Can I get EDD SDI benefits for carpal tunnel surgery recovery? Restaurant worker needs advice

Yes, you definitely qualify for SDI benefits! Carpal tunnel surgery with a recovery period preventing you from doing your regular job duties is exactly the type of situation disability insurance covers. Here's what you need to do: 1. Talk to your surgeon's office ASAP and tell them you'll need them to complete the medical certification portion of your disability claim. They'll need to confirm your diagnosis, surgery date, and estimated recovery time. 2. You can file your claim online through SDI Online (https://edd.ca.gov/disability/). You can submit your claim up to 49 days before your surgery, so start the process now. 3. Your employer will need to complete their portion with your last day worked and wage information. I had a similar surgery last year and received benefits for 8 weeks while recovering. The weekly benefit is roughly 60-70% of your regular wages.

u should def apply NOW not later!!! there's a 7 day waiting period so u don't get paid for the 1st week u miss work. and edd is SLOW af right now so get that paperwork in early!!!

Make sure your doctor fills out the medical certification form ACCURATELY with the correct recovery time. My doctor initially only put 3 weeks for my hand surgery and I ended up needing 6 weeks before I could return to work. Had to get him to submit ANOTHER form for the extension which delayed my payments. Also document EVERYTHING because EDD makes mistakes all the time. Keep notes of when you call, who you speak with, what they tell you, etc.

good luck gettin anyone on the phone at EDD lmaooo i spent 3 days calling nonstop and kept getting disconnected

I went thru this exact situation with double wrist surgery last year. Make sure you get your claim started BEFORE surgery because afterward you'll have trouble typing/writing. The first payment will take about 10-14 days to process after your waiting period (7 days from your last day worked). One thing nobody told me: if you try to go back to work part-time during recovery (which I did after 4 weeks), you MUST report your partial return on your certification forms or they'll consider it fraud. I almost got in trouble for this! Also, SDI and PFL are different - don't confuse them like I did. SDI is for YOUR medical condition, PFL is if you need to care for a family member.

my cousin had the wrist surgery thing and MAKE SURE ur doctor puts the right dates!!!!! they messed up hers and she had to wait extra 2 weeks for $$$

From a technical standpoint, there are a few important details to understand about SDI for surgical recovery: 1. Your benefit amount is based on wages earned during a 12-month base period, starting 5-18 months before your claim begins. With 3+ years at your job, you should have a solid earnings history for maximum benefits. 2. For 2025, the maximum weekly benefit amount is $1,642, minimum is $54 (depending on your qualifying wages). 3. The medical certification (form DE 2501) must include: - Diagnosis code(s) (ICD-10) for carpal tunnel and ganglion cyst - Surgery date - Estimated recovery period - Certification that you cannot perform your regular work duties 4. Restaurant workers often qualify for higher benefit amounts than expected because tips reported as income count toward your benefit calculation. 5. Your claim effective date should be the first day you stop working due to your disability, not your surgery date (if you stop working before surgery for pre-op reasons).

i know somebody who got denied cuz they said carpal tunnel wasnt serious enough but that was probly cuz her doctor didnt explain it right on the forms

dont surgeons offices usually have somebody who helps with disability paperwork? mine did

EDD's website is constantly glitching these days so if you can't get through online, you might need to request paper forms as backup. Call your local office and ask them to mail you a DE 2501 claim form packet just in case. You'd be surprised how often their "improved" online system fails when you need it most. Also, take screenshots of EVERYTHING you submit online - I learned this the hard way when they claimed they never received my certification even though I had confirmation numbers.

One more thing I forgot to mention from my experience: if your recovery takes longer than initially estimated, have your doctor submit a supplemental medical certification BEFORE your original recovery period ends. This prevents gaps in payment. I made the mistake of waiting until my original certification expired and had a 3-week gap with no benefits while they processed the extension.

As someone who's been through the SDI process for work-related injuries, I wanted to add a few practical tips for your situation: 1. When you're filling out your application, be very specific about your job duties. Don't just put "line cook" - describe that you need to grip knives for extended periods, lift heavy pots/pans, and perform repetitive chopping motions. This helps EDD understand why you can't work during recovery. 2. Keep copies of ALL your medical records related to the carpal tunnel diagnosis, not just the surgery forms. Sometimes they ask for additional documentation showing the progression of your condition. 3. If your restaurant uses a payroll service like ADP, give them a heads up that EDD might contact them for wage verification. This can speed up the process. 4. Since you mentioned a cyst removal too, make sure your surgeon includes both procedures on the medical certification - don't let them forget the "minor" procedure since it all affects your recovery time. You've got this! The fact that you're planning ahead puts you way ahead of most people. With 3+ years of steady employment and a legitimate medical need, you should have no issues qualifying.

I went through SDI for carpal tunnel surgery about 6 months ago and wanted to share a few things that really helped me navigate the process smoothly: First, when you talk to your surgeon about the medical certification, ask them to schedule a follow-up appointment about 2 weeks post-surgery. This gives them a chance to reassess your actual recovery progress and adjust the timeline if needed - way better than guessing at the initial appointment. Second, since you're in food service, make sure to mention to EDD that you'll likely need both hands fully functional before returning. Unlike office workers who might be able to work with one hand in a brace, kitchen work requires bilateral hand strength and coordination for safety reasons. Also, a heads up - your first certification form will arrive about 10 days after your claim is processed, and then you'll get them every 2 weeks after that. Set reminders on your phone because late submissions can delay payments. One last thing: if your restaurant has workers comp insurance, double-check that this isn't considered a work-related injury. If it is, you might need to file through workers comp instead of SDI, which could actually get you better benefits. Just something to consider! Good luck with your surgery - you're being smart by planning ahead!