I'm going through almost the exact same situation right now - my SDI claim balance is down to under $400 and my benefit year ends in about 5 weeks. I've been on disability since last May for a work injury that required shoulder surgery, and my doctor just told me I need at least 2 more months before I can even think about returning to work. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly helpful because like you, I had no idea you could file a new claim when your benefits run out. The EDD website doesn't explain this process at all clearly, which is so frustrating when you're already stressed about recovery and finances. Based on what everyone has shared, here's my plan: - Call my orthopedic surgeon's office tomorrow to get the new DE 2501 form process started - File my new claim exactly 8 days before my current one expires (I'm setting calendar reminders now) - Budget for that 7-day unpaid waiting period by asking family for help if needed - Keep all my current claim documentation organized in case EDD needs it for the new claim It's really reassuring to see so many people successfully navigate this transition, especially with ongoing surgical recovery situations like ours. The fact that most people's benefit amounts stayed similar when they had 2023 wages gives me hope mine will too. I know the stress is overwhelming when you're already dealing with medical issues, but reading these success stories makes me feel like we can both get through this bureaucratic maze. Wishing you a smooth recovery and quick approval on your new claim! 💪

I'm so sorry you're going through this stress while recovering from multiple back surgeries. The anxiety of watching your claim balance drop while you're still unable to work is absolutely overwhelming - I've been there and completely understand your panic. Based on what others have shared here, yes, you'll definitely need to file a new SDI claim since you're hitting both the balance limit and the 52-week benefit period. The good news is this is actually a pretty standard process for people with ongoing medical conditions who need extended recovery time. Here's what I'd recommend based on everyone's experiences: **Act immediately:** Call your orthopedic surgeon's office first thing Monday and explain urgently that you need the new DE 2501 medical certification completed. Be very direct: "Any delay in this paperwork means I have zero income while recovering from surgery." **Perfect timing:** File your new claim exactly 7-10 days before your current one expires. Set calendar reminders now - timing this wrong can create unnecessary payment gaps. **Plan for the waiting period:** Budget for the mandatory 7-day unpaid period when your new claim starts. Consider asking your landlord about a brief grace period or line up family help for that week. **Don't stress about benefit amounts:** Since you were working in 2023 before your injury, your new claim will be based on those wages. Most people here found their amounts stayed very similar. You've already survived 11 months of this process while dealing with multiple surgeries and ongoing recovery - you're incredibly resilient! The bureaucracy is frustrating, but you have a clear path forward. Take it one step at a time and you'll get through this transition successfully. 💪

I've been struggling with this same E313 error for the past week and this thread has been absolutely incredible! Reading through everyone's experiences, I'm amazed at how we've collectively figured out all these workarounds for what should be a straightforward government form. Based on all the success stories here, I'm planning to try the winning combination tomorrow: Firefox private browsing, early morning (around 6:30 AM), logged out of all Google services, single tab only, WiFi reset for fresh IP, no VPN, slow typing with pauses between fields, and all background processes/antivirus disabled. It's honestly frustrating that we need to become IT experts just to file for disability benefits, but I'm so grateful for this community sharing real solutions that actually work. The fact that so many people have succeeded using these specific steps gives me hope that I'll finally get past this nightmare error. Will definitely report back with my results to help the next person who finds this thread! Thanks everyone for not giving up and creating this amazing troubleshooting resource! 🙏🤞

I just wanted to say thank you to this entire community! I've been battling the E313 error for almost 2 weeks and was honestly about to give up completely. Reading through all these detailed solutions has given me so much hope - you've all basically created the most comprehensive EDD troubleshooting guide that exists anywhere online! I'm planning to try the winning combination that seems to work for most people: Firefox private browsing, early morning timing (6-7 AM), logged out of all Google services, single tab only, WiFi reset for fresh IP, slow typing with pauses between fields, and all background processes disabled. It's absolutely ridiculous that we need to become IT specialists just to file for disability benefits, but I'm so grateful for everyone sharing real solutions instead of the generic "clear your cache" advice you get everywhere else. The fact that so many people have succeeded using these specific workarounds proves that the EDD system is fixable - we just have to outsmart their broken website! Going to attempt my submission tomorrow morning using all these tips. Will definitely report back either way to help the next person who stumbles across this thread in desperation. This community support has been amazing through such a frustrating process! 🙏💪

I'm going through almost the exact same situation with chronic lower back pain from my construction job! My employer has been completely unwilling to provide lifting restrictions or modified duties that my doctor recommended, and I've been agonizing over whether to quit because I was terrified it would disqualify me from any benefits. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly eye-opening and reassuring. I had no idea that SDI eligibility wasn't tied to employment status the way unemployment benefits are. The fact that so many people have successfully gotten approved after voluntarily quitting for health reasons gives me hope that I can finally prioritize my recovery without facing financial ruin. My doctor has been documenting my condition for the past 8 months and recently told me that continuing heavy lifting and prolonged standing is likely causing permanent damage to my spine. She's recommended at least 4 months off for physical therapy, pain management injections, and possibly surgery if conservative treatment doesn't work. The guilt and stress of feeling trapped between destroying my body or losing income has been almost as bad as the physical pain itself. But seeing how many others have successfully navigated this process makes me realize that staying in a job that's actively harming my health isn't sustainable or necessary. @Diego Vargas - thank you for asking this question! Your situation sounds so similar to mine, and all the responses here have been incredibly helpful for both of us. It's clear that chronic pain conditions with proper medical documentation are exactly what SDI is designed to support.

