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lol remember when we thought adulting would be fun? Now we're all here trying to figure out disability paperwork 🤣
I went through this exact same situation last year! Sophie's advice is spot on - definitely use November 11th as your claim start date. One thing I'd add is to make sure you have documentation from your employer showing the PTO usage during Nov 4-10, just in case they ask for it later. Also, don't stress too much about the form - if you make a mistake, you can usually call and get it corrected. The most important thing is being honest about using PTO during the waiting period. Good luck with your claim!
This is super helpful! I'm new to dealing with SDI and all this paperwork feels overwhelming. Quick question - when you say "documentation from your employer showing the PTO usage," do you mean like a formal letter or would email confirmations about using PTO be enough? I want to make sure I have everything covered just in case they need proof later on.
This whole situation is beyond frustrating! 😡 I've been in the same boat for over a month now. What I've found helpful is calling the main number (1-800-480-3287) and immediately pressing 1-2-4 when you hear the menu options - this sometimes gets you to a different queue that's less backed up. Also, try calling exactly at 8:00 AM when they open, not 8:01 or 8:02, but right at 8:00. I managed to get through twice using this method, though it still took forever on hold. Another trick that worked for me once was calling on a Wednesday around 2:30 PM - seems random but apparently that's when they have more staff back from lunch. And definitely keep notes of every call attempt like @ThunderBolt7 suggested - dates, times, how long you waited, what happened. If we all document this properly, we might be able to push for some real changes to this broken system. Hang in there! 💪
Thank you so much for the specific tips! @Jade O'Malley The 1-2-4 menu trick is something I hadn't heard before - definitely going to try that tomorrow morning at exactly 8:00 AM. It's crazy that we have to develop these elaborate strategies just to access basic services, but I really appreciate you sharing what's worked for you. The Wednesday 2:30 PM timing is so oddly specific but hey, if it works! 😅 I've been keeping notes like @ThunderBolt7 suggested and it's actually helpful to see the pattern of how broken this system really is. We really need to stick together and push for changes - this shouldn't be so impossibly difficult when people are already dealing with disabilities and need support the most.
I'm so sorry you're going through this - the system is absolutely broken! 😞 I've been battling the same issue for weeks and it's incredibly demoralizing when you're already dealing with a disability and desperately need support. One thing that finally worked for me was calling the technical support line (1-800-563-2441) instead of the main number - they can sometimes transfer you directly to a disability specialist without going through the main queue. Also, I discovered that if you call and select the option for employers (even though you're not one), you often get through faster and they can still help with individual claims or transfer you to the right department. I've also started documenting everything - call times, wait times, disconnections - and I'm planning to file a formal complaint with the California State Auditor's office. This level of inaccessibility is unacceptable when people are in genuine need. Hang in there, and don't let them wear you down. We deserve better than this! 💙
Wow, calling the technical support line is genius! @Zoe Papadakis I never would have thought to try that route. And the employer line trick is so clever too - sometimes you have to get creative with these broken systems. I m'definitely going to try both of these approaches tomorrow. Filing a complaint with the State Auditor is a fantastic idea - we really need to make some noise about this. It s'absolutely ridiculous that we have to become phone system hackers just to access disability benefits we ve'paid into! Thanks for sharing these strategies and for the encouragement. We re'all in this together and we shouldn t'have to accept this level of dysfunction! 🙌
anyone else feel like the whole disability system needs a major overhaul? its ridiculous that we have to jump through so many hoops just to get the benefits we're entitled to
I'm going through the exact same thing right now! My doctor submitted my extension weeks ago and I haven't seen a penny since. The worst part is the complete lack of communication - like, at least send us an update saying it's being processed or something. I'm planning to call tomorrow morning and I'll definitely use some of the tips from @Saleem Vaziri about getting everything documented. This whole situation is so stressful when you're already dealing with health issues 😞
I went through this exact same mess about 8 months ago! The confusion happens because EDD's system doesn't distinguish between full salary continuation and partial wage continuation properly. Here's what worked for me: I had to get a very specific letter from HR that showed my regular weekly wages, what percentage the company was paying, and what percentage SDI should cover. The magic words to use in your appeal are "partial wage continuation under UI Code Section 2626" - this tells them you're NOT getting full salary replacement. Also, submit everything through their online portal if you can - I tried mailing first and it disappeared into a black hole for 6 weeks. Once I resubmitted online with the right documentation, it took about 10 business days to get approved. Don't give up, this is totally fixable once you have the right paperwork!
