I'm scheduled for my first IME in about 6 weeks for a work-related knee injury and this entire discussion has been incredibly valuable! I've been on SDI for 2 months after tearing my ACL and meniscus in a construction accident, and honestly I was getting really anxious about the IME process until I found this thread. The consistency in everyone's advice is really reassuring - be honest, come prepared with documentation, and focus on specific work limitations rather than general pain descriptions. I work in roofing so I need to be able to climb, kneel for extended periods, and maintain balance on steep surfaces - things that are currently impossible with my knee injury. I'm definitely going to create that one-page summary that so many people have recommended. It seems like such a practical way to organize all the important details: injury date, treatments attempted, current restrictions, and specific job tasks I can't safely perform. What really gives me hope is seeing how many people here had professional, fair evaluations when they came prepared and were honest about their conditions. Yes, there are some concerning stories, but it sounds like those are often cases where people weren't adequately prepared or had doctors who were outliers. Thanks to everyone who's shared their experiences - both positive and challenging. It really helps to know what to expect and how to prepare properly. For those with upcoming appointments, we're all in this together and I'm confident that honesty and preparation will serve us well!

I'm actually scheduled for an IME next month for a repetitive stress injury in my hands/wrists from my assembly line job, and reading through all these experiences has been so helpful! I've been on SDI for about 10 weeks now and was getting really worried about the IME process. What strikes me most is how much everyone emphasizes being honest and specific about work limitations rather than just describing pain levels. For my situation, I need to be able to do fine motor tasks and repetitive gripping for 8+ hours a day, which is currently impossible even with my prescribed anti-inflammatory medication and wrist braces. I'm definitely taking everyone's advice about creating that one-page summary - it seems like such a smart way to organize all the key information: injury timeline, treatments tried, current symptoms, and specific job tasks I can't perform safely. The fact that so many people here had professional, thorough evaluations when they came prepared gives me a lot more confidence. Thanks to everyone who took the time to share both positive and challenging experiences. This thread has turned what felt like a scary unknown process into something I can actually prepare for properly. I'll definitely come back to update on how it goes - this community support has been amazing!

I'm brand new to this community and currently going through this exact same stressful situation! My doctor just submitted my SDI paper extension forms yesterday after my carpal tunnel surgery recovery got extended, and I'm already feeling that familiar anxiety about the processing timeline. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly helpful - the consistent 10-14 business day timeframe for paper forms gives me realistic expectations, even though it's definitely longer than I was hoping for since my current benefits end in 8 days. My doctor's office also flat-out refused to do the online certification, claiming they have "standardized procedures" that only allow paper submissions - sounds like we're all dealing with the same frustrating pushback from medical offices! I'm absolutely going to try that 8:02 AM calling strategy next week to confirm EDD received my forms and ask them to add a note about my pending extension. I'm also setting up those text alerts right now based on everyone's recommendations. The waiting game is nerve-wracking when you're budgeting every penny during recovery, but finding this supportive community has made me feel so much less alone in this process. It's amazing how many of us are navigating nearly identical situations! Thank you all for sharing such detailed experiences and practical tips - it's given me both realistic expectations and actionable steps to take while I anxiously wait for processing.

I'm completely new to this community and just found this thread while desperately searching for answers about SDI paper extension processing times! My doctor submitted my extension paperwork yesterday after my recovery from gallbladder surgery got complicated, and I'm already feeling that all-too-familiar panic about timing. Reading through everyone's experiences has been such a lifesaver - the consistent 10-14 business day timeline for paper forms gives me realistic expectations, even though it's definitely stressful since my current benefits end in just 6 days. My doctor's office also refused to do online certification, saying they have a "liability policy" that requires paper forms only - seems like we're all getting the same excuses! I'm definitely going to try that 8:02 AM calling strategy on Monday to confirm EDD received my forms and ask them to add a note to my account. I'm also setting up those text alerts right now based on everyone's recommendations. It's such a relief to find this supportive community where people share real experiences and practical advice - the anxiety about potential payment gaps during recovery is overwhelming, but knowing that so many others have successfully navigated this process gives me genuine hope. Thank you all for creating such a helpful and understanding space for those of us dealing with this nerve-wracking waiting period! The tips about partial payments and keeping detailed records are especially valuable.

