I'm glad you're getting good advice here! Just wanted to add that if you do end up filing for workers' comp (which sounds like the right path based on what others are saying), you can actually file both a workers' comp claim AND potentially get temporary SDI benefits while the workers' comp claim is being processed. Workers' comp claims can sometimes take a while to get approved, and SDI can provide some income in the meantime. Just make sure to be upfront with both agencies about filing for both - they'll coordinate to avoid any overpayments. Also, many areas have free legal clinics that help workers with comp claims, especially if your employer is being difficult about it. The California Department of Industrial Relations website has a list of resources by county. Hope your husband recovers quickly!

As someone new to this community, I've been following this thread and it's been such an incredible learning experience! The way everyone came together to help identify that this is actually a workers' compensation case rather than an SDI issue has been amazing to watch. I wanted to share a resource that hasn't been mentioned yet - the California Workers' Compensation Appeals Board (WCAB) also has self-help resources on their website (wcab.ca.gov) including guides in multiple languages. If there are any disputes with the workers' comp claim down the road, they have information about the appeals process. Also, for documentation purposes, it might be worth having your husband's doctor note in his medical records that this injury is work-related. Sometimes having that clearly documented from the beginning can prevent complications later if there are any questions about the cause of the injury. The transformation of this thread from an SDI question to a comprehensive workers' comp guide has been remarkable. Your husband is so fortunate to have someone advocating for him, and I'm sure this discussion will help many other workers who find themselves in similar situations. California's protections for all workers regardless of immigration status really shine through in everyone's responses here. Wishing your husband a complete recovery and hoping the workers' comp process goes smoothly once you get it properly filed!

This is so relatable! I've been locked out for 5 days now and it's beyond frustrating. Reading everyone's experiences here actually makes me feel less alone in this mess. I'm definitely going to try the combination approach - calling right at 8am tomorrow while also testing that incognito browser trick that @Mateo Gonzalez mentioned. The assemblymember option is genius too @Aisha Mahmood - never occurred to me that they might have direct EDD contacts. It's ridiculous that we need a whole strategy guide just to access our benefits, but I'm grateful for this community sharing solutions. Will report back if I have any success! 🤞

I'm so sorry you're going through this - the EDD lockout situation is absolutely maddening! I've been following this thread and wanted to share another approach that worked for my sister last month. She contacted her local state senator's office (in addition to the assemblymember suggestion) and they actually have a dedicated EDD liaison who was able to unlock her account within 48 hours. You can find your state senator at findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov. Also, if you're comfortable with it, try calling the EDD technical support line at 1-855-327-7057 - sometimes they can help with login issues even if it's not technically their department. The key is being super polite and explaining that you just need to access your benefits. Hang in there, and definitely try that early morning calling strategy - it really seems to be the most consistent method! 🤞

One other important tip: Once your claim is approved, you still need to complete "continued claim certification" forms every two weeks. These will either come by mail or you can do them online. Many people miss this step and wonder why their payments stop! Also, when you're ready to return to work, you need to notify EDD. If you return earlier than your claim end date, make sure to report the exact date so you don't end up with an overpayment that you'll have to repay later.

As someone who just went through this process for wrist surgery 6 months ago, I can't stress enough how much easier it is to apply BEFORE your surgery! Here are a few additional tips from my experience: 1. Take screenshots of your application confirmation and save all reference numbers - you'll need these if there are any issues 2. Ask your surgeon's office if they've worked with EDD before - some offices are super familiar with the SDI forms and can expedite the medical certification 3. Set up direct deposit in your SDI Online account ASAP - paper checks take much longer 4. If you're planning to use FMLA through your employer too, coordinate the dates so they align with your SDI claim The whole process took about 3 weeks from surgery to first payment for me, but that was with everything submitted beforehand. Good luck with your surgery - carpal tunnel release recovery is usually pretty smooth!

I went through this exact same situation last year! The missing link issue is super common when transitioning from PFL back to SDI. What worked for me was calling the EDD disability line first thing in the morning (8am sharp) - that's when you have the best chance of getting through. When I finally connected, the rep explained that the system glitch happens because it can't automatically generate the extension link when you've had a PFL claim in between. They were able to email me the DE 2501 form directly and walked me through exactly how to fill it out. Also, make sure to include a cover letter explaining the timeline (original SDI -> PFL -> SDI extension) so they don't accidentally process it as a new claim. My payments resumed about 10 days after I faxed everything in. Hang in there - it's frustrating but definitely fixable!

I just went through this exact same nightmare situation a few months ago! The "file extend claim form" message with no visible link is such a common EDD glitch when you transition from PFL back to SDI. Here's what finally worked for me: 1. Download the DE 2501 form directly from edd.ca.gov/forms/ (don't wait for a link that may never appear) 2. Write "EXTENSION - SAME CONDITION AFTER PFL" in bold at the top 3. Include a cover letter with your timeline: original SDI dates → PFL dates → extension request dates 4. FAX it instead of mailing - I got processed in 8 days vs weeks for mail 5. Keep calling at 8am sharp with your fax confirmation ready The key thing is that even though your doctor submitted their part, EDD still needs YOUR certification (the DE 2501) to complete the extension. It's a two-part process that they don't explain clearly anywhere. Once both pieces are in, payments usually resume within 7-10 business days. Don't panic about the gap in payments - as long as you get everything submitted properly, they should backpay you to when your PFL ended. The system is frustrating but this situation is definitely fixable! Hang in there and get that form submitted ASAP.

I'm dealing with this exact same situation right now! My doctor mailed in my medical certification for a knee injury three days ago and I've been obsessively checking my SDI account every few hours. Reading through everyone's experiences here is so reassuring - I had no idea that 7-14 days was normal for mailed forms. The advice about having your doctor fax a copy too is gold! I'm definitely calling my orthopedist's office first thing Monday morning to see if they can send a fax as well. And I'm bookmarking that Claimyr service just in case I need it. It's crazy that in 2025 we're still dealing with such slow paper processing when everything else is digital. But at least knowing what to expect timeline-wise helps manage the anxiety. Thanks Aurora for starting this thread and everyone for sharing your experiences!

I'm currently going through this exact same situation! Had ankle surgery last week and my orthopedic surgeon also insisted on mailing the medical certification instead of submitting electronically. It's been 6 days since they mailed it and I'm already getting anxious seeing my account still stuck on "pending medical certification." Reading through everyone's experiences here is incredibly helpful - I had no idea that 7-14 days was the normal timeframe for mailed forms. It's honestly ridiculous that in 2025 we're still dealing with such slow paper processing when the rest of the world operates digitally. I'm definitely going to call my doctor's office tomorrow to see if they can fax a copy as well. That seems like such a simple solution that could save days of waiting. And I'm bookmarking that Claimyr service too just in case I need to actually get through to someone at EDD. Thanks Aurora for starting this discussion and everyone for sharing your timelines and tips. It really helps to know we're all dealing with the same frustrating process and that it does eventually work out!