This thread is absolutely incredible! As someone who's been dealing with EDD for years through various claims, I'm blown away by the level of detailed, actionable advice shared here. @Levi Parker congratulations on getting your $2,800 back - your persistence really paid off and your step-by-step documentation is going to help so many people! @Hunter Hampton @AstroAlpha @Emma Taylor the technical expertise you've all shared about the DE 2525XX form, correction processes, and red flags to watch for is invaluable. It's honestly better information than anything I've found on EDD's official website after years of dealing with them. @Aaron Boston @Chloe Zhang thank you for introducing everyone to Claimyr! I wish I had known about this service during my previous claim nightmares. The fact that a third-party service can get you through to EDD faster than their own phone system is both ridiculous and amazing. What really stands out to me is how this community has come together to create a comprehensive resource that fills the gaps left by inadequate official guidance. Everyone from newcomers sharing their struggles to experienced members offering solutions - it's exactly what these support communities should be. For anyone still reading through this thread, bookmark it! The collective wisdom here about navigating EDD's bureaucracy, avoiding common pitfalls, and resolving errors is pure gold. Thank you all for taking the time to help each other succeed in getting the benefits we're entitled to!

This thread is absolutely phenomenal! As someone who just started dealing with a potential SDI claim after a work injury, reading through everyone's experiences has been incredibly enlightening and reassuring. @Levi Parker your story really resonates with me - the panic of potentially losing thousands due to a simple clerical error would be devastating. I'm so glad you persisted and got your full $2,800 back! Your detailed documentation of each step in the resolution process is going to be a lifeline for others facing similar situations. @Hunter Hampton @AstroAlpha @Emma Taylor the depth of technical knowledge you've all shared about the DE 2525XX form, correction processes, and professional insights is amazing. It's honestly more useful than anything I've been able to find on EDD's official resources, which seem designed to confuse rather than help. @Aaron Boston @Chloe Zhang the Claimyr recommendation keeps coming up throughout this thread - clearly a game-changer for actually reaching EDD without the endless phone nightmare. I'm definitely bookmarking that for when I inevitably need to call them. What really impresses me is how this community has organically created the most comprehensive guide to EDD disability claim corrections I've seen anywhere. From preventing errors upfront to resolving them after the fact, you've covered everything with real experiences and actionable advice. Thank you all for sharing your knowledge and supporting each other through these stressful situations. This is exactly what these communities should be - people helping people navigate impossible bureaucratic systems!

Emma, I'm a disability advocate and see cases like yours frequently. Here's what I always tell clients in your situation: First, YES - you can absolutely apply for SDI for your autoimmune condition after your WC settlement. The key is keeping them completely separate in all documentation and communications. A few critical points everyone touched on but I want to emphasize: 1. **Timing is crucial** - Apply as soon as your doctor will certify you're disabled from the autoimmune condition. Don't wait unnecessarily as it won't improve your base period calculation. 2. **Medical narrative is everything** - Your rheumatologist's letter should tell a clear story: "Patient has had autoimmune condition since [date before work injury], condition worsened due to stress/other factors during [timeframe], current symptoms prevent all work activity due to [specific limitations]." 3. **Prepare for the review** - With a recent WC case, EDD will scrutinize your claim. Have a simple, consistent explanation ready: "I'm applying for disability benefits based on my autoimmune condition, which is separate from and unrelated to my resolved workers compensation claim for a back injury." 4. **Documentation checklist**: Medical records pre-dating your work injury, treatment notes during WC period showing ongoing autoimmune care, current functional capacity evaluation focused solely on autoimmune symptoms. The fact that you paid into SDI for years absolutely works in your favor. You've earned these benefits. Just keep everything focused on that autoimmune condition and you should be fine. Good luck!

Emma, I just want to add one more thing that saved me a lot of headaches - keep a detailed timeline document for yourself with dates of everything: when your work injury happened, when you first saw your rheumatologist, when symptoms worsened, settlement date, etc. I had to reference these dates multiple times during my SDI application process and having it all written down made me sound much more credible when talking to EDD representatives. Also, if you're worried about the income gap between your WC settlement and SDI approval, look into whether your county has any emergency assistance programs. Some counties in California have short-term help for people transitioning between benefit programs. It's not much but every bit helps during the waiting period. Your plan sounds really solid and you're asking all the right questions. The fact that you're being so thorough upfront is going to make this process much smoother than it is for most people. Wishing you the best with your settlement meeting next week!

Wow, this entire thread has been like a masterclass in navigating EDD's disability system! I'm brand new to this community and currently dealing with my first disability claim for a herniated disc. Reading through everyone's experiences has been both enlightening and honestly a bit overwhelming - it's clear that EDD's processes are way more complicated and inconsistent than I initially thought. What really stands out to me is how much detective work we all have to do just to understand our own benefits. The tips about checking the "Certification Requirements" field, tracking everything in spreadsheets, taking screenshots, and actually calling your doctor's office to understand how they coded your condition - this is all stuff that should be clearly explained by EDD but apparently isn't. I'm not at the extension stage yet, but I'm already implementing the organizational strategies mentioned here. Setting up calendar reminders for 3 weeks and 1 week before my claim ends, creating a tracking spreadsheet, and building a relationship with my doctor's disability coordinator. Better to be over-prepared than caught off guard later! Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences, especially @Luca Conti for starting this discussion and then coming back with the update after talking to EDD. This kind of real-world information is invaluable for those of us trying to navigate this system while dealing with injuries and medical issues.

