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I'm in almost the exact same situation right now! My surgeon is in Washington state and I filed my SDI claim online about 4 days ago. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful - I had no idea the doctor HAD to send the form directly to EDD rather than back to me. One thing I'm wondering about that I haven't seen mentioned yet - does anyone know if there are specific business hours for the EDD fax lines? My doctor's office mentioned they prefer faxing over mailing, but they're concerned about sending it outside business hours and it not going through properly. Also, should I be worried that my surgeon might not be familiar with California's disability terminology or requirements since they practice in a different state? I'm definitely going to call them tomorrow with all the detailed requirements everyone has shared here (DE 2501 form, correct fax number from the form itself, include claim number prominently, send me confirmation). This community has been such a lifesaver for understanding this confusing process!
Great questions! From my experience dealing with EDD fax lines, they typically operate during standard business hours (roughly 8 AM to 5 PM Pacific Time), but the fax machines themselves usually accept documents 24/7. However, I'd recommend having your doctor's office send it during business hours just to be safe - that way if there are any technical issues, they can call EDD directly to troubleshoot. As for your surgeon not being familiar with California's requirements, that's actually pretty common with out-of-state providers. What helped me was creating a simple one-page summary for my doctor's office explaining that California SDI is similar to other states' temporary disability programs, but with specific form requirements. The DE 2501 form itself is pretty straightforward for doctors to complete - it's mainly asking for diagnosis, treatment dates, work restrictions, and expected duration of disability. Most medical professionals can handle it easily once they understand what's needed. I'd definitely recommend calling your Washington surgeon's office and walking them through the process step by step. In my experience, out-of-state medical offices are usually very cooperative once they understand the requirements - they just need clear guidance since they don't deal with California's system regularly. You're absolutely doing the right thing by getting all the details sorted out upfront!
I'm dealing with this exact same situation right now! My orthopedic surgeon is in Colorado and I filed my SDI claim online about a week and a half ago. Reading through everyone's experiences has been incredibly enlightening - I had no idea the process was so specific about doctors having to submit directly to EDD. What's been most helpful from this thread is understanding that I need to be very clear and detailed with my out-of-state doctor's office about the requirements. I'm planning to call them tomorrow and explain: 1) They must complete and send the DE 2501 form directly to EDD (not back to me), 2) Include my claim number prominently, 3) Use the fax number printed on the actual form, and 4) Notify me when it's sent. My biggest concern is that my surgeon's office has never dealt with California's SDI system before, so I'm worried about miscommunication or delays. But based on everyone's experiences here, it sounds like most out-of-state medical offices are cooperative once they understand what's needed - they just need clear guidance upfront. It's frustrating that in 2025 we're still dealing with such an antiquated system (no online uploads after initial filing!), but I'm grateful for this community helping me understand the proper process. The reassurance that benefits will be backdated to the disability start date also helps reduce my anxiety about potential delays. Thank you everyone for sharing your detailed experiences - this thread has been invaluable for navigating what felt like a completely confusing bureaucratic maze!
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I'm new to dealing with EDD disability and this thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm in a similar situation where I need to contact them about my claim status but have been dreading the phone call process after hearing how difficult it is to get through. Reading everyone's experiences and specific strategies - like the 1-1-2 menu sequence, calling right at 8am, and having all your info written down beforehand - gives me a much better game plan. The brain fog from medications is so real and it's validating to see others mention dealing with that while trying to navigate this system. I'm going to try the mobile app first to check my claim status, then use all these phone tips if I need to call. Thanks to everyone for sharing what worked for you - this community support makes such a difference when dealing with these bureaucratic nightmares!
Welcome to the EDD disability journey! I'm glad this thread has been helpful for you. As someone who's been lurking in this community for a while dealing with my own claim issues, I can definitely relate to the dread of having to call EDD. The strategies everyone has shared here really do work - I finally got through last week using the 8am sharp calling method and the 1-1-2 sequence. The mobile app is definitely worth trying first since it can save you a phone call if you just need to check basic status info. One thing I'd add is to mentally prepare yourself for the possibility that it might take several days of attempts, but don't let that discourage you. Each failed call is just getting you closer to eventually breaking through! The medication brain fog struggle is so real and this community has been a lifesaver for navigating it all.
