Welcome to the community @Anna Kerber! This thread has been a lifesaver for so many people dealing with EDD's frustrating system bugs. The "enter current name as other name" workaround seems to work for both SDI and UI claims from what I've seen. Make sure to enter your name exactly as it appears on your Social Security card when you try it tomorrow. Also, if you run into any other weird errors, don't hesitate to post here - this community is really good at crowdsourcing solutions when EDD's system acts up. Good luck with your claim!

This thread is exactly what this community is all about - people helping each other navigate EDD's broken systems! I've been following the 2025 SDI system update issues closely since I work in benefits administration, and the "enter current name as other name" bug is unfortunately very common right now. What's particularly frustrating is that EDD hasn't officially acknowledged this widespread issue or provided guidance to claimants. I'm seeing similar database integration problems across multiple state benefit systems that upgraded their verification processes this year. For anyone still struggling with identity verification issues, document everything with screenshots - if you end up needing to escalate to a supervisor or file a complaint, having proof of the system errors is really helpful. Thanks to everyone who shared their solutions here!

I'm new to this community but wanted to share my recent experience since it's so relevant to your situation! I just successfully switched from UI to SDI about 6 weeks ago and the process went much smoother than I expected. Like you, I filed for unemployment first (in my case for a layoff) but then realized I qualified for disability due to chronic migraines that were actually preventing me from working effectively. The key things that made my case successful: 1. My neurologist was able to document that my condition existed before my job loss - I had been seeing them for months prior 2. I called EDD immediately once I decided to switch and was completely honest about the situation 3. I made sure to emphasize that I initially filed UI because I didn't understand the difference, not because I was trying to deceive anyone The EDD rep I spoke with was actually really understanding and said this happens more often than people think. They withdrew my UI claim the same day and I filed for SDI that afternoon. My first disability payment came exactly 3 weeks later. Your situation sounds even stronger than mine was since you have documented therapy sessions from before your termination and your therapist is supportive of the disability claim. The fact that your mental health issues were directly caused by the toxic work environment should actually work in your favor. Don't let the horror stories scare you too much - while EDD can be bureaucratic, they do process legitimate claims properly when you have good documentation. Focus on getting that medical certification completed thoroughly and you should be in good shape!

I'm new to this community and this thread has been absolutely invaluable! I'm actually dealing with a very similar situation right now - filed for UI about 10 days ago after losing my job, but I've been struggling with severe PTSD from a workplace incident that happened about 4 months ago. My psychiatrist just told me yesterday that I should be on disability instead of trying to work. Reading through everyone's experiences here, I feel much more confident about making this switch. The consensus seems to be that as long as you haven't certified for UI benefits yet and you have proper medical documentation showing the condition existed before job loss, EDD is generally reasonable about allowing the transition. @Carmen Reyes - your situation with having therapy records from before termination puts you in a really strong position. The fact that your therapist specifically mentioned the condition prevents you from doing your coding work will be crucial for the DE 2501 form. One thing I'd add from my research is that when you call EDD to withdraw your UI claim, it might help to mention that you're switching because you received "new medical information" about your condition rather than saying you "changed your mind." This frames it as getting proper medical guidance rather than just switching for better benefits. Also wanted to echo what others said about workers' comp - if your mental health condition was directly caused by that toxic work environment, it's definitely worth exploring alongside or instead of SDI. The benefits can be significantly better and there's no waiting period. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this community is amazing for helping navigate these complex situations!

I'm reading through all these responses and feeling both relieved and frustrated - relieved that I'm not alone in this mess, but frustrated that so many of us are stuck in the same broken system! I just wanted to add my experience since I finally got some movement on my claim after 7 weeks of hell. What worked for me was a combination of things: I sent Ask EDD messages every few days (being polite but persistent), called using the 2-1-1 trick during off-peak hours, AND contacted my state assembly member's office. The assembly member's office was the game-changer - they have a dedicated EDD liaison who could actually see what was happening with my claim. Turns out my application WAS in the system, but there was a coding error that prevented it from showing up in SDI Online. The liaison got it fixed within 48 hours, and I received my first payment a week later. For anyone still struggling: don't give up on the assembly member route. Find your representative online and call their local office (not the DC office). Tell them you're a constituent dealing with an EDD disability claim issue and ask to speak with their EDD liaison. They deal with these problems all the time and actually have the power to cut through the red tape. The system is absolutely broken, but there are people who can help if you know where to look. Hang in there everyone!

