Wow, what an incredible resource this thread has become! I'm dealing with a similar situation after knee surgery and was feeling completely overwhelmed by the SDI extension process until I found this discussion. The collective wisdom here is amazing - from the detailed breakdown of required forms to the practical tips about tracking submissions and managing potential payment gaps. It's clear that success with SDI extensions really comes down to being proactive, staying organized, and not assuming that either EDD or your doctor's office will handle everything automatically. I'm definitely going to implement the checklist approach and make sure I understand whether my orthopedic surgeon's office does electronic or paper submissions. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences - you've turned what felt like an impossible bureaucratic maze into a manageable process with clear steps. This is exactly the kind of community support that makes such a difference when you're already dealing with the stress of recovery!

As someone who just went through the SDI extension process after rotator cuff surgery, I wanted to add a few things that helped me navigate this successfully. First, when you call your doctor's office about the Supplemental Medical Certificate, ask to speak directly with whoever handles their EDD/disability paperwork - often there's one specific person who knows the process inside and out. Second, I found it helpful to send my doctor's office a brief email with my SDI claim number, current benefit end date, and the specific form name (DE 2525XX) so they had everything in writing. This prevented any miscommunication about what was needed. Also, if you're like me and tend to overthink things during recovery (pain meds don't help with anxiety!), set up text or email alerts through your SDI Online account - seeing those confirmation notifications when forms are received really helped my peace of mind. One last tip: if you're dealing with any cognitive fog from pain medication or just the stress of recovery, don't hesitate to have a trusted family member help you double-check all your paperwork before submission. Fresh eyes catch mistakes you might miss when you're not feeling 100%. Hope this helps and that your back surgery recovery goes smoothly!

I've been following this thread since I started having issues with my own SDI claim three weeks ago, and I just wanted to say how incredible this community is! I finally got through yesterday using the combination approach that so many people have shared success with - sent a fax using @Sadie Benitez's format on Tuesday, then called Wednesday morning at 7 AM sharp using @Diez Ellis's overpayment transfer method. After 2 hours on hold, I finally reached a super helpful rep who found that my claim was flagged because my employer accidentally submitted an old tax ID number. She fixed it in literally 2 minutes and said I should see payment by Friday. What really struck me was how apologetic she was about the phone system - she said they're aware of how difficult it is to reach them and that they're pushing for better solutions. The individual workers really do care; it's the system that's broken. Thank you to everyone who shared their methods and experiences here. Without this thread, I'd still be calling randomly and getting nowhere. For anyone still struggling: the combination method works, don't give up, and document everything. This community has been a lifeline during one of the most stressful times in my life!

I've been lurking on this thread for weeks while dealing with my own EDD nightmare, and I finally have some good news to share! After being stuck in "pending" status for 8 weeks (yes, 8 WEEKS!), I finally got through last Friday using the combination approach that so many of you have had success with. I sent a fax Thursday afternoon using @Sadie Benitez's exact format, then called Friday morning at 7:02 AM using @Diez Ellis's overpayment transfer method. After about 90 minutes on hold, I reached an incredibly helpful rep who discovered my claim was flagged because my doctor's office had submitted incomplete wage information - something that took her literally 45 seconds to override in their system. She was so apologetic about the wait times and explained that they're processing 60% more claims than usual with the same staffing levels from before the pandemic. I should see my backpay and regular benefits deposited by Wednesday. This community literally saved my life during the darkest financial period I've ever experienced. To anyone still struggling: the combination method WORKS, document everything, and don't give up. The system is broken but we're not, and we're all here to help each other through it. Thank you to everyone who shared their knowledge - you're heroes for helping strangers navigate this mess!

I'm going through this exact same situation right now! My doctor's office is also old-school with paper forms only, and I was really stressed about mixing formats. Reading through all these responses has been so incredibly helpful - it's clear that the hybrid online/paper approach is actually super common and totally manageable. The consistent advice about printing that pre-filled physician form from your SDI Online account (instead of letting your doctor use a blank form) seems absolutely crucial. That receipt number is obviously the key to everything getting matched up properly in EDD's system. I'm definitely taking notes on all the amazing tips shared here - especially the sticky note idea to make the receipt number extra visible, asking for faxing instead of mailing, using black ink only, and being specific about disability dates. The follow-up advice is really important too since staying proactive seems essential to prevent things from falling through the cracks. Thanks for asking this question - it's given me (and clearly many others) a solid roadmap for navigating this process! The community support here is incredible. Good luck with your carpal tunnel surgery - from everything everyone's shared, the relief will be so worth it and the SDI process will work out just fine if you follow all this great advice!

