I'm currently going through this exact same situation! Had ankle surgery last week and my orthopedic surgeon also insisted on mailing the medical certification instead of submitting electronically. It's been 6 days since they mailed it and I'm already getting anxious seeing my account still stuck on "pending medical certification." Reading through everyone's experiences here is incredibly helpful - I had no idea that 7-14 days was the normal timeframe for mailed forms. It's honestly ridiculous that in 2025 we're still dealing with such slow paper processing when the rest of the world operates digitally. I'm definitely going to call my doctor's office tomorrow to see if they can fax a copy as well. That seems like such a simple solution that could save days of waiting. And I'm bookmarking that Claimyr service too just in case I need to actually get through to someone at EDD. Thanks Aurora for starting this discussion and everyone for sharing your timelines and tips. It really helps to know we're all dealing with the same frustrating process and that it does eventually work out!

I'm currently in a very similar situation and this thread has been incredibly reassuring! My doctor mailed in my medical certification for carpal tunnel surgery 5 days ago and I've been anxiously checking my SDI account multiple times daily. Seeing that 7-14 days is completely normal for mailed forms really helps calm my nerves. The fax backup option that @JacksonHarris mentioned is brilliant - I had no idea that was even possible! I'm definitely calling my doctor's office first thing tomorrow to see if they can send a fax copy as well. It's frustrating that we're stuck with such slow paper processing in 2025, but at least knowing what to expect timeline-wise makes the waiting more bearable. Also really appreciate the tip about the text alerts through SDI Online - I didn't know that was an option and it would save me from constantly refreshing the page. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and timelines. This community is such a lifesaver during these stressful waiting periods!

Hi everyone! I just found this community and this thread has been such a lifesaver! I'm about to file my first disability claim for a wrist injury from a repetitive strain at work and was honestly feeling pretty overwhelmed by the whole process. Reading through Chris's experience and all the incredible advice from everyone here has given me so much confidence and a clear action plan. The tip about immediately calling your doctor's office after filing to let them know to expect the EDD email (and to check spam!) is something I never would have thought of but seems so crucial. I'm also going to ask if they have a specific person who handles disability paperwork and get their direct contact info. It's amazing how this one thread has provided more practical, actionable guidance than all the official EDD resources I've read through. Thank you all for being so generous with your real-world experiences and creating such a supportive environment for those of us navigating this for the first time. This community is truly incredible!

As someone who just discovered this community, I have to say this entire thread has been absolutely invaluable! I'm preparing to file my first disability claim for a shoulder injury and was feeling really anxious about navigating the process until I found this discussion. Chris's experience really highlights how important it is to be proactive rather than just assuming everything will work automatically. The advice about immediately calling your doctor's office after filing to make sure they know to expect the EDD email and check their spam folders is something I never would have considered but seems absolutely critical. I'm also planning to ask my doctor's office if they have a dedicated disability coordinator and get their direct contact information upfront. It's remarkable how this one conversation has provided more practical, actionable guidance than all the official EDD documentation combined. Thank you all for sharing your real-world experiences and creating such a supportive space for those of us facing this process for the first time. This community truly makes all the difference when you're already dealing with health issues and financial stress!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm absolutely blown away by this thread! I just joined because I'm starting my own SDI claim process and was already feeling overwhelmed by all the confusing terminology and requirements. Reading Oliver's complete journey from weeks of panic about that elusive "receipt number" to getting his claim resolved so quickly once this incredible community clarified it was just the DI number has been both educational and deeply reassuring. What really stands out is how multiple experienced members didn't just provide the answer but took time to explain the process thoroughly, validate each other's advice, and even follow up to ensure success. It's honestly shocking that EDD creates so much unnecessary stress with inconsistent terminology, especially for people already dealing with medical leave and financial pressure. But finding this supportive and knowledgeable community gives me tremendous confidence for navigating my own claim. This thread is a perfect masterclass in how community wisdom can cut through bureaucratic confusion and save people weeks of anxiety. Thank you to everyone who shared their expertise - you've made what seemed like an impossible process feel much more manageable!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm so relieved to have found this thread! I'm currently navigating my first SDI claim and was getting completely overwhelmed by EDD's confusing processes and terminology. Reading Oliver's journey from weeks of stress about that mysterious "receipt number" to quick resolution once everyone here clarified it was just the DI number gives me so much hope. What really impresses me is how this community doesn't just give quick answers - multiple experienced members took the time to confirm the solution, explain why EDD's terminology is so confusing, and even followed up to make sure it worked. It's frustrating that such simple communication issues can cause weeks of anxiety for people already dealing with medical leave and financial stress, but I'm incredibly grateful to have found such a knowledgeable and supportive group. This thread has already taught me more about navigating SDI claims than hours of trying to decode EDD's website. Thank you to everyone who shares their hard-earned wisdom here - it makes such a difference for newcomers like me!

