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

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.

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!!

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!!!

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!

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.

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!

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!

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

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.

Hey Mary, I totally understand your stress about this situation! I went through something similar last year with my disability claim for panic disorder. Just wanted to add another perspective - since you already have the paper form back with just a signature needed, you might want to consider both options: sign and mail back the paper form as a backup, AND also try the online "Convert paper application to online" feature that Clay mentioned. That way you have two paths going and can see which one processes faster. I know it might seem like overkill, but when you're dealing with anxiety and need benefits ASAP, having redundancy can actually reduce stress. Just make sure to call EDD once one gets approved to cancel the other. Also, pro tip from my experience - if you do go online, complete the whole application in one sitting if possible. I made the mistake of starting it, then coming back later and some of my information didn't save properly. Had to start over but at least it was quick the second time. Your anxiety is valid and you're doing the right thing by seeking help. The system is frustrating but you'll get through this! 💙

I'm new to this community but dealing with a similar situation right now! I submitted my SDI application for anxiety/depression three weeks ago and it's been such a stressful process. Reading through everyone's advice here has been incredibly helpful. Mary, I think the dual approach Oliver suggested sounds really smart - having both the paper and online paths going gives you the best chance of getting processed quickly. I wish I had known about that "Convert paper application to online" option when I started my claim! One thing I wanted to add based on my recent experience - when you do talk to your doctor about the online certification, ask them specifically about their timeline for completing it. My psychiatrist told me she usually does them within 24-48 hours, but she wanted me to call her office directly once I submitted my online application so she could prioritize it. Some doctors get a lot of these requests and yours might appreciate the heads up. Also, don't feel guilty about needing this time off! Mental health is just as important as physical health, and severe anxiety absolutely qualifies for disability benefits. The fact that your doctor recommended stress leave shows this is a legitimate medical need. Hope your claim processes smoothly - keep us updated on how it goes!

I just wanted to jump in and say how much this thread has helped me understand my options! I'm in a very similar boat - submitted my SDI paperwork for work-related stress two weeks ago and got it back for a missing initial on one page. The dual approach everyone's discussing sounds brilliant - I'm definitely going to try both mailing back the corrected form AND using that online conversion feature. My therapist has been great about electronic forms for other things, so I think she'd prefer the online system too. One quick question for those who've done the online route - do you get email confirmations at each step? I have pretty bad anxiety about whether things actually went through properly, so knowing I'd get confirmation emails would really help my peace of mind. Mary, I hope your claim processes quickly whichever route you choose! It's so validating to see others talking openly about anxiety/stress claims - makes me feel less alone in this whole process.

I'm also dealing with a stress/anxiety claim right now and this thread has been incredibly helpful! Just wanted to share one more thing that might help - when I was researching the online vs paper process, I found that the EDD website has a live chat feature during business hours that's sometimes easier to reach than their phone lines. I used it to ask about converting my paper application to online and the rep was actually really helpful. They walked me through exactly what I needed to do and confirmed that using the "Convert paper application to online" feature wouldn't create duplicate claims as long as I used my original application ID number. Mary, the dual approach everyone's suggesting really does sound like the best strategy for peace of mind. I'm planning to do the same thing with my claim. Also, don't worry about the mental health aspect - my therapist told me that anxiety/stress claims are very common and EDD processes them just like any other medical condition. Hope your claim goes through quickly! This community has been such a lifeline during this stressful process.

I just went through this exact situation last month! I had forgotten to sign the medical release section of my SDI application for anxiety/depression and was so worried about delays too. Here's what worked for me: I used the "Convert paper application to online" feature that Clay mentioned - it's a game changer! You just need your original application ID number from any correspondence they sent you. The system automatically cancels your paper application when you complete the online conversion, so no duplicate claim issues. My doctor actually loved the electronic certification process - she said it was much faster than dealing with fax machines. She completed her part within 24 hours and I got email notifications at every step, which really helped with my anxiety about whether things were processing properly. One tip: make sure to complete the entire online application in one sitting. I learned this the hard way when I tried to save progress and come back later - some information didn't save correctly and I had to restart (but it only took about 20 minutes the second time). The whole thing processed in about 10 days once I switched to online. Hang in there - you're taking the right steps to get the help you need! Mental health is just as valid as any physical condition for disability benefits.

I'm also going through the SDI process for anxiety right now and this entire thread has been so incredibly helpful! Mary, I completely understand that overwhelming feeling when you're already dealing with severe anxiety and then the paperwork process adds even more stress on top of it. From reading everyone's experiences, it really sounds like the "Convert paper application to online" feature is your best bet. The fact that multiple people have confirmed it automatically cancels the paper application when you complete the online conversion takes away that duplicate claim worry completely. I wanted to add one thing that helped me - when I was preparing to do my online application, I gathered all my documents first (ID, employment info, doctor details) and wrote them down on a sheet of paper before starting. That way I wasn't scrambling to find information mid-application and could complete everything in one smooth session like Keisha recommended. Also, the email confirmations everyone mentioned are a lifesaver for anxiety. There's something so reassuring about having that paper trail showing each step is actually happening. You're being so proactive about getting the help you need, and that takes real strength when you're dealing with anxiety. Mental health conditions absolutely deserve the same support as physical ones. Wishing you a smooth process - please keep us updated on how it goes!