I just wanted to add another option that worked for my family when we hit similar roadblocks with my grandfather's SDI claim. If you have access to a local library, many of them have dedicated computer stations for accessing government services and sometimes the librarians are familiar with navigating EDD's website. Our local library actually had printed copies of common EDD forms available at their reference desk! The librarian told me they keep them on hand because so many people come in struggling with the same issues we're all discussing here. It might be worth calling your local library to see if they have the DE 2501B form or can help you navigate the EDD website to download it. Also, if your aunt has a case worker through any other services (like Medicare, social services, or senior programs), they often have experience with SDI claims and might be able to help guide you through the process or even make calls on her behalf. The amount of helpful advice in this thread is amazing - it's like having a support group of people who actually understand how frustrating this system can be. Your aunt is so fortunate to have someone willing to fight through all this bureaucracy for her!

I'm dealing with a very similar situation right now with my elderly neighbor's SDI claim! Her doctor also stopped using the online system, and we've been running in circles trying to get the right paperwork. This thread is a goldmine of information - I had no idea there were so many different approaches to solving this problem. I'm definitely going to try the suggestion about calling EDD right at 8 AM to have them email the DE 2501B form directly. That seems like the fastest route if it works. I also love the idea about visiting the EDD office mid-week to avoid crowds - timing really does make such a difference with government offices. One thing I wanted to ask - for those who successfully got their doctors to fax the completed forms to EDD, did you provide the doctor's office with a specific fax number, or did they already have EDD's fax information on file? I want to make sure we have all the details ready when we take the form to her doctor. Thank you all for sharing your experiences and creating such a helpful resource. It's reassuring to know that even though the system is frustrating, there are real solutions that work when you know what steps to take!

I'm new to this community and currently at about 10 months on SDI after a spinal injury that's been much slower to heal than anyone expected. Reading through this entire thread has been both incredibly helpful and eye-opening - I had no idea so many people were dealing with this same 52-week cliff situation! One thing I wanted to add that I just learned about from my occupational therapist: some medical equipment suppliers and durable medical goods companies have social workers or patient advocates on staff who specialize in helping people navigate benefit transitions, especially when you need ongoing equipment or supplies. They see this situation constantly and often know about funding sources and bridge programs that even some of the official agencies aren't aware of. I also discovered that my local library has a "social services navigator" program where trained volunteers help people research and apply for various assistance programs. It's completely free and they have dedicated time slots for people dealing with disability-related transitions. Might be worth checking if your library system has something similar. The amount of knowledge in this thread is incredible and honestly more comprehensive than anything I've been able to get from EDD or other official sources. It's both reassuring to know I'm not alone in this and frustrating that we have to crowdsource information about what should be a straightforward support system. Thank you to everyone who has shared their experiences and resources here - this community is truly a lifeline for those of us trying to navigate this broken system!

I'm relatively new to this community but facing a similar situation - currently at 8 months on SDI after complications from a herniated disc surgery that just won't seem to fully heal. This entire thread has been absolutely invaluable and honestly the most comprehensive resource I've found anywhere! I wanted to add something that might help others - I recently discovered that many community colleges have "disabled student services" departments that aren't just for current students. Some of them offer free benefit navigation workshops and one-on-one counseling for community members dealing with disability transitions. They often have partnerships with local agencies and know about resources that aren't widely advertised. Also, my physical therapist mentioned something called "medical social workers" who work specifically with people transitioning between benefit systems. Apparently they're different from hospital social workers and focus specifically on the intersection of medical conditions and benefit eligibility. I'm still trying to figure out how to connect with one, but it might be worth researching in your area. The knowledge sharing in this thread is incredible - it's given me an actual action plan instead of just panic about approaching that 52-week deadline. It's both comforting and infuriating to see how many people are dealing with this same cliff, but at least we're not navigating it alone. Thank you to everyone who has shared their experiences and resources. This community support means more than you know when you're trying to heal physically while also becoming an expert in bureaucratic navigation!

I'm brand new to this community and just filed my first SDI claim 2 days ago! This entire thread has been a complete game-changer for me - I was sitting here totally confused about the "pending medical provider form" status and actually thought EDD was going to mail me paperwork to take to my doctor. After reading through everyone's experiences, I now understand that my doctor needs to submit their part through the SDI Online physician portal and that EDD basically never notifies them reliably. It's honestly shocking how unclear their process is! I'm calling my doctor's office first thing tomorrow with my receipt number and all the info everyone mentioned. The timelines you've all shared (2-3 weeks total once doctor submits) are such a relief - I was genuinely worried this could take months and was starting to panic about bills. I'll definitely set up those text alerts and check my account daily like everyone suggested. Thank you all SO much for sharing your real experiences and filling in all the crucial details that EDD should have explained upfront. This community is amazing for helping newcomers like me navigate this confusing process! I'll update once I hear back from my doctor's office.

