I'm new to this community but wanted to jump in because I'm currently going through this exact same situation! I started my pregnancy disability yesterday and have been stressing about this same question on the application. Reading through everyone's responses has been incredibly helpful and reassuring. The consensus is definitely clear - answer "No" to that question since your final paycheck is for work you already completed before your disability started, not compensation for time while you're unable to work. What really helped me understand it was when someone explained it as EDD asking "Will your employer be paying you for time that you're unable to work?" Since that final check is just delayed payment for hours you worked on 10/15 (before disability started on 10/17), the answer is obviously no. I love how supportive this community is! As a first-time mom navigating all these forms with pregnancy brain, it's such a relief to have people who've actually been through this process share their real experiences and practical tips. The advice about keeping documentation and the timeline breakdown really helped it all click. Thank you NeonNebula for asking this question - you've helped so many of us who are dealing with the same confusion! Congratulations on your pregnancy and best of luck with your application. Sounds like you're all set to fill it out correctly now!

I'm new to this community but wanted to share my experience since I just went through this exact situation with my pregnancy disability claim last month! Everyone here has given you absolutely correct advice - you should definitely answer "No" to that question. I remember being equally confused by the wording, but what helped me understand it was realizing that EDD is asking about whether you'll receive ongoing compensation FROM your employer FOR the actual disability period (like sick pay, vacation time, etc.). Your final paycheck is completely different - it's just regular wages for work you already completed on 10/15, before your disability even started on 10/17. The timing of when you receive the payment doesn't matter; what matters is when the work was performed. When I did my bi-weekly certifications and my final paycheck came in, I reported it in the section for "wages earned before disability but received during claim period" and it didn't affect my benefits at all. Make sure to keep your pay stub showing the work dates - I had to provide mine during a routine review and it made everything super smooth. Also, don't forget to submit your application as soon as possible! Processing times can vary and you want to get the ball rolling. And remember there's a 7-day waiting period, so your benefits won't actually start until 10/24. You're being so smart by asking these questions upfront instead of guessing. Congratulations on your pregnancy, and don't stress too much - you've got this! The community here is amazing for support throughout the whole process.

This is such a valuable thread! I just joined this community because I'm going through the exact same situation - was on SDI for about 6 weeks last year after a medical procedure and have been frantically searching for tax documents that apparently don't exist! Reading everyone's experiences here has been such a huge relief. The explanation about SDI being like getting back money you already paid through payroll deductions really clicked for me. I'm going to log into my SDI Online account right now and print out that payment history just for my own peace of mind. It's honestly ridiculous how unclear EDD's website is about this - they really need a simple FAQ that explains the tax implications upfront. Thank you all for sharing your knowledge and experiences - this community is a lifesaver for navigating these confusing government programs!

Just wanted to jump in and say THANK YOU to everyone who contributed to this thread! I've been lurking in this community for a while but this is my first time posting. I'm currently on SDI (started about 2 weeks ago after a knee surgery) and was already stressing about tax implications for next year. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly reassuring - knowing that I won't have to deal with tax forms or reporting this income takes a huge weight off my shoulders. I especially appreciate the explanations about how SDI works like getting back money you already paid through payroll deductions. That really helps me understand the whole system better. I'm definitely going to bookmark this thread for reference and will be sure to print out my payment history when my claim period ends. It's so frustrating that EDD doesn't make this information more accessible, but thankfully we have communities like this where people share their real experiences and help each other out. You've all saved me months of unnecessary worry!

I'm also dealing with this exact situation right now! My surgeon is in Texas and I filed my SDI claim online about 8 days ago. Like so many others here, I was completely confused about the process and actually thought I could submit the medical certification myself once my doctor completed it. After reading through all these incredibly helpful responses, I now understand the key points: 1) The doctor MUST send the DE 2501 form directly to EDD via fax or mail (not back to me), 2) They need to use the fax number printed on the actual form itself, 3) My claim number must be included prominently, and 4) I should ask for confirmation when they send it. I'm calling my surgeon's office tomorrow morning and planning to speak with whoever handles their disability paperwork since they'll be most familiar with these types of forms. Since they're out-of-state, I'm going to be very specific about California's requirements and ask them to email me confirmation once they've sent the form. It's definitely frustrating that we're still dealing with fax machines and mail in 2025 for something this important, but this thread has been absolutely invaluable for understanding what felt like a completely overwhelming process. The reassurance that benefits will be backdated to my disability start date really helps with the anxiety about timing. Thank you everyone for sharing your detailed experiences - you've made this bureaucratic maze so much more manageable!

