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I went through this exact situation with a rotted disc about 18 months ago! The whole "returning to work too early" thing is SO common - doctors seem to underestimate how much our bodies need to fully heal. I was back at work for about 3 weeks before realizing I wasn't ready either. The DE 2501R form everyone mentioned is absolutely the way to go. One thing I'd add is to make sure your doctor is very specific about the connection between your original injury and your current worsened condition on the form. EDD wants to see clear medical documentation that this is a continuation of the same disability, not a separate new injury. Also, if you're having surgery, ask your surgeon to include detailed post-op restrictions and expected recovery timeline - this helped my claim get approved faster. The whole process took about 2 weeks for me once the form was submitted. Don't stress too much about using up benefits - spinal surgeries and recovery take time, and that's exactly what SDI is designed to cover. Hope your surgery goes well and you can finally get the proper healing time your body needs!
This is such valuable advice about being specific on the DE 2501R form! I wish I had known to emphasize the connection between my original injury and current worsening when my doctor filled it out. The detail about including post-op restrictions and recovery timeline is really smart too - it makes sense that having everything documented upfront would speed up the approval process. It's reassuring to hear it only took 2 weeks for your claim once submitted. I'm definitely feeling more confident about this whole process after reading everyone's experiences. Thank you for sharing the specifics about what to include on the form - those kinds of details make all the difference!
I'm dealing with almost the exact same situation right now! I was on SDI for a shoulder injury, returned to work after 6 weeks thinking I was ready, but had to stop again after just 12 days because the pain became unbearable. Reading through all these responses about the DE 2501R form has been incredibly helpful - I had no idea this option existed and was dreading having to file a completely new claim with another waiting period. The tip about calling EDD right at 8am is gold - I tried that yesterday and got through in under an hour compared to the 3+ hour waits I was experiencing before. My doctor's office wasn't initially familiar with the DE 2501R form, but after explaining what I learned here, they were able to get it from EDD directly. One thing I'd add for anyone else in this situation: make sure to get a confirmation number when you submit the form, and don't be afraid to follow up if you don't see movement within their stated timeframe. Sarah, I hope your surgery went well and that your recovery is going smoothly! This thread has been such a lifeline for those of us navigating this confusing process.
I'm currently on SDI for a herniated disc injury and have been following this thread closely - your situation sounds almost identical to mine! The advice everyone has shared here has been incredibly valuable and reassuring. One thing I wanted to add that hasn't been mentioned yet is to make sure you get a copy of your complete medical file from your doctor before your appointment on the 18th. Sometimes having the full treatment history can be helpful if EDD has any questions about the timeline or legitimacy of your disability claim. Also, I've been researching local job placement services and workforce development programs that specifically help people returning to work after medical leave. Many of these programs are free and can help speed up your job search process once you're cleared to work, which might help minimize that gap between benefits. It sounds like you're getting excellent guidance here about the timing and documentation requirements. The fact that you have that clear termination letter stating it was due to exhausted leave rather than misconduct should definitely work in your favor with EDD. Best of luck with your doctor appointment - I really hope you get that medical clearance and can start moving forward with the UI application process soon!
I've been reading through this entire thread and wow, what an incredibly helpful resource! I'm currently on SDI for a workplace injury and my employer has been making similar hints about my position, so this information is invaluable. @Elijah Brown - I hope your doctor appointment on the 18th went well and you got the medical clearance you were hoping for! Based on everything everyone has shared here, it really sounds like you have all the right information to navigate this transition successfully. One thing I wanted to add that might be helpful for others in similar situations - I recently spoke with a representative at my local One-Stop Career Center (part of the workforce development system) and they mentioned they have specific programs to help people transitioning back to work after medical leave. They can help with resume updates, job search strategies, and even have partnerships with employers who are understanding about hiring people returning from medical leave. It might be worth connecting with these resources early in the process so you're ready to hit the ground running once you get your UI benefits approved. The more prepared you are to actively job search, the smoother the UI certification process seems to be based on what everyone has shared. Thank you to everyone who has contributed to this thread - this kind of peer support and shared knowledge is exactly what people need when navigating these complex benefit transitions!
Hi everyone! I'm brand new to this community and just wanted to say how helpful this entire thread has been. I submitted my SDI application last week and made a similar error - I accidentally wrote my doctor's name as "Dr. Jennifer Smith" when it should be "Dr. Jennifer Schmidt". I've been so stressed about it potentially affecting my claim, especially since I'm out of work after knee surgery and really need these benefits. Reading through all of your experiences has been incredibly reassuring! It seems like the consensus is that as long as the license number is correct (which mine is), these spelling errors are quite common and usually don't cause delays. The fact that so many of you have shared similar stories and positive outcomes really helps calm my nerves. Thank you all for being so open about your experiences - it means a lot to newcomers like me who are navigating this process for the first time and feeling anxious about every little detail!
Welcome to the community, Amelia! Your "Smith" vs "Schmidt" situation sounds very similar to what so many of us have experienced - it's amazing how common these spelling errors are when we're stressed about medical situations! I'm also fairly new here and was initially panicking about a similar mistake on my application. This thread has been such a lifesaver for understanding that these minor spelling differences rarely cause issues as long as the license number is correct. Knee surgery recovery is challenging enough without the added worry about benefit delays, so I really hope your claim processes smoothly and quickly. Everyone's positive experiences shared here have been so reassuring - it's wonderful to have a supportive community where people share real outcomes to help ease each other's anxiety. Please keep us updated on how your claim goes!
