I'm also dealing with this exact situation right now! My orthopedic surgeon is in Arizona and I filed my SDI claim online about 10 days ago. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been absolutely invaluable - I had no idea about most of these requirements and was totally confused about the process. Based on all the detailed advice shared in this thread, I called my surgeon's office yesterday and spoke with their insurance coordinator. Here's what I learned that might help others: They were actually really familiar with disability forms in general, but had never dealt with California's specific SDI requirements. Once I explained that they needed to fax the DE 2501 directly to EDD (using the fax number on the form itself) and include my claim number prominently, they were completely cooperative. One thing that really helped was creating a simple email summary beforehand with all the key points, then following up with a phone call. They appreciated having everything in writing to reference while we talked. They also told me they keep a log of all faxed disability paperwork with timestamps, which gives me peace of mind about being able to track when it was sent. My surgeon's office said they'll complete and fax the form within 2-3 business days, and they'll email me a copy of the fax confirmation page. I plan to wait about a week after they send it, then call EDD to confirm receipt (might try that Claimyr service others mentioned to get through faster). It's definitely frustrating that the system is so outdated, but this community has made the whole process so much clearer. Thanks everyone for sharing your detailed experiences - you've turned what felt like an impossible bureaucratic maze into a manageable step-by-step process!

I'm in this exact same situation! My surgeon is in Nevada and I filed my SDI claim online about 5 days ago. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful - I was completely confused about the process and thought I could somehow submit the medical form myself once completed. Based on everyone's advice here, I'm calling my surgeon's office tomorrow to clarify that they need to mail or fax the DE 2501 form directly to EDD (not back to me). I'm going to ask to speak with whoever handles disability paperwork and make sure they understand: 1) Use the fax number printed on the actual form, 2) Include my claim number prominently, 3) Send me confirmation when it's done. It's so frustrating that in 2025 we're still dealing with fax machines for something this important, but I'm grateful for this community breaking down the process step by step. The reassurance that benefits will be backdated to the disability start date really helps with my anxiety about potential delays. Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences - this thread has been a lifesaver for understanding what felt like a completely overwhelming bureaucratic process!

I went through something similar a few months back. Three weeks without payment and zero communication from EDD - it's incredibly stressful, especially when you're depending on that money. In my case, it turned out there was a "pending issue" on my account that wasn't showing up clearly in the online portal. Here's what finally worked for me: I sent a message through the "Contact EDD" feature in my UI Online account explaining the situation and asking for a specific timeline. It took about a week, but I got a response that helped clarify what was happening. Also, if you have access to a fax machine, sometimes faxing directly to your local office gets faster results than calling. Don't lose hope - the money is usually retroactive once they sort it out. Keep documenting everything (screenshots, dates, etc.) in case you need it later. Hang in there! 🤞

I'm so sorry you're going through this - 3 weeks without payment and no explanation is absolutely unacceptable. I had a similar situation last year where my payments just stopped with zero notice. Here's what I learned from that experience: First, check if there are any "determination" letters or notices buried in your UI Online inbox that you might have missed - sometimes they don't send email notifications for these. Second, if you can't get through by phone (and let's be real, who can?), try the "Ask EDD" feature in your online account. Be very specific: "My payments have been delayed for 3 weeks starting [date] with no notices or explanation. Please provide status and expected resolution timeline." Third, and this might sound weird, but try checking your account at different times of day. Sometimes pending issues or updates only show up during certain hours when they're processing. If none of that works, definitely reach out to your state assembly member's office like others have mentioned. They have a direct line to EDD and can often get answers within 24-48 hours. Document EVERYTHING - dates, times you called, screenshots of your account. This whole situation is probably going to resolve with back pay, but having that documentation helps if there are any issues later. You're not alone in this mess, and it WILL get sorted out eventually. The system is broken, but your money is still coming. Stay strong! 💪

This whole thread is so helpful! I'm currently dealing with a similar situation - my doctor's office submitted my forms electronically but they got an error message, so now they're telling me I need to mail the paper version. Reading everyone's experiences, it sounds like I should definitely send it certified mail and call EDD after about a week to confirm they received it. The tip about uploading a copy to the online portal is brilliant too - I hadn't thought of doing both. It's reassuring to see that even with the delays, people are getting their claims processed eventually. Thanks for sharing your journey, Yara - it really helps to know what to expect!

Based on what I've seen with disability claims in my area, paper forms definitely add extra processing time compared to online submissions. The mail delivery alone can take 5-10 business days depending on your location, and then EDD has to manually process and scan everything into their system. I'd estimate you're looking at an additional 2-3 weeks compared to if it had been submitted electronically. Since you mentioned being tight on money and having rent due soon, I'd recommend calling EDD in a few days to confirm they received your paperwork and explaining your financial situation. They sometimes have expedited processing for hardship cases. Also, make sure you're checking your SDI Online account daily for any updates - they'll post status changes there as soon as they process each step. The waiting is definitely stressful when you're depending on those benefits, but hang in there! Most people do eventually get their claims processed, even with the paper form delays.

To summarize for anyone else finding this thread with a similar question: 1. What you're describing is called a claim reactivation (not "collecting a balance") 2. It's only available if: - You're disabled again with the same or related condition - You're within 90 days of your previous claim's end date - You didn't use all your maximum benefits during the initial claim 3. You need a Supplemental Certificate (DE 2525XX) from your doctor 4. Be proactive about getting this form - call if it doesn't appear in your SDI Online account 5. This is different from an extension (which is when you've used all benefits but still can't work) Hope you get this resolved quickly!

Glad to hear you got it sorted out! Just wanted to add for anyone else reading this - make sure your doctor fills out the DE 2525XX form completely and accurately. I've seen cases where forms get rejected because doctors accidentally check the wrong boxes or don't provide enough detail about how the condition prevents you from working. It's worth having a quick conversation with your doctor about what EDD is looking for before they submit it. Also keep copies of everything for your records!

Just want to echo what everyone else has said about keeping copies of everything and using tracking! I had to send identity verification docs for my SDI claim back in February and it was such a stressful process. One thing I'll add that saved me - when I called EDD to confirm the address (took forever to get through), the rep told me to write "IDENTITY VERIFICATION - URGENT" in big letters on the outside of the envelope. She said it helps route it to the right department faster since they get thousands of pieces of mail daily. Also, if you're really in a time crunch, some people have had success going to their local EDD office in person with copies of their documents. Not all offices handle SDI stuff, but it's worth calling ahead to ask if you're running out of time before the deadline. The whole system is frustrating but you're definitely not alone in this struggle! Hope your claim gets resolved quickly once they receive your docs.

I just went through this exact same nightmare last month! The correct address for SDI identity verification is: Employment Development Department PO Box 997401 Sacramento, CA 94250-7401 But honestly, after reading all these horror stories about lost documents, I'd recommend doing EVERYTHING possible to protect yourself: 1. Upload digital copies through SDI Online if you have that option 2. Mail certified copies with Priority Mail Express (get that tracking!) 3. Fax copies to (916) 464-3300 as backup 4. Write "IDENTITY VERIFICATION - URGENT" on your envelope I ended up doing all three methods because I was so paranoid about EDD losing my stuff. It might seem like overkill, but my claim got processed super fast - within a week of them receiving everything. Sometimes redundancy is your friend when dealing with government bureaucracy! Also, take photos of everything before you send it and keep a detailed log of what you sent when. Trust me, you'll thank yourself later if there are any issues. The stress of waiting for EDD is bad enough without worrying about whether they actually got your documents!