I'm going through this exact same situation right now! My neurosurgeon is in Phoenix and I filed my SDI claim online about 3 days ago. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful - like everyone else, I initially thought I could handle submitting the medical form myself once my doctor completed it. What I've learned from this thread is that my doctor absolutely MUST fax or mail the DE 2501 form directly to EDD - there's no electronic submission option for patients after the initial claim is filed. Based on everyone's advice, I'm planning to call my surgeon's office tomorrow and: 1) Ask to speak with whoever handles disability paperwork, 2) Explain they need to send the form directly to EDD using the fax number on the actual DE 2501 form, 3) Make sure my claim number is prominently displayed, and 4) Request confirmation when they send it. Since my Phoenix surgeon probably hasn't dealt with California's SDI system before, I'm going to create a simple email summary of the requirements first, then follow up with a phone call to make sure everything is clear. It's frustrating that we're still dealing with such an outdated system, but knowing that benefits will be backdated to my disability start date (minus the waiting period) definitely helps reduce the anxiety about potential delays. Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences - this community has turned what felt like an impossible bureaucratic puzzle into a clear, manageable process!

Just wanted to jump in as someone who's been lurking and finally created an account because this thread perfectly captures my nightmare! 😤 I've been trying to reach EDD about my disability claim for 3 weeks now and it's been absolutely maddening. Reading everyone's experiences here is both validating and infuriating - validating because I know I'm not crazy or doing something wrong, but infuriating because this is clearly a massive systemic failure affecting so many vulnerable people. I'm definitely going to try the specific strategies you all have shared - the 1-2-4 menu trick, calling exactly at 8:00 AM, the technical support line as backup, and contacting my assembly member. It's ridiculous that we need a whole playbook just to access services we've already paid for, especially when we're dealing with disabilities and should be focusing on our health instead of becoming phone system hackers! The documentation idea is brilliant too - if we all keep detailed logs and file formal complaints, maybe we can actually force some accountability and changes. Thank you all for sharing your strategies and creating this supportive space. We shouldn't have to fight this hard, but at least we don't have to fight alone! 💪

This whole situation is absolutely unacceptable! 😠 I just found this community after weeks of the same nightmare - calling EDD about my disability claim and getting absolutely nowhere. It's both heartbreaking and infuriating to see how many of us are going through this exact same struggle. I've tried calling at literally every time of day, used different phones, even had family members try calling on my behalf thinking maybe my number was somehow flagged. Nothing works! The system just seems designed to wear us down until we give up. Thank you all for sharing these strategies - I'm going to try the 1-2-4 menu trick from @Jade O'Malley, the technical support line backup from @Zoe Papadakis, and definitely look into contacting my assembly member like @Mary Bates suggested. Starting a call log like @ThunderBolt7 recommended is brilliant too - we need documentation of this dysfunction! It's absolutely disgraceful that when we're already vulnerable and dealing with disabilities, the system makes it nearly impossible to access the support we've literally paid into. But reading this thread gives me hope that together we can push for real changes. We shouldn't have to be phone system experts just to get basic services! Thanks for creating this supportive space where we can share strategies and know we're not alone in this fight! 💙

As someone who just joined this community after dealing with my own EDD issues, I have to say this thread is absolutely invaluable! I went through a similar situation with my disability claim last month and wish I had found this kind of detailed explanation earlier. What really strikes me is how much stress and confusion could be avoided if EDD just used clearer language in their notices. Saying a claim is "denied" when they're really just adjusting the start date is so misleading! But seeing how this community breaks down these complex situations step by step is amazing. I'm bookmarking this entire discussion - the tips about asking for copies of forms, understanding the 7-day rule, and checking your online account first are all gold. Thanks to everyone who took the time to help Amara and educate the rest of us in the process. This is exactly the kind of supportive community I was hoping to find!

As someone who just discovered this community while searching for help with my own potential SDI claim, this entire thread has been absolutely eye-opening! I'm scheduled for gallbladder surgery next month and had no idea about all these potential date complications. Reading through everyone's experiences and advice has me feeling so much better prepared. I'm definitely going to: - Ask my doctor's office for a copy of the DE 2501 form before they submit it - Make sure they note the connection between my initial consultation and upcoming surgery - Check my SDI Online account right away if I get any confusing notices It's incredible how what looked like a major problem in Amara's original post turned out to be a standard (if poorly communicated) date adjustment. The way this community came together to explain the process step by step is amazing. Thank you all for sharing your knowledge and experiences - you've probably saved me from weeks of unnecessary panic when my own claim gets processed!