Hey Javier! I just went through the SDI process myself about 6 months ago for a back injury. Here's what I wish someone had told me upfront: The approval timeline really does vary, but most people I've talked to (including myself) got approved within 2-3 weeks if everything was submitted correctly. The key is making sure your doctor knows this is urgent - mine didn't realize there was a deadline and almost missed it! For your benefit amount at $500/week, you're looking at around $300-350/week as others mentioned. One thing that surprised me was that you can actually work part-time while on SDI and still get partial benefits if your doctor clears it - might be worth asking about for the tail end of your recovery. Also, don't stress too much about the 7-day waiting period. It sounds scary but it just means your benefits start on day 8 of your disability, and you still get paid retroactively for that period once approved. You've got this! The process is way less complicated than it seems when you're anxious about it. Focus on getting better and let the system work for you. 💪

Hey Javier! I went through SDI for the first time about 8 months ago after a shoulder surgery. The anxiety you're feeling is totally normal - I was a wreck worrying about money too! Here's what helped me get through it: I filed my claim about a week before my surgery date (as others mentioned, you can put a future disability start date). My approval took exactly 18 days from filing to first payment, which was pretty typical from what I've heard. One thing I didn't see mentioned much - if you're really tight on money during the waiting period, some local food banks and community assistance programs can help with groceries/utilities while you're waiting for benefits to kick in. I was too proud to look into it at first but honestly wish I had. Also, once you're approved, keep all your paperwork organized because you'll need to certify for benefits every two weeks. Set phone reminders - missing a certification can delay your payments. The process definitely works, just takes patience. Focus on your recovery and try not to stress too much about the timeline. You'll get through this! 🙏

I'm in a similar situation right now - my disability started in February but EDD took until May to approve my claim. I'm really worried about hitting that 52-week mark from my disability onset date even though I haven't received a full year of payments yet. Reading through everyone's responses, it sounds like the surgical complications might be your best bet for an extension. I'd definitely recommend getting that paperwork submitted as soon as possible. From what I've heard, EDD is pretty strict about deadlines. Has anyone else here successfully gotten an extension approved? I'm curious what kind of documentation they actually accepted and how long the approval process took.

I went through something very similar last year with my back surgery. My original disability claim was approved for spinal fusion, but then I developed a serious infection at the surgical site that required two additional surgeries and months of IV antibiotics. EDD initially cut me off at the 52-week mark, but my surgeon submitted detailed documentation about the infection complications - including culture results, surgical notes, and a detailed treatment plan. The key was that my doctor explicitly stated this was an "unforeseen complication that significantly altered the expected recovery timeline" and provided specific medical evidence of why I needed an additional 16 weeks of recovery. It took about 5 weeks to get approved, but they did grant the extension. Make sure your surgeon uses very clinical language and includes specific dates, test results, and medical reasoning. Don't let them just say "needs more time" - they need to explain WHY the complications changed your original prognosis. Good luck with your extension request! The paperwork is annoying but definitely worth pursuing if you have legitimate surgical complications.

As a newcomer to this community, I'm really disturbed by how many people have experienced this exact same scam! The pattern is so specific - calls at 36-40 weeks from vague "disability" representatives asking about birth status. This is clearly a coordinated effort targeting pregnant women when we're most vulnerable and distracted. Brooklyn, you absolutely did the right thing hanging up! The fact that they couldn't provide their name, department, or any claim details while calling from a blocked number are huge red flags. Real EDD reps would never need to ask if you've given birth - they get that info when you file your PFL claim. Reading everyone's advice has been so educational. I had no idea that legitimate EDD calls typically come from Sacramento area codes with proper identification. I'm saving the fraud hotline number (1-800-229-6297) and sharing this thread with other expecting friends. It's disgusting that scammers are preying on pregnant women during what should be an exciting time, but I'm grateful this community exists to warn each other. Thank you for trusting your instincts and sharing this experience - you're definitely protecting other women from becoming victims!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm absolutely shocked reading about how widespread this pregnancy-targeted scam has become! The consistency in everyone's experiences is terrifying - the precise 36-40 week timing, identical vague "disability" language, and birth status questions clearly show this is an organized criminal operation specifically exploiting pregnant women. Brooklyn, you handled this perfectly by trusting your instincts and hanging up immediately. The lack of proper identification (no name, employee ID, or department), calling from a blocked number, and asking about personal medical information are all massive red flags. Legitimate EDD representatives would never cold-call asking if you've given birth since they receive that information when you file your PFL claim after delivery. What's particularly disturbing is how these scammers are targeting the exact window when pregnant women are most anxious about the SDI to PFL transition and most likely to be tired and distracted. It's predatory behavior at its absolute worst. I'm not currently pregnant but I'm saving this entire thread and all the resources shared here - especially the EDD fraud hotline at 1-800-229-6297. I'm also sharing this with friends who might be at risk because the collective wisdom in this thread is invaluable for protecting other women. Thank you for having the courage to post about this suspicious call and trust your gut instincts. Your experience and this discussion are undoubtedly going to prevent other pregnant women from falling victim to this disgusting scam. Wishing you a safe delivery and smooth transition to PFL!

