i had my appeal hearing last month and was so nervous i threw up that morning lol! but it was actually not that bad. the judge was super businesslike but fair. my hearing was scheduled for 30 mins but only took like 15. just be super clear about your timeline and don't let them confuse you about dates.

I'm going through something very similar right now! I was on maternity leave (FMLA/bonding) and developed severe postpartum anxiety and depression that made it impossible for me to return to work. EDD initially denied my SDI claim with almost the exact same reasoning - that I had "withdrawn from the labor market" while on leave. What helped me was getting a very detailed letter from HR that specifically stated: - I was an employee in good standing on approved leave - My expected return-to-work date before the new medical condition - That I had NOT resigned or given any indication I wouldn't return I also made sure my doctor's certification clearly distinguished between normal postpartum recovery (which was covered under my original leave) and the new psychiatric condition that developed later. My appeal hearing is next week, so I can't speak to the outcome yet, but my disability advocate said cases like ours are actually pretty straightforward once you get in front of a judge who understands employment law. The initial EDD reviewers just don't seem trained to handle the nuances of leave transitions. Hang in there - you're not alone in this frustrating situation!

wat happens to ur health insurance after fmla runs out? thats wat really screwed me when this happened

Regarding health insurance: When FMLA protection ends, employers are no longer legally required to maintain your health benefits. However, many employers have policies that extend health coverage during approved medical leaves beyond FMLA. You should specifically ask about this during your HR meeting. If they don't extend coverage, you would be offered COBRA continuation, which allows you to keep the same insurance but you pay the full premium (including the portion your employer used to pay). This can be very expensive but maintains your coverage. Also, losing employer coverage is a qualifying event that would allow you to purchase insurance through Covered California, potentially with subsidies depending on your income while on disability.

my cousin works at edd and she says they're SUPER understaffed right now. like half the normal people handling claims. so everything is backed up. but pregnancy claims should get priority? idk maybe ask about that specifically

Just checking back - did you have any luck with the suggestions? Sometimes it can help to send a message through SDI Online specifically referencing "Section 2706 of the Unemployment Insurance Code" which requires timely payment of benefits when there's no question of eligibility. This often flags your claim for expedited review.

Just checking in - were you able to get this resolved? If your doctor is still dragging their feet, you might want to remind them that they have a legal obligation to provide accurate medical certification for disability benefits. Sometimes mentioning this can light a fire under them.

I'm so glad you were able to get through to EDD and get that hold placed on your claim! That extra 15 days should give you plenty of breathing room. Just wanted to add a tip for your doctor's appointment tomorrow - bring a copy of your baby's birth certificate or hospital discharge papers that show the correct delivery date. Sometimes having the official documentation right there helps doctors realize how important accuracy is for these forms. Also, if possible, ask them to submit the corrected DE 2501 electronically through their SDI Online portal while you're still in the office - that way you know it's done and can get a confirmation. Wishing you the best of luck tomorrow! Your persistence really paid off. 💪

Glad you got in! For anyone else having this issue, I want to add that EDD is supposedly working on fixing these verification problems with their 2025 system update. Until then, here are the official troubleshooting steps: 1. Ensure your device has good signal/connection 2. Try a different browser (Chrome seems to work best) 3. Clear cookies and cache 4. Disable browser extensions 5. Try incognito/private browsing mode 6. If using a VPN, turn it off 7. Contact your mobile carrier to verify short codes aren't blocked If all else fails, you can request account assistance by submitting form DE 1326C, though this takes 7-10 business days to process.

I had this exact same issue a few weeks ago and it was driving me crazy! What finally worked for me was switching to a different device entirely. I kept trying on my iPhone with no luck, but when I borrowed my roommate's Android phone, the codes came through immediately. Apparently there's some weird compatibility issue between EDD's system and certain iOS versions. Also, make sure you're not requesting codes too frequently - I found out they temporarily block your number if you request too many in a short time period. Wait at least 10-15 minutes between attempts. Hope this helps!