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Mary Bates

Can I resubmit EDD SDI application online after messing up paper form signature?

Totally stressed about my disability claim process right now. I've been dealing with severe anxiety and my doctor recommended I take stress leave from work. I initially filled out all the SDI paperwork by mail last week, but just got a notice that I forgot to sign one section of the form (I think it was Part B or something). I REALLY don't want to start this whole process over again because I need these benefits soon. Can I just apply online now instead? The EDD website seems confusing about whether I can switch from paper to online mid-process. And if I do apply online, how would my doctor submit their signature/certification? Would they need to do that separately? I'm worried about further delays if I mess up again. Has anyone dealt with this situation before? Any advice would be so helpful!

Yes, you can definitely apply online through SDI Online! It's actually much easier than the paper forms. Your doctor doesn't need to physically sign anything - they'll submit their certification electronically through their own portal (called SDI Online for Medical Providers). You'll need to create an account at https://edd.ca.gov/disability/ if you don't already have one. Then start a new claim and complete all the sections. When you get to the doctor information part, you'll provide their details and the system will notify them that they need to certify your condition. The online system actually reduces errors because it won't let you submit with missing information. Just make sure you have all your personal and employment details ready when you start.

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Mary Bates

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Thank you SO much for this info! I've been stressing about having to restart the whole paper process. Do you know if there's a way to tell them that I already submitted a paper application but it had errors? I don't want them to think I'm filing duplicate claims or something.

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Ayla Kumar

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i went thru this last yr. U can go online BUT u gotta call & tell them to cancel the paper 1 first. they get real confused if u have 2 claims going & will prob deny both!!

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Mary Bates

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Oh no, that's exactly what I was worried about! I'll definitely call first then. Did you have to wait long to get through to someone on the phone?

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Getting through to EDD on the phone is IMPOSSIBLE these days!! I tried for over a WEEK calling multiple times daily when I had issues with my disability paperwork. Always got the "we're experiencing high call volume" message and then they HANG UP ON YOU! How is that even legal?!? The online system is definitely better than paper forms but the whole system is broken. They make it deliberately complicated so people give up. I ended up having to start my claim over THREE TIMES because of their stupid bureaucratic nonsense. So frustrating!!!

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This same thing happened to me, spent hours trying to get through. I ended up using Claimyr (claimyr.com) to connect with an EDD representative. They have this service that gets you through the phone system and puts you in line for a callback. Saved me hours of frustration! There's a video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/1X-mEsLtbmQ?si=1hcSq3KFtCr4oAmd - definitely worth it when you need to talk to someone asap to cancel that paper application.

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Kai Santiago

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I deal with EDD disability claims regularly in my work, and I want to clarify a few things for you: 1. You CAN submit a new online application while a paper application is pending, but it's not ideal. The system might flag it as a duplicate claim. 2. If your paper application was just returned for a missing signature, the quickest solution is actually to just sign the part they indicated and mail it back. They should have sent instructions with the return notice. 3. If you do decide to switch to online: - Call EDD first to withdraw the paper application - Create an SDI Online account - Complete a new application - Your doctor will submit their certification electronically (DE 2501) through their portal 4. For stress/anxiety claims, make sure your doctor provides clear documentation about your condition and why it prevents you from performing your regular work duties. These claims receive extra scrutiny. Hope this helps clarify your options!

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Mary Bates

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Thank you for these details! Super helpful. They did send back the original form for me to sign but I'm worried about more mail delays. My doctor is pretty tech-savvy so I think she'd prefer the online system anyway. I'll try calling EDD tomorrow to withdraw the paper application.

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Lim Wong

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I had a similar issue with stress leave last year except I accidently put the wrong employer address on mine lol. The thing is, did they send your whole application back or just a section to sign? Because if it's just a signature page you could just sign that and send it back which would be faster than starting over online probably.

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Mary Bates

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They sent back the whole packet with a yellow sticky note pointing to where I needed to sign. I'm just worried about more mail delays honestly. My anxiety is through the roof waiting for this to process because my savings are running low. Did your claim process quickly once you fixed your error?

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Lim Wong

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mine took about 10 days after i sent the correction in. not terrible but not great either. the waiting is definitely the worst part especially when ur already stressed out!!

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Dananyl Lear

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I'm going through the disability process for anxiety/depression right now too, and I found the online system much easier than paper forms (which I started with initially). Here's what worked for me: 1. I created my SDI Online account 2. Filled out all my info (took about 20 minutes) 3. Gave my doctor's information 4. My doctor received an email notification and completed their part online 5. My claim was processed in about 8 days The only tricky part was that my doctor didn't see the email notification at first (it went to spam), so I had to call their office to have them check for it. Make sure to follow up with your doctor to confirm they received and completed the online certification! Stress leave is really hard - hang in there and take care of yourself during this process. The system is frustrating but you'll get through it!

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Mary Bates

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Thank you for sharing your experience! That's really encouraging to hear it worked well for you. I'll definitely follow up with my doctor to make sure the notification doesn't get lost. Can I ask how much information they asked about your mental health condition in the online application? I'm a bit worried about privacy.

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Dananyl Lear

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The online form just asks for your diagnosis and some basic info about your condition/limitations. You don't have to provide extensive details about your symptoms - your doctor's certification handles most of that. The EDD system is secure and covered by medical privacy laws, so your information is protected. I was nervous about that too but it ended up being fine!

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Quick update on the process for 2025 since there have been some changes to the EDD SDI system: 1. The new SDI Online system now has a specific option to "Convert paper application to online" - look for this checkbox during registration 2. You'll need your paper application ID number (should be on any correspondence they sent) 3. The doctor certification process is now streamlined - they typically complete it within 48 hours 4. For stress/anxiety claims, they now have a specific section to indicate work-related versus non-work-related causes (this affects whether you might also qualify for workers' comp) 5. The waiting period is still 7 days before benefits begin Make sure to check those FAQs on the EDD site as they've updated a lot of their processes this year!

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Mary Bates

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Oh! I had no idea about that "Convert paper application to online" option - that sounds perfect for my situation. I'll look for that when I register. Thanks so much for the updated info!

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Ayla Kumar

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wait... does anyone know if stress leave pay is different from regular disability??? my friend said she got less $ for mental health stuff vs when she had surgery

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Kai Santiago

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This is incorrect. California SDI pays the same benefit amount regardless of what medical condition you have. The benefit amount is based on your previous wages, not your diagnosis. Your friend likely received different amounts because of changes in her income between claims, or perhaps her second claim wasn't for the same duration as her first. Mental health conditions like stress, anxiety, and depression qualify for the exact same SDI benefits as physical conditions, as long as they're properly certified by a healthcare provider.

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I'm going through something really similar right now with my anxiety claim! The stress of dealing with the paperwork while already being anxious is just awful. From what I've learned lurking here, it sounds like you have a few good options. The "Convert paper application to online" feature that Clay mentioned sounds like it could be perfect for your situation - that way you don't have to worry about duplicate claims or calling EDD (which everyone says is impossible anyway). I'd definitely recommend going online if your doctor is comfortable with technology. My therapist actually preferred the electronic system because she could complete everything from her office computer instead of dealing with fax machines and mail delays. One thing I wish someone had told me earlier - make sure to save screenshots of every page when you submit online, just in case there are any technical glitches. I've heard some people had issues with the system not saving their progress properly. Hang in there! The whole process is stressful but you're taking the right steps to get the help you need. Your mental health is important and you deserve these benefits while you recover.

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