Just wanted to jump in as someone who's been dealing with EDD disability claims for my chronic illness - all the advice here is spot on! The 1-800-480-3287 number and early morning calling strategy really are your best bets. I've had success with the 8am sharp approach too. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is that if you do get through but need to call back later for any reason, ask the rep for your "customer service request number" - it's like a reference number that can help speed up future calls since they can see your previous contact history. Also, @Dmitry, I totally feel you on the medication brain fog making everything harder. I started keeping a dedicated notebook just for all my EDD-related info and conversations because I couldn't trust my memory either. The system is definitely frustrating but persistence really does pay off. You've got tons of great advice in this thread now - you're going to get through to them!
Thanks for the tip about asking for a customer service request number! I hadn't heard that one before but it makes total sense to have some kind of reference for future calls. The dedicated EDD notebook idea is brilliant too - I'm definitely going to start one of those since I can barely remember what I had for breakfast these days with this medication. It's so encouraging to hear from someone else managing a chronic illness and dealing with this system. You're right that I've gotten amazing advice in this thread - I feel like I have a real action plan now instead of just randomly dialing numbers and hoping for the best. Time to put all these strategies to work!
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I'm also new to this community and currently navigating a similar situation! I've been on CA SDI for about 7 weeks following a work-related injury and just learned about the potential to stack LTD benefits on top of it. Reading through everyone's experiences has been incredibly eye-opening - I had initially thought I might get close to 100% salary replacement by combining both benefits, but now I understand the offset structure much better. Even getting an additional 5-10% of salary would be meaningful right now with all the medical expenses adding up. A couple of follow-up questions based on what I've read: Has anyone dealt with a situation where their injury occurred right around when they started a new job? I'm wondering if there are any waiting period issues I should be aware of with the LTD plan, especially since I'd only been employed for about 2 months when my injury happened. Also, for those who mentioned the monthly reporting requirements for LTD being more intensive - what kind of information do they typically want? Is it mostly medical updates, or do they also ask about daily activities and functional limitations? Thanks so much to everyone who has shared their real experiences and actual benefit amounts. It's incredibly helpful to hear concrete examples rather than trying to decipher insurance policy language. This community is such a valuable resource for navigating these complex systems! I'm planning to call for that benefit estimate this week before diving into the full application process. Fingers crossed the extra paperwork will be worth it for some additional financial cushion during recovery.
Welcome to the community! Your timing question about starting a new job is really important - I actually had a similar situation when I went through this process. Most LTD plans have what's called an "actively at work" requirement, meaning you need to be working (not just employed) when your coverage becomes effective. Since you were working for 2 months before your injury, you should be fine, but definitely check your plan's specific language about waiting periods and pre-existing condition exclusions. Regarding the monthly reporting for LTD - they typically want much more detail than SDI. In my experience, they asked for updates on current treatments, medications, physical therapy progress, work restrictions from your doctor, and yes - detailed descriptions of how your injury affects daily activities. They want to know things like whether you can lift certain weights, how long you can sit/stand, if you're driving, etc. It's way more invasive than SDI's basic "are you still disabled" question. One tip that saved me headaches: start keeping a daily pain/activity journal now if you aren't already. The LTD company loved having specific examples of functional limitations rather than vague descriptions. It also helped me remember details during those monthly check-ins. The benefit estimate call is definitely the right first step - you'll have a much clearer picture of whether the extra paperwork is worth it for your situation. Good luck with your recovery!
I'm new to this community and just went through a very similar experience that I wanted to share! I was on CA SDI for about 4 months after a herniated disc surgery (L3-L4) and also applied for my employer's LTD benefits. Here's what actually happened with my benefits: SDI was paying me about $2,900/month (roughly 62% of my salary), and my employer's LTD plan had a maximum of 66%. The private insurer paid me an additional $200/month to bring me up to that 66% total - so while it wasn't a huge increase, every bit helped with the physical therapy copays and prescription costs. A few things I learned that might help you: 1. **Definitely call for that benefit estimate first** - I wish I had done this before spending hours on paperwork. The LTD carrier was actually really helpful in explaining exactly how the coordination would work. 2. **The medical documentation requirements are intense** - They wanted detailed functional capacity evaluations, updated imaging reports, and monthly progress notes from my surgeon. Way more than EDD ever requested. 3. **Start early but be patient** - I submitted my LTD application about 2 weeks before my 90-day mark, and it still took another month to get approved and start receiving payments. The monthly reporting is definitely more demanding than SDI's bi-weekly certifications - they want specific details about pain levels, daily activities, treatment compliance, and work restrictions. But once you get into a routine with it, it's manageable. One unexpected benefit: having the LTD claim established gave me peace of mind about the SDI time limits. My recovery ended up taking longer than initially expected, so knowing I had that longer-term coverage was really valuable. Hope this helps, and wishing you a smooth recovery! Back injuries are tough but you'll get through this.
