I'm currently going through something very similar with chronic shoulder pain from my assembly line job! My employer has repeatedly denied my requests for job rotation or lighter duties, and my physical therapist says the repetitive overhead motions are causing progressive damage to my rotator cuff. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been such a relief - I had no idea that voluntarily quitting wouldn't automatically disqualify me from SDI benefits! I've been forcing myself to work through increasing pain because I was terrified that leaving would mean no financial support during recovery. My orthopedic surgeon has been documenting my condition for the past 6 months and recently recommended I take at least 2-3 months off for intensive physical therapy and possible arthroscopic surgery. She's also noted that continuing my current job duties will likely lead to a complete rotator cuff tear requiring major reconstructive surgery. One thing I'm curious about - has anyone had experience with SDI while needing surgery during their claim period? I'm wondering if having a planned surgical procedure affects the approval process or benefit duration in any way. @Diego Vargas - your situation with chronic back pain and employer accommodation refusal sounds exactly like what these benefits are designed for. The fact that you have your doctor's support for a 3-month recovery plan is perfect documentation. Don't let anyone make you feel like you're not "disabled enough" - chronic pain that interferes with work is absolutely a legitimate disability! Thanks to everyone sharing their experiences - you're helping so many of us realize we have options when employers won't protect our health and safety.

I'm going through almost the exact same situation with chronic lower back pain from my construction job! My employer has been completely unwilling to provide lifting restrictions or modified duties that my doctor recommended, and I've been agonizing over whether to quit because I was terrified it would disqualify me from any benefits. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly eye-opening and reassuring. I had no idea that SDI eligibility wasn't tied to employment status the way unemployment benefits are. The fact that so many people have successfully gotten approved after voluntarily quitting for health reasons gives me hope that I can finally prioritize my recovery without facing financial ruin. My doctor has been documenting my condition for the past 8 months and recently told me that continuing heavy lifting and prolonged standing is likely causing permanent damage to my spine. She's recommended at least 4 months off for physical therapy, pain management injections, and possibly surgery if conservative treatment doesn't work. The guilt and stress of feeling trapped between destroying my body or losing income has been almost as bad as the physical pain itself. But seeing how many others have successfully navigated this process makes me realize that staying in a job that's actively harming my health isn't sustainable or necessary. @Diego Vargas - thank you for asking this question! Your situation sounds so similar to mine, and all the responses here have been incredibly helpful for both of us. It's clear that chronic pain conditions with proper medical documentation are exactly what SDI is designed to support.

I'm so sorry you're going through this - the exact same thing happened to me with my knee injury last year! Went back to my retail job after 3 months on SDI, made it exactly 19 days before I had to call it quits again. The standing and walking all day just destroyed me. Since you're at 16 days, you'll definitely need the recurrence claim option in SDI Online. The process was actually much smoother than I expected once I got the paperwork right. My doctor wrote that it was a "failed therapeutic work attempt" due to incomplete healing of the same condition, and that language seemed to really help. One thing I wish I had done better - keep a daily log of your pain levels and what specific work tasks made it worse during those 16 days. EDD asked me for detailed info about why I couldn't continue, and having that documentation would have made it easier to explain. My recurrence got approved in about 2 weeks and I kept the same weekly benefit amount. No additional waiting period either since it was clearly the same condition within 60 days. Hang in there - you made the right call prioritizing your health!

I'm dealing with a very similar situation and this thread has been a lifesaver! I was on SDI for carpal tunnel syndrome for about 4 months, tried to go back to my data entry job 3 weeks ago thinking I was ready, but the constant typing brought back all the numbness and shooting pain within days. Reading everyone's experiences with recurrence claims has given me so much hope - I had no idea this option existed! Since I'm at 21 days back at work, it sounds like I'll need to file the recurrence claim through SDI Online. The advice about getting your doctor to use specific language like "premature return to work" or "therapeutic work trial" is incredibly valuable. @Elijah Knight - congratulations on getting your recurrence claim approved so quickly! Hearing your success story with keeping the full benefit amount and no additional waiting period is exactly what I needed to hear. I'm definitely going to ask my doctor to document which specific work tasks made my symptoms worse (the repetitive typing and mouse clicking were the worst triggers). Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences - it's amazing how this community comes together to help each other navigate these complicated situations. You've all given me the confidence to move forward with my recurrence claim!