I'm new to this community and just filed my SDI claim yesterday! This thread has been absolutely invaluable - I was completely lost about the "pending medical provider form" status and honestly had no idea what I was supposed to do next. Like so many others here, I was expecting EDD to mail me some kind of paperwork to take to my doctor. Reading through everyone's experiences has been such an eye-opener about how the process actually works. I had no clue that my doctor needs to submit their part through the SDI Online physician portal or that EDD doesn't reliably notify them. It's pretty frustrating that they don't make this clear upfront! I'm calling my doctor's office first thing tomorrow morning with my receipt number, full name, and DOB based on all the great advice here. From what everyone's shared, I'm not expecting them to know about the physician portal initially, but hopefully they can figure it out quickly. The 2-3 week timeline most people have mentioned once the doctor submits is really reassuring - I was genuinely worried this might drag on for months. I'll definitely be setting up those text alerts in my SDI account and checking daily for status updates. Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their real experiences and specific timelines! This community is filling in all the gaps that EDD should have explained from the start. It's making this whole confusing process so much more manageable for first-time filers like me.

This is such a helpful thread! I'm currently going through something similar - been waiting almost 8 weeks for my SDI claim and just found out there's some "additional documentation" needed that nobody bothered to explain clearly. Reading everyone's experiences makes me feel less crazy for being so frustrated with this process. The fact that @Dominique Adams accidentally got better help at the WRONG building than most of us get through official channels just shows how broken the system is! I'm definitely going to try calling around to see if any local offices will accept forms in person like @Gael Robinson suggested. At this point I'm willing to drive anywhere if it means avoiding their mail processing black hole. Has anyone had luck getting through to EDD recently using their main phone line? I've been trying the 1-800 number for days but can never get past the automated system. Might have to look into that Claimyr service @Payton Black mentioned if I keep striking out. Thanks for sharing all these tips - this community is honestly more helpful than any official EDD resource I've found!

Just wanted to jump in here as someone who's been lurking on this subreddit for a while but finally created an account because this thread hit so close to home! I'm currently 4 weeks into waiting for my SDI claim and this is giving me major anxiety about what's coming next. @Dominique Adams - your story about accidentally getting help at the wrong building is both hilarious and infuriating at the same time! The fact that a random county receptionist was more helpful than the actual EDD system says everything about how broken this process is. Reading through all these experiences, it sounds like I should probably start mentally preparing for this supplemental form situation. @Louisa Ramirez thank you for breaking down the DE 2525XX form details - I'm saving this info for when (not if) I inevitably run into this same issue. The tip about hand-delivering forms instead of mailing them is brilliant! I'm definitely going to research which offices near me might accept that. At this point I'd drive 2 hours if it meant avoiding weeks of mail processing delays. Has anyone else noticed if the processing times have gotten worse this year? I keep seeing people mention the "new claim system updates in 2025" - wondering if that's causing extra delays for everyone or if it's always been this chaotic!

I'm new to this community and just wanted to say how helpful this entire thread has been! I'm in the process of applying for SDI due to a chronic condition and was really worried about the payment process. Reading everyone's experiences - from Maya's initial confusion to all the practical tips from members like Santiago, Oliver, and Grace - has made me feel so much more prepared for what to expect. The idea that payments are automatic but can have timing variations makes total sense, and I love all the proactive strategies people have shared like setting up debit card alerts, tracking payments, and staying in touch with your doctor's office about recertifications. It's reassuring to know there's such a supportive community here sharing real experiences rather than just official government website info that doesn't always tell the whole story. Thank you all for taking the time to help newcomers navigate this system!

I just wanted to add something that might help newcomers - if you're switching from regular employment to SDI, make sure to ask your HR department about coordinating your last paycheck timing with your SDI start date. I made the mistake of not doing this and ended up with a 10-day gap between my final paycheck and first SDI payment that really stretched my finances thin. Most HR departments can help time your last day of work to minimize this gap. Also, if you have any unused sick days or vacation time, find out if you can cash them out - some companies won't let you do this once you're on disability leave, so it's better to handle it before your last day. Just another thing to add to the checklist when transitioning to SDI!