I went through this exact same situation two years ago! Was on SDI for a back injury and kept waiting and waiting for tax forms that never came. Finally called a tax professional who explained that California SDI benefits are specifically excluded from taxable income under both federal and state tax codes. It's one of the few benefits that's completely tax-free. The reason you're not getting any forms is because there's literally nothing to report - it's treated similarly to insurance payouts for medical expenses. You can definitely go ahead and file with just your W-2 and 1099-G from unemployment. Don't stress about it anymore!

I went through this exact same panic last year! I was on SDI for about 3 months after a knee surgery and kept refreshing my mailbox daily waiting for some kind of tax document. Finally called H&R Block and they confirmed what everyone here is saying - California SDI is completely tax-free, no reporting needed. It felt too good to be true but it's legit! The key thing to remember is that SDI comes from payroll deductions you've already made (it's your own money being returned to you when you need it), so it makes sense that it's not taxed again. I ended up filing in early February and got my refund within 10 days. Don't let the stress delay your filing - you're good to go with just your W-2 and unemployment 1099-G!

I'm new to this community but wanted to share my recent experience since it might help others! I just went through the exact same "other last names" verification error last week. Like everyone else here, I had never changed my name and was so confused why the system kept rejecting my "NO" answer. After reading through this thread, I tried the workaround of selecting "YES" and entering my current name exactly as it appears on my Social Security card, and it worked immediately! What's interesting is that I also encountered the address verification issue that @Mohamed Anderson mentioned. I had the same problem with addresses being rejected even though I had documentation proving I lived there. I ended up having to format my addresses exactly as they appeared on my old tax returns rather than how I normally write them (like using "Avenue" instead of "Ave"). It's really frustrating that we have to become detective work to figure out these system bugs, but I'm so grateful for threads like this. The EDD website has zero helpful information about these verification errors, so community solutions are literally the only way to get unstuck. Thanks to everyone who shared their workarounds - you're helping way more people than you probably realize!

As someone who just joined this community after dealing with EDD issues myself, I'm amazed at how helpful this thread has been! The collective problem-solving here is incredible - you've essentially created an unofficial user manual for EDD's buggy 2025 system update. I'm dealing with a different EDD issue (overpayment dispute) but reading through all these verification workarounds gives me hope that there are community-driven solutions for most of their system problems. It's ridiculous that we have to crowdsource fixes for a government agency's broken technology, but I'm so grateful for people like @Max Reyes who share their struggles and everyone who jumped in with solutions. This thread should honestly be pinned or turned into a guide for others facing similar verification errors. EDD really needs to acknowledge these widespread bugs and provide official guidance instead of leaving claimants to figure it out themselves!

So happy to see your update with good news! This thread is going to be really helpful for anyone else dealing with the same situation. The step-by-step process you followed should be bookmarked - calling the doctor immediately, using a service to actually reach EDD, and making sure the right form gets submitted before the deadline. It's crazy that we have to jump through so many hoops for something that should be straightforward, but at least now others will know exactly what to do. Hope your sciatica continues to improve and you can get back to work when you're truly ready!

This is such a great success story and resource! As someone who works in healthcare administration, I see patients struggle with SDI extensions all the time. Your step-by-step approach is exactly what I recommend to patients: 1. Don't wait - contact your doctor immediately when you realize you need an extension 2. Be specific about the form needed (DE 2525XX for extensions) 3. Use services like Claimyr if you can't get through to EDD directly 4. Make sure everything is submitted BEFORE your current period ends The fact that you got the EDD rep to note the incoming extension in your file was brilliant - that's what prevents payment gaps. I'm definitely sharing this thread with colleagues who help patients navigate disability claims. Hope your sciatica improves soon and thanks for taking the time to update everyone!

Hey Omar! Welcome to the community! I can see you've received some absolutely fantastic advice here already, which really shows how supportive this group is. Based on everything you've described - your weekly benefit amount showing ($1,250/week), empty pending applications section, and especially that "Claim Established" status - you are definitely approved! I went through something very similar after my knee replacement surgery last summer, and those exact same indicators meant my claim was fully processed and ready for payment. The combination of recovering from major surgery while stressing about finances is incredibly overwhelming, but you're really in the home stretch now. One thing I learned during my experience is to take screenshots of your claim status page every time you check it. It creates a helpful visual record of your progress and can provide reassurance when anxiety kicks in. Also, if you haven't already, double-check that your direct deposit information is correct in the system - you'd be surprised how often small typos can cause payment delays. Your persistence with getting that medical certification submitted really paid off! Some medical offices unfortunately don't prioritize these forms, and your advocacy for yourself made all the difference. That first payment should include all your backpay (around $3,750 based on your benefit amount), which should provide huge relief. Hang in there - based on what everyone else has shared and my own experience, you should see that payment within the next week. Focus on your recovery and try not to stress too much about the timing. This community is here if you need any other guidance along the way! 🙏

Hey Omar! Welcome to the community! I can see you've gotten some incredible advice here already, and I just wanted to add my voice to the chorus of support. Based on everything you've described - your weekly benefit amount showing up, empty pending applications, and that "Claim Established" status - you are absolutely approved! I went through a very similar situation after my carpal tunnel surgery about 6 months ago, and I had the exact same indicators when my claim was processed. The anxiety while waiting for that first payment is totally understandable, especially when you're dealing with recovery and mounting bills. One thing that really helped me was calling my bank to confirm they had my correct information on file for ACH deposits from the state. Sometimes there can be small discrepancies that cause delays, and it's worth double-checking to avoid any unnecessary anxiety. Your persistence in getting that medical certification submitted was absolutely the right move - don't feel bad about having to advocate for yourself! Unfortunately, some medical offices really don't prioritize these forms like they should, and patients end up having to push to get things done on time. Based on my experience and what others have shared, you should see that payment (including all the backpay) within the next 5-7 business days. Try to focus on your recovery and trust that the financial stress is about to be resolved. This community is here if you need any other support along the way! 💙

Thanks for posting this question! I'm in a similar situation and was dreading having to figure this out. Reading through all these responses has been super helpful. The step-by-step guide from Sophia is exactly what I needed, and all the warnings about scam sites and keeping accounts open longer are things I wouldn't have thought of. It's crazy how something that should be simple can be so stressful when it's your benefits on the line! I'm definitely going to screenshot everything and do this on a weekday morning like suggested. Has anyone had experience updating from a credit union to a major bank? Wondering if that makes any difference in processing time.

Just want to echo what others have said about taking screenshots of everything! I updated mine a few months ago and everything went smoothly, but having that documentation gave me so much peace of mind. One thing I haven't seen mentioned - if you have direct deposit set up for other things (like your regular paycheck), it might be worth updating EDD during a week when you don't have other deposits coming in. That way if there are any issues, you can tell right away if it's an EDD problem vs something else with your account. Also, the confirmation email is super important - I actually printed mine out and kept it in my EDD folder just in case. The whole process only took me about 10 minutes online, but the waiting to make sure it worked was the stressful part! Hope it goes smoothly for you!