I'm dealing with almost the exact same situation! Filed my SDI claim 6 weeks ago for a chronic condition flare-up and it's been stuck on "pending processing" this whole time. It's so frustrating because you're already dealing with health issues and the stress of not being able to work, and then EDD just leaves you hanging with zero communication. Reading through all these comments has been both helpful and depressing - helpful because I'm getting some actual strategies to try (definitely going to start the 8 AM calling routine tomorrow!), but depressing because it's clear this is just how EDD operates rather than isolated incidents. The lack of transparency is what kills me. Like, just tell us if there's a problem or if it's normal processing time! Instead we're all left here guessing and sharing tips like we're trying to crack some secret code. I'm going to try calling early, asking about "pending actions" and "case escalation" if I can get through, and maybe see if my doctor can call their special line. At this point I'll try anything! Thanks for posting this OP - it really helps knowing we're not alone in this nightmare. Congrats on your baby! 🍼 Hopefully all of us sharing our experiences will help everyone get through this broken system faster. Please keep us updated!

I'm dealing with a very similar situation - filed my SDI claim about 3 weeks ago for a herniated disc and it's also stuck on "pending processing" with absolutely no communication from EDD. It's incredibly frustrating when you're already struggling with pain and unable to work, and then you have to stress about when you'll actually get the financial support you need. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been both eye-opening and infuriating - it's clear this is just standard operating procedure for EDD rather than isolated cases. The complete lack of transparency is what gets me the most. We're paying into this system, but when we need it, they treat us like we're invisible. I'm definitely going to try the 8 AM calling strategy that everyone's mentioned - seems like that's our best shot at actually reaching a human. Also planning to ask my doctor about calling their special provider line since that sounds promising. The "case escalation" and "pending actions" phrases are golden tips too - thank you to everyone sharing these strategies! Thanks for posting this OP and creating this space for all of us to share our experiences. Congrats on your new baby! 🎉 It's awful that you have to deal with this stress while caring for a newborn. We're all rooting for each other here - please keep us updated if you make any progress!

I'm experiencing the exact same issue! Filed my disability claim 2.5 weeks ago, received my approval letter last week, but my SDI Online account shows absolutely nothing under payment history - just "No payments have been issued for this claim." It's so stressful being out of work due to my injury and then having to worry about whether I'll actually receive the benefits I was approved for. This thread has been incredibly helpful though! Based on everyone's advice, I'm going to start by contacting my HR department tomorrow to verify they've submitted the DE 2501 form and all required paperwork. If that doesn't resolve it within a few days, I'll try calling EDD directly and specifically ask about data verification holds or wage verification issues. It's really reassuring to know this delay seems pretty common and usually gets resolved eventually. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - knowing we're not alone in this bureaucratic mess definitely helps with the anxiety!

I'm going through this exact same issue right now! Filed my SDI claim about 2 weeks ago, got my approval letter, but my online account shows absolutely nothing under payment history. It's incredibly stressful when you're already dealing with health issues and financial worries. This thread has been a lifesaver - I had no idea there were so many potential causes like employer paperwork delays, wage verification holds, or data verification issues. Based on everyone's advice, I'm going to contact my HR department first thing tomorrow to make sure they've submitted that DE 2501 form, then wait a few more business days before trying to call EDD directly. If I do need to call, I'll definitely ask specifically about data verification holds and wage verification issues rather than just asking for a general status update. It's so reassuring to know this delay seems pretty normal and that most people eventually get it resolved. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences - knowing we're not alone in dealing with EDD's broken system really helps with the anxiety!

I've been lurking in this community for a while and finally decided to join because this thread has been so incredibly helpful! I'm currently dealing with work-related anxiety and stress that's been getting progressively worse over the past few months. Like many of you, I was completely confused about whether to apply for unemployment or disability. Reading everyone's experiences has made it crystal clear that SDI is the right path for my situation. The detailed explanations about how mental health conditions absolutely qualify, the importance of specific wording on medical forms, and all the practical tips about the application process have been invaluable. I especially appreciate how supportive this community is - it's such a relief to know I'm not alone in dealing with workplace stress that's affecting my mental and physical health. The fact that so many of you have successfully navigated this process gives me confidence that I can too. I'm planning to schedule an appointment with my doctor this week to discuss filing for SDI. Thank you all for sharing your stories and creating such a welcoming space for people going through similar challenges!

