I'm new to this community and just want to say how incredibly helpful this entire thread has been! I'm currently in a similar situation - filed my SDI claim about 2.5 weeks ago after a knee surgery and it's still showing pending status. Reading through everyone's experiences, especially Sofia's successful resolution, has given me so much hope and practical guidance. I had no idea about services like Claimyr or the importance of verifying that all dates match between my medical forms and claim. I've been checking my EDD account obsessively but hadn't thought to call yet since I assumed I just needed to wait longer. After reading all these experiences, I'm definitely going to be more proactive about calling this week and double-checking everything with my doctor's office. It's really reassuring to see how this community supports each other through such a stressful process. The EDD system can feel so overwhelming when you're dealing with it alone, but having real advice from people who've actually navigated it successfully makes such a difference. Thank you all for sharing your knowledge - I'll make sure to update everyone once my situation changes and hopefully can help the next person who finds themselves in a similar predicament!

I'm new to this community and just wanted to add my voice to say how incredibly valuable this thread has been! I'm currently in week 3 of waiting for my SDI claim approval (filed for carpal tunnel surgery complications) and was starting to panic about the delay until I found this discussion. Sofia, your journey from frustration to resolution has been so encouraging to follow - it really demonstrates that persistence and the right approach can make all the difference. The fact that it turned out to be just a simple date discrepancy that was holding everything up is both frustrating and reassuring at the same time. I've already started implementing the advice from this thread: double-checking all my dates, making sure I'm certifying every two weeks, and I'm planning to try Claimyr this week since I've had zero luck getting through the regular phone lines. It's amazing how much practical knowledge this community has that you simply can't find anywhere else. Thank you everyone for being so generous with sharing your experiences and creating such a supportive environment. The EDD system can feel so isolating when you're going through it alone, but communities like this remind you that you're not the only one dealing with these challenges. I'll definitely update everyone once my situation changes - hopefully with good news to share soon!

I've been following this thread because I'm dealing with something similar as a remote worker. One thing that hasn't been mentioned yet is that you might want to check if your employer has been correctly handling other CA employment law requirements too - like meal/rest break premiums, overtime calculations, and final pay timing rules. Since CA has some of the most employee-friendly laws in the country, working remotely from CA means you're entitled to all those protections even if your company is based elsewhere. If they've been missing the SDI piece, they might have missed other compliance issues too. Also, regarding your variable hours (15-22/week), make sure your employer understands that CA considers you a part-time employee with full rights to SDI/PFL benefits. Some out-of-state employers mistakenly think part-time workers aren't covered by CA disability programs, but that's not true. You might want to suggest your employer consult with a CA employment attorney or HR specialist who deals with remote worker compliance. It'll cost them some money upfront but could save major headaches (and penalties) down the road. Good luck with everything!

I just went through this exact situation last year! My employer (based in Oregon) had been incorrectly withholding for their state instead of CA SDI for almost 3 years while I worked remotely from San Francisco. Here's what actually worked for me: **The process that worked:** 1. Applied for PFL immediately while corrections were pending - don't wait! 2. Got a letter from my employer acknowledging the error and confirming they were filing corrections 3. Used the "Additional Information" section in my EDD application to explain the payroll error situation 4. Called EDD (used Claimyr after getting nowhere with regular calls) and got assigned a specialist who could track my case **Timeline:** It took about 6 weeks total from application to first payment, but that included 3 weeks of back-and-forth with documentation. Once EDD understood the situation and had proof my employer was correcting it, they approved the claim retroactively. **Key tip:** Make sure your employer files the DE 9ADJ forms for ALL quarters you've worked in CA, not just recent ones. My employer initially only wanted to correct the last quarter, but EDD needed the full work history to establish my base period wages. The part-time hours won't hurt you at all - your benefit amount is calculated on your highest quarter earnings in the base period. Since you're already bonding with your baby, time is definitely a factor, so start the application process ASAP while your employer handles the corrections. Good luck!

This is such a common source of confusion! Miguel is absolutely right - you should select "Illness/Pregnancy Disability" for the SDI application. Think of it this way: the SDI system needs to know what's currently making you unable to work, not what originally separated you from your job. Your pregnancy is the medical condition that's preventing you from working now, which is exactly what SDI covers. Your timeline sounds perfect - transitioning from UI to SDI at 36 weeks is very typical. When you call EDD, they can also confirm that selecting pregnancy disability is correct and help ensure a smooth transition between the two programs. One tip: keep documentation of both your layoff (for UI records) and your pregnancy disability dates (for SDI) - having clear records of the transition will be helpful if any questions come up later. You're handling this exactly right by being proactive about the switch!

I completely agree with Miguel and Mei - definitely select "Illness/Pregnancy Disability" on your SDI application! You're absolutely doing the right thing by transitioning from UI to SDI at 36 weeks. That question on the SDI form is specifically asking about your current medical reason for being unable to work, not your employment history. Since pregnancy is what's preventing you from working now (not the layoff from December), that's what SDI needs to know about. Your plan sounds solid - calling EDD to stop your UI claim and certifying as unable to work this Sunday will create a clean transition. Just make sure you have your healthcare provider complete the medical certification portion of your SDI claim, as that's required for pregnancy disability benefits. Don't stress too much about this - you're being very thoughtful about the process and asking the right questions. The EDD representatives should be able to confirm everything when you call them. Good luck with your claim and congratulations on your upcoming arrival!

Hey OP, when you do get through to someone, make sure to get their name and ID number. It helps if you need to follow up later.

@Nadia Zaldivar I went through the exact same thing a few months ago! The wage continuation error is super common. Here's what worked for me: When you call (and yes, you'll need to call), be very clear that you made an error on the initial form and need to correct the wage continuation question. They can actually update this in their system without you having to file a whole new claim. Also, if you have any documentation from your employer showing you didn't receive continued wages (like a final paystub or termination letter), have that ready. The whole process took about 2 weeks for me once I got through to someone. Don't give up - you've got this! 💪

This whole thread is so helpful! I'm in a similar boat - just got the same request from EDD and was totally overwhelmed. Reading through everyone's experiences and tips has made me feel way less alone in this mess. Special shoutout to @KaiEsmeralda for that incredibly detailed guide - you're amazing! One thing I'm curious about: has anyone had success with submitting everything at once versus breaking it up into smaller batches? I'm worried about file size limits but also don't want to flood them with separate emails. Also, for those who've been through this - how long did it typically take for them to review everything once submitted? Thanks again everyone for sharing your experiences. This community is a lifesaver! 🙏

I just went through this exact process last month! Here's what worked for me: Upload everything through your EDD online account portal if possible - it's way more reliable than email. I organized my paystubs chronologically (oldest to newest) and created one master PDF with clear page breaks between months. For your photo ID, scan both front and back on the same page so they can see it's all one document. Make sure the scan is high quality - they rejected my first attempt because the text was too blurry. Pro tip: Create a simple cover letter listing exactly what you're submitting (12 months paystubs from X date to Y date, photo ID, etc.) with your claim number at the top. This helps them process it faster. The whole review took about 3 weeks for me. Don't panic if you don't hear back right away - they're swamped but they will get to it. Keep copies of everything and screenshot your submission confirmations! You got this! The process sucks but once it's done, it's done. 💪