Just wanted to add that if you're having trouble finding your W-2, you can also request a wage and tax statement transcript directly from the IRS! You can do this online at irs.gov or by calling them. It's free and will show all the same info as your W-2, including that Box 18 SDI amount everyone's talking about. Takes about 5-10 business days to get it by mail, or you can view it instantly online if you can verify your identity. This saved me when I couldn't find my physical W-2 last year! 📋

For anyone still struggling with this, I just discovered you can also check your last pay stub from December 2024 - it should have a "year-to-date" section that shows your total SDI deductions for the whole year. Most employers include this breakdown even if you get direct deposit. If you use a pay stub app or portal, the December stub will have all your 2024 totals. This might be quicker than waiting for your W-2 if you need the info sooner! 📊

Just wanted to add - if you're having trouble finding the form link in your SDI Online portal, look under the "Claim Status" section first, then check "Forms and Documents." Sometimes it takes a day or two after filing for the medical certification form (DE 2501) link to appear. Also, make sure you're logged into the SDI portal specifically, not the regular EDD unemployment portal - they're separate systems and the forms are in different places!

I went through this exact same situation last month! Here's what I learned: EDD definitely does NOT automatically mail the DE 2501 form to your doctor anymore. You need to log into your SDI Online account, go to the "Forms" section, and download/print the medical certification form yourself. Then take it to your doctor's office. Make sure to tell them they need to submit it back to EDD directly (not give it back to you) - they can mail, fax, or sometimes upload it electronically. The whole process usually takes about a week once your doctor has the form, so don't wait! The sooner you get that form to them, the sooner your benefits can start processing.

I'm brand new to this community and currently waiting for my first SDI payment after a recent surgery. My payment shows as "issued" yesterday and reading through this entire thread has been such a relief! I was starting to panic thinking something went wrong, but seeing @Jayden Reed's experience and successful outcome, plus @Lola Perez's detailed explanations about the ACH system and business day counting, has really put my mind at ease. I had no idea that weekends and holidays don't count toward the processing timeline. It's incredible to see such a supportive community where people share real experiences and actually come back with updates. Based on everyone's consistent timelines here, I'm going to wait until Thursday before contacting EDD. Thank you all for sharing your knowledge - this thread should definitely be a go-to resource for new SDI recipients!

I'm brand new to this community and just filed my first SDI claim last week after a work-related back injury. This entire thread has been absolutely invaluable! Even though I'm not at the payment stage yet, reading through everyone's experiences about the "issued" vs "received" timeline has already prepared me so much better for what to expect. @Jayden Reed, thank you for not only sharing your initial concern but especially for coming back with the positive update - it really shows how this community supports each other and gives newcomers like me confidence that the system works as described. @Lola Perez, your detailed breakdown of the ACH process and business day rules is incredibly educational - I had no clue about weekends and holidays not counting toward processing time. It's amazing to see such consistent experiences across so many different members. I'm definitely bookmarking this thread as my go-to reference for when I hopefully reach the payment phase soon. The injury recovery process is stressful enough without having to worry about navigating unfamiliar systems, but this community clearly provides the real-world guidance that makes all the difference. Thank you all for sharing your knowledge and creating such a supportive environment!

Just want to add another option that helped me when I was in a similar situation - if your doctor's office has a patient portal, sometimes you can message them directly through there about urgent paperwork like EDD forms. I found that portal messages often get responded to faster than phone calls because they go directly to the medical staff rather than getting filtered through the front desk. Also, having your request in writing through the portal creates a record that you asked for the form to be prioritized. Worth trying if phone calls aren't getting you anywhere!

Another tip that really helped me - if your doctor's office is dragging their feet, ask to speak with the billing department or insurance coordinator. They deal with disability paperwork all the time and usually know the process better than the front desk staff. When I was waiting for my Part B to be submitted, the billing coordinator told me they batch process EDD forms on specific days of the week, so timing your request right can make a difference. She also mentioned that if you bring a pre-addressed envelope with the EDD mailing address already filled out, it removes one more step for their office and can speed things up. Sometimes these small details make all the difference when you're dealing with busy medical offices!

I just want to say thank you to everyone who contributed to this thread! As someone who's been putting off a procedure because I was intimidated by the paperwork, reading through all these detailed experiences has given me the confidence to move forward. The step-by-step breakdown from @CyberNinja and @Connor O'Neill especially helped me understand that while the process is complex, it's totally manageable if you're organized about it. I love how this community shares real experiences instead of just repeating generic advice. I'm now planning to have a consultation in Guadalajara next month, and I feel like I have a complete roadmap thanks to everyone's contributions. I'll definitely report back with my experience to keep this knowledge base growing for future community members!

I've been following this thread as someone who's been considering surgery abroad but was completely overwhelmed by the SDI paperwork requirements. Reading through everyone's detailed experiences has been incredibly enlightening! A few thoughts based on what I've learned here: 1. The emphasis on getting a US doctor to provide supporting documentation alongside your Mexican surgeon seems like brilliant strategy - it gives EDD a familiar reference point while still allowing you to get the specialized care you need abroad. 2. I had no idea about the pre-authorization requirement that @TechNinja mentioned. That could be a complete game-changer depending on the procedure type. Definitely something to investigate early in the planning process. 3. The translation and documentation requirements are way more extensive than I expected, but it sounds like being overly thorough upfront prevents months of back-and-forth with EDD later. For anyone else reading this thread later: the collective advice here is worth its weight in gold. I'm bookmarking this and starting my own checklist based on everyone's experiences. The fact that most people achieved approval in 4-6 weeks with proper documentation is really encouraging. @Nora Brooks - hoping your surgery goes smoothly and your claim gets approved without any hassles! Thanks for starting such a valuable discussion.