Welcome to the community! I'm also relatively new to SDI and just wanted to add my voice to the chorus of relief about how much simpler this system is compared to unemployment. I went through unemployment during the pandemic and it was absolutely brutal - those bi-weekly certifications were stressful enough when healthy, I can't imagine trying to deal with them while recovering from an injury. One small thing that helped me when I was waiting for my SDI claim to process was setting up text alerts through my bank so I'd know immediately when payments hit my account. It eliminated the anxiety of constantly checking my balance wondering if the payment had come through yet. Also, if you're using any budgeting apps or automatic bill pay, make sure to account for the reduced income (that 60-70% rate) and the potential delay in first payment timing. The fact that you're being proactive and asking these questions upfront shows you're on the right track. Focus on that physical therapy and getting better - the administrative side really is much more manageable than other EDD programs. Wishing you a smooth recovery!

As someone who just went through my first SDI claim a few months ago, I can absolutely confirm what everyone else is saying - it's SO much easier than unemployment! I was terrified it would be like the unemployment system where you're constantly worried about missing certifications or making mistakes that could freeze your benefits. With SDI, once my doctor submitted the initial paperwork electronically, I literally just had to wait. No weekly check-ins, no job search requirements, no stress about the website crashing when you're trying to certify. The payments started automatically after about 2 weeks and continued weekly for the entire period my doctor had certified. The only time I had to do anything was when I needed an extension - my original 4-week certification turned into 6 weeks when my recovery took longer than expected. My doctor just submitted one additional form and the payments continued seamlessly with no gap. One tip: make sure to check your SDI Online account occasionally for any notices, but don't stress about it like you would with unemployment. The system actually works in your favor for once! Focus on your recovery and let the doctors handle the paperwork side. Hope your back heals up quickly!

Wow, what an incredibly helpful and supportive thread this has turned out to be! As someone who's completely new to dealing with EDD issues, I'm genuinely amazed by the wealth of practical advice and real experiences everyone has shared here. Reading through all the step-by-step guidance - from the 8 AM calling strategy to the documentation tips about getting corrected forms with official letterhead - has made what seemed like an insurmountable bureaucratic nightmare feel actually manageable. It's clear that while EDD can be frustrating to work with, clerical errors like this are definitely fixable with the right approach and persistence. Ravi, you're going into tomorrow's call incredibly well-prepared thanks to everyone's input! The fact that multiple people have successfully resolved similar issues gives me real confidence. This community is such a valuable resource for navigating these complex systems - thank you all for taking the time to share your knowledge and support each other! 🙏

As someone who's new to this community and has never had to deal with EDD before, I'm finding this thread incredibly eye-opening! The level of detailed, practical advice here is amazing - from specific timing strategies to documentation tips I never would have thought of. It's both reassuring and concerning to see how common these kinds of clerical errors seem to be, but what gives me hope is seeing so many success stories from people who've navigated similar issues. Ravi, it sounds like you have a comprehensive game plan now thanks to everyone's input. I'm definitely saving this thread as a reference in case I ever need to deal with EDD issues myself. The community support here is really something special - thank you all for being so generous with your knowledge and experiences! Best of luck with your call tomorrow! 🤞

I'm currently going through this same process after my hip replacement surgery. One thing I learned the hard way - make sure to check if your doctor's office is set up for electronic submission through SDI Online. My orthopedic surgeon's office wasn't registered for electronic filing, so they had to mail the paper forms which added extra processing time. If your doctor isn't set up electronically, I'd suggest asking them to submit everything at least 10 days before your current benefits expire rather than the usual 5-7 days. Also, don't forget to keep certifying for benefits every two weeks even while your extension is being processed - I almost missed a certification period because I thought I had to wait for the extension approval first. The EDD rep told me that's a common mistake that can really mess up your payments. Hang in there, the back surgery recovery is tough but you'll get through it!

