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I'm a newcomer here but dealing with a similar situation - been on SDI since September after a workplace injury and getting nervous about my benefits ending soon. Reading through everyone's experiences has been incredibly helpful! Just wanted to add one thing I learned from my physical therapist: if you're doing any kind of rehabilitation or physical therapy, make sure your doctor includes that in the extension documentation too. My PT told me that showing you're actively working on recovery but still need more time can actually strengthen your case with EDD. Also, if you have any follow-up appointments scheduled (with specialists, PT, etc.), having your doctor mention those future treatment plans can help show that your recovery is ongoing and medically necessary. The construction work angle is definitely important to emphasize - the physical demands are so different from desk jobs. Wishing you a smooth extension process and full recovery!
That's such a good point about including physical therapy and ongoing treatment plans! I've been doing PT twice a week since my surgery and have several follow-up appointments scheduled through February. I hadn't thought about mentioning those to my doctor when we discuss the extension form. It definitely makes sense that showing active recovery efforts would help demonstrate that I'm not just trying to stay on benefits longer than necessary. Thanks for sharing that insight - it's really helpful to get tips from someone else navigating this process for the first time!
I'm new to this community but facing a similar situation with my SDI benefits ending soon. Reading through all these experiences has been incredibly educational! I wanted to add something my case worker mentioned - if you're dealing with complications from your original condition (like you are with your gallbladder surgery), make sure your doctor specifically documents that these are ongoing complications rather than a new/separate condition. This helps ensure it stays under your current claim rather than potentially requiring a whole new application. Also, I learned that keeping a daily symptom diary can be helpful - documenting your pain levels, what activities you can/can't do, how your condition affects your daily life. Some doctors find this useful when filling out the extension forms because it gives them concrete examples of your functional limitations. Since you mentioned anxiety about the timeline, you might also want to call EDD's SDI customer service line to confirm they have your current contact information and to ask if there's anything specific they need from your doctor for construction workers. Hope this helps and that your extension gets approved quickly!
FYI, there was a glitch in the system last month that delayed a bunch of payments. They said they fixed it, but who knows 🤷♀️ Might be worth mentioning when you call
I'm going through the exact same thing right now! Filed 3 weeks ago and my account shows the benefit amount but no payments yet. It's so stressful when you're counting on this money. I've been trying to call but can't get through - the phone system just hangs up on me after being on hold forever. Has anyone had luck with the online messaging system? I'm wondering if that might be faster than trying to call.
I've been in your exact situation! The online messaging system is definitely worth trying - it took about 4-5 days for them to respond to me, but at least you get a paper trail. When you message them, be super specific about your claim date, what documents you've submitted, and that your account shows the benefit amount but no payments. Also mention it's been 3 weeks - they seem to prioritize cases that have been waiting longer. Don't give up on calling either though - try right at 8am when they open, that seems to be the best time to actually get through!
As someone who just discovered this community while desperately searching for solutions to my own ID.me verification nightmare, I have to say this thread is absolutely phenomenal! I've been stuck for over a week trying to file my SDI claim after a surgery, and reading through Hassan's journey from frustration to success, along with everyone's incredibly detailed solutions, has been such a relief. The way this community has collectively created the most comprehensive troubleshooting guide I've seen anywhere - covering everything from basic browser fixes to strategic calling approaches - is truly amazing. I'm planning to try the technical solutions tonight (clearing cache, incognito mode, proper document lighting) and have that (800) 480-3287 number ready for first thing tomorrow morning. It's honestly infuriating that we need to become verification system experts just to access benefits we've earned, but seeing how everyone here supports each other through these bureaucratic nightmares gives me so much hope. Hassan, thank you for coming back with your success story - that follow-through is what real community support looks like! This thread should definitely be featured as a resource for anyone dealing with EDD issues.
