I work in HR at a mid-sized company and want to add some perspective here. What your employer did is unfortunately common but totally inappropriate. When an employee gets injured on the job, the employer should immediately provide you with a DWC-1 (workers comp claim form) and report the injury to their workers comp carrier within 5 days. The fact that they initially processed it through their private STD insurance and are now trying to redirect you to state disability sounds like they're either confused about their legal obligations or trying to avoid a workers comp claim. You absolutely should file both claims as others have suggested, but also document every interaction you've had with HR about this injury. If they continue to resist providing workers comp forms or reporting your injury, you can file directly with the state at www.dir.ca.gov. Don't let them make you feel like this is your fault - they should have guided you correctly from day one.

This is such a frustrating situation and unfortunately way too common. As someone who went through a similar runaround with my employer last year, I want to emphasize what others have said - you absolutely need to file BOTH claims immediately. Your employer's handling of this is completely inappropriate and potentially illegal. Here's what I'd recommend doing TODAY: 1. File your SDI claim online at edd.ca.gov/disability - explain the employer misinformation as your good cause for late filing 2. Request a DWC-1 form from your employer in writing (email so you have documentation) 3. Contact your doctor to complete the DE 2501 form for SDI 4. Consider consulting with a workers comp attorney - many offer free consultations The fact that your employer initially processed this through their private STD insurance and then suddenly changed course is a huge red flag. They're legally required to report workplace injuries to their workers comp carrier within 5 days. Document every single interaction you've had with HR about this - dates, times, who you spoke with, what was said. Don't let them make you feel like you did something wrong here. You followed their guidance in good faith and they failed in their legal obligations. You still have time to fix this, but act fast!

This happened to me too! It turned out that even though my doctor sent the certification, it wasn't properly attached to my claim. Double-check that all your docs are actually linked in the system. Might save you some headache!

I went through something almost identical earlier this year! The gap between when payments stopped and when you actually returned to work is a red flag - that's exactly what happened to me. Here's what I learned: EDD sometimes has an automatic cutoff date in their system that doesn't match your actual return-to-work date. Even if all your paperwork is submitted correctly, their system might not have processed the extension properly. I'd recommend checking your online account to see if there's a "pending" status on that last week, and definitely document everything with screenshots. The assembly member suggestion from @Leo McDonald is spot on - that's ultimately what got mine resolved. Don't let them tell you it's "too late" to fix either, because it's their system error, not yours!

To answer your question about the employer section - yes, list your current employer's information. The claim form needs your most recent employer's details regardless of how long you've been back. The base period calculation is done automatically by EDD based on your Social Security Number - they pull your wage information from their system.\n\nAnd to expand on what others have mentioned about the diagnosis coding - the F53.0 code specifically for postpartum depression is important, but also make sure your doctor indicates an estimated recovery time that's realistic for your condition. Typically postpartum depression treatment might take 2-3 months or more, so having the doctor estimate too short a period could result in you needing to get multiple extensions.

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! 💙

to answer your question from earlier - yes i did eventually get my benefits extended but there was a 10-day gap before payments started again which SUCKED. make sure u start the process early!!!

I went through something similar with my back injury last year. The key is getting your doctor to submit that updated medical certification (DE 2501 form) as soon as possible - don't wait until the last minute! I made that mistake and had a 2-week gap in benefits while they processed everything. Also, if you're in construction like me, make sure your doctor is very specific about your work restrictions in the certification. They need to clearly state that you cannot perform your regular job duties, not just that you're "recovering." EDD scrutinizes construction workers more closely since they assume we can do light duty (even when we can't). One more tip - if your doctor's office is slow with paperwork, offer to pick up the completed form yourself and submit it directly to EDD. That saved me time when I needed my extension processed quickly.

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!