Can I extend my EDD SDI claim if I'm not ready to return to work after doctor's release date?

You need to have your doctor fill out a "Supplemental Certificate" form (DE 2525XX) to extend your existing claim. Your doctor needs to certify that you're still unable to perform your regular work duties. Make sure they submit it BEFORE your current claim period ends to avoid payment gaps. Remember you can also log into your SDI Online account and there should be an option to request a claim extension.

happened to me last yr too. no new waiting period if u extend b4 current one ends. just make sure doc submits it!!!

I've been through this a few times with my chronic condition. Here's what you need to know: 1. Your doctor submits the supplemental certification (not a whole new claim) 2. It MUST be submitted before your current certification ends 3. If they submit it late, you might have a gap in payments (though you won't serve a new waiting period as long as it's within 90 days) 4. Call your doctor NOW and make sure they know you need this done by your appointment 5. Bring a printed copy of the form to your appointment if possible Also, keep detailed notes about your symptoms and how they prevent you from doing your specific job duties - this helps your doctor fill out the form properly.

I've tried calling EDD for THREE WEEKS about my extension and can't get through!!! Their phone system is COMPLETELY BROKEN!!!! I press all the right options and then it just says "we're experiencing high call volume" and HANGS UP ON ME!!! How is this legal??!! My benefits stopped and I can't pay rent now because of their incompetence!!

When I extended my SDI claim last year after my surgery, I made sure to: 1. Tell my doctor at LEAST a week before my end date that I needed an extension 2. Asked the office staff specifically which doctor would be completing the form (sometimes it's not your actual doctor) 3. Called the office 2 days after my appointment to confirm it was submitted 4. Checked my SDI Online account daily to see when it was processed If your appointment is cutting it close, call your doctor's office NOW and explain the situation. Some doctors will submit the extension based on your medical records without an in-person visit if they've seen you recently enough.

btw got a question... does ur employer have to agree to the extension or is it just between u and the doc and EDD?

my doctor filled out the wrong form for my extension last time and it took FOREVER to get fixed. make sure they use the right one!!! not the initial claim form!!!

One more thing - if there's ANY gap between your current claim end date and when the extension is processed, make sure you continue to certify for benefits anyway. You can still get backpay for that period once the extension is approved, but only if you've been certifying consistently.

I went through a similar situation with my shoulder injury from a workplace accident. Here's what worked for me: 1. Call your doctor's office TODAY and explain the urgency - don't wait until your appointment 2. Ask them to email/fax the DE 2525XX form to EDD the same day they complete it (many offices will do this if you emphasize the time crunch) 3. Get a confirmation number or tracking info when they submit it 4. If your doctor's office is slow with paperwork, consider asking if they can complete it over the phone with you during a telehealth appointment I was in a similar time crunch and my doctor's office actually did a quick phone consultation to complete the extension form when I explained I was at risk of losing benefits. Worth asking! Also, keep screenshots of your SDI Online account showing your current claim status in case there are any disputes later. Good luck - back injuries are no joke and you shouldn't rush your recovery!

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now with my wrist injury from a fall. One thing that really helped me was creating a "disability extension checklist" that I shared with my doctor's office. I included: 1) the exact form number (DE 2525XX), 2) my claim end date, 3) EDD's fax number for submissions, and 4) a request for same-day submission confirmation. Also, if you're worried about the timing, you can actually download the DE 2525XX form from EDD's website and bring it pre-filled with your personal info to your appointment - this saves time and reduces the chance of errors. My doctor appreciated having everything ready to go! One last tip: if your doctor submits it electronically through their medical software, it usually processes faster than fax or mail. Ask if that's an option at your appointment.

Just wanted to share my recent experience with a back injury extension that might help! I was in almost the exact same situation - car accident, severe back pain, and my initial SDI claim was ending while I still couldn't work. Here's what saved me from any payment gaps: 1. I called my doctor's office 5 days before my claim end date (not just the day before my appointment) and explained the urgency 2. They squeezed me in for a quick 15-minute "paperwork appointment" specifically for the DE 2525XX form 3. I brought a printed copy of the form with all my personal info already filled in 4. My doctor's office faxed it the same day and gave me the confirmation sheet The key thing I learned is that most doctor's offices don't realize how time-sensitive these forms are for EDD. Once I explained that my rent money depended on getting this submitted before my claim expired, they were super accommodating. Also, since you mentioned your supervisor is supportive, make sure you're also covered under FMLA if you haven't already - that protects your job while SDI covers your income. Hope your back heals up soon! Don't rush it - I made that mistake my first time and ended up needing an even longer extension later.

