I've been on SDI auto pay for about 7 months now following a complex ankle reconstruction, and can definitely confirm it's biweekly payments. Reading through this thread, I'm impressed by how much helpful information everyone has shared! A few additional tips from my experience that might be useful: 1. **Banking notifications**: Set up multiple types of alerts - both email and text through your bank. Sometimes one method fails but the other works. I missed realizing a payment was delayed by 3 days because my email notifications went to spam. 2. **Holiday delays**: Be aware that payments can be delayed by 1-2 days around federal holidays, even with direct deposit. This doesn't mean there's a problem with your claim - just the banking system processing delays. 3. **State tax considerations**: While SDI isn't subject to California state tax, if you have income from other sources during your disability period (like investment income), it could affect your overall tax situation. Worth mentioning to your tax preparer. 4. **Return-to-work planning**: Start having conversations with your employer about your return at least 2-3 weeks before your expected end date, even if it's tentative. This helps smooth the transition and ensures your job protections under FMLA/CFRA are properly handled. The auto pay system really is reliable once it gets going. That initial wait is tough, but after that it's been seamless for me. Best of luck with your spinal surgery - you're clearly preparing well by asking the right questions here!

I've been on SDI auto pay for about 10 months now due to a work-related back injury, and I can confirm everything everyone has said about the biweekly schedule. One thing I'd add that I wish someone had told me - if you're getting any kind of settlement or workers compensation payments related to your condition, you MUST report this to EDD even if it comes months later. I got a small settlement 6 months into my claim and had to report it, which temporarily reduced my SDI payments. Also, keep a detailed record of ALL your medical appointments and treatments. I use a simple notebook to track dates, what was done, and any changes to my restrictions. This has been invaluable when EDD requested updated information. The auto pay system works great, but staying organized and proactive about communication really makes the whole process smoother. Wishing you the best with your surgery - spinal procedures are tough but the recovery is so worth it when you can get back to normal activities pain-free!

This is such valuable information for anyone dealing with SDI! I'm currently on disability for chronic back pain and have been dreading the day this happens to me. Reading through all these experiences, it sounds like the key takeaways are: 1) This is normal fraud prevention that happens every few months, 2) Call immediately using the 304# extension after your verification number, 3) Don't wait the full 14 days if you can avoid it, and 4) Have all your info ready when you call. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this kind of real-world advice is exactly what people need when navigating EDD's confusing system!

As someone who's been through this process multiple times, I wanted to add a few additional tips that might help others facing this situation: 1) Keep detailed records of your certification dates and payment dates - it helps when you're on the phone with EDD to have exact dates ready 2) If you're certified but haven't received payment after 5 business days, don't wait any longer - call immediately. The reps can see exactly where your claim is in the system 3) Be persistent but polite with the phone reps. They deal with frustrated people all day, so being kind can actually help get your issue resolved faster 4) Consider setting up direct deposit if you haven't already - it can speed up payment processing once your claim is approved The whole system is definitely frustrating, but knowing what to expect and being proactive about calling really does make a difference. Glad to see @Jessica got her payment sorted out!

Hi! I'm new to this community and just wanted to say how incredibly helpful this entire thread has been. I recently submitted my SDI application and made a similar spelling error with my doctor's name - I wrote "Dr. Anderson" instead of "Dr. Andersen" (missed the 'e'). I've been so anxious about it potentially affecting my claim processing, especially since I'm recovering from hernia surgery and really depend on these benefits. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been such a huge relief! It's reassuring to see that these spelling mistakes are incredibly common and that the EDD system primarily relies on license numbers for verification. The fact that so many people have shared their positive outcomes despite similar errors really helps ease the anxiety of navigating this process for the first time. Thank you all for creating such a supportive and informative community - it means so much to newcomers like me who are dealing with the stress of being out of work and worried about every detail of their claim!

