I had a similar issue a few months ago! What ended up working for me was creating a detailed timeline of when I first created the account, any jobs I had around that time, and any old email addresses I might have used. Then when I finally got through to someone (took many attempts), having that info ready really helped them locate my account even without access to the original email. Also, if you have any old paperwork from previous claims or tax documents that might reference your EDD account, bring those too. The more documentation you have, the easier it is for them to verify your identity and update your email. Don't give up - it's frustrating but definitely solvable!

I went through this exact same nightmare about 6 months ago! Here's what finally worked for me: I kept a detailed log of every call attempt (date, time, how long I waited, who I talked to) and started calling the moment they opened at 8 AM sharp. It took about 15 attempts over 3 weeks, but persistence paid off. When I finally got through, the rep was actually super helpful once I explained I needed to apply for disability but couldn't access my old email. They updated it on the spot after verifying my SSN, DOB, and asking about my most recent employer. The key is being really patient and polite - these reps deal with frustrated people all day, so being kind goes a long way. Also, have ALL your info ready: SSN, DOB, current address, phone number, and if you remember ANY details about previous claims or employers from when you first made the account. You got this! 💪

As someone who just went through this transition myself 6 months ago, I want to emphasize how crucial the timing is for your situation. Since you mentioned potential future medical needs, here's my experience: I applied for Elective Coverage in September and just became eligible for benefits this month. The process was smoother than expected - my DE 1378N was approved in about 2 weeks, but that 6-month waiting period is absolutely non-negotiable. I tried to get clarification from EDD about any exceptions for pre-existing coverage and was told there are none. For the assumed income calculation, I based mine on my last full year of W2 earnings plus realistic 1099 projections. The minimum they offered me was about 65% of my highest year in the last 5 years, and I went with an amount that would give me meaningful benefits if needed. One thing that really helped was setting up a separate savings account just for the quarterly SDI payments. Since you're used to having it automatically deducted from W2 paychecks, it's easy to forget you now have to make these payments manually. Missing even one quarterly payment can reset your entire waiting period. Given your timeline concerns, I'd also recommend contacting a few private disability insurers this week while you're applying for Elective Coverage. Even if the premiums are higher, having that bridge coverage could be worth the peace of mind during those critical first 6 months. The good news is that once you're enrolled, the 1099 SDI system is actually pretty straightforward compared to the W2 version. Your benefits are calculated from your assumed income rather than complex wage histories, which makes the claims process more predictable. Start that application today if you can - every day counts toward that waiting period!

I'm in a similar boat transitioning from W2 to contract work, though not due to disability. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly educational! One thing I want to add that might help others in this situation - when you're calculating your assumed income for the DE 1378N, don't forget to factor in that as a 1099 contractor you'll also be paying the full 15.3% self-employment tax (vs. 7.65% when you were W2). This means you'll need to earn more gross income to net the same take-home pay you had before. I mention this because it affects how you should think about your assumed income amount for SDI purposes. If you base it solely on your previous W2 salary, you might end up with SDI benefits that don't adequately replace your actual net income needs if you become disabled. Also, has anyone here dealt with estimated quarterly tax payments while enrolled in Elective Coverage? I'm wondering if the SDI contributions get factored into those calculations or if they're completely separate. The more I learn about this transition, the more I realize how many financial moving pieces there are beyond just the disability coverage itself. Thanks to everyone who's shared their experiences - this thread is a goldmine of practical information that you just can't find on the official EDD website!

Alguien sabe si las oficinas locales estan abiertas para visitas en persona? A veces es mas facil resolver las cosas cara a cara

Hola Michael, entiendo tu frustración completamente. Un mes sin respuesta es demasiado tiempo, especialmente cuando necesitas esos pagos. Te sugiero que llames al número principal de EDD mañana temprano (antes de las 8 AM) para tener mejor chance de conectarte. Cuando llames, ten a mano tu número de caso, fechas de envío, y cualquier número de confirmación que tengas. También puedes intentar enviar un mensaje a través de tu cuenta en línea de EDD si tienes una. No te rindas - muchos de nosotros hemos pasado por esto y eventualmente se resuelve. ¡Mantennos al tanto de cómo te va!

I just went through this exact same issue a couple months ago and it was absolutely maddening! After reading through all these incredibly helpful responses, I want to add one more potential solution that worked for me when everything else failed: try accessing the EDD website through Internet Explorer or Edge in "compatibility mode" if you're on Windows. I know it sounds weird in 2024, but their upload portal was built with older web standards and sometimes only works properly in legacy browsers. Also, if you're using any ad blockers or privacy extensions, try disabling them temporarily - they can interfere with the upload functionality. One last tip: if you find the upload section but it keeps giving you error messages, try uploading just one document at a time rather than multiple files. The system seems to get overwhelmed with batch uploads. This community thread is honestly better than EDD's actual help documentation! Hope this helps someone avoid the frustration I went through. 💪

I just went through this same headache last week and finally got my 4365di forms uploaded! After trying everything mentioned in this amazing thread, here's what ultimately worked for me: I had to wait until I received an actual EMAIL from EDD with the subject "Document Request - Action Required" before any upload options appeared on the website. The email contained a direct secure link that bypassed all the navigation issues everyone's been struggling with. Apparently my claim needed to hit a very specific processing milestone before they even allowed document uploads. While waiting for that email, I kept checking the SDI Online portal like @Sophie Duck suggested, but the upload sections were completely invisible until after I got that official request. Once I got the email link, the whole process took less than 10 minutes. So frustrating that it's this complicated, but don't give up if you're not seeing upload options yet - you might just need to wait for EDD to officially request the documents first. Keep checking your email (and spam folder) daily! 🙏

I'm dealing with this exact same situation right now! Been on SDI for about 2 months after a work injury and that claim balance number has been stressing me out so much. Reading through all these responses is really helpful - I had no idea the balance was just an initial estimate and could be adjusted. My biggest worry has been what happens if there's a delay in processing the extension and my payments get interrupted. Has anyone experienced a gap in payments while waiting for extension approval? I'm the sole income for my family right now so even missing one payment would be really tough. Also wondering if anyone knows roughly how long the extension review process typically takes once your doctor submits the supplementary form?

I went through this exact same worry when I was on SDI last year! That claim balance number is definitely misleading - I was panicking thinking my benefits would just cut off when it hit zero. What everyone else is saying is absolutely right - the balance is just their initial calculation and gets adjusted when your doctor submits extension paperwork. My advice: don't wait until the last minute like I almost did! I started the extension process about 3 weeks before my current medical certification was set to expire, and it made everything so much smoother. My doctor submitted the supplementary form (DE 2525XX) and within about 2 weeks I got approval for additional time. The claim balance automatically updated to reflect the new period. One thing that really helped me was keeping a calendar of all my important dates - when my current certification expires, when to contact my doctor about extensions, and my bi-weekly certification dates. And definitely keep doing your certifications even while waiting for extension approval! That was crucial for avoiding any payment gaps. Hope your recovery goes well and you don't need the full 52 weeks, but it's good to know the option is there if you need it!