This is incredibly detailed and helpful! I'm definitely going to use those exact magic words "partial wage continuation under UI Code Section 2626" in my appeal. It's so frustrating that we have to know these specific legal phrases just to get what we're entitled to, but I really appreciate you sharing what actually worked. The timeline you mentioned gives me hope too - 10 business days sounds way more reasonable than the horror stories I've been hearing about people waiting months. Going to get that HR letter sorted out ASAP and submit everything online. Thanks for taking the time to write out such a comprehensive response! 🙏
I had almost the exact same situation happen to me last year! The EDD letter made it sound like I was getting 100% salary replacement when my employer was only covering about 60% and I needed SDI for the rest. What really helped me was creating a simple spreadsheet showing my normal weekly pay, what my employer was actually paying me, and what the gap was that SDI should cover. I attached that to my appeal along with recent pay stubs that clearly showed the reduced amount. The whole thing got resolved in about 2-3 weeks once I submitted it online. Make sure to keep checking your EDD account for updates too - sometimes they approve it but don't send notification emails right away. You got this! 💪
The spreadsheet idea is brilliant! I never would have thought of that but it makes so much sense - having a visual breakdown that clearly shows the gap would make it impossible for them to misunderstand the situation. I'm definitely going to create something similar when I submit my appeal. It's also good to know about checking the account for updates since their notification system seems unreliable. Thanks for sharing your success story - it gives me confidence that this is definitely solvable with the right approach!
Dylan Mitchell
This entire thread should be pinned or turned into a guide! I'm currently on SDI for chronic pain and had no idea about any of these timing issues. Reading through everyone's experiences has been both eye-opening and reassuring - it's clear this disappearing certification form panic is way more common than it should be. I just spent the last hour going through all my paperwork to find my approval dates and setting up calendar reminders like Norman suggested. Turns out I have about 5 weeks left on my initial approval and definitely need more time for my treatment plan to work. Thanks to this thread, I'm calling my pain management doctor tomorrow to start the extension process early instead of waiting until my forms vanish. The fact that EDD doesn't send any kind of notification about approaching end dates is honestly unacceptable - when you're dealing with pain and medical appointments, tracking bureaucratic deadlines shouldn't be another burden. But until they fix their system, this community knowledge-sharing is invaluable. Andre, thanks for sharing your panic moment - it helped so many of us avoid the same situation!
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Chloe Mitchell
•I completely agree - this thread has been like a masterclass in navigating SDI extensions! It's amazing how much collective wisdom there is here from people who've actually been through this process. You're so smart to get ahead of it with 5 weeks left - that gives you plenty of buffer time for any delays or complications with your pain management doctor's office. I've learned that chronic pain conditions often need longer recovery periods than initially anticipated, so don't feel bad if you need multiple extensions. Your health comes first, and having this community support makes the whole bureaucratic nightmare so much more manageable. Hope your treatment plan continues to help and that your extension goes smoothly!
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Sean Doyle
This thread has been absolutely incredible - I'm bookmarking it for future reference! I'm currently on week 8 of SDI for a herniated disc and reading everyone's experiences just made me realize I need to check my approval end date ASAP. The fact that so many people have gone through this exact same panic with disappearing forms tells me this is a systemic issue that EDD really needs to address. What strikes me most is how much stress could be avoided with just basic notifications - a simple email or portal message saying "your disability period ends in 2 weeks, contact your doctor if you need an extension" would solve 90% of these situations. Instead, we're all here playing detective with our approval letters and setting up elaborate tracking systems just to manage what should be automatic. The community knowledge shared here is gold though. I'm implementing the calendar reminder system, creating that email folder, and calling my orthopedist this week to discuss realistic timelines for my recovery. Better to be proactive than to end up in panic mode when those certification forms vanish! Thanks to everyone who shared their stories and solutions - you've probably saved dozens of people from unnecessary anxiety and benefit interruptions.
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