Hi! I'm new to this community and just wanted to share my recent experience to help others who might be worried about similar issues. I submitted my SDI claim about 3 weeks ago and accidentally misspelled my doctor's name as "Dr. Johnson" instead of "Dr. Jonson" (missing an 'h'). I was so anxious about it potentially delaying my benefits since I'm recovering from shoulder surgery. After reading through this thread and seeing everyone's positive experiences, I decided to just wait it out rather than stress about calling EDD. Sure enough, my claim was approved last week without any issues! The license number being correct really does seem to be the key factor. It's such a relief to know that these minor spelling errors are more common than we think and that the EDD system is designed to handle them. Thank you to everyone who shared their stories - this community has been invaluable for a newcomer like me navigating this process for the first time!
@Naila Gordon, I just went through this exact process earlier this year and totally understand the anxiety! Here's what saved me: Get that "Continuation of Disability" form from the EDD website TODAY and schedule an appointment with your doctor ASAP. Don't wait - I learned the hard way that timing is everything with EDD. When you see your doctor, be really detailed about how your condition affects your daily activities and work capacity. I actually brought notes with me listing specific limitations so my doctor could be thorough on the form. Submit everything through your online EDD account under "Manage Claim" - yes, the system can be glitchy but it's still way faster than mail. Keep doing your bi-weekly certifications while waiting for approval (this is crucial!). The whole process took about 2 weeks for me once I submitted everything. Since you filed in March, you should have plenty of time left on your claim period. The system is frustrating but it absolutely works if you stay on top of it. You've got this! Feel free to ask if you need help finding specific forms or navigating the portal! 🙏
@Drew Hathaway This is such helpful advice, thank you! I m'actually in a very similar situation to @Naila Gordon and your step-by-step breakdown is exactly what I needed to hear. The tip about bringing notes with specific limitations to the doctor appointment is brilliant - I never would have thought of that but it makes so much sense. I ve been'struggling with how to communicate the full impact of my condition, and having a written list would definitely help ensure nothing gets missed. Quick question: when you mention the system can be glitchy, what "kind" of issues should I watch out for? Should I try submitting during certain hours, or are there any warning signs that something didn t go'through properly? I m definitely'nervous about the online submission but your 2-week timeline is really encouraging compared to what I ve heard'about mail processing. Thanks for offering to help with forms and navigation - this community has been such a lifesaver for figuring out this confusing process! 🙌
@Naila Gordon, I just went through this exact same situation last month! Here's what worked for me: First, download the "Continuation of Disability" form from the EDD website immediately - don't wait for your doctor to figure out what they need. When you meet with your doctor, be super specific about your symptoms and limitations (I brought a written list of how my condition affects my daily life, which really helped). Submit everything online through your EDD account under "Manage Claim" - it's much faster than mailing, even if the system seems glitchy sometimes. Most importantly, keep certifying every two weeks while your extension is being processed! I almost made the mistake of stopping certifications while waiting. The whole process took about 2-3 weeks for me. Since you filed in March, you should still have time left on your claim period. Start this process NOW though - don't wait until your current benefits are about to expire like I did (that was stressful!). The system is frustrating but it absolutely works if you stay organized. You've got this! 💪
@Heather Tyson This is such timely advice! I m'actually new to this community and dealing with my first disability extension situation, so reading about everyone s'experiences has been incredibly helpful. Your point about bringing a written list to the doctor is something I keep seeing mentioned and it makes so much sense - when you re'dealing with chronic conditions it s'easy to forget important details in the moment. I m'definitely going to start documenting my daily limitations this week. Quick question: when you submitted online, did you get any kind of confirmation email or notification that it went through? I m'always paranoid about important documents disappearing into the system! Also, did you run into any issues with EDD asking for additional documentation, or was the doctor s'form pretty much all they needed? Thanks for sharing your timeline too - knowing it took 2-3 weeks helps me plan better. This whole process seemed so overwhelming at first but hearing from people who ve'successfully navigated it gives me a lot of hope! 🙏
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Adrian Hughes
Hey Aisha! Congrats on getting your Notice of Computation! 🎉 I went through this same process about 8 months ago and I'm so glad you're being proactive about checking everything. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is to pay attention to any "penalty weeks" that might be listed - these can show up if there were delays in filing or issues with your medical documentation. I had 2 penalty weeks I didn't expect and it delayed my first payment. Also, if you have any periods where you worked reduced hours due to your disability before your claim start date, make sure those aren't incorrectly calculated as full-time wages in your base period. It can actually work in your favor sometimes if they adjust it properly. The verification process seems overwhelming but honestly, taking the time now saves SO much hassle later. I caught a missing employer that would have cost me about $60/week - definitely worth the effort to double-check everything! You're almost at the finish line. Wishing you a smooth review and quick first payment! 💪
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Freya Pedersen
•Thanks for bringing up penalty weeks - that's something I hadn't heard about before and definitely want to watch out for! The point about reduced hours before the claim start date is really interesting too. I've been reading through everyone's advice and making notes, and it's amazing how many potential issues there are that I never would have thought to check. Really appreciate you sharing your experience about the missing employer - $60/week adds up fast! It's so helpful to have specific examples like that to understand what we should be looking for. Fingers crossed my review goes smoothly! 🤞
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