I'm so sorry you're going through this - the DE 2593 backlog is absolutely devastating right now! I just went through the exact same situation and finally got my benefits restored after 10 weeks of pure hell. Here's what I learned from this nightmare: **What actually works:** - Tuesday/Wednesday 8am calling is real - took me 18 attempts over 4 weeks but I finally got through - Assemblymember office contact is CRUCIAL - they have dedicated EDD liaisons who can actually push things through - Document literally everything with dates/times/reference numbers **The reality:** There's a massive staffing shortage and thousands of DE 2593 forms are just sitting in digital queues waiting for human review. Some reps told me they're seeing 8-12 week processing times right now, which is absolutely unacceptable but explains the delays. **Financial lifeline:** Contact your local food banks and utility assistance programs while waiting - many have emergency funds specifically for people dealing with EDD delays. It helped me survive those brutal weeks. The silver lining is that ALL your benefits will be backdated once this gets resolved. I got a lump sum for all 10 weeks I missed. Keep fighting - this system is broken but you WILL get through this! Your persistence will pay off. Sending strength! 💪❤️

I'm dealing with this exact same issue right now! Submitted my DE 2593 in early October and my benefits just stopped with no explanation. The anxiety of not knowing when (or if) payments will resume is absolutely crushing, especially when you're relying on these benefits for basic necessities. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been both comforting and terrifying - comforting to know I'm not alone, but terrifying to see how long some people have been waiting. The 8-12 week processing times that people are mentioning are just insane for what should be a routine form. I'm definitely going to try the Tuesday 8am calling strategy and reach out to my assemblymember's office based on all the success stories here. Has anyone noticed if there are certain times of the month that might be better for getting through? Like beginning vs end of month? Also, for those who got their benefits restored - did you get any advance notice that payments were resuming, or did the money just show up in your account one day? Just trying to figure out what to watch for. Thank you OP for starting this thread and thanks to everyone sharing their experiences and advice. This community support means everything when the actual system is failing us so badly! 🙏

As a newcomer to this community, I'm so grateful to have found this thread! I'm currently dealing with my own EDD SDI claim that's been stuck for 2 weeks due to missing medical documentation, and I was starting to feel completely lost in the system. PrinceJoe, your success story is incredibly inspiring - the fact that you persevered through 5 weeks of stress and finally got resolution with backdated payments gives me so much hope! The strategies shared here are absolute gold: the 8 AM calling approach, mentioning financial hardship for expedited processing, contacting assembly members, and asking about the ARTU queue. I had no idea any of these options existed! I've been calling at random times with zero success, but now I have a real action plan. It's amazing how this community provides more practical guidance than the official EDD website ever has. The support here makes dealing with this bureaucratic nightmare feel so much less isolating. Thank you all for sharing your experiences - I'm implementing the 8 AM strategy starting tomorrow morning!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm absolutely amazed by how supportive and knowledgeable everyone is here! I just started dealing with my own EDD SDI claim last week after a surgery, and I was already feeling anxious about the whole process after hearing so many horror stories. PrinceJoe, your journey from complete desperation to success is incredibly inspiring - it really shows that persistence pays off even when the system seems completely broken! The practical strategies shared throughout this thread are invaluable: the 8 AM calling technique, financial hardship expedite options, contacting assembly members, asking about the ARTU queue, and even the Claimyr service suggestion. I'm bookmarking this entire discussion as my go-to guide in case I hit any roadblocks. It's remarkable how this community provides more actionable, real-world advice than any official EDD resource. Thank you all for creating such a supportive space where people can share experiences and help each other navigate this challenging system. Hopefully my claim goes smoothly, but if not, I know exactly where to turn for help!

I had a similar issue a few months ago! What ended up working for me was creating a detailed timeline of when I first created the account, any jobs I had around that time, and any old email addresses I might have used. Then when I finally got through to someone (took many attempts), having that info ready really helped them locate my account even without access to the original email. Also, if you have any old paperwork from previous claims or tax documents that might reference your EDD account, bring those too. The more documentation you have, the easier it is for them to verify your identity and update your email. Don't give up - it's frustrating but definitely solvable!

