Have you tried faxing your docs? I know it sounds ancient, but sometimes it gets processed faster that way for some reason

Just went through this nightmare myself! Here's what finally worked for me: I submitted a "Request for Reconsideration" form through the SDI Online portal after 8 weeks of waiting. Turns out there was some issue with my medical certification that nobody bothered to tell me about. Got my first payment 10 days after submitting that form. Also, try calling the Technical Support line (different from the main number) - they're usually more helpful and the wait times are shorter. Don't give up!

Thanks for coming back to update! This will definitely help others who find themselves in the same situation.

Glad to hear your payment came through @Issac Nightingale! 5 business days seems pretty typical from what I've seen here. For future reference, you can also check if your payment is being processed by looking at the "Payment Activity" section - it usually updates a day or two before the money actually hits your account. This gives you a better heads up on timing for budgeting purposes. Hope your disability situation improves soon!

side question but does anyone know how long until i get my first payment once i can see my claim online? been waiting 2 weeks already

Just wanted to add my experience - I made the same mistake initially and kept trying to access my SDI claim through my UI account for about a week before figuring out they were separate systems. One thing that helped me was bookmarking both portals once I got them set up: UI Online and SDI Online have completely different URLs. Also, if you're planning to use direct deposit (which I highly recommend), you can set that up during the SDI Online registration process or add it later in your profile. Way faster than waiting for paper checks! The whole separate systems thing is definitely annoying but at least SDI Online is pretty user-friendly once you're in.

Let us know what you find out! I'm dealing with an EDD issue too (different situation) and it helps to hear how others resolve their problems.

I went through something very similar with my mental health disability claim about 6 months ago. The "disqualified" status without explanation is incredibly frustrating, but don't lose hope! In my case, it turned out that my psychiatrist had accidentally left a field blank on the medical certification form that was required for mental health conditions specifically. A few things that helped me: 1. I called EDD at exactly 8:00 AM when they opened - had better luck getting through early 2. When I finally spoke to a rep, they could see internal notes about why it was flagged 3. My doctor had to resubmit with more detailed information about my functional limitations The key for mental health claims is that your doctor needs to be very specific about HOW your condition prevents you from performing your job duties. Generic statements like "patient has anxiety" aren't enough - they need details like "patient experiences panic attacks that prevent concentration" or "severe depression causes inability to meet deadlines." Stay persistent and don't give up. The system is definitely broken, but most of these issues can be resolved with the right documentation. Keep advocating for yourself!

My claim took exactly 11 business days to process after my doctor submitted certification for my carpal tunnel disability. The EDD representative I eventually reached (after 30+ calls) told me they're currently processing claims from about 2 weeks ago, so there's a bit of a backlog. As long as your doctor filled out everything completely, you should be fine. My first claim got delayed because my doctor didn't specify an expected return-to-work date, and nobody told me until I finally reached someone by phone. Hang in there! The money should come through eventually.

I'm in a similar situation - my doctor submitted my certification 5 days ago and I'm also checking constantly! Reading through these responses is actually really helpful. It sounds like 7-14 days is pretty normal, though some people have had to wait longer. I'm trying to stay patient but it's hard when you're worried about finances. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - it helps to know I'm not alone in this waiting game!