuring - the fact that your payment came through in just 2.5 days after a late submission really shows that the system isn't as unforgiving as I feared! The 20-day grace period information is absolutely crucial - I had no idea this existed and it's definitely not mentioned clearly in any of the materials I received from EDD. I've been using just one calendar reminder, but after reading everyone's strategies here, I'm going to set up multiple alerts (probably at 1 week out, 3 days out, and day of). It's amazing how much more helpful real community experiences are compared to trying to navigate EDD's confusing website alone. Thank you all for sharing your stories and creating such a supportive environment - it makes this whole process feel much more manageable!

This thread has been such an incredible resource! I just received my SDI approval letter a few days ago and have been feeling completely overwhelmed about managing certification deadlines properly. Emma, your experience is so reassuring - I was convinced that missing even one deadline would be catastrophic, but seeing that your payment still came through in just 2.5 days after a late submission gives me tremendous peace of mind! The information about the 20-day grace period is absolutely invaluable - it's frustrating that EDD doesn't make these crucial details more prominent in their official communications. Reading through everyone's strategies here, I'm definitely going to set up multiple calendar reminders (thinking 2 weeks out, 1 week out, 3 days out, and day of each deadline). It's amazing how much more helpful and reassuring real community experiences are compared to trying to decode EDD's confusing website alone. Thank you all for sharing your stories and creating such a supportive environment for those of us just starting this journey - it makes the whole process feel so much less intimidating!

To all those having trouble reaching a human at California Disability. I just ran across this video that gave me a shortcut to reach a human. Hope it helps! https://youtu.be/1X-mEsLtbmQ

I've been through this exact situation before! The "Notice of Return to Certification Payment" is frustrating because it's so vague. In my experience, they're usually looking for one of three things: updated medical records from your doctor, the DE 2593 continuing eligibility form, or sometimes they want a new DE 2500A even if you think yours is current. Since your payments stopped, I'd recommend calling the SDI number first thing in the morning (around 8 AM) - that's when I've had the most luck getting through. Also, log into your online account and check if there's a specific document request that might not have been mailed to you. The system sometimes shows pending requirements that don't make it to the mail. Good luck!

I went through something very similar last year! Had a workplace injury that put me on SDI for about 6 months. Like everyone else has confirmed, you definitely won't get any tax forms for your California SDI benefits and you don't need to report them anywhere on your tax returns. One thing I learned the hard way though - make sure to keep really good records of your SDI payments and dates. I didn't think I'd need them, but my employer's HR department made some errors on my W-2 and included a few weeks that overlapped with my disability period. Having my SDI documentation made it easy to get a corrected W-2. Also, if you're planning to use a tax preparer, give them a heads up about the SDI situation beforehand. Some preparers who don't deal with California disability claims regularly might try to include it as income by mistake. Just saves time and confusion! Hope your shoulder healed up well - rotator cuff injuries are no joke!

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - been on SDI since October after a workplace injury and was worried about how to handle taxes. This thread has been incredibly helpful! Just to confirm what everyone is saying, I called EDD directly last week and they confirmed that California SDI benefits are NOT taxable and no tax forms are issued. The representative explained it exactly like others have mentioned - since SDI comes from after-tax payroll deductions, you've already paid taxes on that money. One additional tip I got from the EDD rep: if you're ever unsure about whether you received SDI vs. unemployment benefits, you can log into your EDD account online and check your payment history. SDI payments will be clearly labeled as "State Disability Insurance" while unemployment would show as "Unemployment Insurance." This can help if you need to clarify things with a tax preparer or if the IRS ever has questions. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences - it's so reassuring to know I'm not the only one who was confused about this!