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I'm going through the exact same thing right now! It's so frustrating when the system fails us like this. I've been waiting for my 2525 form for over two weeks now. One thing that helped me was also checking the EDD website under "Forms and Publications" - sometimes you can download a blank copy of the form directly and fill it out yourself if you can't wait for the mailed version. Just make sure to call and confirm they received it if you go that route. Also, don't give up on calling! I know it's a pain, but persistence pays off. I've found that Tuesdays and Wednesdays around 10-11am tend to have shorter wait times than other days. Keep us posted on how the email method works out - really hoping that gets you sorted quickly! 🙏
Really appreciate all this detailed info! I didn't know about downloading the blank form from the website - that could be a great backup option while waiting for the official one. The tip about calling on Tuesdays/Wednesdays is super helpful too. It's crazy how we all have to become experts at navigating this broken system just to get basic services. Thanks for sharing your experience! 🙏
I went through this exact same nightmare last month! The postal service issues with EDD forms are getting ridiculous. Here's what finally worked for me: First, definitely try that email address @Jasmine Hancock mentioned - eddcorrespondence@edd.ca.gov. But also send a follow-up email every 2-3 days if you don't hear back. Be polite but persistent. Second, if you have a fax machine or can access one, try faxing your request to their disability services fax line. Sometimes that gets faster attention than emails. Third, document EVERYTHING - screenshot your online account showing no form received, save all emails, keep records of call attempts. If your benefits get delayed, you'll need this paper trail. The good news is they're usually pretty understanding about the mail delays since it's happening to so many people. Just don't let the deadline pass without at least attempting to contact them. Better to submit a late explanation than nothing at all. Hang in there - the bureaucratic maze is exhausting but you'll get through it! 💪
This is such solid advice! I'm actually saving this comment for future reference. The fax tip is brilliant - I never would have thought of that but it makes sense that it might get faster attention. And you're so right about documenting everything. I learned that lesson the hard way with a different government agency issue last year. Having that paper trail saved me when things got complicated. Thanks for taking the time to share all these practical steps! 🙏
Lourdes Fox
I've been dealing with this same issue for weeks! What finally worked for me was calling the technical support line (1-800-300-5616) instead of the main number. It's supposed to be for UI Online issues, but they can sometimes transfer you or help with general questions. Also, try calling exactly at 8:00 AM - not 8:01, but right when they open. Set multiple alarms and be ready to redial immediately if you get a busy signal. It took me about 30 tries one morning, but I finally got through. Don't give up! 🙏
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Sienna Gomez
•Thank you so much for this tip! I've been calling the main number forever with no luck. Going to try the technical support line tomorrow morning at exactly 8 AM. Really appreciate you sharing what actually worked for you!
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Victoria Brown
I've been struggling with this too! After reading through all these suggestions, I'm going to try calling at exactly 8:00 AM tomorrow using that technical support number @Lourdes Fox mentioned. It's so frustrating that we have to jump through all these hoops just to get basic help. Has anyone had luck with the "Contact EDD" form on their website, or is calling really the only way? Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - at least we know we're not alone in this! 😤
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Butch Sledgehammer
•@Victoria Brown I tried the online Contact "EDD form" a few weeks ago and never heard back - it seems like calling is really the only reliable way to reach a human. I m'also planning to try that 8:00 AM sharp strategy with the tech support line! Maybe if enough of us try it we can compare notes on what works. Good luck tomorrow! 🤞
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Mason Stone
•@Victoria Brown @Butch Sledgehammer Count me in on trying the 8:00 AM tech support line strategy! I ve been'stuck in EDD limbo for over a month now and I m willing'to try anything at this point. The regular number is absolutely useless - I swear they just let it ring to torture us 😩 Let s definitely'compare notes after we try tomorrow morning. Maybe we can figure out the best approach together!
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