I'm so glad you were able to get through to EDD and get clarity on the process! As someone who's been through multiple SDI extensions, I can't stress enough how important it is to stay on top of both parts - your DE 2500A form AND making sure your doctor submits that Supplemental Medical Certificate on time. One tip that saved me during my last extension: create a simple checklist with dates for when you submitted your form, when your doctor submitted theirs, and when you expect to see updates in your SDI Online account. That way you can follow up quickly if something gets delayed. Back surgery recovery is tough enough without the added stress of navigating EDD - wishing you a smooth healing process and no payment interruptions!

This thread has been absolutely invaluable! I've been stuck in EDD hell for 6 weeks now with my disability claim just sitting at "pending" status, and I was starting to think I'd never get through. Reading all these success stories and actual working methods gives me hope for the first time in weeks. I'm planning to try the combination approach that @Beth Ford and @Aisha Ali used - sending a fax with all my info using @Sadie Benitez's format, then following up with calls using @Diez Ellis's overpayment transfer method. My savings are completely drained at this point and I'm facing some serious financial consequences if this doesn't get resolved soon. It's absolutely insane that we have to crowdsource solutions just to access benefits we've already paid into, but thank goodness for communities like this where people actually help each other navigate this broken system. I'll definitely update once I try these methods - keeping my fingers crossed that I'll be adding another success story to this thread soon!

I've been dealing with the exact same nightmare for the past 4 weeks! My disability claim has been stuck at "pending" since early February and I'm getting absolutely nowhere with their phone system. Reading through all these success stories and methods gives me so much hope - I had no idea there were so many different approaches to try. I'm definitely going to use the combination strategy that @Aisha Ali and @Beth Ford described: send a fax using @Sadie Benitez's format first, then follow up with the overpayment transfer method @Diez Ellis shared. It's incredible how a simple clerical error or wrong code can hold up an entire claim for months when it takes 30 seconds to fix once someone actually looks at the file! This community has been more helpful than anything on EDD's official website - thank you all for sharing your experiences and keeping each other's hopes alive during this broken system. Will definitely update once I try these methods!

I've been following this thread closely and wanted to add something that might help others who are still struggling. After reading through all the excellent advice here, I tried a slightly different approach that worked for me last week. Instead of calling right at 8:15am, I actually called at 7:58am and stayed on the line through the "we're closed" message until exactly 8:00am when the system opened. This seemed to put me ahead of people who called exactly at opening time. I got through to a rep after only 15 minutes on hold! The key insight from @Justin Trejo about Tuesday-Thursday timing was spot on - I called on a Wednesday. And @Miguel Ortiz's advice about asking for Medical Services was crucial. The regular rep initially tried to help but the Medical Services specialist was able to access different systems and found my certification immediately. For anyone still waiting, don't give up! The combination of strategies shared in this thread really does work. Having your information organized beforehand makes such a difference when you finally get someone on the line. This community has been amazing for moral support and practical advice during such a stressful process.

I've been dealing with a similar issue for about 3 weeks now and this thread has been absolutely invaluable! After reading through everyone's strategies, I'm planning to try the 7:58am pre-opening call approach that @QuantumQuasar mentioned - that's such a brilliant workaround to get ahead of the rush. Like many others here, my medical certification seems to be lost in the system somewhere. My doctor's office confirmed they submitted it electronically, but it's not showing up in my SDI Online account. Based on all the success stories shared here, I'm going to specifically ask for the Medical Services department when I get through, since that seems to be key for certification-related issues. One thing I wanted to add - I've been keeping a detailed spreadsheet of my call attempts (inspired by @Miguel Ortiz's suggestion), and I noticed that I've had slightly better luck getting past the initial menu on calls made between 8:00-8:03am versus later in the morning. The system seems to start rejecting calls completely once those first few minutes pass and all the lines fill up. This community support has been a lifesaver during such a stressful time. Thank you to everyone who's shared their experiences and strategies - especially @Justin Trejo for the insider timing tips and all the folks who've reported successful outcomes. It gives the rest of us hope that there's light at the end of the tunnel!