I just went through this process myself about 3 weeks ago! My physical therapist's office had the same preference for faxing. We used (855) 341-6574 and it worked great - my forms were processed within a week. One thing that really helped was calling EDD's Medical Provider Helpline at (855) 342-3645 beforehand to confirm the fax number was still current. The rep also gave us a tip to include "URGENT - INITIAL MEDICAL CERTIFICATION" in the subject line of the fax cover sheet, which supposedly helps with processing priority. Also, make sure your doctor's office sends it during weekday business hours - we sent ours on a Tuesday morning around 10 AM and got the confirmation receipt right away. Good luck with your back injury recovery!

I just want to add something that saved me a huge headache - ask your doctor's office to fax during their slowest time of day if possible! My doctor sent my forms at 2 PM on a Wednesday when their fax line was busy, and it failed twice before going through. When we resent it at 9 AM the next morning, it went through immediately to (855) 341-6574. Also, if your doctor's office uses an electronic fax system, make sure they select "high quality" or "medical document" settings - some of those systems default to lower quality to save bandwidth, but EDD has rejected blurry forms before. Hope your back heals up quickly!

I'm also dealing with a very similar situation and this thread has been incredibly helpful! My return-to-work date is January 8th, which also falls on my payment date, and I've been so stressed about whether I'll get my final SDI payment. What's really reassuring from reading everyone's experiences is that you should definitely receive your payment for the period ending November 30th - the medical certification is what matters, not having an actual job lined up (I'm still searching too!). It sounds like EDD's system sometimes flags these final payments for manual review when the dates coincide, which can cause delays of a few days to a week, but everyone eventually got their money. I'm planning to call EDD this week before my January date to get confirmation everything is set up correctly - seems like being proactive is definitely the way to go based on all the advice here. Have your claim number ready and ask them to verify your final payment will process for the period ending November 30th. This community has been such a blessing for navigating these confusing timing issues - it's amazing how many of us are dealing with this exact same situation! You're definitely not alone in this. Good luck with your final payment and job search!

I'm new to this community but found this thread while dealing with almost the exact same situation! My return-to-work date is December 18th and it also falls on my payment date, so I've been really anxious about whether I'll receive my final SDI payment. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been such a huge relief - I had no idea this timing coincidence was so common! What really stands out is how consistently everyone emphasizes that your medical certification determines your payment eligibility, not whether you actually have a job to return to. I'm also still actively job searching and was worried that might affect my final payment somehow. From all the advice shared here, it's clear that you should definitely receive your payment for the period ending November 30th, even if there might be a processing delay due to manual review. The fact that so many people have successfully received their final payments (even with delays) is really encouraging. I'm definitely going to follow everyone's recommendation about calling EDD before December 1st to verify everything is set up correctly. It seems like being proactive is the best approach based on all these experiences. This thread has been incredibly valuable for someone new to navigating this process - thank you to everyone who shared their stories! It's so much less stressful knowing that we're all dealing with similar timing challenges. Good luck with your final payment and job search - you've got this!

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm in a similar situation - having surgery next month and was completely overwhelmed by the EDD process. Reading through everyone's experiences and tips has given me a clear roadmap of what I need to do. I'm going to start by creating my SDI Online account this weekend, then call my doctor's office to find out who their disability paperwork specialist is and what their turnaround times are like. The advice about getting a detailed job description from HR and asking for specific weight restrictions rather than vague limitations is something I never would have thought of. It's amazing how many potential pitfalls there are in this process that you only learn about from people who've actually been through it. Thank you all for sharing your real-world experiences - it's made what seemed like an impossible process feel much more manageable!