I'm new to this community but this thread has been absolutely invaluable! I've been dealing with work-related stress and anxiety for about 6 weeks now, and like many others here, I was completely lost about whether to pursue unemployment or disability benefits. Reading through everyone's experiences has made it so clear that SDI is the right path for mental health conditions. The detailed explanations about the importance of having your doctor state you "cannot work" (not just list symptoms) and the tips about creating your SDI Online account ahead of time are incredibly helpful. It's also really reassuring to see how many people have been successfully approved for work-related stress and anxiety. I was worried that mental health conditions wouldn't be taken seriously, but seeing all these positive outcomes gives me hope. I have an appointment with my doctor next week and plan to discuss filing for SDI. The advice about bringing any therapy records and medication history to strengthen the case is something I definitely wouldn't have thought of on my own. Thank you all for being so generous with sharing your knowledge and experiences - it's made this scary process feel much more manageable!

I'm new here but wanted to share my experience since it's so relevant to your situation! I moved from San Francisco to Austin at 33 weeks pregnant last year and was in the exact same panic about CA SDI eligibility after submitting my Texas address on the application. The good news is you're absolutely eligible! I successfully received my full pregnancy disability benefits - 4 weeks before delivery and 8 weeks after (C-section). The address verification request is completely standard now due to fraud prevention measures they implemented after the pandemic. I just sent them my Texas lease agreement and utility bill, and it was processed without any issues. A few things that helped me: - My California OB was totally fine completing the medical certification even after I moved (they said it's very common) - The SDI Online portal was super helpful for tracking my claim status - Processing took about 3 weeks total once I submitted all documentation The key thing to remember is that eligibility is based on your base period contributions, not where you currently live. You paid into the system for 3 years, so you're definitely covered! Don't let the conflicting information in some comments stress you out - I literally just went through this successfully and received every penny I was entitled to. Focus on your health and your baby. The benefits will come through! 💕

I'm new to this community but currently going through a very similar situation! I'm 31 weeks pregnant and just moved from Los Angeles to Nevada last month for my husband's new job. Like you, I worked in California until late April and had SDI deductions taken from all my paychecks for about 3 years before moving. I haven't applied yet because I was terrified about the residency requirements, but after reading through all these detailed experiences from people who successfully received benefits after moving to various states, I'm feeling much more confident about applying this week. It's so reassuring to see multiple recent success stories from people who moved to Nevada, Arizona, Texas, Oregon, Colorado, and other states while pregnant and still received their full CA SDI pregnancy benefits. The consistent message seems to be that as long as you paid into the system during your base period (which we both clearly did), your current residence doesn't affect eligibility at all. I especially appreciate all the practical tips people have shared - like calling EDD at 8 AM for shorter wait times, reaching out to your previous California doctor for medical certification, and using the SDI Online portal to track claim status. Thank you for starting this thread! It's been incredibly valuable for those of us in similar situations. Based on everyone's experiences, it sounds like you (and I) should be totally fine. Wishing you the best with your claim and the rest of your pregnancy! 🤰

Just wanted to share my recent experience with this! I actually did both - started with printing the DE 2501 form at home but then my case worker suggested switching to the online application midway through. Here's what I learned: the printed forms work fine, but if you're tech-savvy at all, the online system really is worth it. You get instant confirmation that everything was submitted correctly, and you can track your claim status in real-time. Plus, if there are any missing pieces of info, they'll flag it immediately instead of you finding out weeks later. That said, if your doctor is more comfortable with paper forms, don't stress - the printed version absolutely works. Just make sure you get delivery confirmation when you mail it so you know EDD received it!

Hey Mason! I just went through this process a few weeks ago and wanted to share what worked for me. I printed the DE 2501 form at home and had zero issues - EDD accepted it without any problems. Here's my step-by-step: 1) Go to EDD's website and search for "DE 2501 Claim for Disability Insurance Benefits" 2) Make sure you're downloading the 2025 version 3) Print on regular white paper in black ink only 4) Fill out Part A completely, then take it to your doctor for Part B 5) Mail it with tracking/delivery confirmation to your county's SDI office. The whole process took about 2.5 weeks from mailing to first payment. Don't stress about not having the "official" forms - the printed ones work just fine! The barcode thing some people mention only affects processing time by maybe a day or two at most.