Steven, welcome to the community and I'm so glad you found this incredible thread! As someone who's also new here but has been amazed by the level of support and detailed solutions shared, I completely understand your relief at finding this resource. This discussion really has become the gold standard for navigating ID.me verification issues - far more comprehensive and practical than anything official. Your game plan sounds excellent, and having gone through similar struggles myself, I'd just add one tip: if you do get through to that number tomorrow, don't hang up if they initially say they can't help with ID.me issues - ask to speak with someone in the SDI technical support division specifically, as they often have workarounds that the general phone agents don't know about. Hassan's success story and everyone's willingness to share their experiences here shows what an amazing community this is. You're absolutely right that this thread deserves to be featured - it's become an invaluable resource that's helping so many people navigate these broken systems. Keep us posted on your progress, and don't give up - you've got the entire playbook now thanks to everyone's contributions!
Just wanted to add my voice to this incredible thread as someone who's been lurking in this community for a while but finally joined to share my experience! I went through the exact same ID.me nightmare about 3 months ago when filing for SDI after a herniated disc surgery. What ultimately worked for me was actually a combination of several approaches mentioned here: I used the incognito browser method with cleared cache, called the (800) 480-3287 number at exactly 8:01 AM (got through on my 4th try), and had all my documents scanned at high resolution ready to go. The agent was able to guide me through an alternative verification process that bypassed ID.me entirely! The whole thing took about 45 minutes once I got connected, and my claim was backdated properly. Hassan, your persistence and willingness to share your journey really helped me when I was in the same desperate situation. This thread has become such an amazing resource - I've actually referred three other people to it who were dealing with similar issues, and two of them have already gotten their claims resolved using the strategies shared here. Thank you to everyone who contributed solutions and encouragement - this is exactly what community support should look like!
Have you tried reaching out to them on social media? Sometimes companies are more responsive there because it's public.
I went through this exact same situation last year! Here's what finally worked for me: I called the technical support line (not the regular claims line) at 1-800-300-5616. They handle account access issues specifically. The wait was still long, but I got through after about 2 hours. The rep was able to update my email address after verifying my identity with SSN, DOB, and some employment history. Make sure you have an alternate phone number they can reach you at too, just in case. Also, try calling on Tuesday or Wednesday mornings - seemed to have shorter wait times in my experience. Don't give up, you'll get through eventually!
This is a game changer! I've been struggling with the same issue for weeks and had no clue there was a technical support line specifically for account problems. The regular claims line has been a complete dead end. I'm definitely calling 1-800-300-5616 first thing Tuesday morning with all my paperwork ready. Really appreciate you taking the time to share the exact number and your strategy - this gives me so much hope! Did you find they were more knowledgeable about account issues than the regular claims reps?
This is incredible advice! I can't believe I've been wasting time on the regular claims line when there's a dedicated technical support number for account issues. 1-800-300-5616 - writing that down right now! Tuesday morning here I come. Quick question - did you have to explain the whole situation from scratch or did they already understand that email update issues were common? Also wondering if having an old claim number helped at all, or if SSN and DOB were sufficient for verification. Thanks so much for sharing this lifeline! 🙌
Cheri Jones
If I have worked prior and now self employed and got a personal injury at home can I file disability
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Tom Maxon
•Have you been paying into the CA SDI tax from your paycheck?
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Connor Rupert
Based on my experience with CA disability claims, if your original disability claim is still within the 52-week benefit period, you should try to your existing claim first. This is usually easier and faster than starting a new claim. You'll need your to complete the DE 2525XX form (Physician/Practitioner's Supplementary Certificate) to your disability period. If it's been over a since your original claim started, then you'd need to file a new claim. Contact EDD directly to confirm which option applies to your specific timeline - they can tell you if your original claim is still active and extendable.
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Emma Wilson
•This is really helpful advice! I'm in a similar situation and wasn't sure about the 52-week rule. Just to clarify - does the 52-week period start from when you first filed the original disability claim, or from when you first became disabled? I want to make sure I understand the timeline correctly before I contact EDD. Thanks for sharing your experience!
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