Just went through this exact process for my shoulder surgery recovery! One thing I learned is that you can actually track the status of your extension in real-time through your SDI Online account. After your doctor submits the DE 2525XX form, log into your account and look under "Claim Status" - it should update within 3-5 business days to show your new end date. If it doesn't update after a week, that's when you know you need to call EDD immediately. Also, make sure your doctor includes specific details about why you can't return to your warehouse job yet - EDD sometimes questions extensions if the medical reasoning isn't clear enough. The fact that you're still having trouble walking shows you're definitely not ready for physical labor! Keep advocating for yourself and don't let anyone pressure you to return before you're medically cleared.

I'm going through a similar situation right now with my knee replacement recovery! One thing that really helped me was creating a simple calendar reminder system to track all the important dates. I marked when my current claim ends, when my doctor needs to submit the extension (about 7-10 days before), and when I should follow up with EDD to confirm they received it. Having it all written down helped reduce my stress about missing deadlines. Also, don't hesitate to be your own advocate with your medical team - I had to remind my doctor's office twice about submitting my extension on time. Sometimes they get busy and these things slip through the cracks. Your health and financial stability are too important to leave to chance. Wishing you a smooth recovery and hoping you can focus on healing without worrying about the paperwork!

I'm going through something similar right now - my payment was supposed to come through last week and still nothing! Reading through all these responses has been really eye-opening. I had no idea there were services like Claimyr that could help you get through the phone lines, though I'm a bit hesitant about paying for something like that. The advice about calling at 8:01 AM (not 8:00!) and asking specifically about "payment holds" or "pending determinations" seems really practical. I'm definitely going to try that tomorrow morning with all my documentation ready. It's frustrating that we have to jump through so many hoops just to get what we're owed, but at least it sounds like most of these delays are just bureaucratic hiccups that can be resolved once you get the right person. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - it's comforting to know I'm not alone in this mess!

I'm dealing with the same issue right now - my payment was supposed to arrive three days ago and I'm starting to panic about bills! Reading through everyone's advice here has been incredibly helpful. I especially appreciate the specific tips about calling at 8:01 AM and asking about "payment holds" or "pending determinations" - those seem like the kind of insider knowledge that could actually make a difference. It's both frustrating and reassuring to see how common this problem is. I'm definitely going to try the early morning call strategy tomorrow with all my paperwork ready. Has anyone had success with the online messaging system as an alternative to calling? I'm wondering if that might be worth trying too while I wait to get through on the phone. Thanks to everyone sharing their experiences - it really helps to know we're not going through this alone! 🙏

As a new parent who just navigated this exact situation last month, I can completely understand your panic! You absolutely did the right thing by reporting your actual delivery date - even though it felt "late," this is exactly what that feature is designed for since babies rarely arrive exactly on their due dates. Your SDI should automatically adjust to end 6 weeks from your actual delivery date (3/18), so you should now be covered until 4/29 instead of 4/20. This ensures you get your full postpartum recovery period based on when your baby actually arrived, not the estimated due date. For the PFL transition, I'd recommend submitting your application around 4/22 (about a week before your adjusted SDI end date) to avoid any gaps. You'll need form DE 2501FP and your baby's birth certificate - no doctor certification required for the bonding portion! A few things that really helped me: 1) Check your SDI Online account over the next few days and screenshot the updated end date for your records, 2) Set phone reminders for key dates because newborn exhaustion makes everything harder to remember, and 3) Don't stress about the reporting timing - EDD handles delivery date updates all the time. You're doing an amazing job navigating all this bureaucracy while caring for a newborn. The system can feel overwhelming, but you're asking all the right questions and taking the right steps!

