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Yuki Kobayashi

Can I reopen my EDD SDI claim after brief return to work made condition worse?

So I was on disability for severe lower back issues since May, and my doctor finally cleared me to return to work on 9/25. I called EDD right away (9/26) to let them know I was going back to work. Unfortunately, after only 4 days at my warehouse job, my back pain became unbearable - even worse than before. My doctor agrees I went back too soon and has recommended another 6-8 weeks of recovery. Do I need to file a completely new SDI claim, or can they reopen my previous one since it's the same medical condition? The EDD website is confusing me, and I really need income while I recover properly this time. Has anyone dealt with this situation before?

Carmen Vega

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You'll need to file what's called a "Recurrence Claim" since you're disabled again from the same condition within 90 days of returning to work. You don't need to file a completely new claim. Ask your doctor to complete a new medical certification form (DE 2501) indicating this is a recurrence of your previous condition. Submit this through your SDI Online account. There should be an option to file a recurrence claim when you log in.

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Thank you so much! I was confused about whether this was considered a recurrence since I already informed them I'd returned to work. Do you know if there will be another 7-day waiting period? I'm really worried about finances since I only got 4 days of work pay.

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same thing hapend to me last year with my shoulder!! went back 2 work after 3 months, lasted 2 weeks and boom - right back to square 1. u dont have to do waiting period again if its within like 2 or 3 months i think

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That's a relief to hear! Did they give you any trouble when you filed the recurrence claim? I'm worried they'll think I'm just trying to get more benefits when I really did try to go back.

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Zoe Stavros

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I JUST went through this exact nightmare scenario. Fyi - EDD is NOT going to make this easy for you! I filed my recurrence claim and they sat on it for 3 weeks with no response. I called 47 TIMES before finally getting through to a rep who told me they "needed more information" but never bothered to tell me! The system is BROKEN and they don't care that people are suffering without income while they drag their feet!!

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Oh no, this is exactly what I'm afraid of. I really can't go 3+ weeks without income. Did they eventually approve your claim? Did you do anything special to finally get it processed?

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Zoe Stavros

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They finally approved it after I had my doctor's office call them directly to confirm it was the same condition. But seriously, I wish I had known about Claimyr.com earlier - it would have saved me so much stress. They got me connected to an actual EDD agent in less than 30 minutes when I'd been trying for days on my own. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/1X-mEsLtbmQ?si=1hcSq3KFtCr4oAmd that shows how it works. Worth every penny to not spend all day hitting redial!

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Jamal Harris

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Quick correction to some of the advice here - you DO need to serve another waiting period if it's been more than 14 days since your benefits ended, not 90 days. Since you said you stopped benefits on 9/9 and are filing again now (which I assume is October?), you'll likely have to serve another 7-day unpaid waiting period. Just want you to be prepared for that possibility.

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oh shoot ur right! i got the timing wrong sry about that. its been awhile since i dealt with mine

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Thanks for clarifying! It's actually only been about 2 weeks since my benefits stopped (not 9/9, that was a typo - I meant 9/25), so maybe I'll avoid another waiting period? I'll be prepared either way.

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GalaxyGlider

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I work in HR and deal with SDI claims regularly. Here's exactly what you need to do: 1. Log into your SDI Online account 2. Select "File a New Claim" 3. When asked if this is for the same condition as a previous claim, select "Yes" 4. Complete the form with your return-to-work date and new disability start date 5. Make sure your doctor completes a new medical certification If it's within 14 days of your previous claim, you won't serve a new waiting period. Based on your dates, you should qualify for this exception. Your weekly benefit amount should be the same as your previous claim. If you have any issues with the online system, calling the EDD directly is your best option.

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Thank you so much for these clear steps! I really appreciate the detailed guidance. I'll have my doctor fill out the new certification right away.

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Mei Wong

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When I had to reopen my claim last year for my surgery complications, I actually had to go into the local EDD office to get it sorted out. The online system kept giving me errors. Might be worth checking if your local office takes appointments if you run into problems with the online application.

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I didn't even think about going in person. That's a good backup plan if the online system gives me trouble. I hope it doesn't come to that, but it's good to know it's an option. Thanks!

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Liam Sullivan

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did u try talking to ur job about light duty? my company let me do desk work for 3 weeks when i couldnt do my regular job. might be worth asking before going thru all the edd hassle again

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Unfortunately, my company doesn't have any light duty options for warehouse workers. It's either you can lift 50+ pounds or you can't work. I wish they had some flexibility like your company!

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Carmen Vega

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One more important tip - make sure you save copies of EVERYTHING. EDD has been known to lose documentation, especially for recurrence claims. Take screenshots of your online submissions and keep confirmation numbers. If your doctor faxes anything, get a fax confirmation. This will save you huge headaches if they claim they never received something.

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That's really smart advice. I'll definitely keep records of everything this time. For my original claim, I wasn't as organized and had some stress when they said they were missing a form I thought I'd already submitted.

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UPDATE: I wanted to let everyone know what happened. I submitted my recurrence claim online and got my doctor to submit the new certification right away. It took about 10 days, but my claim was approved! Since it was within the 14-day period, I didn't have to serve another waiting period. Thank you all for your help - especially the detailed steps from the HR person. You saved me so much stress during an already painful time!