I went through this exact situation with chronic neck and shoulder pain from my desk job! I was so worried about quitting and losing eligibility, but it turned out to be completely unnecessary stress. The key thing to remember is that SDI is based on your medical inability to work, not why your employment ended. I quit because my employer refused ergonomic accommodations that my physical therapist recommended, and my claim was approved without any issues. Here's what made my process smooth: - Applied online 2 days after my last day of work - Had my doctor be very specific on the DE 2501 form about why I couldn't perform my regular job duties (prolonged computer use, repetitive motions, etc.) - Was completely honest about leaving for health reasons on the application - Organized all my medical records and PT documentation beforehand My claim was approved in about 10 days, which was much faster than expected. The weekly benefit amount covers my basic expenses while I focus on treatment. Your situation with chronic back pain, employer refusal to accommodate, and doctor's recommendation for 3 months off sounds textbook for SDI approval. Don't let fear keep you in a job that's causing permanent damage - the system really does work for legitimate cases like yours! One tip: apply as soon as possible after your last day to start the 7-day waiting period immediately. Good luck with your recovery!

As someone completely new to the EDD system, this thread has been incredibly eye-opening and honestly quite concerning! Lorenzo, I'm so sorry you're dealing with this bureaucratic maze while trying to recover from such a serious injury. What really stands out to me from reading everyone's experiences is how this UI/SDI overlap situation seems to happen to so many people, yet EDD provides virtually no clear guidance on how to properly navigate these transitions. You were doing exactly what any reasonable person would do - filing UI after being laid off, then switching to SDI after your injury - but the system somehow treats this logical sequence as problematic. The 5-week delay with your doctor's certification (especially with it getting lost in their system initially!) really highlights how these administrative failures can create impossible situations where people are forced to choose between having no income or risking future overpayment issues. After reading through all the advice here, especially Isaiah's terrifying $2,900 overpayment story, the consensus seems absolutely clear: stop UI certification immediately, call EDD to confirm your SDI will start after the 23-day block period, and document everything thoroughly. The specific tips from Anastasia about asking for the "benefit begin date" and Ana's advice about being proactive with EDD rather than waiting seem particularly valuable. I really hope you can get through to EDD soon and get this resolved without any additional complications. A three-fracture leg injury sounds incredibly painful, and dealing with all this bureaucratic stress while trying to heal must be exhausting. Please keep us updated on how your call goes - this thread has already become such a helpful resource for anyone facing similar benefit transition issues!

As someone who's completely new to the EDD system, reading through your situation Lorenzo has been both incredibly educational and really concerning! I'm so sorry you're dealing with this complex bureaucratic mess while trying to recover from such a serious three-fracture leg injury. What really strikes me from everyone's shared experiences is how this UI/SDI overlap issue seems to be such a widespread problem, yet EDD apparently provides almost no clear guidance on how to properly handle these program transitions. You were following what seems like the most logical approach - filing UI after your layoff, then applying for SDI after your injury - but somehow the system is designed to penalize people for these completely normal life circumstances. The 5-week delay with your doctor's medical certification (especially with it getting lost in their system initially!) really shows how these administrative failures can trap people in impossible situations where you're forced to choose between going without income or potentially facing overpayment penalties later. Based on all the advice shared here, especially after reading Isaiah's terrifying $2,900 overpayment experience, the path forward seems really clear: stop UI certification immediately, call EDD to confirm your SDI will automatically start after the 23-day block period, and document absolutely everything. Anastasia's tip about asking specifically for the "benefit begin date" when you call and Ana's advice about being proactive rather than waiting for potential problems seem particularly crucial. I really hope you can get through to EDD soon and get this resolved without any further complications. This thread has already become such a valuable resource for understanding these confusing benefit transitions - thank you for sharing your experience despite all the stress you're dealing with. Please keep us updated on how your call goes!

That's awesome that you got your first payment so quickly! Just wanted to add for anyone else reading this - while Victoria got her payment in 5 days, it can sometimes take up to 10-14 days depending on when your claim gets processed and if there are any verification issues. Don't panic if it takes a bit longer! Also, once you're in the system, those biweekly payments are pretty reliable. Make sure to keep all your paperwork and stay in touch with your doctor about recertification deadlines. Wishing you a speedy recovery with your back injury!

Great to see your update Victoria! That's fantastic timing on getting your first payment so quickly. For anyone else dealing with back injuries like herniated discs, just wanted to share that physical therapy really does help - I went through something similar with my L5-S1 a couple years ago and it took about 12 weeks of PT but I was eventually able to return to full duty. The key is not to rush back too early even when you start feeling better. EDD is pretty good about extending certification if your doctor recommends it and you're making progress but still need more time. Keep up with your treatment plan and don't hesitate to ask your doctor questions about realistic timelines for recovery!