I went through this exact same situation when I switched from unemployment to disability benefits in 2023! The panic is real when you see payments processed but can't access them. Just to echo what everyone else has said - definitely call Bank of America directly at 1-866-692-9374, NOT EDD. One additional tip that saved me time: when you call BofA, press option 2 for "lost or stolen card" right away instead of going through the main menu. It gets you to the right department faster. Also, they'll ask for the last 4 digits of your SSN and your ZIP code for verification - have those ready. The good news is that once you report the card lost, they'll cancel the old one immediately so no one else can use it if they found it. Your money is 100% safe in the account. I know waiting 7-10 days for the new card feels like forever when you need the money, but it's worth it to avoid the expedited shipping fee unless you absolutely have no other option. Hang in there - this is super common and you'll have your money soon! Hope your back surgery recovery goes smoothly.

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm actually dealing with a similar situation right now - just started my disability claim for a knee injury and realized I have no idea where my old EDD card from 2021 is. Reading through everyone's experiences has made me feel so much better about calling Bank of America tomorrow. One thing I wanted to ask - has anyone had issues with the address verification? I moved twice since I last used my EDD card and I'm worried that might complicate getting the replacement. I already updated my address with EDD for my disability claim, but I'm not sure if Bank of America automatically gets that updated address or if I need to verify it separately when I call about the lost card. Also, for anyone still reading this thread - I found a really helpful FAQ on the EDD website that explains the whole Bank of America card situation. It's buried in their disability insurance section, but it confirms everything people have said here about using the same card for all benefits. Just search for "SDI debit card" on the EDD site if you want to read the official info while you're waiting for your replacement card to arrive!

Just wanted to share my recent experience with this process! I submitted my extension paperwork about 3 weeks ago and it went pretty smoothly. One thing I learned is that you can track the status of your submission through your EDD online portal - they actually update it more frequently than I expected. Also, if your doctor's office is familiar with EDD forms, they might have helpful tips on how to word things properly. My doctor's assistant mentioned they deal with these extensions all the time and knew exactly what EDD looks for. Don't stress too much about it - the process is more straightforward than it seems once you get all the paperwork together!

Just went through this process myself last month! One thing I wish someone had told me earlier - if you're close to your current benefit end date, you can actually submit the extension request up to 30 days before it expires. Don't wait until the last minute like I did! Also, make sure to keep your doctor's original note for your records and only send copies to EDD. I learned this the hard way when they asked for additional documentation later. The whole process took about 2-3 weeks for me, so plan accordingly. Hope this helps and wishing you a smooth extension process! 🤞

I'm also completely new to the disability system and just starting to navigate this whole process! My doctor is equally old-school and refuses to use any technology - it's so frustrating that we're essentially punished with longer wait times just because our healthcare providers won't adapt to modern systems. I haven't submitted my paperwork yet but I'm already feeling anxious about the waiting period after reading everyone's experiences here. The timeline variability is definitely nerve-wracking, but it's really helpful to see real people sharing their actual day counts and experiences rather than just vague government estimates. I'm definitely taking notes on all the great advice here - sending certified mail, creating the SDI Online account beforehand, keeping detailed records, and calling at the 3-week mark. It's overwhelming to think about dealing with this bureaucratic maze when we should be focusing on our health and recovery. Really grateful for this community for helping newcomers like me understand what to realistically expect. Sending positive thoughts to everyone currently stuck in the waiting phase - we shouldn't have to stress about this on top of our medical issues! 🤞

I'm also brand new to this whole disability process and currently dealing with the exact same frustrating situation! My doctor is equally stuck in the stone age when it comes to technology and flat-out refuses to use SDI Online. I just mailed my forms yesterday and I'm already feeling anxious about the wait ahead. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been both incredibly helpful and honestly pretty scary - seeing timelines range from 2 weeks to 2+ months is nerve-wracking when you're already stressed about bills and health issues. I really appreciate all the practical advice being shared here about sending certified mail (wish I had thought of that!), creating the SDI Online account ahead of time, keeping detailed records, and calling at the 3-week mark if nothing appears. It's so frustrating that we're essentially penalized with longer processing times just because our healthcare providers won't modernize their practices. The fact that we have to become experts in navigating bureaucracy when we should be focusing on recovery is just adding insult to injury. Really grateful for this community for sharing real experiences and specific timelines - it helps so much to know what to actually expect rather than just crossing our fingers and hoping. Sending solidarity to everyone currently stuck in this paper submission waiting game! 🤞

I'm going through the exact same thing right now! Had my baby via C-section 5 days ago and my SDI payments stopped immediately after delivery. I submitted the birth information through the online portal yesterday morning and have been obsessively checking my account ever since. Reading through all these experiences has been such a huge relief - I was starting to panic that something was wrong with my claim! It's so helpful to know that 5-7 business days seems to be the standard processing time right now. The timing really couldn't be worse though - I have my mortgage payment due next week and was counting on this SDI payment. I'm definitely going to take everyone's advice here and call my mortgage company tomorrow to explain the EDD delay situation. @Amina Bah thanks for starting this thread! It's oddly comforting to know so many of us are dealing with this exact same bureaucratic nightmare at such an overwhelming time. The fact that this is so common really shows how broken the system is for new parents. Fingers crossed we all get our payments processed soon! And congratulations on your little one! 💕

I'm currently going through this same situation! Had my baby 2 weeks ago and submitted the birth info through the online portal 3 days ago. The financial stress is so real when you have bills due and payments just suddenly stop. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly reassuring - it sounds like 5-7 business days is pretty typical for processing right now. I've started calling my utility companies and credit card companies to explain the EDD delay, and most have been surprisingly understanding about extending due dates. One thing I learned from my sister who went through this last year - she said to keep checking both your SDI online account AND your bank account, because sometimes the payment shows up before the online portal updates. Also, she recommended taking screenshots of everything you submit in the future, which I wish I had thought of! The whole system really seems designed to stress out new parents at the worst possible time, but it's comforting to know this is just a routine processing delay and not an actual problem with our claims. Hang in there everyone - sounds like we should all hopefully see movement early next week! 💕

Hey Dominique! I went through the exact same anxiety when I started my first SDI claim for shoulder surgery last year. The "automatic payment" designation is definitely a good thing - it means you're all set and don't need to do the bi-weekly certification dance like with unemployment benefits. From my experience, the payments really do come automatically every two weeks once your doctor's certification is processed. I was paranoid too and kept checking my account obsessively the first few weeks! What helped me was writing down the expected payment dates on my calendar so I knew when to look for them. One small tip that saved me some stress: if you haven't already, take a photo of all your paperwork with your phone. I had to reference my original claim documents a few times during my recovery period, and having digital copies was super convenient. The automatic system really is one of the better parts of California's disability program. Focus on healing - the payments will take care of themselves! Wishing you a smooth recovery from your carpal tunnel surgery.

I'm going through my first SDI claim too and this whole thread has been incredibly helpful! Just got my paperwork yesterday for a knee surgery claim and was having the exact same confusion about whether "automatic payment" meant I still needed to certify or not. Reading everyone's experiences here has put my mind so much at ease. It's amazing how the EDD paperwork can be so unclear when you're already stressed about recovery and finances. I'm definitely going to implement some of the suggestions here - setting up bank notifications, taking photos of all documents, and marking payment dates on my calendar. Quick question for anyone who's been through this - do the automatic payments typically start right away once your doctor submits the certification, or is there usually a waiting period? My surgery is scheduled for next week and I'm trying to plan my finances accordingly. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences - this community has been a lifesaver for understanding the SDI process!