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awesome! glad it worked out for u!! take care of that back for real this time lol

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GalaxyGlider

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Glad to hear it was resolved relatively quickly! Make sure you follow your doctor's recovery plan carefully this time. Returning to work too soon can lead to chronic issues that might affect your long-term ability to work.

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Owen Devar

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So glad to see this worked out for you! Your experience is really helpful for others who might face the same situation. It's encouraging to know that EDD can actually process these recurrence claims efficiently when all the documentation is submitted properly. Hope your back heals completely this time - warehouse work is tough on the body, and it's important to listen to your doctor's timeline rather than rushing back. Thanks for taking the time to update us with the outcome!

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This is such a valuable thread for anyone dealing with similar situations! I'm new to this community but have been lurking while dealing with my own disability claim questions. It's really reassuring to see how supportive everyone is here and how willing people are to share their experiences and expertise. @Yuki Kobayashi - I hope your recovery goes smoothly this time and you re'able to return to work when you re'truly ready. Thank you for updating us with the positive outcome!

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Ella Russell

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As someone who went through a similar situation with a knee injury, I just wanted to add that it's really important to be completely honest about your pain levels and limitations when you meet with your doctor for the recurrence evaluation. Don't try to downplay symptoms or rush the recovery process again - I made that mistake twice before finally learning to trust my body and my doctor's timeline. Also, if your employer asks when you'll be back, resist the urge to give them optimistic estimates. It's better to give yourself extra time and return early if you heal faster than expected. Wishing you a full recovery!

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This is such great advice! I'm new here but dealing with a potential disability claim myself, and reading through this whole thread has been incredibly educational. @Ella Russell, your point about being honest with doctors really resonates - I think there's often pressure (whether internal or external) to seem like you're getting better faster than you actually are. It's good to hear from someone who learned this lesson the hard way. @Yuki Kobayashi, congratulations on getting your claim approved! Your willingness to share the whole journey from start to finish is really helpful for newcomers like me who are trying to navigate this system.

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Dmitry Petrov

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Welcome to the community! This is such a comprehensive and helpful thread - it's amazing to see how everyone came together to help Yuki navigate this challenging situation. As someone new here, I'm really impressed by the level of expertise and support shown by members like Carmen, GalaxyGlider, and others who provided detailed, actionable advice. The fact that Yuki took the time to update us with the successful outcome makes this thread incredibly valuable for future members who might face similar recurrence claim situations. It's threads like these that show the real power of community support when dealing with complex government systems like EDD. Thank you all for creating such a welcoming and informative environment!

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I completely agree! As another newcomer to this community, I'm really struck by how generous everyone has been with their time and knowledge. Reading through Yuki's entire journey from the initial confusion about filing a recurrence claim to the successful resolution has been incredibly educational. The variety of perspectives - from Carmen's technical expertise, to Andre and Zoe sharing their personal experiences (both positive and challenging), to the HR professional's step-by-step guidance - really shows the strength of having a diverse community. It's also refreshing to see people being honest about both the successes AND the difficulties with EDD's system. This kind of transparency helps set realistic expectations for those of us who might need to navigate similar situations in the future. Thank you all for creating such a supportive environment!

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Brady Clean

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As a newcomer to this community, I'm amazed by the wealth of knowledge and support shown in this thread! Reading through Yuki's entire journey from initial confusion to successful resolution has been incredibly educational. The detailed advice from members like Carmen, GalaxyGlider, and others really demonstrates the value of having experienced people willing to share their expertise. It's particularly helpful to see the step-by-step guidance alongside personal experiences - both positive and challenging. This thread will definitely be a valuable resource for anyone facing similar recurrence claim situations. Thank you all for creating such a supportive and informative environment for those of us navigating these complex systems!

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I couldn't agree more! As someone who just joined this community, I'm really impressed by how this thread showcases the best of what online support communities can offer. What strikes me most is how everyone rallied around Yuki with such specific, actionable advice rather than just general sympathy. The combination of Carmen's technical knowledge about recurrence claims, the personal experiences shared by Andre and Zoe, and the professional insights from the HR member created such a comprehensive resource. It's also wonderful that Yuki took the time to update everyone with the positive outcome - that kind of follow-through really helps future members who might search for similar issues. This thread is like a masterclass in navigating EDD recurrence claims! Thank you to everyone who contributed their knowledge and experience.

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Malik Johnson

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What an incredibly helpful and comprehensive thread! As a new member of this community, I'm really impressed by the level of support and expertise displayed here. Yuki, I'm so glad your recurrence claim was approved and that you avoided the additional waiting period - that must have been such a relief during an already stressful time. The step-by-step guidance from GalaxyGlider was particularly valuable, and Carmen's initial advice about recurrence claims vs. new claims really set the foundation for understanding the process. It's also reassuring to see the honest perspectives about EDD's challenges (like Zoe's experience with delays) alongside the success stories. This thread will definitely serve as an excellent resource for future members facing similar situations. Thank you all for demonstrating what makes this community so valuable - the willingness to share knowledge, experiences, and genuine support for fellow members navigating these complex systems!

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