I've been through this process twice now and wanted to add something that hasn't been mentioned yet - if you're planning to use any vacation or sick days before starting your disability claim, make sure to coordinate the timing carefully with your doctor and EDD. When I had my first surgery, I used up all my sick leave first, then tried to start my disability claim. But there was a gap between when my sick leave ended and when my disability benefits kicked in because I didn't file soon enough. The second time around, I filed my disability claim right when I went out of work, even though I was initially using sick days. This way, if my sick leave ran out before I was ready to return to work, the disability benefits were already in the system and ready to continue seamlessly. Your HR department should be able to help you figure out the best timing for your specific situation, but definitely don't wait to file your claim just because you're using other benefits first. The processes can run concurrently, which gives you much better coverage and peace of mind.

I'm currently going through this exact same transition - returning to work next week after 3.5 months on SDI for burnout and anxiety. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly reassuring! Based on all the shared stories, it sounds like you should definitely receive your final prorated payment covering through 5/15, but the timing seems to vary quite a bit - anywhere from your normal Wednesday schedule to about a week delayed. I've already taken so much of the great advice from this thread - updated my return date in SDI Online, took screenshots for documentation, and I'm planning to call my bank tomorrow about temporarily pausing some automatic payments. The "transition budget" idea is brilliant and something I'm definitely going to work on this weekend. What really helps me is hearing how honest everyone has been about the emotional side of returning after stress-related disability. I keep having moments where I feel completely ready followed by moments of panic about whether I can handle jumping back into full-time work. It's so validating to know these mixed feelings are totally normal and that even successful returns involve some adjustment period. One question I have - for those who experienced delays with their final payment, did EDD give you any advance notice, or did you just have to wait and see when it arrived? I'm trying to plan my budget but not sure if I should expect it on my normal Wednesday or prepare for it to be later. Thank you to everyone for being so generous with sharing both practical tips and emotional support - this community has made this transition feel so much less scary!

I went through this exact situation about 6 months ago when returning from SDI for stress-related issues! You should definitely receive your final prorated payment covering through 5/15, but here's what I learned: the timing can be unpredictable. Mine came about 4 days after my normal Wednesday schedule, so I got it on Sunday instead. The amount was correct though - calculated at my daily benefit rate for just those final days. One thing that really saved me was setting up what I called a "transition emergency fund" a few weeks before returning. Even just $200-300 can make a huge difference when you're waiting for that final payment and your first paycheck. Also, I discovered that some banks offer short-term "financial hardship" deferrals on loan payments if you explain you're transitioning off disability - worth asking about! The emotional side is just as real as the financial logistics. I thought I was totally ready to return, but my first week back I felt completely drained by 2pm each day. Don't be surprised if your energy levels are different than you expect - recovering from stress-related conditions means your stamina might need time to build back up even after you're medically cleared. Make sure to keep checking your SDI Online account for any updates on your final payment status. Sometimes there are processing notes that can give you a heads up if there's going to be a delay. You've got this - the hardest part (recovering) is already behind you!

This thread is so helpful! I'm actually in a similar situation right now - my SDI benefits end in two weeks and I definitely need an extension. I've been dreading having to go to the EDD office because last time I went there I waited 4 hours just to get some paperwork. Reading all your experiences gives me hope that I can just print the form myself. One quick question though - when you upload the completed form through SDI Online, do you scan it or just take a photo with your phone? I want to make sure the quality is good enough for them to process it. Also, has anyone had luck with faxing the form instead of uploading online? My internet has been spotty lately and I'm worried about the upload failing. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this community is a lifesaver for navigating the EDD maze!

I've been through this exact situation multiple times and can confirm you can absolutely print the form yourself! The DE 2525XX form is available on the EDD website under the SDI forms section. Just make sure your doctor completes every single field - I learned the hard way that leaving even small sections blank can cause delays. One tip that saved me: after uploading through SDI Online, I always call within 3-5 business days to verify they received it in their system. Sometimes the upload confirmation doesn't guarantee it made it through their internal processing. Also, if you're having trouble with the phone lines (which is super common), try calling right at 8am when they open - that's usually your best shot at getting through without hours of hold time. The printed version works exactly the same as getting it from their office, so you're definitely making the right choice avoiding that trip!