Do EDD SDI disability recipients need to certify regularly like unemployment?

SDI doesn't require bi-weekly certifications like unemployment does. Once your disability claim is approved and your doctor submits the initial certification, you'll generally receive payments automatically for the period your doctor certified you for. However, there are a few important things to know: 1) If your disability extends beyond what your doctor initially certified, you'll need a supplemental certification from your doctor (form DE 2525XX). 2) If you return to work earlier than expected, you MUST notify EDD to avoid overpayment. 3) EDD may randomly request you to verify your continued disability status, but this isn't a regular certification process like unemployment.

my cousin was on disability last yr and didnt have to do ANYTHING after getting approved. checks just came in the mail. way easier than UI!!

OMG I had the EXACT same question when I went on disability after my car accident in December!! The EDD website is USELESS for explaining this!! I spent HOURS trying to find a straight answer and ended up calling like 30 times before I could talk to someone. Disability (SDI) is NOT like unemployment at all! They don't make you certify every two weeks. THANK GOD because I was in so much pain I could barely use my phone.

When I was on disability for pregnancy last year the checks just showed up in my account. No certification needed. It was the easiest thing ever compared to the nightmare of unemployment!

Everyone here is giving you wrong information! You DO have to certify - it's just not biweekly like unemployment. EDD sends you a form called a "continued claim certification" that you have to fill out and return. I was on disability in 2024 and had to do this. If you don't send it back, your payments stop.

If you're having trouble reaching EDD to get this question answered directly (their phone lines are notoriously difficult), I'd recommend trying Claimyr. I used their service when I needed to speak with someone at EDD about my disability extension. They got me connected to a representative in about 20 minutes when I had been trying for days on my own. You can see how it works at https://youtu.be/1X-mEsLtbmQ?si=1hcSq3KFtCr4oAmd or go to claimyr.com. Worth every penny to avoid the frustration of constant busy signals.

Just to add some clarity here - I process disability claims for a living. The regular certification process that happens with unemployment benefits (UI) does NOT happen with State Disability Insurance (SDI). With SDI, your doctor establishes the period of disability, and EDD pays benefits based on that medical certification. You only need to take action if: 1. Your condition improves and you return to work earlier than expected 2. Your condition requires more recovery time than initially certified 3. You receive other income while on disability (certain types can reduce your benefits) 4. You move or change contact information Unlike UI, there's no bi-weekly certification requirement where you're confirming you're still disabled, actively looking for work, etc. The medical provider's certification is what establishes your eligibility period.

my brother got a random form in the mail when he was on disability asking if he was still disabled. he said it was weird bc it was only 3 weeks into his 8 week claim. so maybe they do random checks?

Thanks everyone for the helpful answers! This community is amazing. So the consensus seems to be that I don't need to regularly certify like with unemployment. The payments will come automatically based on my doctor's certification. I only need to contact EDD if something changes with my recovery timeline or if I return to work early. And I might get a random verification form that I would need to respond to. This makes my upcoming surgery recovery much less stressful! I was worried about having to remember certification deadlines while dealing with pain meds and therapy.

Welcome to the community! As someone who just went through SDI for a shoulder injury last fall, I can confirm what everyone else is saying - no regular certifications needed like with unemployment! One thing I wish someone had told me before starting: make sure you have direct deposit set up if possible. The paper checks can sometimes get delayed in the mail, and when you're recovering from surgery, the last thing you want to worry about is chasing down a missing payment. You can set this up through your EDD online account. Also, keep all your medical documentation organized. Even though you probably won't need it, it's good to have everything in one place just in case EDD does send you one of those random verification forms people mentioned. Hope your carpal tunnel surgery goes smoothly! Recovery is so much less stressful when you know your benefits will come automatically.

Just wanted to add my experience as someone who went through SDI for back surgery in 2023. Everyone here is spot on - no bi-weekly certifications like unemployment! One small thing to watch out for: if you do any part-time or temporary work while on disability (which is sometimes allowed depending on your condition), you MUST report it to EDD immediately. Even a few hours of work can affect your benefits, and failing to report it can result in overpayment demands later. Also, if you're planning to use FMLA alongside your SDI (which many people do for job protection), make sure to coordinate with your HR department. The timelines don't always match up perfectly, and you want to make sure you're covered on both fronts. Best of luck with your carpal tunnel surgery! Having gone through major surgery myself, I can't stress enough how nice it is to not have to worry about certification deadlines while you're focused on healing.

I went through SDI for knee surgery earlier this year and can confirm everything others have said - no regular certifications required! The process is much more straightforward than unemployment benefits. One additional tip that saved me stress: if you're getting your surgery done through a larger medical group or hospital system, ask if they have experience with EDD disability forms. My orthopedic surgeon's office was really familiar with the SDI process and made sure to fill out all the paperwork correctly the first time, which helped avoid any delays. Also, don't be surprised if your first payment takes a bit longer than expected - there's usually a one-week waiting period for SDI benefits, and then it can take additional time for processing. But once the payments start, they should come regularly without any action needed from you. Wishing you a smooth surgery and quick recovery! Having that financial stress off your mind really does make a difference in the healing process.

As someone who just started researching SDI benefits for my upcoming hand surgery, this thread has been incredibly helpful! I was also confused by the EDD website and worried about having to deal with regular certifications while recovering. One question for those who've been through this - how long does it typically take from when your doctor submits the initial paperwork to when you receive your first payment? I'm trying to plan my finances around the surgery date and want to make sure I have enough savings to cover any gap period. Also, did anyone have experience with getting SDI approved for carpal tunnel specifically? I'm curious if there are any particular documentation requirements or if it's generally straightforward since it's a pretty common work-related condition. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this community is so much more helpful than trying to navigate the EDD website!

Hey there! I went through SDI for carpal tunnel surgery just last year, so I can definitely relate to your confusion about the process. Everyone here has given you great information - you're absolutely right that there's no regular certification required like with unemployment benefits. One thing I wanted to add that helped me tremendously: if your surgery is being done at a hospital or surgical center, ask them about their pre-operative financial counseling services. Many places have staff who specifically help patients navigate disability benefits and can even help ensure your surgeon fills out the EDD forms correctly from the start. Also, since you mentioned you'll be having surgery next month, make sure to apply for SDI as soon as your doctor gives you a specific surgery date and says you'll be unable to work. You can actually file up to 9 days before your disability begins, which can help speed up the process. The biggest relief for me was realizing that once approved, I could focus entirely on recovery without worrying about deadlines or paperwork. Your payments will just show up automatically based on what your doctor certified. Best of luck with your surgery!

Welcome to the community! I just wanted to chime in as someone who recently went through SDI for a wrist fracture. Everyone here has given you excellent advice - no bi-weekly certifications needed like unemployment! One small tip I haven't seen mentioned yet: consider downloading the EDD mobile app if you haven't already. While you won't need to certify regularly, it's handy for checking payment status and updating your contact info if needed during recovery. Plus, if you do get one of those random verification forms people mentioned, you can sometimes respond through the app instead of mailing paperwork. Also, if you're having the surgery done on your dominant hand, you might want to practice doing basic tasks with your non-dominant hand beforehand - things like opening medication bottles, using your phone, etc. It sounds silly, but it really helped me during those first few weeks when my mobility was limited. The peace of mind knowing your benefits will come automatically is huge when you're dealing with surgery recovery. Best wishes for a smooth procedure and quick healing!