As a new parent who just went through this exact same situation a couple months ago, I want to reassure you that you handled everything perfectly! Reporting your actual delivery date was absolutely the right move, even if it felt "late" - the system is specifically designed for this since most babies don't arrive exactly on their due dates. Your SDI should automatically adjust to end 6 weeks from your actual delivery date of 3/18, so your benefits should now run until 4/29 instead of 4/20. This gives you the full postpartum recovery period you're entitled to based on when your baby actually arrived. For your PFL transition, I'd recommend applying around 4/22 (about a week before your SDI ends) to prevent any benefit gaps. You'll need form DE 2501FP and your baby's birth certificate - no doctor certification required for the bonding portion! A couple tips that really helped me: 1) Check your SDI Online account in the next few days and screenshot the updated end date for your records, 2) Set phone reminders for key dates because newborn brain fog is so real, and 3) Don't stress about timing - EDD processes delivery date updates constantly. You're doing an amazing job navigating all this while caring for a newborn! The confusion you're feeling is completely normal, and you're asking all the right questions. Everything will work out smoothly!

I work in cybersecurity and see these EDD phishing scams constantly - they're getting really sophisticated. The fact that you got this email just 4 days after filing is a dead giveaway it's fake. Real EDD communications take weeks, sometimes months. Here's what likely happened: scammers either bought data from previous breaches or they monitor public filing systems to target recent disability claimants. They know people are anxious and waiting for updates, so they strike while emotions are high. Pro tip: Set up a Google Alert for "EDD phishing" or "EDD scam" to stay informed about new tactics. These criminals constantly evolve their methods. Also, screenshot that fake email and report it to the California Attorney General's office at oag.ca.gov/contact/consumer-complaint-against-business-or-person - they track these patterns. You handled this perfectly by questioning it and not clicking anything. Trust your instincts!

As someone who went through the SDI process recently, I can confirm this is definitely a scam. The timing is the biggest red flag - EDD doesn't move that fast on anything, especially not setting up online accounts for paper filers. When I filed my paper claim in January, it took almost 3 weeks before I got my first legitimate communication from EDD, and that was just an acknowledgment letter. The ID.me setup only happened when I manually created my SDI Online account weeks later. That sender email you mentioned (id-support@id.verify-benefits.com) is a classic phishing domain - real EDD emails always come from ca.gov addresses. Good catch on not clicking anything! One thing that helped me during the waiting period was signing up for USPS Informed Delivery so I could track when actual mail from EDD was coming. All legitimate SDI correspondence initially comes by postal mail for paper filers, not email. Might give you some peace of mind while you wait for your real claim updates.

As a newcomer to this community, I can't thank everyone enough for this incredibly detailed thread! I just joined because I'm facing my own SDI claim challenges and was feeling completely overwhelmed by EDD's confusing processes. Reading Oliver's complete journey from weeks of stress about the mysterious "receipt number" to successful resolution once the community helped clarify it was just the DI number has been so reassuring. What really impresses me is how multiple experienced members didn't just provide the answer but took the time to explain the whole process, confirm each other's advice, and even follow up to ensure the solution worked. It's honestly mind-boggling that EDD creates such unnecessary confusion with inconsistent terminology, especially for people already dealing with the stress of medical leave and financial concerns. But discovering this supportive and knowledgeable community gives me so much hope for navigating my own claim. This thread perfectly demonstrates why peer support is absolutely crucial for cutting through government bureaucracy - thank you to everyone who contributed their wisdom and experience!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm incredibly grateful to have found this thread! I'm currently in the early stages of my own SDI claim and was already feeling anxious about all the different requirements and terminology EDD uses. Reading Oliver's complete experience - from the initial panic about the mysterious "receipt number" to the quick resolution once this amazing community clarified it was just the DI number - has been both educational and deeply reassuring. What really stands out to me is how multiple experienced members not only provided the correct answer but took the time to explain the process, validate each other's advice, and even check back to make sure everything worked out. It's honestly frustrating that EDD creates so much unnecessary stress with confusing terminology, especially when people are already dealing with medical issues and financial pressure, but I'm so thankful to have discovered this knowledgeable and supportive community. This thread is a perfect example of how peer wisdom can cut through bureaucratic confusion and save people weeks of anxiety. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences - you've given me so much confidence for navigating my own claim process!