Wow, what a rollercoaster! I'm so relieved you got this resolved, Olivia. Your story really highlights how broken the EDD system can be - it's ridiculous that approved claims can just vanish from the portal without any notification. I'm bookmarking this thread because the advice about calling right at 8am, contacting state reps, and using services like Claimyr could be invaluable if I ever face a similar situation. It's honestly shameful that people have to jump through so many hoops just to get the benefits they're legally entitled to. Hopefully your experience helps other folks who find themselves in the same nightmare situation!

This is exactly the kind of post that should be pinned at the top of this community! As someone who's dealt with EDD nightmares myself, I can't stress enough how important it is to document EVERYTHING - screenshots, confirmation numbers, dates of calls, etc. The fact that your claim completely disappeared from the system but you had all your documentation saved your case. For anyone else reading this, also consider filing a complaint with the California Department of Consumer Affairs if you're getting nowhere with EDD directly. They have an ombudsman program that can sometimes cut through the red tape. So glad you got your backpay, Olivia - stories like yours give the rest of us hope that these issues can eventually be resolved!

I'm dealing with this exact situation right now too! My first SDI payment just showed up online this morning and I'm wondering the same thing about timing. It's been such a relief to finally see it approved after weeks of waiting, but now I'm stressed about when it'll actually hit my account since I have rent due soon. From reading everyone's responses, it sounds like Monday is most likely since banks don't usually process over weekends. At least we're not alone in this - seems like the waiting game is just part of the whole disability process unfortunately. Fingers crossed we both see our deposits early next week!

I'm currently going through my first disability claim too and this thread has been incredibly helpful! I applied about 3 weeks ago and I'm still waiting for any kind of decision. Reading about everyone's payment timing experiences gives me hope that once I do get approved, at least I'll know what to expect with the deposit process. The whole system feels so confusing when you're new to it - from figuring out how to apply correctly to understanding all the different timelines involved. It's really reassuring to see this community sharing their experiences and supporting each other through what can be a pretty stressful process. Thanks everyone for being so open about your situations!

I'm really sorry you're going through this surprise tax situation! As a newcomer here, I wanted to share that I just went through something similar. I also received SDI benefits last year and was shocked when I got the 1099G. What helped me was using a tax calculator online to estimate what I'd owe before filing, so I could prepare mentally and financially. Also, if you're using tax software like TurboTax or H&R Block, they usually walk you through setting up payment plans right during the filing process, which saves you from dealing with IRS notices later. The community here seems really knowledgeable about these SDI tax issues - I wish I'd found this group earlier in my disability journey!

Hi Tony! I'm new to this community but unfortunately not new to this exact tax surprise. I went through the same shock last year when I got my 1099G after being on SDI. What really helped me was calling a tax professional who specializes in disability benefits - they explained that while SDI is federally taxable, you might be able to claim some medical expense deductions if your out-of-pocket medical costs were high (over 7.5% of your adjusted gross income). Since you mentioned surgery complications, you might have significant medical expenses that could help offset some of the tax burden. Also, don't beat yourself up about the HR misinformation - this seems to be a really common mistake that even HR professionals make. The tax code around different types of disability benefits is genuinely confusing!

Emma, congratulations on getting your status changed to 'Paid'! I just went through my first SDI payment cycle a few weeks ago and totally understand that anxious feeling. Since you certified Thursday and got 'Paid' status Friday, you're right on track with normal timing. With direct deposit, you'll most likely see the money hit your account Monday morning, though it could be Tuesday depending on your bank's processing schedule. The weekend wait is definitely the hardest part, but once EDD marks it as 'Paid' you're basically home free - it's just banking timelines from here. One tip that saved my sanity: set up mobile banking alerts for deposits so you get notified immediately instead of constantly checking your balance. The first payment is always the most nerve-wracking because everything is unknown, but once you get through this one, future payments become incredibly predictable. Hang in there, you're almost done with the waiting game!

This thread has been such an incredible resource! I'm currently in week 2 of my SDI claim and already feeling anxious about my upcoming first certification next week. Emma, huge congratulations on getting your status changed to 'Paid' - that must be such a massive relief! Reading through everyone's real experiences and timelines here has honestly been more helpful than any official EDD documentation I've found. The practical tips like setting up bank alerts, checking the portal once daily instead of obsessively refreshing, and understanding the difference between EDD processing vs bank processing times are pure gold. Also really appreciate Isabella explaining the 7-day waiting period - I had no idea about that and would have been confused when my first payment was smaller than expected. This community's willingness to share detailed timelines and support each other through the stress of waiting is amazing. Bookmarking this entire discussion for reference when I hit my certification milestone!

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm currently dealing with a similar situation with a shoulder injury that came back after I thought I was ready to return to work. Connor, thank you for sharing your update about the EDD call - knowing that they confirmed you can file one claim for the same condition is such a relief. I've been worried about navigating the system incorrectly and potentially losing benefits. The advice everyone has shared about documentation, being precise with dates, and coordinating with HR is invaluable. It's amazing how this community comes together to help each other through these complex processes. I'm definitely going to follow the same approach and call EDD directly to get clarification on my specific situation. Thanks to everyone who contributed their experiences - you've turned what felt like an overwhelming process into something much more manageable!

I'm so glad I found this thread! I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - herniated disc that forced me out of work, tried to go back after a week thinking I was better, but had to go back out after just two days when the pain returned with a vengeance. Reading Connor's successful experience and everyone's advice has given me so much clarity on how to handle this. The key takeaways I'm getting are: file one claim since it's the same condition, be super precise about documenting which days I worked vs. was disabled, make sure my doctor clearly notes it's a continuation of the same injury, and definitely call EDD directly to confirm the approach. This community is absolutely invaluable - thank you all for sharing your real experiences and taking the mystery out of this process!