As someone who just went through this process last month, I can't stress enough how important it is to report immediately! I was on SDI for 8 weeks after a workplace injury and made the mistake of waiting 3 days after returning to work before calling EDD. Even though it was just a few days, they flagged it as potential fraud and I had to go through weeks of paperwork and phone calls to prove it wasn't intentional. The messaging feature through SDI Online that Ashley discovered is definitely the way to go if you can access it. I wish I had known about that option! For anyone reading this who's in a similar situation - also make sure your doctor's return-to-work paperwork is crystal clear about any restrictions. My initial form just said "light duty" which caused confusion, but when I got a more detailed form specifying "no lifting over 25 lbs, frequent breaks allowed" it made everything much smoother with both EDD and my employer. One more tip - if you're doing light duty or part-time hours, keep detailed records of your actual hours worked and wages earned. EDD will want exact numbers for calculating any partial benefits you might still be eligible for.

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm actually dealing with a similar situation right now - been on SDI for 7 weeks due to a knee injury from a slip at work, and my orthopedic surgeon just cleared me for desk work only (no walking/standing for extended periods). Reading everyone's experiences, it sounds like the messaging feature through SDI Online is definitely the way to go instead of trying to call. I've been dreading having to get through on the phone since every time I've tried calling EDD it's been a complete nightmare. One question for those who've been through this - when you reported through the online messaging system, did you need to upload any documentation from your doctor, or just include the details in the message? My return-to-work form specifies "sedentary duties only, no prolonged standing/walking" so hopefully that's detailed enough. Also really appreciate the heads up about keeping detailed records of hours and wages if you're doing modified duties. Sounds like partial benefits might be possible since I'll likely be working reduced hours initially. Better to be over-prepared with EDD than caught off guard!

i had surgery in october and my payment situation was a complete mess. they paid me for some days, not others, then sent an overpayment notice?? took months to sort out. good luck lol

I went through something similar last month! You should definitely get paid for March 2-7 since those were days you were still disabled before returning to work. The payment will be prorated at 6/7 of your weekly benefit amount. From my experience, it took about 2 weeks for the partial week payment to show up after I submitted my final certification - longer than regular payments but it did come through. Make sure you keep checking your payment history online and don't worry if it seems delayed, that's normal for partial weeks according to what I've seen in this community.

I'm new to this community but wanted to share something that really helped me during my SDI-to-SSDI transition gap last year. Have you considered applying for Temporary Cash Aid for Families (TCAF) or General Assistance through your county's social services department? Many counties have emergency cash assistance programs specifically for adults with disabilities facing benefit interruptions that can provide a small monthly payment to help with basic needs. Also, if you're dealing with chronic pain from your spinal injury, look into your county's Adult Day Health Care programs - even though they're primarily designed for seniors, many accept younger adults with disabilities and can provide medical oversight, meals, and sometimes transportation assistance at very low cost. One thing I wish I had known earlier is that many hospitals have "charity care" programs that can retroactively forgive medical bills if you apply within a certain timeframe after treatment. Since you mentioned ongoing treatment needs, it might be worth asking about this at any facilities where you receive care. The gap between SDI ending and other benefits starting is genuinely one of the most stressful experiences imaginable, but reading through all the advice in this thread shows there are way more resources available than I knew about when I was going through it. You're being really smart by planning ahead instead of waiting until the last minute like I did. Don't hesitate to apply for multiple programs simultaneously - the worst they can say is no, and you might qualify for things you didn't expect.

I'm new to this community but wanted to share something that helped me during a similar transition period last year. Have you looked into applying for emergency assistance through your local Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) programs? These are federally funded but administered locally, and many have specific emergency funds for people with disabilities facing benefit gaps that aren't widely advertised. Also, if you're dealing with medication costs during the transition, check if your doctors can provide free samples or if there are state pharmacy assistance programs beyond the manufacturer programs others mentioned. California has some lesser-known medication assistance programs through county health departments. One thing that really saved me was reaching out to spinal injury support groups in my area - not just for emotional support, but because other members often know about local resources and can share practical tips about navigating the system with your specific type of injury. Many of these groups meet virtually now, so you can access support from groups outside your immediate area. The financial stress of this transition is overwhelming when you're already dealing with chronic pain, but you're being incredibly proactive by researching options now. That preparation is going to make a real difference. This community has shared so many resources I wish I had known about - definitely take advantage of all the knowledge here while you're planning your next steps.

I'm currently going through this same situation and wanted to share what I've learned from calling EDD multiple times. The payment suspension during DE 2546 exams is unfortunately standard procedure - they won't resume payments just from confirming your appointment. You have to wait for the actual exam AND the processing of results. However, I did find one potentially helpful option: if you can demonstrate severe financial hardship, some EDD reps said they might be able to process a partial payment while you wait. It's not guaranteed and seems to vary by who you talk to, but worth trying. I'd recommend calling first thing in the morning when wait times are shorter. Also, make sure to bring not just your medical records to the exam, but also a detailed list of how your condition specifically prevents you from working. The examining doctors often focus on functional limitations rather than just the diagnosis itself. Document things like how long you can sit/stand, lifting restrictions, concentration issues, etc. The whole process is incredibly stressful when you're already dealing with a disability, but from what I'm reading here, most people do get approved if their condition is legitimate. Hang in there and keep pushing through the system!

I'm dealing with this exact situation right now too and it's incredibly stressful! My DE 2546 exam is scheduled for next week and I've been without payments for almost two weeks already. What's helped me cope with the financial pressure is reaching out to local community resources - some food banks, utility assistance programs, and even my landlord about a temporary payment plan. One thing I learned from my doctor's office is that they can provide a "bridge letter" - basically a detailed update on your current condition and treatment plan specifically written for the EDD examining physician. It's different from regular medical records because it's tailored to address disability determination criteria. My doctor said this sometimes helps the EDD doctor understand the full scope of ongoing limitations. Also, if you haven't already, try contacting your local disability rights organization. They sometimes have advocates who can help navigate the EDD system or at least provide guidance on what to expect. The uncertainty is the worst part of this whole process, but reading everyone's experiences here gives me hope that we'll get through this!

I just wanted to add my perspective as someone who's been on disability for about 6 months now. I received the DE2546 notice about 3 months into my claim for a spinal injury, and honestly, I was terrified they were going to find some reason to cut me off. But like everyone else has mentioned, my payments continued throughout the entire process. The examiner was actually more thorough than I expected - spent about an hour with me, asked detailed questions about my daily activities, pain levels, and how the injury has affected my work capacity. One thing that really helped was keeping a pain journal for the few weeks leading up to the exam, so I could give specific examples of how my condition affects me day to day. The whole experience was much less adversarial than I had feared. Got confirmation about 2 weeks later that my benefits would continue. It really seems like they're just doing their due diligence to make sure the claims are legitimate. Hang in there - from everything I've read here and experienced myself, as long as you're honest about your limitations, these exams are usually just a formality!

I'm new to this community and just wanted to thank everyone for sharing their experiences with the DE2546 process! I'm currently waiting for my own independent medical exam appointment (scheduled for next week) and was absolutely panicking until I found this thread. Reading through @Giovanni Conti's experience and all the helpful responses has really calmed my nerves. It's such a relief to know that payments typically continue during the evaluation and that most people here had professional, fair examiners. I'm definitely going to follow the advice about bringing medical records, being honest about limitations, and keeping that pain journal idea from @Felicity Bud. This community seems like such a supportive place for navigating these stressful situations!