I'm really sorry you're going through this - what a nightmare situation! Your employer completely dropped the ball here. As someone who's been following disability issues for a while, I can tell you that employer misinformation is unfortunately super common and the state agencies are well aware of it. Just to add to all the excellent advice already given - when you file your SDI claim online tonight, make sure to save screenshots of every page as you go through the process. Sometimes the system can glitch or timeout, and having those screenshots can save you from having to start over. Also, when you get to the section about explaining your late filing, really emphasize that you were acting in good faith based on your employer's explicit instructions to use their private insurance first. One thing I didn't see mentioned - if your employer tries to give you any pushback about the DWC-1 form or claims they don't have workers comp insurance (which would be illegal), you can verify their coverage through the California Department of Industrial Relations website. Every employer is required to have workers comp insurance, and you can actually look up their policy information. You're doing the right thing by taking action now. Don't let their mistakes make you feel like you did anything wrong - you followed their guidance and trusted they knew what they were doing. That's exactly what any reasonable person would have done in your situation!

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this mess - what a stressful situation to be in when you're already dealing with a back injury! Reading through all the responses here, it's clear that your employer really failed you by not properly guiding you to the right program from the start. A work-related lifting injury should absolutely have been handled through workers compensation from day one. I just wanted to add one more resource that might be helpful - if you run into any issues with either claim or need help understanding the process, California has a State Disability Insurance (SDI) helpline at 1-877-238-4373. They can walk you through the late filing process and explain what documentation you'll need. For workers comp questions, the Department of Industrial Relations has a helpline at 1-800-736-7401. Also, I noticed several people mentioned consulting with a workers comp attorney, which is definitely worth considering given how your employer handled this. Many of them work on contingency, so you wouldn't pay anything upfront. The State Bar of California has a lawyer referral service that can help you find someone who specializes in workers comp cases. You're taking all the right steps now by filing both claims immediately. Don't let your employer's confusion and poor handling make you second-guess yourself - you did exactly what any reasonable person would have done by following their initial guidance. Hope you get this sorted out quickly and can focus on recovering from your injury!

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 extend your existing claim first. This is usually easier and faster than starting a new claim. You'll need your doctor to complete the DE 2525XX form (Physician/Practitioner's Supplementary Certificate) to extend your disability period. If it's been over a year 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.

I went through something similar last year! The key is definitely timing - if you're still within that 52-week window from your original disability claim start date, extending is much smoother than filing new. Make sure your doctor is specific about the medical necessity for the extension on the DE 2525XX form. EDD can be picky about the documentation. Also, keep all your paperwork from both the original disability and PFL claims handy when you call - they'll likely ask for reference numbers and dates. Good luck!

I'm so sorry you're going through this - postpartum depression is incredibly difficult and you're brave for seeking help. I went through something similar with my second child. Just wanted to add a couple things that helped me navigate the process: 1. When filing online, take screenshots of each step as you complete it. The system sometimes glitches and you don't want to lose your progress. 2. If your doctor isn't familiar with EDD forms, you might want to give them a heads up about what specific information EDD needs. Some providers haven't dealt with SDI claims before and might need guidance on the medical certification requirements. 3. Consider asking your doctor's office to submit the medical portion electronically if they can - it's usually faster than mailing paper forms. The waiting period and paperwork stress is real, but focus on getting the treatment you need. Your mental health is the priority here. Sending you support during this tough time! 💙

I'm going through something very similar right now - had my baby in October and thought I was doing fine until about 6 weeks ago when the depression really hit hard. Just wanted to share that I filed my new SDI claim last week and it was approved within 5 days! The key things that helped me were: 1) My doctor was very specific about it being postpartum depression related to my pregnancy (used the F53.0 code that others mentioned), 2) I filed everything online through SDI Online which was much faster, and 3) I made sure to indicate it was pregnancy-related when filling out the application. The hardest part for me was the 7-day waiting period when you're already struggling financially, but hang in there - it does get processed pretty quickly once you have all the right documentation. Also, don't feel guilty about needing this time - postpartum depression is a real medical condition and you deserve support. Wishing you all the best! ❤️

I'm dealing with something really similar right now! My payments also stopped before I actually went back to work, and it's been such a nightmare trying to get anyone on the phone. Reading through all these responses is actually giving me hope though - especially the assembly member suggestion and the timeline document idea. It's crazy how many of us are going through the exact same system glitch. @Skylar Neal, definitely try that assembly member route that @Leo McDonald mentioned - seems like that's been the most successful approach for people. And document everything with screenshots like others have said! We shouldn't have to become experts at navigating broken government systems, but here we are. Solidarity! 😤✊

Just wanted to add another perspective here - I work in a related field and see these kinds of system glitches pretty regularly. The gap between your payment end date (10/31) and actual return to work (11/11) is definitely a red flag that something went wrong on their end. One thing I'd suggest in addition to all the great advice here is to request a "payment history" or "claim detail" report from your online account if you haven't already. Sometimes this will show you exactly where the system flagged your claim or stopped processing. Also, when you do get through to someone (whether by phone or through your assembly member), ask them to put a "priority flag" or "escalation" on your case - this helps ensure it doesn't get lost in the shuffle again. The system errors are frustrating but they are fixable! Keep pushing and document everything. You've got this! 💪

I'm in a very similar situation right now! My doctor submitted my certification about a week ago and I'm also getting really anxious about the wait time. Reading through everyone's experiences here is both reassuring and nerve-wracking - it sounds like anywhere from 7-15 business days is normal, but that's such a wide range when you're counting every day until bills are due. I really appreciate everyone being so open about their timelines and experiences. It helps to know that the back pay will cover everything from day 8 of disability, even if the processing takes longer than expected. The uncertainty is definitely the hardest part - especially when you're already dealing with the stress of recovering from an injury. Has anyone found that certain days of the week are better for calling EDD, or does it not really matter? I might try the Claimyr service that Grace mentioned if I can't get through by regular phone calls. At this point I just want to know if my claim is progressing normally or if there are any issues I need to address.

I'm really sorry you're dealing with this stress on top of recovering from back surgery. I went through something similar last year and the waiting period is absolutely brutal when you're worried about basic expenses like rent. From my experience and what I've seen from others, once your doctor's certification shows as "received" in your SDI account, you're typically looking at 7-14 business days for processing and payment. Since yours was received on Monday, I'd expect to see something by the end of next week or early the week after. The good news is that you'll get back pay from day 8 of your disability period (after the 7-day waiting period), so even though the wait is stressful, you won't lose any money you're entitled to. I know that doesn't help with immediate bills, but at least you know it's coming. Given that your rent is due soon, I'd strongly recommend reaching out to your landlord today to explain the situation. Most landlords appreciate proactive communication rather than being surprised on the due date. You might also want to look into local emergency rental assistance programs in your area - many counties have funds specifically for situations like this. If you haven't gotten any updates by early next week, definitely try calling or consider using that Claimyr service others mentioned to get through to an actual person who can check your claim status. Hang in there - you're through the hardest part (the surgery) and the payment will come!