I'm dealing with this exact same situation right now! Been on SDI for about 2 months after a work injury and that claim balance number has been stressing me out so much. Reading through all these responses is really helpful - I had no idea the balance was just an initial estimate and could be adjusted. My biggest worry has been what happens if there's a delay in processing the extension and my payments get interrupted. Has anyone experienced a gap in payments while waiting for extension approval? I'm the sole income for my family right now so even missing one payment would be really tough. Also wondering if anyone knows roughly how long the extension review process typically takes once your doctor submits the supplementary form?

I went through this exact same worry when I was on SDI last year! That claim balance number is definitely misleading - I was panicking thinking my benefits would just cut off when it hit zero. What everyone else is saying is absolutely right - the balance is just their initial calculation and gets adjusted when your doctor submits extension paperwork. My advice: don't wait until the last minute like I almost did! I started the extension process about 3 weeks before my current medical certification was set to expire, and it made everything so much smoother. My doctor submitted the supplementary form (DE 2525XX) and within about 2 weeks I got approval for additional time. The claim balance automatically updated to reflect the new period. One thing that really helped me was keeping a calendar of all my important dates - when my current certification expires, when to contact my doctor about extensions, and my bi-weekly certification dates. And definitely keep doing your certifications even while waiting for extension approval! That was crucial for avoiding any payment gaps. Hope your recovery goes well and you don't need the full 52 weeks, but it's good to know the option is there if you need it!

Isabella, congratulations on your approval! I completely understand that anxious feeling - I was in your exact shoes last fall after my gallbladder surgery. The constant account checking is so real! Since you chose the debit card option for your first SDI claim, here's what you can expect: EDD typically processes and loads your payment within 3-5 business days of approval, but you won't be able to access those funds until your physical debit card arrives (which takes 7-10 business days). I know that timeline feels stressful with rent due next week! The silver lining is that your first payment will include ALL your backdated benefits from around March 19th when your waiting period ended, so it should be a substantial amount to help with rent and those medical bills. A few things that really helped me during that nerve-wracking wait: First, definitely call your landlord tomorrow and explain you've been approved for disability but are waiting for the payment card - most are surprisingly understanding about medical situations if you're upfront. Second, you can check your payment status through SDI Online under "Payment Details" to track when it's processed. Third, once you get the card, download their mobile app immediately for instant notifications! The approval was honestly the hardest part. You're in the home stretch now - the money is definitely coming! Hang in there! 🙏

Isabella, huge congratulations on getting approved! I know exactly how you're feeling right now - that mix of relief and anxiety about when the actual money will show up. I went through this same process about a year ago after my ACL surgery. Since you opted for the debit card and this is your first SDI claim, here's what you can realistically expect: EDD typically processes your payment within 3-5 business days of approval, but you won't be able to access the funds until your physical debit card arrives (which usually takes 7-10 business days). I know that sounds like forever when rent is due! The good news is your first payment will include ALL the backdated weeks from March 19th onward (after your 7-day waiting period), so it should be a decent chunk to help with rent and those medical bills. One thing that really saved my sanity was calling my landlord right after approval to explain the situation - I told them I'd been approved for disability benefits but was waiting for the payment card to arrive. They were totally understanding and gave me a few extra days. Most people are surprisingly compassionate about genuine medical emergencies if you're upfront about it. Also, you can track your payment status through SDI Online under "Payment Details" - I wish someone had told me about that feature earlier! Once you get your card, definitely download their mobile app for instant payment notifications. The approval was honestly the hardest part. You're so close now - just need to hang tight a little longer! 💪

I've been following this thread as someone who just completed the SDI process for my own surgery last month, and I wanted to add a few practical tips that might help. First, when you call your doctor's office to discuss the medical certification, ask specifically if they have experience with EDD forms - some offices have dedicated staff who handle these regularly and can turn them around much faster. Also, once you file your initial claim through SDI Online, you'll get a confirmation number - screenshot or write that down immediately! I made the mistake of closing the browser window too quickly and then couldn't find my confirmation number when I needed to reference my claim later. One last thing: if your surgery gets rescheduled for any reason after you've filed, you can actually update the dates through the online portal rather than starting over. This happened to me when my procedure got moved up by a week, and being able to just modify the existing claim saved a lot of hassle. Best of luck with your surgery and recovery!

