I just went through an IME for my disability claim about 3 weeks ago and wanted to share some encouragement! I was terrified after reading mixed experiences online, but it ended up being much more straightforward than I expected. The doctor was professional and thorough - spent about 25 minutes with me, asked detailed questions about my condition and daily limitations, and did a careful physical exam. I was honest about my pain levels and functional restrictions without exaggerating or downplaying anything. A few things that seemed to help: - I brought a one-page summary of my injury timeline and current treatments - Made sure to explain specifically how my condition prevents me from doing my job duties - Was clear about which activities cause increased pain or risk re-injury - Brought recent test results and imaging reports Got my decision letter 2 weeks later and my benefits are continuing! The key really seems to be good documentation and being honest about your actual limitations. Try not to stress too much beforehand - focus on clearly communicating your real functional limitations and how they impact your ability to work safely. Wishing you the best with your appointment!

I'm scheduled for an IME next week too and this thread has been incredibly helpful! Reading everyone's experiences really shows that preparation and honesty are key. I've been dealing with a work-related wrist injury for about 4 months now and I'm terrified they'll say I can go back to my data entry job when I still can't type for more than 10 minutes without severe pain. One thing I'm planning to do based on all the advice here is create that one-page summary everyone mentioned, plus I'm going to practice explaining exactly how my injury prevents me from doing my specific job tasks. It seems like being very concrete about work limitations rather than just describing general pain is what the IME doctors need to understand. For anyone else going through this - it's really reassuring to see that many people do get fair evaluations when they're prepared and honest. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences, and Zoe, definitely keep us posted on how your appointment goes! We're all rooting for you.

I'm dealing with almost the exact same situation right now! I was on SDI for a shoulder injury, returned to work after 6 weeks thinking I was ready, but had to stop again after just 12 days because the pain became unbearable. Reading through all these responses about the DE 2501R form has been incredibly helpful - I had no idea this option existed and was dreading having to file a completely new claim with another waiting period. The tip about calling EDD right at 8am is gold - I tried that yesterday and got through in under an hour compared to the 3+ hour waits I was experiencing before. My doctor's office wasn't initially familiar with the DE 2501R form, but after explaining what I learned here, they were able to get it from EDD directly. One thing I'd add for anyone else in this situation: make sure to get a confirmation number when you submit the form, and don't be afraid to follow up if you don't see movement within their stated timeframe. Sarah, I hope your surgery went well and that your recovery is going smoothly! This thread has been such a lifeline for those of us navigating this confusing process.

I'm currently in a very similar situation with a herniated disc! I returned to work after 10 weeks on SDI because my pain had decreased, but after just 3 weeks back I'm in worse shape than when I first got injured. Reading through everyone's experiences with the DE 2501R form has been incredibly eye-opening - I had no idea you could reopen a claim within the benefit year instead of filing completely new. I was dreading starting over with a new waiting period and potentially hitting benefit caps. The tip about calling right at 8am is brilliant - I've been trying to get through for days with no luck, but I'll definitely try that strategy tomorrow morning. It's both frustrating and comforting to see how common this "returning too early" situation is. Doctors really do seem to underestimate recovery time, especially for back injuries. Sarah, I hope your surgery went perfectly and that you're healing well! Thank you for asking this question - it's helping so many of us who are dealing with the exact same challenge.

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!

Just wanted to add another data point for anyone still dealing with this issue - I'm a software developer and I think I understand what's happening with the EDD system bug. When they integrated the new verification databases in 2025, they probably changed how name matching works. The system is likely doing a strict comparison between multiple data sources (SSA, DMV, credit bureaus, previous EDD records) and if there's even a tiny formatting difference (like "John Smith" vs "JOHN SMITH" or extra spaces), it flags it as a mismatch. The workaround of entering your current name as an "other name" basically tells the system "yes, I acknowledge this variation exists" which satisfies the verification logic. It's a classic integration bug that should have been caught in testing. Really glad @Max Reyes got their claim through and that this thread is helping so many people! EDD really needs to fix this properly instead of making claimants figure out these workarounds.

Sofia, I'm so sorry you're dealing with this confusion on top of recovering from surgery! I went through the same shock with the waiting period when I had my thyroid surgery last fall. It really is frustrating that they don't make this clearer upfront. The good news is that since you mentioned complications and might need more recovery time, if your doctor extends your disability beyond 14 total days, you'll get that first week paid retroactively. At your appointment tomorrow, be completely honest about your pain levels and energy - don't try to be a hero! I made that mistake initially and it definitely prolonged my recovery. Also, if you do get an extension, make sure to keep checking SDI Online for certification requirements. The system can be glitchy about notifications. Wishing you a smooth recovery and hoping your appointment goes well tomorrow!

I'm really sorry you're going through this, Sofia! The SDI waiting period is one of those "gotcha" policies that catches so many people off guard. I had my gallbladder surgery about 18 months ago and went through the exact same confusion and frustration when I saw that $0 for the first week. It's especially tough when you're already dealing with surgical recovery and medical bills. Since you mentioned complications, please don't feel any pressure to rush back to work before you're truly ready. Gallbladder surgery can be more involved than people realize, and complications can definitely extend the healing process. If your doctor extends your disability beyond the original 14 days at tomorrow's appointment, you'll get that first week paid retroactively - which would be such a relief! Be completely honest about your pain levels, energy, and how you're feeling overall. Your body is telling you what it needs, so listen to it. Recovery isn't a race, and taking the proper time now will help prevent setbacks later. Good luck with your appointment tomorrow, and I hope you get the extension you need to heal properly!

@Naila Gordon, I just went through this exact same situation last month! Here's what worked for me: First, download the "Continuation of Disability" form from the EDD website immediately - don't wait for your doctor to figure out what they need. When you meet with your doctor, be super specific about your symptoms and limitations (I brought a written list of how my condition affects my daily life, which really helped). Submit everything online through your EDD account under "Manage Claim" - it's much faster than mailing, even if the system seems glitchy sometimes. Most importantly, keep certifying every two weeks while your extension is being processed! I almost made the mistake of stopping certifications while waiting. The whole process took about 2-3 weeks for me. Since you filed in March, you should still have time left on your claim period. Start this process NOW though - don't wait until your current benefits are about to expire like I did (that was stressful!). The system is frustrating but it absolutely works if you stay organized. You've got this! 💪

@Naila Gordon, I just went through this exact process a few months ago and it was definitely stressful at first, but totally manageable once I figured out the steps! Here's what worked for me: Get the "Continuation of Disability" form from the EDD website ASAP and bring it directly to your doctor - don't assume they'll know which form to use. Make sure your doctor is really detailed about your specific condition and functional limitations, not just "needs more time." I actually kept a daily symptom log for a week before my appointment to help my doctor be thorough. Submit everything online through your EDD portal under "Manage Claim" - yes it can be glitchy but it's still way faster than mail. Keep certifying every two weeks while waiting for approval (super important!). Start this whole process NOW, don't wait until your benefits are about to expire. The processing took about 2-3 weeks for me. Since you filed in March, you should have plenty of time left on your claim period. The system is annoying but it works if you stay organized and persistent. You've totally got this! Feel free to ask if you need help finding the forms or navigating the online system! 🙏