Hey OP, what state are you in? The process can vary a bit depending on location.

I'm going through the same thing right now! One thing that helped me was creating an account on the EDD website if you haven't already - sometimes the status updates there before they send any mail. Also, make sure you have your SDI number handy when you call. I've found that calling around 8:15 AM right after they open gives you the best shot at getting through. The wait is brutal but worth it when you finally talk to someone who can give you real answers. Stay strong! 💪

I'm really sorry you're going through this, Donna. The waiting and uncertainty is so stressful when you're depending on these payments. I had a similar issue a few months back and here's what finally worked for me: I submitted a "Contact EDD" form through their website explaining my situation in detail, and I also sent a certified letter to their office with copies of all my documentation. The letter seemed to get more attention than just calling. Also, if you have any medical providers involved in your case, ask them to call EDD directly - sometimes they take calls from doctors more seriously than from us patients. The whole process took about 6 weeks total but I did eventually get everything sorted out, including back payments. Don't give up - you'll get through this! 🙏

I'm dealing with the exact same situation and it's incredibly frustrating! I filed my disability claim about 5 weeks ago and my status just says "pending" with no other information. What's really concerning me is that I haven't received any communication about what might be holding things up or what additional steps I need to take. I've tried calling multiple times but like others mentioned, getting through is nearly impossible. I'm going to try some of the suggestions here - especially checking my banking info and maybe reaching out to my assembly member's office. It's really disheartening that we have to go through all this when we're already dealing with health issues. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and advice - it helps to know I'm not alone in this mess!

I'm currently going through this same process and the uncertainty is definitely stressful! My doctor just submitted my medical certification electronically this morning, so I'm right at the beginning of the waiting period. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly helpful - it sounds like electronic submission really does make a difference in processing time. One thing I'm curious about - for those who had smooth processing timelines, did you have to submit any additional documentation beyond the initial claim and medical certification? I want to make sure I'm not missing anything that could cause delays. My doctor mentioned they included all the necessary diagnostic codes and dates, but I'm wondering if there are other common issues that pop up during review. Also, thanks to everyone who shared specific timelines and tips! The batch processing schedule and early morning check recommendations are exactly the kind of insider knowledge that makes this whole process less intimidating. I'll definitely be setting up those text alerts and checking my account at 6:30 AM starting tomorrow.

I just wanted to add my perspective as someone who's been through this process twice in the past two years. The first time I filed (2022), it took almost 3 weeks from medical certification to payment because there was a small discrepancy in the dates my doctor listed. The second time (early 2024), everything went smoothly and I got paid in exactly 8 business days after the medical cert was received. The key difference was being proactive the second time around. Before my doctor submitted anything, I had them walk through the form with me to make sure all dates matched exactly what I had on my original claim. I also made sure they understood my work restrictions clearly so they could describe them accurately on the medical certification. One thing that might help ease your anxiety - EDD has actually improved their processing times significantly over the past year. The electronic submission system is much more reliable now, and they've added more staff to handle the medical review process. Your timeline of having the medical cert submitted within 48 hours and using electronic submission puts you in a really good position. Also, don't forget to save some documentation of your claim number and submission dates in case you need to reference them later. Having everything organized really helped when I had to call EDD during my first claim. Good luck with your claim!

I'm also brand new to this community and currently experiencing my first SDI payment delay! My payment shows as "issued" three days ago but still hasn't appeared in my account. Reading through this entire thread has been such a relief - I was convinced something had gone wrong with my claim. @Jayden Reed, thank you for sharing your experience and especially for coming back with the update! It's so reassuring to see that everything worked out exactly as everyone predicted. @Lola Perez, your detailed explanation about the ACH system and business day counting has been incredibly helpful - I had no idea weekends and holidays don't count toward the processing timeline. Based on all the experiences shared here, I'm going to wait until tomorrow before contacting EDD. This community is amazing for providing such practical, real-world guidance when you're already stressed about being off work due to disability. I'll definitely come back to update once my payment comes through!

I'm new to this community and just starting my first SDI claim after a workplace injury. This entire thread has been incredibly educational! Even though I haven't reached the payment stage yet, reading through everyone's experiences about the "issued" vs "received" timeline has already prepared me for what to expect. @Jayden Reed, I really appreciate you taking the time to come back and update everyone with your positive outcome - it shows how supportive this community is and gives newcomers like me confidence in the process. @Lola Perez, your detailed explanations about ACH processing and business days are so helpful for understanding what happens behind the scenes. It's reassuring to see such consistent experiences across different members. I'm bookmarking this thread as a reference for when I hopefully get to the payment phase soon. Thank you all for sharing your knowledge and creating such a valuable resource for those of us navigating the SDI system for the first time!

I'm going through the exact same situation right now - scheduled for surgery in a few weeks and trying to figure out the financial planning! This thread has been incredibly helpful. One thing I wanted to add that I learned from my HR department: some employers allow you to "bank" vacation days or sick time specifically to cover situations like the SDI waiting period. My company lets me pre-schedule PTO for that first week so there's no gap in my paycheck, and then SDI kicks in after. It might be worth asking your HR if they have any similar policies or if they can work with you on timing the transition from regular pay to disability benefits. Also, I've been keeping a running list of all the medical documentation my doctor's office will need to complete - apparently being super organized about this upfront can prevent delays later. The forms look complicated but my surgeon's office said they handle SDI paperwork all the time, so hopefully that part will be smooth. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - it's making me feel way more prepared for this whole process!

I just went through this whole SDI process for my appendectomy last month and wanted to share a few things that might help! The 7-day waiting period is definitely real - no way around it. But here's what I wish I had known: you can actually call your doctor's office a few days before your surgery to get the disability certification paperwork started. My surgeon was able to pre-date everything so I could file my claim immediately after surgery instead of waiting for appointments. Also, make sure you have the EDD SDI Online account set up BEFORE you need it. I tried creating it while I was still groggy from anesthesia and made mistakes that delayed my claim by almost a week. One last tip - take screenshots of everything when you submit your claim online. The confirmation numbers and reference info become really important if you need to follow up later. The whole process was actually pretty smooth once I got past that first week gap, but having everything organized ahead of time made a huge difference!