I'm also brand new to SDI and just found this community while researching my own situation - this thread has been incredibly helpful! I just started my disability claim this week for a medical procedure and my employer mentioned they'll be paying out my accrued vacation time, but like everyone else here, they didn't provide any clear guidance on EDD reporting requirements. After reading through all these real-world experiences, especially the overpayment horror stories, it's crystal clear that vacation payouts absolutely must be reported as wages during the certification period when you actually receive the payment. It's honestly frustrating that EDD's official documentation is so vague about something this important - we shouldn't have to rely on community forums to understand basic reporting rules, but I'm so grateful everyone shared their experiences here. The message is loud and clear: report ALL forms of paid leave as wages when received, keep thorough documentation, and it's much better to have temporarily reduced benefits than deal with collections later. Thank you to everyone who took the time to help newcomers like me navigate this confusing system - this community knowledge is priceless!

I'm also new to SDI and just joined this community after finding this incredibly helpful thread! I'm currently in the application process for disability benefits due to a recent surgery, and my employer mentioned they'll be processing my vacation payout soon. Like so many others here, I had absolutely no idea about the reporting requirements until I read through everyone's experiences. The consensus is crystal clear: vacation pay MUST be reported as wages during the certification period when you actually receive it, regardless of when you originally earned that time. The overpayment stories shared here are definitely scary enough to motivate me to be extra careful about reporting everything correctly! It's really frustrating that EDD's official documentation doesn't clearly explain something this critical - we shouldn't have to rely on community forums to understand basic reporting rules. But I'm so grateful everyone took the time to share their real-world experiences here. The message is loud and clear: report ALL forms of paid leave (vacation, sick time, PTO) as wages when received, keep detailed documentation, and it's much better to have temporarily reduced benefits for one week than deal with collections and penalties later. Thank you to this amazing community for providing the guidance that EDD's materials fail to deliver clearly!

Philip, what an incredible journey this has been to follow! As someone new to this community, I'm amazed by the wealth of knowledge and support you've received here. Your situation really highlights how confusing the transition between different disability insurance systems can be. I'm currently considering a move from private sector to a school district myself, and honestly, I had no idea about this potential gap in disability coverage. Your post has been incredibly educational - I'm definitely going to ask about this during my interview process now! It sounds like you've done everything absolutely right by applying based on your retail job contributions. Three years of paying into SDI should definitely work in your favor. The fact that so many people here have been through similar situations and had positive outcomes is really encouraging. I hope your surgery goes smoothly and your recovery is quick! Thank you for sharing your experience with the community - posts like this are invaluable for people navigating these complex benefit transitions. Please keep us updated on your approval status!

Philip, I've been following your thread and I'm so impressed with how you've handled this situation! As someone who recently went through a similar career transition (left a corporate job to work for the city), I can totally relate to that panic when you realize there's a gap in disability coverage. Your story is actually giving me confidence about my own situation - I've been putting off a knee surgery that I probably need because I wasn't sure about my SDI eligibility. Like you, I paid into the system for several years at my previous job before switching to municipal employment. Reading about your experience and all the helpful responses here is making me think I should stop delaying and just apply when I'm ready for surgery. It's so great that you took action quickly and applied with all your documentation. The fact that you were transparent about your employment transition from the start shows you're handling this exactly right. I'm really hopeful you'll get approved soon - three years of consistent SDI contributions should definitely work in your favor! Thanks for sharing your journey with the community. Posts like yours are so valuable for those of us navigating these tricky benefit transitions. Wishing you a successful surgery and speedy recovery!

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - chronic migraines that have gotten worse over time, and my employer is already making comments about how "difficult" it would be to accommodate my needs. Reading through everyone's responses has been really helpful, especially the advice about documentation and the interactive process. One thing I wanted to add - if you do end up needing to apply for unemployment after being terminated, make sure you're prepared for the work search requirements. Even with accommodations needed, you'll still need to show you're actively looking for work that can accommodate your condition. I'd suggest starting to research employers in your field who are known to be disability-friendly, just in case. Also, has your doctor discussed intermittent FMLA as an option? Sometimes having that protection in place can help bridge the gap while you're working out longer-term accommodations or transitioning between benefits. It's not a perfect solution but it might give you some additional job protection during flare-ups. Best of luck with whatever path you choose. This system definitely isn't designed for people with chronic conditions, but there are ways to navigate it successfully.

