I'm going through the same situation right now! Just got approved for disability after a workplace injury and was wondering about this exact thing. From reading everyone's responses, it sounds like the same EDD debit card will work, which is a huge relief. I've been stressing about the timing too since bills don't wait for bureaucracy to sort itself out. Thanks for asking this question Pedro - all the responses here are super helpful! Going to check my card expiration date and call Bank of America tomorrow to make sure everything's ready. Hope your back heals up quickly and you can get back to normal soon!

I just went through this exact same thing last month when I had to transition from unemployment to disability for a shoulder surgery! Your SDI payments will absolutely go to the same EDD debit card - no need to stress about waiting for a new one. The key things everyone mentioned are spot on: check your card expiration date and definitely call Bank of America EDD customer service to verify it's still active, especially since it's been 18+ months. I had to reactivate mine due to an inactivity hold, but it only took a 5-minute phone call. My first disability payment hit the card 11 days after approval, so you should be good for rent timing. One thing I learned - download the BofA EDD app if you don't have it already, makes checking your balance and transferring money to your regular bank account so much easier. Hope your back injury heals quickly! The whole process is stressful enough without worrying about payment logistics.

I'm dealing with this exact same situation right now! Just got my notification yesterday about a form I need to complete for my disability claim, but when I log into my SDI portal there's absolutely nothing there. I've been checking every few hours thinking maybe I missed something or my browser was having issues. Reading through this entire thread has been such a relief - I had no idea these delays were so common with EDD's system! @Owen Jenkins's explanation about the batch processing cycles really makes sense of why this happens, and @Emma Taylor's timeline showing it took 3 full days gives me realistic expectations. I was getting really stressed about that 10-day deadline they mentioned, but knowing it actually starts when the form appears (not from the notification) takes so much pressure off. I was literally about to call in sick today to spend the whole day on hold with EDD, but now I understand that patience is really the better approach here. Going to check once daily instead of obsessively refreshing and wait for their system to catch up. Thank you all for sharing your experiences - this community is incredibly helpful for newcomers trying to navigate EDD's confusing processes!

This thread has become such an incredible resource! I'm currently experiencing this same issue - got my notification 3 days ago about a required form but my SDI portal shows nothing. Before finding this discussion, I was convinced something was wrong with my account or that I was somehow missing something obvious. Reading through everyone's experiences, especially @Emma Taylor's detailed timeline and @Owen Jenkins's explanation about EDD's batch processing system, has completely changed my understanding of how this works. It's honestly ridiculous that their notification system sends alerts before the forms are actually available in the portal, but at least now I know this delay is completely normal and not something I'm doing wrong. I was planning to spend my entire day tomorrow calling EDD, but after reading about everyone's experiences here, I'm going to be patient and wait a few more days for their system to catch up. Thank you to everyone who shared their stories - this community is invaluable for helping newcomers understand EDD's confusing processes and avoid unnecessary stress!

This thread has become absolutely amazing - like a comprehensive survival guide for SDI phone hell! I'm currently dealing with my own claim that's been stuck for 3 weeks after my shoulder surgery, and reading through everyone's experiences has been both reassuring and incredibly helpful. The general information line trick is such a clever workaround - I never would have thought to try a different queue to bypass the main disability line bottleneck! And I had no idea about assembly member and senator offices being able to help with EDD issues. That's such valuable backup information that should be widely known but somehow isn't. It's honestly both impressive and ridiculous that this community has had to reverse-engineer all these solutions just to access benefits we've paid into our entire careers. This thread contains more practical advice than anything on the official EDD website, which really says something about how broken the system is. Going to try the 8am general info line strategy tomorrow morning, and I've already looked up my local representative's contact info just in case. Will definitely update with my results to keep adding to this incredible resource everyone has built together. Thanks to everyone for sharing what actually works - this kind of community support is exactly what people need when they're stressed about finances while trying to recover from medical procedures!

This thread is absolutely incredible! I've been dealing with my own SDI claim stuck for 2 weeks after my hernia surgery and was going crazy trying to get through on the phone. Like everyone else, I keep getting that awful "call capacity" recording no matter what time I call. The general information line trick sounds like pure genius - I would never have thought to try a different queue to bypass the main disability line! And learning about assembly member offices being able to help is such a revelation. It's crazy that we need these "insider secrets" just to access benefits we've been paying into forever. This community has basically created the ultimate SDI phone survival guide through everyone sharing what actually works. It's both amazing and infuriating that a forum thread is more helpful than the entire official EDD website! Definitely going to try the 8am general info line approach tomorrow morning, and I've already looked up my assembly member's contact info as backup. Will report back with results to keep building this awesome resource. Thanks everyone for sharing real solutions instead of just venting - this gives me actual hope after weeks of frustration!

Just to follow up on this thread - make sure that when you file your SDI claim, you accurately report the last day you worked AND the first day you were disabled (which sounds like yesterday in your case). The DE 2501 form has specific questions about this. Your doctor will need to certify this date as well. As long as these dates are consistent with your UI certifications, you should be fine. If there's any discrepancy, EDD may investigate and potentially determine there was an overlap in benefits.

That sounds like you handled it perfectly! Having your doctor clearly document the disability start date and keeping records of your UI certifications was smart. Just one more tip - when you submit your SDI claim, consider including a brief written statement explaining the timeline (injury 3 weeks ago, able to work until yesterday when doctor determined disability). This proactive documentation can help prevent any future questions from EDD about the transition. Wishing you a smooth claims process and speedy recovery!

I went through this exact same transition about 8 months ago when my arthritis got so bad I couldn't type or sit for long periods. Here's what worked for me: I called EDD first thing in the morning (around 8 AM) and got through to close my UI claim properly. The rep was actually really helpful and walked me through the process. My rheumatologist filled out the DE 2501 form with very specific details about my joint pain, range of motion limitations, and how many hours per day I could realistically work (which was basically zero on bad days). The key was having objective medical evidence - X-rays showing joint damage, lab results, medication records, etc. Not just "patient reports pain." I got approved in about 12 days and they backdated it to the date my doctor said I became disabled. The weekly amount was actually slightly higher than my UI benefits because I had good earnings in 2024. Just make sure there's no overlap between your last UI payment and your disability start date, or you might have to pay some back like others mentioned. The hardest part was honestly the anxiety of having no income for those two weeks while waiting for approval, but it all worked out. Hang in there!

I'm going through something similar right now with chronic back pain that's made it impossible to work at a desk job. From what I've learned researching this, the most important thing is timing - you absolutely cannot collect both UI and SDI at the same time, even for a single day. What's helped me prepare is creating a timeline with my doctor showing exactly when my condition became severe enough that I couldn't work anymore. We're documenting not just the pain levels, but specifically how it prevents me from performing essential job functions like sitting for extended periods, lifting, concentrating through pain, etc. One tip I got from a friend who went through this: when you call EDD to close your UI claim, ask them to note in your file that you're closing due to a medical condition that prevents you from working. This creates a clear paper trail that shows you're not just giving up on job searching, but legitimately unable to work. The financial gap is scary, but it sounds like if you have solid medical documentation and follow the process correctly, most people are getting decisions within 2-3 weeks. I'm planning to have some savings set aside to cover that waiting period. Good luck with your doctor appointment next week!