I'm actually going through this exact same process right now! My orthopedic surgeon's office also only does paper forms for SDI certifications. I was initially really worried about the mixed online/paper approach, but after reading through all these incredibly detailed responses, I feel so much more confident about the whole thing. The roadmap that's emerged from everyone's experiences is super clear: submit your portion online first, print that pre-filled physician form with your receipt number already on it, hand-deliver it to your doctor's office (love the sticky note tip!), ask about faxing instead of mailing, and stay on top of follow-up to make sure it actually gets sent. What really stands out to me is how consistent everyone's advice has been - especially about that receipt number being absolutely critical for EDD to match everything up properly. The insider tips about using black ink only, being specific about disability dates rather than vague timeframes, and making sure the diagnosis code is specific to carpal tunnel have been invaluable. It's so reassuring to know that this hybrid approach is actually really common and works well when you follow the right steps. Thanks for asking this question - it's created such a helpful resource for anyone dealing with old-school medical offices! Good luck with your surgery and recovery!

As someone who just went through this exact same nightmare last month, I wanted to share what finally worked for me after reading through all these amazing strategies! The 7:58am pre-opening call trick from @QuantumQuasar is absolutely genius - I tried it on a Thursday morning and got through in just 20 minutes. But here's an additional tip that helped me: I actually prepared two phones with the number pre-dialed, so if one got the busy signal, I could immediately try the second line. Sounds crazy but it worked! When I finally got through, asking specifically for Medical Services (thanks @Miguel Ortiz!) was the game changer. The regular rep tried to help but couldn't access the certification database. The Medical Services specialist found my paperwork immediately and discovered my doctor had submitted it under my full legal name while my claim was filed with my nickname. Fixed in 5 minutes after weeks of frustration! One thing I learned that might help others - if you're transferred to Medical Services and get put on hold again, don't panic and hang up. I almost did after waiting another 30 minutes, but the specialist was incredibly thorough and resolved everything in one call. Sometimes the wait is worth it to avoid starting over. This community has been such a lifesaver during this process. The detailed strategies and moral support here made all the difference. Don't give up everyone - these methods really work! 💪

This thread is absolutely incredible! I just spent the last hour reading through everyone's experiences and strategies, and I'm feeling so much more hopeful about my own situation. I've been stuck trying to get through to EDD about my disability claim for almost 3 weeks now with zero success. The collective knowledge shared here is amazing - from @Justin Trejo's insider timing tips to @QuantumQuasar's brilliant pre-opening call strategy and @Sean Matthews' two-phone backup method. It's like having a complete playbook for navigating this broken system! I'm particularly grateful for all the details about the Medical Services department from @Miguel Ortiz and others. My issue is also certification-related (doctor submitted but not showing in my account), so knowing there's a specialized department that can actually access those records gives me so much hope. Reading the success stories from @Serene Snow, @StarSeeker, and others proves these methods really work when executed properly. The name/data mismatch issues seem incredibly common - I'm definitely going to double-check with my doctor's office about exactly how they submitted my information. I'm planning to try the 7:58am Tuesday approach tomorrow with everything pre-organized and ready to go. This community support has been a lifesaver during such a stressful time - thank you all for sharing your hard-won knowledge and keeping each other's spirits up! 🙏

New here and just ran into this exact same issue! 😤 It's so frustrating when you're trying to do everything right and the system works against you. Reading through everyone's experiences gives me so much hope though - seems like this is way more common than I thought and definitely fixable. I'm going to try the early morning call strategy (thinking 8:02 AM based on @Sophia Rodriguez's advice) with all my documents organized beforehand. Really appreciate this community for sharing detailed solutions instead of just complaining. Planning to report back on how it goes! Fingers crossed 🤞

Just wanted to jump in as someone new to this community who's currently dealing with this exact same driver's license linking nightmare! 😫 This thread has been incredibly helpful - it's amazing to see so many detailed success stories and practical advice. I had no idea this was such a common issue or that there were specific strategies like calling at 8:01-8:02 AM and asking for technical specialists. I'm planning to call tomorrow morning with all my documents ready (SSN, license number, address history, DOB). Really appreciate everyone taking the time to share their experiences and solutions rather than just venting about the problem. This is exactly the kind of community support that makes these bureaucratic headaches bearable! I'll definitely update everyone on how my call goes. Thanks for all the encouragement and detailed tips! 🙏