Hi everyone! I'm brand new to this community and just submitted my SDI application yesterday. I made a similar mistake - spelled my doctor's name as "Dr. Thompson" instead of "Dr. Thomson" (extra 'p'). I've been losing sleep over it thinking it might delay my benefits since I'm out of work after ankle surgery. Reading through this entire thread has been such a relief! It's amazing to see how common these spelling errors are and how many people have had successful claims despite similar mistakes. The consensus about the license number being the key identifier really puts my mind at ease since I double-checked that part. Thank you all for sharing your experiences - it's so helpful for newcomers like me who are navigating this process for the first time and anxious about every little detail. This community seems incredibly supportive!

I'm new to this community and just encountered this exact same DE 4365DI form issue! Received my DE 2517-24 notice yesterday and like everyone else here, couldn't find the form anywhere on EDD's website. This thread has been absolutely invaluable - John, thank you for sharing that ID.me verification worked as your solution! I don't have ID.me set up yet, but based on all the success stories shared here, that's definitely my first step. It's really frustrating how EDD references these phantom forms that aren't publicly available, but it's reassuring to see there are digital alternatives. Tom, those calling shortcuts you posted are also super helpful as backup options. What strikes me is how this seems to be part of EDD's broader shift toward digital verification that they haven't properly communicated to claimants. The disconnect between what their notices reference and what's actually available is pretty significant. For other newcomers dealing with this, it looks like proactively setting up ID.me could prevent a lot of future headaches with EDD interactions beyond just this specific form issue.

I'm new to this community and just encountered this same frustrating DE 4365DI form issue! Got my DE 2517-24 notice this morning and spent way too much time searching the EDD website before finding this incredibly helpful thread. John, thank you so much for sharing your experience with ID.me verification working as an alternative - that's exactly the kind of real-world solution us newcomers need to hear! I already have ID.me set up from filing taxes with the IRS, so I'm hoping that will streamline the process based on your success story. It's really concerning how many of these "phantom" forms EDD references in their notices but doesn't actually make available on their website. Tom, those calling shortcuts you shared are also great to have as backup options. What's particularly eye-opening is seeing how widespread this documentation gap issue seems to be across the community. It looks like EDD is quietly transitioning to digital-first verification but hasn't updated their communication to reflect this change. For other newcomers dealing with this, it definitely seems like having ID.me ready is becoming essential for any EDD interactions, not just for this specific form mystery.

I'm not currently facing a disability claim myself, but I've been following this thread and wanted to say how incredibly informative it's been! As someone who works in HR and regularly gets questions about SDI, I'm definitely saving this entire conversation as a reference. One thing I'd add from the employer side - if you're concerned about your wage history being accurate, you can also request a wage statement from your payroll department. Most companies can provide you with a summary of your quarterly wages for the past 18 months, which might be easier to read than trying to decipher the EDD system. This can help you spot any discrepancies before you apply. Also, for anyone reading this thread in the future, keep in mind that the maximum weekly benefit amounts and income thresholds change annually, so always check the current year's rates when calculating your potential benefits. The level of support and detailed advice in this community is really amazing - you all have created such a comprehensive guide that covers things even the official EDD resources don't explain clearly!

As someone who just went through the SDI process for my ankle surgery in November, I wanted to add a few more practical tips that might help with your planning! One thing I wish I had known was to take photos of all your documents before submitting them online. I had to resubmit my medical certification because the file upload failed the first time, and having photos on my phone made it so much easier to quickly re-upload everything. Also, if you're planning to work from home at all during your recovery (even light computer work), make sure to discuss this thoroughly with your doctor and be completely transparent about it on your claim. SDI has pretty strict rules about what constitutes "disability" and any ability to work - even from home - can affect your benefits. Better to be upfront about your limitations and work capacity than risk issues later. One financial tip that really helped me: I set up a separate savings account just for my SDI payments so I could easily track exactly how much I was receiving and budget accordingly. Since the payments come at different times than your regular paycheck, it helped me avoid accidentally overspending. The March 5th-6th application timeline everyone mentioned sounds perfect for your March 15th surgery. You're asking all the right questions and getting great advice here - you're going to do great!