I'm going through something very similar right now! Filed my SDI claim in late March for a back injury, sent in identity verification documents in early April, and I'm still waiting too. It's been about 5 weeks since they received my docs. Reading through everyone's experiences here is both reassuring and terrifying - reassuring that I'm not alone, but terrifying that this could drag on for weeks more. The financial stress is unreal. I've had to ask family for help with rent and I'm rationing groceries. What really gets me is that we've been paying into this system through payroll deductions for YEARS, and when we actually need it, they make it nearly impossible to access. I'm definitely going to try that Claimyr service and the portal messaging suggestion. Has anyone had luck with contacting their state assembly member's office? I've heard they sometimes help with EDD issues but not sure if that applies to SDI claims. Hang in there everyone - we shouldn't have to fight this hard for benefits we've earned!

I'm so frustrated reading all of these experiences because they mirror exactly what I'm going through! Filed for SDI in early April after a knee surgery, sent identity verification docs three weeks ago, and still nothing. The system shows "pending verification" and I've called probably 100+ times with no luck getting through. What really bothers me is that I've been working in California and paying into SDI for over 8 years - they should already have all my employment history and tax records. Why do they need me to prove who I am when I've been faithfully paying into their system this whole time? I'm definitely going to try the Claimyr service and messaging through the portal. The assembly member contact is also a great suggestion I hadn't thought of. It's maddening that we need to use third-party services and political contacts just to access benefits we've literally paid for, but here we are. Thanks to everyone for sharing their timelines and strategies. At least knowing others are going through the same thing makes me feel less alone in this bureaucratic nightmare. Hoping we all get resolution soon!

This thread has been absolutely incredible to read! I'm actually scheduled for gallbladder surgery next month and was starting to panic about the SDI filing process after hearing horror stories about EDD. But seeing everyone's detailed experiences with the early morning calling strategy (8:00-8:20 AM seems to be the magic window) and how straightforward it can be when you get the right rep has really calmed my nerves. The consistency in everyone's advice is so reassuring - have your doctor's certification completed beforehand with the surgery date, call early morning on the phone since the online system can't handle future dates, be honest about any self-employment income, and make sure to get that confirmation email with your claim number. Isabella, it sounds like you've got an amazing roadmap now thanks to everyone sharing their real experiences! I'm definitely going to follow this same approach when my time comes. And honestly, this thread should be pinned somewhere because it's way more helpful than anything on the actual EDD website. Best of luck with your spinal fusion surgery Tuesday - you're so smart to get all this sorted out beforehand rather than trying to deal with it while recovering! 🙏

Wow, this thread has been such a lifesaver! I'm actually in a very similar situation - I have carpal tunnel surgery scheduled for next Friday and I've been stressing about the SDI filing process for weeks. Reading through everyone's experiences has given me so much confidence about what to do. The consistent advice about calling at 8:00-8:20 AM is exactly what I needed to hear. I was getting nowhere with the online system (same future date rejection issue) and was starting to panic that I'd have to wait until after surgery when I'm all groggy and uncomfortable. I also have a mixed income situation - regular W-2 job at a dental office plus some part-time tutoring work - so Isabella's questions and everyone's responses about being honest regarding self-employment have been incredibly helpful. It's so reassuring to know that having mixed income won't automatically disqualify you as long as your main SDI contributions are from your regular job. One question for those who've successfully done this: did any of you have to provide additional documentation about your self-employment income during the call, or did the rep just note it in the system and move on? I want to be prepared with whatever they might need. Thanks to everyone for sharing such detailed experiences - you've turned what felt like an impossible bureaucratic nightmare into a manageable process with clear steps to follow! 🙏

I'm currently going through this exact same situation! Filed my maternity SDI claim about 3 weeks ago, got approved 10 days ago, and received one tiny payment of $64 last Monday - then complete radio silence since. I've been checking my UI Online account obsessively every few hours, convinced I somehow messed up my application. Finding this thread has been such a lifesaver! It's amazing to see how many of us are experiencing this identical weird payment pattern with that random small first payment followed by nothing. The stress of being on maternity leave with unpredictable income is overwhelming, especially when you're already dealing with recovery and adjusting to life with a newborn. EDD really needs to do a better job explaining this process on their website instead of leaving new parents panicking about their finances during such a vulnerable time. Based on all the timelines and experiences shared here, it sounds like I should expect my full back payment within the next few days. Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their stories - this community support means everything when you're trying to navigate such a confusing system!