OMG thank you @Darcy Moore for actually getting through and getting real answers! 47 calls is dedication 💪 The data mismatch explanation makes so much sense - I bet that's exactly what's happening with mine too. Quick question though - when you fax those documents, do you need to include any specific reference number or case ID? And did they give you any kind of confirmation that they received the fax? I'm worried about sending sensitive docs into the void and having no way to track if they got them. Also going to start my own call counter today... wish me luck! 📞

Just wanted to add my experience with E311 for anyone still struggling with this. I had the same error for about 2 months and tried everything - clearing cache, different browsers, calling dozens of times, etc. What finally worked for me was actually going through my local SDI office in person. I know it's a pain, but sometimes face-to-face interaction cuts through all the system glitches. I brought all my documents (ID, Social Security card, medical forms) and they were able to fix whatever data mismatch was causing the E311 error right there on the spot. Took about an hour total including wait time. If you have a local office near you and can take the time off, it might be worth trying before going the fax route. Just make sure to call ahead and confirm what documents to bring so you don't waste a trip!

I'm in almost the exact same boat right now! My first SDI payment showed as "paid" this past Thursday and I'm still waiting for it to hit my Credit Union account. Been fighting with EDD for months to get my claim processed after a shoulder injury, and now the waiting for the actual money is driving me crazy. Reading everyone's experiences here is such a relief - sounds like 2-3 business days is totally normal for first payments. I'm definitely setting up those bank alerts that people mentioned so I can stop obsessively checking my balance every few hours. The financial stress on top of dealing with recovery is no joke. Thanks to everyone for sharing their timelines - this community really helps when you're navigating this confusing system for the first time!

I'm going through this exact same situation right now! My first SDI payment was marked as "paid" yesterday (Tuesday) and I'm anxiously waiting for it to show up in my Wells Fargo account. I've been out of work for 3 weeks now due to a herniated disc and finally got my claim approved after what felt like endless paperwork and phone calls. Reading through everyone's experiences here is so comforting - it really sounds like 2-3 business days is the standard for first payments with the new direct deposit system. I'm definitely going to set up those bank alerts that several people mentioned so I can stop checking my account balance every 30 minutes! The financial stress while you're trying to recover from an injury is honestly overwhelming. Thank you to everyone who shared their timelines and tips - finding this thread was exactly what I needed today to calm my nerves about the waiting process!

As someone new to this community who's currently dealing with a disability extension situation, I can't express how grateful I am for this incredibly detailed and helpful discussion! I'm about 3 weeks out from my claim expiring and my doctor also strongly prefers paper forms over the online system. Reading through everyone's experiences has been both educational and reassuring - it's clear that while the EDD system can be frustratingly inconsistent, there are definitely proven strategies that work. I'm particularly struck by how important the specific language is when calling - phrases like "medical necessity," "thorough evaluation of functional limitations," and "avoid gap in medically necessary benefits" seem to be much more effective than just asking for the form early. My plan based on all this advice: call the EDD Disability line at 1-800-480-3287 first thing Monday morning at 8 AM with all my information organized, emphasize the medical necessity aspect, and if I get a helpful rep, ask for their name and a reference number for my file. If that doesn't work, I'll have my doctor's office try the Medical Provider Helpline at 1-855-342-3645. I've also already started saving up 4-6 weeks of expenses as a buffer in case there are any processing delays, and I'm preparing my doctor for the possibility of using SDI Online as a backup plan if the paper form doesn't arrive in time. Thank you to everyone who shared such specific, actionable advice - this thread should definitely be saved as a resource guide for anyone facing EDD extension challenges!

As someone who's been following this thread as a newcomer to the community, I'm amazed by how comprehensive and helpful everyone's advice has been! I'm currently in week 2 of my disability claim and already worried about what will happen when it expires since my recovery timeline is uncertain. Reading through all these experiences, it's clear that preparation is absolutely key. I'm bookmarking this thread and already planning to: 1. Start saving up 4-6 weeks of expenses now (rather than waiting until the last minute) 2. Have a conversation with my doctor early about the extension process and whether they'd be willing to use SDI Online if needed 3. Get familiar with the specific language that works with EDD reps ("medical necessity," "thorough evaluation," etc.) What strikes me most is how this community has basically created a step-by-step guide for something that EDD should make much clearer on their website. The fact that getting the DE 2525XX form early requires knowing exactly what to say and who to call is ridiculous, but at least now I'm prepared! Thank you especially to @Mikayla Davison for starting this discussion and to everyone who shared such detailed experiences. This thread is going to help so many people avoid the stress and financial hardship of unexpected benefit gaps. The generosity of this community in sharing practical knowledge is really incredible!