I went through the SDI process for my carpal tunnel surgery last year and wanted to share a few things that really helped me prepare financially. Since you're worried about making mistakes, I'd suggest creating a simple checklist of everything you need to gather before applying: 1. Check your SDI Online wage history and compare it to your W-2s/pay stubs 2. Get your employer's SDI account number from your paystub or HR 3. Confirm your surgery date with your doctor and ask about their medical certification timeline 4. Decide if you want direct deposit or the debit card (definitely go with direct deposit) 5. Calculate your budget for 7 weeks of payments (not 8, due to the waiting period) One thing that really helped me was using the benefit calculator tool in the SDI Online system before applying - it gave me a realistic expectation of about 65% of my normal weekly pay, which made budgeting so much easier. Also, don't stress too much about the base period calculation - EDD handles all of that automatically based on your wage history. Your job is just to make sure all your wage information is accurate in their system. You're being smart by planning ahead and asking questions. Apply March 5th-6th for your March 15th surgery, and you'll be in great shape. The process really isn't as complicated as it seems at first!

I just wanted to say how incredibly helpful this entire thread has been! As someone who's never dealt with disability benefits before, I was honestly pretty anxious about the whole process. But reading through everyone's experiences and practical advice has made me feel so much more prepared and confident. The biggest takeaways for me are: apply March 5th-6th for my March 15th surgery, definitely choose direct deposit over the debit card, check my wage history thoroughly before applying, and budget for 7 weeks of payments rather than 8. I had no idea about things like the 7-day waiting period, the potential for wage reporting errors, or how important the timing of the application could be. I'm going to work through that checklist someone shared, contact my surgeon's office about their medical certification timeline, and use the benefit calculator tool this week. It's such a relief to know that other people have successfully navigated this process and that the anticipation is worse than the actual experience. Thank you all for taking the time to share your knowledge and experiences. This community is amazing, and I feel so much better prepared for both the application process and my recovery period now!

I'm a military spouse who went through this exact situation two years ago when we PCS'd from California to Georgia while I was on SDI for postpartum complications. I can definitely confirm that your benefits will continue - California SDI follows you regardless of where you move since your eligibility is based on your CA work history, not current residence. Here's what made the process smooth for me: - Called EDD about 10 days before our move date and specifically mentioned it was military PCS orders (they have protocols for this) - My doctor was able to continue certifications via telehealth appointments - Updated my address in SDI Online immediately after arriving at our new duty station - Never had any interruption in payments throughout the entire process The key is maintaining that medical certification chain. Since your doctor is already willing to continue remotely, you're in great shape. I'd also recommend keeping digital copies of all your medical records and previous SDI paperwork on your phone or cloud storage - military moves can be unpredictable and you want easy access to everything. Fort Liberty has excellent medical facilities too, so even if you need to transition to a new provider later, you'll have good options. The military community there is also very familiar with helping spouses navigate these kinds of benefit transitions. You're being smart by planning ahead! The stress of not knowing is always worse than the actual process. Focus on your recovery and don't let this add to your move anxiety - you've got this!

I'm another military spouse who just went through this process last month! My husband got orders to Fort Hood while I was on SDI for complications from gallbladder surgery, and I was terrified about losing my benefits mid-claim. The great news is that your payments will absolutely continue since you qualified while working in California. I had zero issues with my benefits - they continued seamlessly throughout our PCS move. Here's what worked perfectly for me: - I contacted EDD about 2 weeks before our move (seems to be the magic timeframe based on everyone's advice here!) and emphasized it was military orders - My surgeon was happy to continue doing virtual follow-ups for my disability certifications - I made sure to update my address through SDI Online on our first day at the new base - Created a digital backup of all my medical records and SDI paperwork before the movers came The EDD representative I spoke with was actually really knowledgeable about military moves and assured me this happens all the time. She even mentioned they have specific procedures in place for service members and their families. Since you're headed to Fort Liberty, I've heard wonderful things about the medical support there from other military families. But honestly, if your current doctor is willing to continue certifying remotely, that's probably your smoothest path forward. The anticipation and worry was definitely the worst part - the actual process was surprisingly straightforward. You're being so smart by planning ahead and asking these questions. Focus on healing and let the EDD system do what it's designed to do! Thank you for your husband's service!

I'm new here and just got my exhaustion notice too - this thread has been a lifesaver! I had no idea about so many of these strategies. One thing I wanted to add that helped me when dealing with other government agencies: if you have a smartphone, use the voice recorder app to record your phone calls with EDD (make sure to mention you're recording for your records at the start). It's been super helpful when representatives give conflicting information or make promises they don't follow through on. Also, I've found that asking for the rep's name and employee ID at the beginning of the call tends to make them more helpful and accountable. Going to try the 8:02 AM calling strategy tomorrow - fingers crossed! Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and making this scary process feel less isolating. 🙏

I'm also new here and just received my exhaustion notice yesterday - feeling pretty overwhelmed but this thread has been incredibly helpful! Reading everyone's experiences and strategies has given me so much hope. I had no idea about the extension request button that might be hidden, the early morning calling tips, or even that recording calls was an option. It's amazing how much practical knowledge this community has that you just can't find anywhere else. I'm planning to try the 8:02 AM calling strategy tomorrow and search for that extension option in my account. One question - for those who successfully got extensions, did you have to provide a specific type of medical documentation, or did regular doctor's notes work? Thanks so much for creating such a supportive space where we can actually get real help instead of just generic website info! 🙏

Just wanted to share my experience for anyone else going through this - I had a similar situation last year where my SDI payment showed up online on a Friday afternoon. Like others mentioned, it didn't hit my account until Monday morning. The waiting is nerve-wracking when you're already dealing with being out of work, but at least seeing it online means EDD has processed everything on their end. One tip: if you have your bank's mobile app, you can usually see pending deposits before they officially post, which might give you peace of mind over the weekend.

Just went through this exact same thing a few months ago! When my payment showed up online on a Friday afternoon, I was so anxious about when it would actually hit my account. Ended up getting it Monday morning around 8:30am with Wells Fargo. The weekend wait felt eternal when you're stressed about bills, but at least once you see it in the SDI system you know it's coming for sure. Pro tip: set up text alerts with your bank so you get notified the moment it deposits - saved my sanity during those first few weeks of disability payments!

Hey Javier! One more thing that might help ease your anxiety - consider reaching out to your employer's HR department if you have one. Many companies have short-term disability policies through private insurers that can supplement SDI benefits or sometimes pay more. You might be eligible for both! Also, some employers will let you use accrued sick time during the 7-day waiting period before SDI kicks in. Worth checking on both fronts to maximize your financial coverage during recovery. Wishing you a smooth surgery and quick healing! 💪

Just went through SDI for the first time last year after knee surgery! A few practical tips that helped me: 1) Create an online EDD account BEFORE you need it - it makes filing much smoother and you can track your claim status 2) Take photos/screenshots of everything you submit, including confirmation pages 3) Your doctor's office might not know they need to submit their part within 20 days - I had to remind mine twice 4) The automated phone system actually has useful status updates if you call with your claim number The financial stress is real, but most people I know got their first payment within 2-3 weeks. Hang in there and focus on healing! The benefits will come through. 🙏