I'm currently experiencing this exact same situation! Filed my maternity SDI claim about 2 weeks ago, got approved last Friday, and received one confusing payment of $127 yesterday. I've been checking my UI Online account constantly since then, totally convinced I did something wrong during the application process. Reading through all these experiences has been such a huge relief - I had no idea this weird single payment pattern was actually normal! It's so stressful being on maternity leave and not knowing when the next payment will arrive, especially when your savings are running low and you're already dealing with all the physical and emotional changes of new motherhood. The EDD website gives absolutely no explanation about why this happens, so finding this community discussion has been a lifesaver. Based on all the timelines shared here, it sounds like I should expect my full back payment within the next week or two. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences - it gives me so much peace of mind to know that this bizarre system actually works eventually, even though it makes no sense from our perspective!

I ran into this exact same E324 error last year and it drove me absolutely crazy! After trying everything mentioned here (different browsers, clearing cache, calling for hours), what finally solved it for me was logging into my EDD account and updating my security questions. Apparently if your security info is outdated or incomplete, it can trigger this error even though the system doesn't tell you that's the problem. Also, make sure your phone number on file is current - I had an old number that was causing issues. Once I updated everything in my profile settings, the E324 error disappeared and I could submit my claim normally. Worth a shot if nothing else is working!

I've been dealing with E324 errors on and off for months and it's been such a nightmare! One thing that helped me that I haven't seen mentioned yet is checking if you have any pending correspondence in your EDD inbox. Sometimes there's a document or form they need you to review/sign before you can submit new claims, and the E324 error is their weird way of blocking you until you handle it. Also, if you've moved recently, even if you updated your address, sometimes the system gets confused if you have mail forwarding set up with USPS. I had to call and have them manually verify my current address matched what the post office had on file. It's such a broken system but don't give up! Keep trying different combinations of the suggestions here - something will eventually work 🙏

This thread is absolutely incredible - thank you all for sharing such detailed experiences and advice! As someone who's been lurking in this community for a while but never posted, I felt compelled to jump in because I went through almost the exact same situation about 18 months ago with a chronic autoimmune condition. A few additional things that helped me that I haven't seen mentioned yet: 1) Check if your state has a Paid Family Leave program separate from SDI - some conditions qualify for both, which can provide additional financial support during extended leave periods. 2) If you're union-represented, definitely loop in your union rep ASAP. They often have experience with these exact situations and can advocate alongside you with HR. 3) Consider asking your doctor to include specific functional limitations in their documentation rather than just diagnosis codes. Things like "cannot sit for more than 30 minutes" or "cannot lift over 10 pounds" help HR understand exactly what accommodations might bridge you back to work. The most important thing I learned is that this process is a marathon, not a sprint. It took me about 4 months to get everything sorted with my employer, but I did keep my job and was able to work out a flexible arrangement that accommodated my ongoing medical needs. You're being so smart by getting ahead of this now. Wishing you the best outcome with your HR meeting!

I'm going through something very similar right now and this thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm about 10 weeks into FMLA for a herniated disc and my doctor just told me I'll likely need at least another 2-3 months of recovery time. Reading through everyone's experiences has given me so much valuable information about options I didn't even know existed. One thing I wanted to add that might help others - I discovered that my company has a "return to work coordinator" who specializes in these situations. They've been much more knowledgeable about accommodation options than regular HR and have actually been advocating FOR me rather than just protecting the company's interests. If your company has someone in this role, definitely ask to be connected with them. Also, I've found it really helpful to keep a daily symptom diary documenting how my condition affects my ability to work. My doctor said this kind of detailed documentation can be really valuable when requesting accommodations or extensions. The stress of worrying about job security definitely makes recovery harder, but knowing there are so many potential protections and resources available has given me much more peace of mind. Thank you to everyone who's shared their experiences - this community support means everything when you're navigating something this challenging!