I had this exact same issue a few months ago - so stressful when you're depending on that money! What worked for me was calling the 1-800-480-3287 number right at 8am when they open. The wait times are brutal later in the day. When you do get through, ask them to check for any "payment blocks" or "verification flags" on your account. In my case, they needed me to verify my identity again even though I'd already done it. The whole thing got resolved within 48 hours once I knew what the actual problem was. Also, make sure to ask for a reference number for your call - it helps if you need to call back. Hang in there, it will get sorted out! 💪

I feel your frustration - this happened to me too! When mine showed "processed" but didn't arrive, it turned out there was an issue with my direct deposit info. Even though I thought everything was correct, there was apparently a small formatting error in my account number that caused the payment to bounce back. Here's what I'd recommend: • Log into your online account and triple-check your banking details • Call and ask them to verify the account info on file matches exactly what you have • Ask if there were any "returned payment" notices In my case, once we fixed the bank info, they were able to reissue the payment pretty quickly. It's worth checking this first before assuming it's just a processing delay. The waiting game is the worst part, but don't give up! Keep calling until you get answers.

I'm 33 weeks pregnant and just wanted to jump in with my experience since I see so many helpful stories here! I was dealing with severe round ligament pain and lower back issues that were making my teaching job (lots of standing and walking) nearly impossible. My OB was initially hesitant about early SDI, but I came prepared with a detailed list of my specific work limitations - couldn't stand for more than 15 minutes, difficulty walking between classrooms, trouble bending to help students, etc. Once I framed it in terms of job safety rather than just "I'm in pain," she was much more receptive. She certified me starting at 32 weeks using diagnosis codes for pregnancy-related musculoskeletal disorders. I submitted my claim the same day and got approved in 8 business days with no issues. For anyone dealing with unsupportive doctors - be very specific about how your symptoms prevent you from doing your actual job duties. Don't just say "I hurt" - say "I cannot safely perform X, Y, Z tasks that are required for my position." That seemed to make all the difference in getting my doctor to take it seriously. This thread has been such a lifesaver for learning how to navigate this process. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences! 💕

I'm currently 27 weeks pregnant and this entire thread has been absolutely invaluable! I've been experiencing severe sciatica and pelvic pain that's making my nursing job (12-hour shifts, constant walking/standing) extremely difficult. Reading everyone's experiences has given me the courage to advocate for myself instead of just trying to "power through." One thing I wanted to add for other healthcare workers - our employee health departments are often really knowledgeable about SDI for pregnancy complications since they see it frequently. My employee health nurse actually suggested I talk to my OB about early leave when I mentioned my symptoms during a routine check-in. She said they regularly see nurses and other hospital staff need early SDI for pregnancy-related back/pelvic issues. I'm planning to bring a detailed list of my specific work limitations to my next OB appointment (can't stand for full 12-hour shifts, difficulty with patient lifts, trouble walking long hospital corridors, etc.) based on all the great advice in this thread. Thank you everyone for being so open about your experiences - it's made me realize that pregnancy complications that affect your ability to work safely are absolutely legitimate reasons for early disability leave. I don't have to suffer through 9+ more weeks if there's medical support available! 💕