I went through this exact same nightmare about 6 months ago! Here's what finally worked for me: I kept a detailed log of every call attempt (date, time, how long I waited, who I talked to) and started calling the moment they opened at 8 AM sharp. It took about 15 attempts over 3 weeks, but persistence paid off. When I finally got through, the rep was actually super helpful once I explained I needed to apply for disability but couldn't access my old email. They updated it on the spot after verifying my SSN, DOB, and asking about my most recent employer. The key is being really patient and polite - these reps deal with frustrated people all day, so being kind goes a long way. Also, have ALL your info ready: SSN, DOB, current address, phone number, and if you remember ANY details about previous claims or employers from when you first made the account. You got this! 💪

As someone who just went through this transition myself 6 months ago, I want to emphasize how crucial the timing is for your situation. Since you mentioned potential future medical needs, here's my experience: I applied for Elective Coverage in September and just became eligible for benefits this month. The process was smoother than expected - my DE 1378N was approved in about 2 weeks, but that 6-month waiting period is absolutely non-negotiable. I tried to get clarification from EDD about any exceptions for pre-existing coverage and was told there are none. For the assumed income calculation, I based mine on my last full year of W2 earnings plus realistic 1099 projections. The minimum they offered me was about 65% of my highest year in the last 5 years, and I went with an amount that would give me meaningful benefits if needed. One thing that really helped was setting up a separate savings account just for the quarterly SDI payments. Since you're used to having it automatically deducted from W2 paychecks, it's easy to forget you now have to make these payments manually. Missing even one quarterly payment can reset your entire waiting period. Given your timeline concerns, I'd also recommend contacting a few private disability insurers this week while you're applying for Elective Coverage. Even if the premiums are higher, having that bridge coverage could be worth the peace of mind during those critical first 6 months. The good news is that once you're enrolled, the 1099 SDI system is actually pretty straightforward compared to the W2 version. Your benefits are calculated from your assumed income rather than complex wage histories, which makes the claims process more predictable. Start that application today if you can - every day counts toward that waiting period!

I'm in a similar boat transitioning from W2 to contract work, though not due to disability. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly educational! One thing I want to add that might help others in this situation - when you're calculating your assumed income for the DE 1378N, don't forget to factor in that as a 1099 contractor you'll also be paying the full 15.3% self-employment tax (vs. 7.65% when you were W2). This means you'll need to earn more gross income to net the same take-home pay you had before. I mention this because it affects how you should think about your assumed income amount for SDI purposes. If you base it solely on your previous W2 salary, you might end up with SDI benefits that don't adequately replace your actual net income needs if you become disabled. Also, has anyone here dealt with estimated quarterly tax payments while enrolled in Elective Coverage? I'm wondering if the SDI contributions get factored into those calculations or if they're completely separate. The more I learn about this transition, the more I realize how many financial moving pieces there are beyond just the disability coverage itself. Thanks to everyone who's shared their experiences - this thread is a goldmine of practical information that you just can't find on the official EDD website!

I'm so relieved to have found this thread! I'm completely new to the SDI system and just went through this exact same panic yesterday when my continued claim form finally appeared - literally one day before the deadline. I kept checking the portal multiple times thinking there was an error with my account or that I had missed something important. Reading through all these experiences, especially @Kristian Bishop's positive update, has been incredibly reassuring and shows that this stressful timing is actually normal (even though EDD does a terrible job explaining it anywhere!). It's really frustrating how they create so much unnecessary anxiety when people are already dealing with health issues and financial stress. I certified as soon as the system let me yesterday and I'm hoping my payment processes on schedule like everyone else's did. Thank you all for sharing your stories and advice - this community support makes such a huge difference in navigating EDD's confusing processes. I'll definitely come back to update on how my payment timing works out to help other newcomers who might be going through the same worry!

As someone who's completely new to the SDI system, this entire thread has been such a lifesaver! I'm currently dealing with my first continued claim and was absolutely terrified when my form didn't become available until yesterday - literally one day before the deadline. I kept refreshing the EDD portal thinking something was broken or that I had made a mistake somewhere in my application process. Reading through everyone's experiences here, especially @Kristian Bishop's update showing everything worked out perfectly, has given me so much peace of mind. It's really unfortunate that EDD doesn't explain this timing anywhere on their website - when you're already stressed about your health and worried about making ends meet, the last thing you need is panicking about whether your benefits will come through on time. I submitted my certification as soon as the system allowed and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that my payment processes smoothly like everyone else's did. Thank you all for creating such a supportive community and sharing your experiences - it makes navigating EDD's confusing system so much more manageable for newcomers like me!