Yes, you should definitely file today or tomorrow! As several people mentioned, you can file up to 7 days before you actually stop working, and filing early is actually better than waiting. When you file the claim, you'll specify your "first day of disability" as the date you'll actually stop working next week, but getting the paperwork submitted now gives EDD more time to process everything. This way, your benefits can start flowing as soon as your disability period begins rather than having delays while they process your application. Just make sure you have your medical certification ready before you submit - you don't want to file an incomplete claim. The timing is really crucial for getting your benefits started smoothly!

I went through this exact same situation about 8 months ago with a recurring shoulder injury! You definitely need to file a brand new claim - there's no way to reactivate the old one. But since your previous claim ended in October 2024, you're well within that 90-day window to skip the waiting period, which is huge! Here's what worked for me: Use your existing SDI Online account (don't make a new one), file ASAP even if it's a few days before you stop work, and make absolutely sure your doctor writes "recurrence of previous condition" or something similar on the medical cert. I also kept my old claim number handy when filling out the new application since they ask about prior claims. The whole thing processed in about 10 days for me. One last tip - take photos of every document before you upload them, just in case something goes wrong with the submission. You've got this!

Have you checked your online account? Sometimes they update the status there before they actually contact you.

I'm going through the same thing right now! Filed my appeal about 6 weeks ago and still nothing. The uncertainty is the worst part - you can't plan anything when you don't know if or when benefits will resume. I've been checking my online account obsessively and keeping all my documentation organized just in case. Stay strong, we'll get through this bureaucratic nightmare eventually! 💪

As a newcomer to this community, I just wanted to share my recent experience to help confirm what everyone is saying - definitely apply immediately! I went through this exact same situation about 6 weeks ago when I started my medical leave and was completely confused about the 7-day waiting period timing. What finally made it clear for me was understanding that the waiting period is just EDD's built-in "deductible" that their system automatically handles - you don't need to manually calculate or wait for anything. When you fill out your application, you simply provide the date your disability started, and their system takes care of all the timing, including when your benefits should begin (day 8). I ended up applying on day 2 of my disability, and I'm so grateful I didn't wait longer! Even applying that early, it still took EDD about 17 days to process and approve my claim. If I had waited those extra days thinking I needed to let the waiting period "run out" first, I would have delayed my first payment by over a week for no good reason. One practical tip that saved me a lot of stress - gather all your documents before you start the online application: your Social Security number, employment details, doctor's contact information, and have your medical paperwork right there with you. The system can timeout pretty quickly if you're searching for information mid-application, and having to restart is incredibly frustrating. You've already got your doctor's paperwork completed, which is honestly the hardest part! Trust all the consistent advice from this amazing community and submit that application today. You'll be so relieved you did. Good luck with your claim!

As a newcomer to this community, I just wanted to add my voice to everyone confirming - apply immediately! I went through this exact same confusion about 2 months ago when I started my disability leave. Like you, I was totally overthinking the 7-day waiting period and almost made the mistake of waiting to submit my application. What finally made it click for me was understanding that the waiting period is just when your benefits START, not when you can apply. Think of it like filing a car insurance claim after an accident - you don't wait for the repairs to be finished before filing, you file immediately so the processing can begin. The 7-day waiting period is automatically built into EDD's system, so when you enter your disability start date, their computers handle all the timing calculations for you. I ended up applying on day 3 of my disability, and I'm so glad I didn't wait any longer! Even applying that early, it still took EDD about 2.5 weeks to fully process and approve my claim. If I had waited those extra days thinking I needed to let the waiting period "finish" first, I would have been without income for nearly a month. One tip that really saved me - make sure you have all your information ready before starting the online application: your Social Security number, employment details, doctor's contact info, and all your medical paperwork right there with you. The system can timeout if you're searching for documents while filling it out, and having to restart multiple times is super frustrating. You've got your doctor's paperwork ready which puts you way ahead! Don't second-guess yourself - submit that application today. This community has been incredibly helpful for navigating what initially seemed like such a confusing and overwhelming process. Good luck with your claim!