I'm so sorry you're dealing with this! The Real ID sync issue seems to be a widespread problem - I'm actually going through something similar myself where my EDD account pulled old information. Reading through all the advice here, it looks like there are a few solid approaches: calling the Identity Verification unit directly (that 1-866-362-8817 number @dd1b8aa2a47e shared sounds promising!), submitting the DE 1326C form with your marriage certificate, and doing the dual fax/mail approach to make sure nothing gets lost. The fact that so many people have successfully resolved this gives me hope! It's frustrating that we have to jump through all these hoops, but at least there's a clear path forward. Definitely keep us updated on what works for you - this thread is becoming such a valuable resource for anyone dealing with name change issues at EDD! 🙏

This thread is incredibly helpful! I'm dealing with a similar name mismatch issue where my EDD account is showing outdated info from an old DMV record. @dd1b8aa2a47e that Identity Verification unit number (1-866-362-8817) is exactly what I needed - thank you! And @8481cac4f8b0 @69e3c4673594 the detailed step-by-step advice about the DE 1326C form and dual fax/mail approach is so valuable. It's reassuring to see that so many people have successfully navigated this frustrating process. I'm going to start gathering my marriage certificate and old documents under my maiden name, then try calling that direct line first. Really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences - this community is amazing! Will definitely update with my progress 🙏

This thread is exactly what I needed to see! I just got my "authorized" notification this morning and was starting to panic when nothing showed up in my account after a few hours. I had no idea there was still a processing period after authorization - EDD really makes it sound like the money should be there immediately. It's so reassuring to read everyone's real timelines and know that 1-3 business days is totally normal. I'm definitely going to set up those bank alerts and stop obsessively checking my account every hour! Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences - this community is already saving my sanity during what's already a stressful time dealing with my disability claim.

Welcome to the community! I'm new here too and just went through this exact same panic cycle last month. Got my authorization on a Friday afternoon and spent the entire weekend convinced something went wrong because I didn't understand there was still processing time needed. This thread is honestly better than any official EDD documentation - the real experiences and timelines everyone shares here are invaluable. One additional tip I learned: if you have a credit union instead of a big bank, sometimes their ACH processing is slightly faster, so you might see your deposit on the earlier end of that 1-3 day window. But even with my credit union it still took about 30 hours from authorization to seeing the money. The waiting is brutal when you're already stressed about health and finances, but it really does come through! Definitely recommend the bank alerts suggestion - saved me from constantly refreshing my account.

Update: My doctor's office submitted the extension paperwork yesterday! They said they included detailed notes about why I can't return to construction work yet. Now I'm just waiting to see if/when it gets approved. Thanks everyone for your help - I would have been completely lost without your advice!

Great to hear you got the paperwork submitted! Just a heads up - you might want to call EDD's SDI customer service line in about a week if you don't see any updates in your online account. Sometimes extension requests get stuck in the system and a phone call can help move things along. I know the wait times are brutal, but it's worth it to avoid any potential gaps in your benefits. Also, make sure you continue doing your bi-weekly certifications even while the extension is pending - you don't want to miss any certification periods. Keep us posted on how it goes!

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this stressful situation! Everyone here has given you excellent advice about filing for SDI immediately, which is absolutely the right move. I wanted to add one practical tip that helped me when I filed my own SDI claim - when you're filling out the online application, there's usually a section where you can provide additional context or explanations. Use that space to briefly mention the timeline of events (that you submitted your medical leave request the same day you were terminated) just to create a clear record, but keep the focus on your medical condition and inability to work. Also, I'd recommend setting up online access to your EDD account right away if you haven't already. This will let you track the status of your claim and respond quickly if they need any additional documentation. The online portal is much more reliable than trying to get through by phone. Your situation sounds incredibly frustrating, but you're handling it exactly right by prioritizing your health and getting the benefits you've earned. The legal aspects others have mentioned definitely sound worth pursuing, but getting your SDI secured first is the smart approach. Wishing you a smooth recovery and hoping your surgery goes well!

I'm really glad to see you've gotten such comprehensive and helpful advice from this community! As someone who works in benefits administration, I can confirm that everyone steering you toward SDI is absolutely correct. Your situation is a textbook case for disability benefits - you have medical certification that predates your termination, which creates a clear, uncontestable timeline. One additional thing I'd mention that I haven't seen covered yet: make sure when you file your SDI claim that you indicate the correct disability start date. This should be the date your doctor first determined you were unable to work (likely when they completed your DE 2501 form), not the date you were terminated. This distinction is important for both your benefit calculation and for maintaining the medical integrity of your claim. Also, don't be surprised if the online application asks about "last day worked" versus "disability start date" - these can be different dates in situations like yours, and that's completely normal and expected. You're doing everything right by prioritizing your health and getting your benefits secured first. The potential legal case is definitely worth exploring given the suspicious timing, but having your income protected during recovery should be your immediate focus. Best of luck with your surgery and recovery!

This thread has been absolutely incredible to read through! I'm dealing with my own SDI claim that's been pending for about 4 weeks now after a work-related stress leave, and I was starting to feel completely hopeless about ever getting through to someone. Seeing Jamal's success story and all the detailed strategies everyone has shared has given me the roadmap I desperately needed. I had no idea about the 1-7-1-4 menu sequence or that calling at exactly 8:01am on Wednesday/Thursday could make such a difference. I've been calling at random times and always selecting "claim questions" which apparently routes you to the wrong place! The tip about saying "payment status" instead is genius. I'm going to try the proven approach tomorrow morning (it's Tuesday, so perfect timing for Wednesday) and will have all my documentation ready - claim number, SSN, doctor info, everything organized. The financial anxiety while waiting for benefits is crushing, especially when you're already dealing with mental health challenges. But this community has shown me that there's real hope and these delays are usually fixable once you reach the right person. Thank you all for being so generous with sharing what actually works - I'll definitely come back to update everyone on my results!

I just want to echo everyone's sentiment about how amazing this thread has been! I'm new to the community and currently dealing with my own SDI claim that's been pending for about 2 weeks after a medical procedure. Reading through all these detailed strategies has been so reassuring - I had no idea there were specific menu sequences and timing strategies that could actually work. The 8:01am Wednesday/Thursday approach with the 1-7-1-4 sequence and saying "payment status" instead of "claim questions" seems to be the golden combination based on everyone's success stories. What really stands out to me is how supportive this community is - people taking the time to come back and share what worked, offering encouragement, and providing specific actionable advice rather than just generic "keep trying" responses. Jamal's update was especially inspiring and gives me hope that most of these delays really are just technical issues that can be resolved once you reach the right person. I'm planning to try the proven strategy this Thursday morning and will definitely report back with my results. Thank you all for creating such a valuable resource for people navigating this frustrating system!