I'm going through the exact same situation right now and this thread has been incredibly helpful! I mailed my disability application 5 weeks ago and have been stuck in phone hell ever since. After reading all these responses, I feel like I finally have a roadmap of what to do next. A few things that really stood out to me: - The explanation that mailed applications need to be manually entered before showing up online makes SO much sense - The assembly member liaison option sounds like the most promising solution based on everyone's experiences - The Ask EDD messaging feature seems to be more reliable than the phone system I'm going to start with sending detailed messages through Ask EDD today, then contact my assembly member's office if I don't get a response within a few days. It's frustrating that we have to become advocates for ourselves just to get basic information, but at least now I know there are actual people who can help cut through the bureaucracy. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and solutions - knowing that others have successfully navigated this broken system gives me hope that I'll eventually get answers too. I'll update this thread when I make progress in case it helps others in the same boat!

This has been such an educational thread to follow! As someone new to this community, I'm really impressed by how everyone came together to help clarify such an important issue. I wanted to add one more resource that might be helpful - the California Labor Commissioner's office also has a multilingual helpline (1-844-522-6734) where workers can get information about their rights, including workers' compensation. They're specifically trained to help people understand the difference between various benefit programs. It's clear from this discussion that your husband's situation is definitely a workers' comp case, not SDI, since the injury happened at work. The fact that his employer is trying to discourage the workers' comp claim is unfortunately common but absolutely not legal. California's workers' compensation system is designed to protect ALL workers who get injured on the job, regardless of immigration status. Keep advocating for what's right - your husband paid into these systems through his work and deserves the full protection and benefits they provide. Wishing him a speedy recovery and hoping the claim process goes smoothly once you get it filed properly!

This thread has been incredibly informative! As a newcomer to this community, I'm amazed by how everyone worked together to help identify that this is actually a workers' compensation case rather than just an SDI claim. For anyone else who might find this thread in the future, here are the key points I learned: 1. **Work injury = Workers' Comp, NOT SDI** - If the injury happened at work, you should file for workers' compensation which typically provides better benefits (about 2/3 of wages PLUS medical coverage) 2. **All workers are protected in California** - Immigration status doesn't matter for workers' comp benefits if you've been paying into the system 3. **Employers can't decide what qualifies** - If an employer tries to steer you away from workers' comp, that's a red flag. They don't get to determine eligibility 4. **Resources available**: - DWC-1 form (can download yourself if employer won't provide) - California Division of Workers' Compensation: 1-800-736-7401 - Labor Commissioner's multilingual helpline: 1-844-522-6734 - Free legal clinics through California Department of Industrial Relations Thank you to everyone who shared their expertise and personal experiences. This is exactly the kind of community support that helps people navigate these complex systems and get the benefits they've earned!

I'm sorry you're going through this situation. Workplace harassment is serious and it sounds like you made the right decision for your mental health. Just wanted to add a few practical tips based on what others have shared: When you call EDD (or use one of those callback services mentioned), have all your documentation ready before the call - dates, specific incidents, any attempts you made to resolve it. Write out a timeline so you don't forget important details during the interview. Also, since you mentioned the harassment was affecting your mental health, if you end up seeing a doctor or counselor about stress/anxiety from this situation, keep those records too. While it won't qualify you for disability as someone mentioned, it could serve as additional evidence that the workplace conditions were genuinely harmful. The waiting period is stressful, but stay consistent with your certifications and work search activities. Even if the determination takes weeks, you want to show EDD you're following all the requirements during this time. Wishing you the best with this process - harassment cases can be challenging but you seem to be taking all the right steps!

I've been in a similar situation and wanted to share what worked for me. When I had my determination interview, the EDD representative was actually quite thorough and fair - they asked detailed questions but seemed genuinely interested in understanding the situation rather than just denying the claim. A few things that helped my case: 1. I created a simple spreadsheet with dates, times, what happened, and who was present for each incident 2. I saved any text messages or emails related to scheduling/work that showed the hostile environment 3. I was very specific about how the harassment interfered with my ability to do my job (customers complaining about the yelling, being unable to concentrate, etc.) The key phrase EDD looks for is whether a "reasonable person" would have quit under those circumstances. Since you tried addressing it directly with the owner multiple times and there was no higher authority to report to, that really strengthens your case. Also, don't be discouraged if it takes a while to get through to someone - the wait times are brutal but the actual representatives I've dealt with have been professional and understanding. Document everything now while it's fresh in your memory!