I went through this exact situation with my disability claim after a work injury last year. The most important thing is to act fast - don't wait until your appointment! Call your doctor's office tomorrow and explain that your SDI benefits will stop if the extension isn't submitted before your current claim ends on May 22nd. Most doctor's offices will work with you on urgent paperwork like this. Ask if they can do a quick phone consultation or squeeze you in earlier specifically for the DE 2525XX form. When I was in your shoes, my doctor's office did a 10-minute telehealth call just to complete the extension paperwork once I explained the urgency. Also, download the DE 2525XX form from EDD's website and fill in all your personal information ahead of time. This saves precious time during your appointment and reduces the chance of delays from missing info. One more tip: ask your doctor's office to submit it electronically if possible - it processes much faster than fax or mail. And make sure to get confirmation that it was submitted! Don't feel pressured to return to work before you're ready. Back injuries need proper healing time, and rushing back too early often leads to reinjury and needing even more time off later.

I just went through this process a few months ago with my knee injury! Here's what I wish someone had told me: Call your doctor's office RIGHT NOW and explain you need an urgent "supplemental certificate" (DE 2525XX) before May 22nd or your benefits will stop. Don't wait for your scheduled appointment - most offices will accommodate urgent paperwork requests. A few things that really helped me: - I found the DE 2525XX form on EDD's website under "Forms & Publications" and pre-filled all my personal info - I asked my doctor's office to fax it directly to EDD the same day (they have a dedicated fax line for disability forms) - I got the fax confirmation number as proof it was sent If your doctor can't see you before your claim ends, ask if they can do the extension based on your recent visits and current medical records - many will do this for established patients with ongoing conditions. Also, keep certifying for benefits even if there's a small gap while the extension processes. You'll get backpay once it's approved, but only if you've been continuously certifying. Your supervisor sounds supportive, which is great! Just remember that SDI is between you, your doctor, and EDD - your employer doesn't need to approve medical extensions. Take your time healing - back injuries are serious and rushing back too early often means needing even more time off later. Good luck!

I went through this exact same situation after my workplace injury last year! Here's my advice as someone who successfully extended without any payment gaps: **Call your doctor's office TODAY** - don't wait until your appointment. Explain that your SDI benefits end May 22nd and you need the DE 2525XX (Supplemental Certificate) form submitted before then or you'll lose income. Most offices will prioritize urgent paperwork once they understand the financial impact. **What worked for me:** 1. Asked for a "paperwork-only" appointment - got squeezed in for 10 minutes just to complete the form 2. Downloaded the DE 2525XX from EDD's website and pre-filled all my personal info to save time 3. Brought a list of my specific job duties and how my back pain prevents me from doing each one 4. Asked them to submit it electronically or fax it the same day with confirmation **Pro tip:** If they can't see you before May 22nd, ask if they can complete the extension based on your recent medical records - many doctors will do this for ongoing conditions they've been treating. Also, keep certifying for benefits even if there's a small processing gap. You'll get backpay once approved, but only if you've been consistently certifying. Don't feel guilty about taking the time you need to heal - I rushed back too early my first time and ended up needing an even longer extension later. Your back needs proper recovery time! You've got this! 💪

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now after my workplace injury. One thing that really helped me was calling my doctor's office and asking them to mark my case as "urgent" in their system. Once I explained that my disability benefits would literally stop if the paperwork wasn't submitted on time, they prioritized it completely differently. Also, if you're worried about the timing with your appointment being so close to your end date, ask your doctor's office if they have any same-day or next-day cancellation slots you could grab if someone cancels. That's actually how I got squeezed in earlier when I was in a similar time crunch. Another tip - when you call, ask to speak directly to the medical assistant who handles disability paperwork. They usually know exactly what needs to be done and can walk you through their process for getting it submitted quickly. Some offices even have a dedicated person who handles all the EDD forms. And don't stress too much - from what I've seen in this thread, it sounds like you have a solid plan now with all the great advice everyone's given. Back injuries are tough and you definitely shouldn't rush your recovery. Take care of yourself!

