I'm going through the exact same thing right now! Had my baby via C-section 5 days ago and my SDI payments stopped immediately after delivery. I submitted the birth information through the online portal yesterday morning and have been obsessively checking my account ever since. Reading through all these experiences has been such a huge relief - I was starting to panic that something was wrong with my claim! It's so helpful to know that 5-7 business days seems to be the standard processing time right now. The timing really couldn't be worse though - I have my mortgage payment due next week and was counting on this SDI payment. I'm definitely going to take everyone's advice here and call my mortgage company tomorrow to explain the EDD delay situation. @Amina Bah thanks for starting this thread! It's oddly comforting to know so many of us are dealing with this exact same bureaucratic nightmare at such an overwhelming time. The fact that this is so common really shows how broken the system is for new parents. Fingers crossed we all get our payments processed soon! And congratulations on your little one! 💕

I'm currently going through this same situation! Had my baby 2 weeks ago and submitted the birth info through the online portal 3 days ago. The financial stress is so real when you have bills due and payments just suddenly stop. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly reassuring - it sounds like 5-7 business days is pretty typical for processing right now. I've started calling my utility companies and credit card companies to explain the EDD delay, and most have been surprisingly understanding about extending due dates. One thing I learned from my sister who went through this last year - she said to keep checking both your SDI online account AND your bank account, because sometimes the payment shows up before the online portal updates. Also, she recommended taking screenshots of everything you submit in the future, which I wish I had thought of! The whole system really seems designed to stress out new parents at the worst possible time, but it's comforting to know this is just a routine processing delay and not an actual problem with our claims. Hang in there everyone - sounds like we should all hopefully see movement early next week! 💕

Hey Dominique! I went through the exact same anxiety when I started my first SDI claim for shoulder surgery last year. The "automatic payment" designation is definitely a good thing - it means you're all set and don't need to do the bi-weekly certification dance like with unemployment benefits. From my experience, the payments really do come automatically every two weeks once your doctor's certification is processed. I was paranoid too and kept checking my account obsessively the first few weeks! What helped me was writing down the expected payment dates on my calendar so I knew when to look for them. One small tip that saved me some stress: if you haven't already, take a photo of all your paperwork with your phone. I had to reference my original claim documents a few times during my recovery period, and having digital copies was super convenient. The automatic system really is one of the better parts of California's disability program. Focus on healing - the payments will take care of themselves! Wishing you a smooth recovery from your carpal tunnel surgery.

I'm going through my first SDI claim too and this whole thread has been incredibly helpful! Just got my paperwork yesterday for a knee surgery claim and was having the exact same confusion about whether "automatic payment" meant I still needed to certify or not. Reading everyone's experiences here has put my mind so much at ease. It's amazing how the EDD paperwork can be so unclear when you're already stressed about recovery and finances. I'm definitely going to implement some of the suggestions here - setting up bank notifications, taking photos of all documents, and marking payment dates on my calendar. Quick question for anyone who's been through this - do the automatic payments typically start right away once your doctor submits the certification, or is there usually a waiting period? My surgery is scheduled for next week and I'm trying to plan my finances accordingly. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences - this community has been a lifesaver for understanding the SDI process!

I went through something similar earlier this year. A few things that helped me figure out what was going on: 1. Log into your SDI Online account if you haven't already - sometimes there are notices or requests for additional info that don't get mailed out 2. Check if your extension was actually processed - you should see it reflected in your claim status 3. Sometimes there's a waiting period between when your original benefits end and the extension kicks in, even if approved 4. Make sure your doctor used the most recent version of the form - they updated it a few months ago The good news is that if your extension gets approved, you should get back pay for any missed weeks. But yeah, the waiting and uncertainty is the worst part. Hope you get it sorted out soon!

I had a similar experience last year - my SDI payments just stopped out of nowhere even though I thought everything was filed correctly. Turns out there was a processing backlog and my extension was sitting in limbo for almost 3 weeks. What finally helped was sending a follow-up fax with copies of everything (the extension form, my doctor's notes, etc.) along with a cover letter explaining the situation. I know fax seems old school, but they seem to respond to those faster than online submissions. Also, if you have any documentation showing when you originally submitted the extension, include that too - it helps establish a timeline. The whole process is incredibly stressful when you're depending on those payments. Keep pushing and don't let them forget about your case!

Welcome to the community! You're smart to start documenting everything from the beginning - it really does make a huge difference when dealing with EDD. One thing I'd add is to also keep track of any phone calls you make (date, time, who you spoke with, confirmation numbers if they give you any). The recovery forms usually come around the 12-week mark, but every case is different. Don't hesitate to ask questions here - this community has been incredibly helpful for navigating all the confusing parts of the SDI process. Good luck with your claim!

This is such a helpful thread! I'm currently going through my first SDI claim after a work injury and this conversation has answered so many questions I didn't even know I had yet. The recovery form process sounds like it would be really confusing if you weren't expecting it - I'm glad @Sofia Rodriguez got it sorted out and thanks to everyone for explaining the timeline and process so clearly. I'm definitely going to start keeping detailed records of everything from day one based on everyone's advice here. It's great to see how supportive this community is!

Any update on your situation? Did you manage to get it resolved?

So glad you got it resolved! That's exactly what happened to me too - a tiny difference in the medical coding that created a system flag. It's frustrating that these technical glitches can hold up payments for weeks, but at least now you know what to watch for if you need to submit another continuous cert in the future. The ICD code thing seems to be a common issue - might be worth mentioning to others who are stuck in pending status to have their doctors double-check that the codes match exactly from the original certification.