This thread has been incredibly eye-opening! I'm in a similar boat - my physical therapist keeps saying "DI benefits" while my HR department only talks about SDI, and I was getting so stressed thinking I might file for the wrong thing. It's such a relief to know they're exactly the same program and that this confusion is apparently super common. I'm scheduled for rotator cuff surgery in about 6 weeks, and reading through everyone's experiences has given me such a better roadmap for what to expect. The tip about being able to start the application before your actual disability date is huge - I was definitely planning to wait until after surgery thinking I had to be actively unable to work. And all the advice about coordinating with doctors' offices early is going to save me so much stress. One thing I'm wondering about - for those who filed online through SDI Online, did you run into any technical issues with the portal? I've heard mixed things about EDD's online systems and want to be prepared in case I need to have backup options for submitting my claim.

I'm going through my first SDI claim too and this whole thread has been incredibly helpful! Just got my paperwork yesterday for a knee surgery claim and was having the exact same confusion about whether "automatic payment" meant I still needed to certify or not. Reading everyone's experiences here has put my mind so much at ease. It's amazing how the EDD paperwork can be so unclear when you're already stressed about recovery and finances. I'm definitely going to implement some of the suggestions here - setting up bank notifications, taking photos of all documents, and marking payment dates on my calendar. Quick question for anyone who's been through this - do the automatic payments typically start right away once your doctor submits the certification, or is there usually a waiting period? My surgery is scheduled for next week and I'm trying to plan my finances accordingly. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences - this community has been a lifesaver for understanding the SDI process!

I'm currently navigating my first SDI claim for herniated disc surgery and this thread has been incredibly reassuring! Like everyone else, I was completely confused by the "automatic payment" language on my paperwork and wasn't sure if I was missing some crucial step. Reading through all these experiences has really helped calm my nerves. It sounds like the automatic payment system for regular SDI claims (non-pregnancy related) is actually one of the smoother aspects of dealing with EDD - no bi-weekly certifications needed like unemployment benefits require. I'm definitely going to follow the advice here about setting up bank notifications and keeping digital copies of all my paperwork. One thing I'm curious about - for those who had automatic SDI payments, did you receive any kind of confirmation or notice when your claim was fully approved and payments were about to start? Or did the money just show up in your account without much fanfare? Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences so openly. It's such a relief to find a community of people who understand how stressful and confusing this process can be, especially when you're already dealing with recovery from surgery!

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now! EDD seems to have zero understanding of how creative industry payments work. What's really frustrating is that residuals are literally payment for work you already completed - sometimes years ago. It's not like you're currently employed and earning a regular paycheck. Have you tried explaining to them that residuals are essentially royalties? Sometimes using different terminology helps them understand. I'm also documenting everything - every phone call, every letter, every payment statement with clear dates showing when the original work was done vs when payments were received. It's such a headache but we have to fight for our benefits! Keep pushing back on this.

I've been through this exact nightmare with EDD! What finally worked for me was creating a super clear document that showed two columns: "Work Performed" with dates from years ago, and "Residual Payments Received" with current dates. I literally drew arrows between them to show the connection. I also included a simple definition at the top: "Residuals are delayed compensation for work completed in [year], similar to receiving royalty payments from a book written years ago." The key breakthrough was when I got transferred to someone who actually understood entertainment industry work. Don't give up on the phone calls - ask specifically to speak with someone familiar with residual payments or non-traditional employment. Some EDD staff have training on this stuff, you just have to find them! Also, if you have any contracts or pay stubs from the original work, include copies to prove when the actual work was done. Hang in there - it's frustrating but totally worth fighting for your benefits! 💪