Applied for EDD SDI in February 2025 - How long until first payment arrives?

Applied on January 15 and got my first payment on February 8, so that was about 24 days total. Keep in mind the first week is your waiting period so you won't get paid for that. My claim showed "pending" for about 12 days, then switched to "approved" but took another week before money actually hit my account. Make sure you completed ALL sections of the application - if anything is missing they won't tell you, it'll just sit there.

mine took 6 WEEKS!!!! applied in january and didnt get paid till last week. the website kept saying "pending" with no explanation. so frustrating. i think it depends on your medical condition too, some get approved faster than others

I applied January 5th and got my first disability payment on January 29th. Remember you won't get paid for the first 7 days (waiting period). I think having my doctor submit the medical certification electronically through SDI Online made it faster. If they mail paperwork it definitely takes longer.

OMG the EDD is a disaster right now! Applied in mid-January for pregnancy disability. Its been SIX WEEKS and my claim STILL shows pending!!! I've called like 40 times and can't get through to anyone. Bills piling up and no income. This system is BROKEN!!

I successfully used a service called Claimyr to get through to an EDD agent after trying for days with no luck. You can check them out at claimyr.com - they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/1X-mEsLtbmQ?si=1hcSq3KFtCr4oAmd Basically they call EDD for you and when they get through, they connect you. I was hesitant at first but it worked perfectly and I got my claim status updated right away. The agent told me my claim was delayed because they needed clarification on my last day worked (the date my employer entered didn't match what I put). Once that was fixed, my payment was processed within 3 days.

My sister applied on Jan 22 for carpal tunnel surgery and got her first payment Feb 16, so just over 3 weeks. But she had submitted everything perfectly - medical certification done electronically, all dates matching between her app and doctor's forms, etc. I think a lot depends on whether there are any discrepancies they need to investigate. If everything matches up perfectly it goes through faster.

Current EDD SDI processing times are averaging 14-21 days from the date they receive a COMPLETE application (including medical certification). However, that's just for the claim to be approved. After approval, it typically takes another 3-5 business days for payment to be issued and deposited. Factors that commonly delay disability claims: 1. Discrepancies between dates on your application and your doctor's certification 2. Missing information from your employer 3. Medical certification sent by mail instead of electronically 4. History of other claims (UI, PFL, previous disability) that requires additional review 5. Incomplete work history I recommend checking your claim status online daily. If it shows "pending" for more than 14 days, there's likely an issue that needs resolution. At that point, reaching an agent by phone becomes critical.

My physical therapist has like 5 patients right now all waiting on disability and she said its taking 3-4 weeks for most people. Also if u get approved for less weeks than ur doctor recommended don't panic, u can always get an extension later. That happened to my brother.

One more thing to consider - if you selected paper checks instead of direct deposit, add at least 5 more days for mail delivery. I made that mistake my first time on disability and it seriously delayed things. If you did select paper checks, you can still change to direct deposit through your SDI Online account.