I just went through this exact situation with my back injury from a slip and fall at work! Here's what saved me from any payment gaps: **Act immediately** - don't wait for your scheduled appointment. Call your doctor's office first thing Monday morning and explain that your SDI benefits will stop on May 22nd if the DE 2525XX (Supplemental Certificate) isn't submitted before then. **What worked for me:** - Asked for an "urgent paperwork appointment" and got squeezed in for 15 minutes - Downloaded the DE 2525XX form from EDD's website and pre-filled all my personal information - Brought a detailed list of my job duties and exactly how my back pain prevents me from doing each task - Asked them to fax it directly to EDD the same day with confirmation **Pro tip:** If your doctor's office can't fit you in before May 22nd, ask if they can complete the extension based on your recent medical visits and current records. Many doctors will do this for ongoing conditions they've been actively treating. Also, even if there's a small processing gap, keep certifying for benefits! You'll get backpay once the extension is approved, but only if you've been consistently certifying. Don't feel pressured to rush back to work - I made that mistake and ended up reinjuring myself, which meant needing an even longer extension. Your back needs proper time to heal! The fact that your supervisor is supportive is awesome, but remember SDI extensions are purely medical decisions between you, your doctor, and EDD. You've got this! 💪

I went through almost the exact same situation with my back injury from a motorcycle accident last year! The stress of worrying about payment gaps while dealing with pain is awful, but you've gotten some really solid advice in this thread. One thing I'll add that helped me - when you call your doctor's office tomorrow, ask specifically which staff member handles EDD disability forms and try to speak directly with them. They usually know all the ins and outs of the process and can give you realistic timelines for submission. Also, if your doctor's office uses electronic medical records, they might be able to submit the DE 2525XX electronically through their system, which processes much faster than fax or mail. My doctor's office did this and I had confirmation from EDD within 24 hours. Since your supervisor is supportive, you might also want to check if you qualify for FMLA/CFRA job protection if you haven't already. It's separate from SDI but gives you additional peace of mind about your job security while you recover. Don't let anyone pressure you to come back before you're ready - I rushed back after 8 weeks and ended up re-injuring my back, which meant I needed another 12 weeks off. Listen to your body and give yourself the time you need to heal properly. You've got a great action plan now thanks to everyone's advice. Call that doctor's office first thing Monday and you should be all set! 💪

I've been through this process twice with different injuries and want to emphasize something that might not be obvious - when you call your doctor's office tomorrow, be very specific about the financial urgency. Don't just say you need the form submitted "soon" - tell them exactly: "My disability benefits stop on May 22nd and I won't have any income if this isn't submitted before then." I learned this the hard way when my first extension got delayed because the office staff didn't realize it was time-sensitive. Once I explained the financial impact clearly, they completely changed how they prioritized my case. Also, since you mentioned trying to call EDD for 2 hours - don't waste any more time on that. Focus all your energy on working with your doctor's office to get the DE 2525XX submitted before your deadline. EDD's phone system is notoriously terrible, but the good news is you don't actually need to talk to them if your doctor submits the extension properly. One more thing - if your doctor asks what dates to put on the extension, don't feel like you have to commit to a specific return date right now. They can certify you as unable to work for a reasonable period (like 4-6 weeks) and you can always do another extension later if needed. The most important thing is avoiding that payment gap this week. You've got great advice in this thread - follow the action plan everyone laid out and you should be fine!

I've been in your exact situation with a workplace back injury! Here's what I wish I had known: **Call your doctor's office TOMORROW morning** - don't wait for your appointment on the 21st. Explain that your SDI payments will literally stop on May 22nd if the DE 2525XX (Supplemental Certificate) isn't submitted before then. **Key steps that saved me:** 1. Asked for an "urgent paperwork appointment" - most offices will squeeze you in for 10-15 minutes when you explain the financial urgency 2. Downloaded the DE 2525XX form from EDD's website ahead of time and pre-filled all my personal info 3. Made a list of my specific job duties and how my back injury prevents me from doing each one (this helps your doctor complete the form accurately) 4. Asked them to submit it electronically or fax it same-day with confirmation **If they can't see you before the 22nd:** Ask if your doctor can complete the extension based on your recent visits and medical records - many will do this for ongoing conditions they've been actively treating. **Important:** Keep certifying for benefits even if there's a small processing gap. You'll get backpay once approved, but only if you've been consistently certifying. Don't feel pressured to rush back before you're fully healed - I made that mistake and ended up reinjuring myself, which meant needing even MORE time off. Back injuries need proper recovery time. Your supervisor sounds supportive, which is great! Just remember that SDI extensions are purely medical decisions between you, your doctor, and EDD. You've got this! The key is acting fast and being clear about the urgency with your doctor's office. 💪