I'm dealing with this exact same situation right now! My claim for anxiety/depression was just extended last week and I've been refreshing my EDD account every day trying to figure out if I'm supposed to certify or not. It's such a relief to read that I'm not the only one confused by this process. @Luca Conti thanks so much for sharing your experience and coming back with the update after talking to EDD! That information about how they automatically evaluate certification requirements based on the doctor's statements is really helpful. I'm going to check my Claim Details section right now to see if it shows "Automatic Payment" or if I still need to certify. The whole system seems so unnecessarily confusing. Like why can't they just send a clear notification saying "your extension is approved and here's what happens next" instead of leaving us all to guess? When you're already dealing with a disability, the last thing you need is the added stress of trying to decode their system. I'm also definitely going to try that Claimyr service that @CyberNinja mentioned if I can't figure this out from my account. The thought of spending hours on hold with EDD when I'm already struggling with my mental health is honestly making my anxiety worse. Really appreciate this community for sharing real experiences instead of the vague, unhelpful information on the official EDD website!

Just wanted to add my experience to this incredibly helpful thread! I'm currently on day 7 of "pending medical certification review" for my surgery recovery claim, and reading through everyone's strategies has given me so much hope and practical steps to take. The 8:01 timing trick is absolutely brilliant - it never occurred to me that waiting just one minute would help avoid the massive rush of people all calling exactly at 8:00 AM. I'm planning to try this tomorrow morning, and if that doesn't work, Lucas's Tuesday 2:30 PM approach sounds like a great alternative strategy. After reading about all the last day worked discrepancies that Mohamed, Kyle, and others encountered, I immediately reached out to my HR department. Thankfully, our dates match perfectly, so at least I can rule that out as the issue. It's incredible how such a small administrative detail can cause weeks of delays for so many people. I'm also taking Miguel's advice about having screenshots and confirmation numbers ready when I do get through. The tip about being very specific with questions instead of just asking "what's wrong" seems crucial based on everyone's success stories. This community has turned what felt like an impossible situation into a clear action plan. Thank you all for sharing your experiences and creating such a supportive environment when dealing with this broken system!

Reading through this entire thread has been such an eye-opener! I'm currently on day 13 of "pending medical certification review" for my back surgery claim, and honestly was starting to lose hope until I found this community. The 8:01 timing trick is absolutely genius - I can't believe such a simple 60-second delay could make such a huge difference in getting through the phone lines. I'm definitely trying this first thing tomorrow morning along with Lucas's Tuesday afternoon backup strategy. After seeing how many people had last day worked discrepancies (Mohamed, Kyle, Mei, Carmen), I called my HR department today and discovered we had the same issue! They reported my last day as Friday when I actually stopped working Thursday due to pre-surgery appointments. At least now I know exactly what to ask about when I get through. What really stands out to me is how being super specific with questions gets better results than just asking "what's wrong with my claim." I'm going to ask directly about the date discrepancy and any medical certification flags, just like the successful callers did. Thank you all for creating such an incredible resource through your shared experiences. This thread has literally transformed my approach from random desperate calling to having a clear strategy with proven tactics. The community support here is amazing - will definitely update once I break through!

Hi Samuel! I'm new to this community but wanted to share my experience since I went through something very similar just 6 months ago. I was on SDI for a work-related wrist injury and got terminated while still recovering. I was absolutely terrified about losing my benefits, but everyone here is giving you 100% accurate information - your SDI will definitely continue! What really helped me was understanding that SDI is like insurance YOU paid for through your paychecks, not something your employer controls. Even after termination, my benefits continued seamlessly until my doctor cleared me to return to work. A few practical tips that helped me: Keep a dedicated folder (both physical and digital) with all your medical records, EDD correspondence, and termination paperwork. Set phone reminders for important deadlines. And definitely report the employment change through your SDI Online account ASAP - it's straightforward and won't affect your benefits. The health insurance piece was actually trickier for me than the SDI part, so definitely prioritize looking into Covered California options quickly. You're being so smart by getting legal consultation and staying organized. Focus on your healing - that back injury recovery is no joke and stress definitely doesn't help! This community has been amazing with advice, and you're going to get through this just fine.

Hi Samuel, I'm new to this community but wanted to reach out because I'm currently dealing with a very similar situation. I've been on SDI since February for a workplace back injury (herniated disc L4-L5), and my employer just informed me yesterday that they'll likely have to terminate my position within the next few weeks due to budget constraints. I've been absolutely panicking about whether this will affect my disability benefits, so finding your thread has been incredibly helpful! Reading through all the responses here has been such a relief - I had no idea that SDI was completely separate from employment status. Like you, I was under the impression that losing my job would automatically end my benefits. The insurance analogy that Carmen shared really helped it click for me too. I'm definitely going to start implementing the practical advice everyone's shared - especially creating those organized folders, setting up calendar reminders, and getting ahead of the health insurance situation. The tip about asking my doctor's office to schedule regular EDD form submissions is something I'm going to do first thing Monday morning. Thank you for asking this question and starting such an informative discussion. This community is amazing, and it's clear that so many people have successfully navigated this exact situation. Wishing you a smooth recovery and hoping your legal consultation goes well! Please keep us updated on how everything works out.