I'm going through something very similar right now - also dealing with chronic vestibular migraines and an employer who's already pushing back on accommodations before I've even formally requested them. The information everyone has shared here is incredibly valuable. One thing I learned from my disability attorney (yes, I ended up needing one) is that the timing of your documentation is crucial. Make sure your doctor's accommodation letter is very specific about what you CAN do with accommodations, not just what you can't do without them. EDD looks at your "residual functional capacity" - basically what work you're still capable of performing. Also, if your employer does terminate you, file for unemployment immediately even if you think you might not qualify. Don't let them discourage you from applying. The worst they can do is deny you, and then you can appeal with better documentation. I've seen too many people talk themselves out of benefits they were actually entitled to. One more tip - start keeping a symptom diary now if you aren't already. Document how your condition affects your work capacity day by day. This can be incredibly helpful evidence if you need it for unemployment appeals, SSDI applications, or even potential legal action against your employer. The transition from SDI to other benefits is genuinely confusing and the system doesn't make it easy, but you have more options than it might seem right now.

I've been on SDI for a permanent disability for about 18 months now, and I've learned a few things that might help you. For the DE 2593 certifications, I always include my doctor's information even when I haven't seen them recently - name, contact info, and the actual date of my last visit (which can be several months old). What really helped me was establishing a clear pattern early on. After my condition was documented as permanent, I scheduled brief "maintenance" appointments every 4-5 months - not because my condition changed, but just to maintain that doctor-patient relationship on paper. These appointments are usually just 10-15 minutes where my doctor confirms my condition is stable and renews any prescriptions. One thing to watch out for: if you go too long without any medical contact (I've heard 8-12 months depending on your case), EDD might flag your account for review. It's much easier to prevent this with occasional check-ins than to deal with a benefits interruption later. The small copay for these brief appointments is worth the peace of mind knowing your benefits won't get disrupted over a technicality.

I've been through this exact situation! For permanent disability certifications, you absolutely need to include your doctor's information even if your last visit was months ago. Put down your doctor's name, contact info, and the actual February date when you last saw them. What helped me was calling my doctor's office to explain that I need periodic "disability maintenance" appointments - not for treatment, but just to maintain the medical record for EDD purposes. Most doctors understand this requirement. I schedule these about every 5-6 months, and they're usually quick 15-minute visits where the doctor just confirms my condition status. The key thing is that EDD needs to see an ongoing doctor-patient relationship documented, even for permanent conditions. Your original paperwork establishing the permanent status is important, but the ongoing certifications still require current medical supervision on file. Don't stress too much about the February date being "old" - just make sure to get a follow-up appointment scheduled soon to keep everything current going forward.

This thread is incredibly helpful! I'm currently dealing with my first SDI claim and the waiting period between approval and payment has been so stressful. Seeing everyone's consistent experiences with the 3-6 business day timeline really helps set realistic expectations. @Issac Nightingale thank you for coming back to update with your exact timeline - knowing it was 5 business days from seeing approved amounts to money in account is exactly the kind of real-world data that helps. I'm definitely going to set up those bank text alerts that @Benjamin Carter mentioned and check out the Payment Activity section tip from @Dmitry Popov. It's such a relief to know that while EDD is notoriously slow with approvals, the actual payment process after approval is fairly predictable. This community support makes navigating this whole process so much less overwhelming!

This thread is gold! I'm currently on day 4 since my SDI claim showed approved with benefit amounts listed, so reading everyone's experiences has been incredibly reassuring. The 3-6 business day timeline seems really consistent across all the stories shared here. @Issac Nightingale thanks so much for updating with your actual results - that 5-day timeline gives me realistic expectations for my own situation. I just checked my Payment Activity section thanks to @Dmitry Popov's tip and it's still showing pending, but at least now I know where to look for early updates. Also set up those bank text alerts that @Benjamin Carter mentioned - brilliant suggestion! It's amazing how much more helpful real community experiences are compared to EDD's official (lack of) information. The waiting is definitely nerve-wracking when you have bills due, but knowing the payment process is fairly predictable once approved really helps manage the anxiety. Hoping to join the success stories here in the next day or two!