Update: I FINALLY got through this morning! For anyone else struggling, I followed the advice to call exactly at 8:00am, and after trying 6 times in a row, I actually got into the queue instead of getting hung up on. Waited about 45 minutes but finally spoke to someone. The agent was actually super helpful once I got through. Turns out my doctor sent the certification to the wrong department (???), so the agent transferred me to someone who could help sort it out. They're sending a new certification form to my doctor and putting a note on my claim. I'm still going to ask my doctor to resubmit anyway just to be safe. Thanks everyone for your help and suggestions! This system is absolutely broken, but at least I have some direction now.

Wow, what a journey! So glad you finally got through and got some answers. It's absolutely ridiculous that it takes this much effort just to check on a legitimate disability claim. The fact that your doctor sent the certification to the wrong department really shows how confusing this whole system is - even healthcare providers who deal with this regularly get mixed up! For anyone else reading this thread, Dyllan's experience really highlights why it's so important to follow up on everything with EDD. Things get lost, misdirected, or stuck in the system all the time. Always ask for confirmation numbers, case notes, and don't assume anything was processed correctly just because someone submitted it. Hope your claim gets resolved quickly now that you have someone actively working on it!

Hey Isabel! I'm new to this community but just dealt with this exact same tax situation a couple months ago when I was on SDI for 6 weeks after a medical procedure. The confusion is so real - I was pulling my hair out trying to figure it out! After reading through all these great responses, it's clear you're in the standard CA SDI situation. Since you mentioned having normal payroll deductions, you were paying into SDI with your own after-tax dollars, which means your benefits aren't taxable on your federal return. What really sealed it for me was finding my old paystubs and seeing that "CA SDI" deduction every pay period - that's proof you paid the premiums yourself. I also never received any tax forms from EDD about my SDI payments, which confirmed they weren't treating it as taxable income. For your tax software question about disability income, I answered "no" since it's asking specifically about taxable disability benefits, which CA SDI isn't when you pay the premiums yourself. Filed my return with no issues whatsoever. Everyone here has given you solid advice backed by real experience. You should feel confident moving forward with not reporting those SDI benefits on your federal taxes. This community is awesome for helping navigate these confusing CA benefit situations!

Hi Isabel! I'm new to this community but went through this exact same situation recently when I was on SDI for about 2 months after a knee surgery. The tax confusion is totally understandable - I was stressed about it too! After reading through all these helpful responses and going through my own experience, it's clear you're in the standard CA SDI situation where your benefits aren't federally taxable. Since you mentioned normal payroll deductions, you were paying into SDI yourself, which means the $8,200 you received isn't considered taxable income. What helped me verify this was: 1) Checking my old paystubs and confirming I had "CA SDI" deductions every pay period, 2) Confirming I never received a 1099-G from EDD, and 3) Looking up IRS Publication 525 which specifically addresses this situation. For your tax software question about disability income, I answered "no" since it's asking about taxable disability benefits, which CA SDI isn't when you pay the premiums through payroll deductions like most CA employees do. I filed my return about 6 weeks ago with no issues at all. Everyone here has given you great advice backed by real experience. You should feel confident not reporting your SDI benefits on your federal taxes - sounds like you're in the exact same boat as all of us! Welcome to navigating CA's benefit system - it's confusing but this community really helps!