Do I need to certify weekly for EDD SDI like unemployment? First time disability claim confusion

No, State Disability Insurance (SDI) is different from unemployment. With SDI, you don't have to certify every two weeks like unemployment. Your doctor provides the initial certification, and you only need to submit continuing certification if your disability extends beyond the period your doctor initially certified. The medical provider will need to submit a supplemental form if your disability continues longer than expected. Just make sure your doctor completed the medical portion correctly initially, and you should be good until/unless you need an extension.

when i was on disabilty last yr i didnt have to do anything after i applied. just waited for the money to come. its WAY easier than unemployment!!

THANK GOD disability isn't like unemployment!!! I had unemployment in 2023 and it was a NIGHTMARE!!!! Had to certify every 2 weeks and if you made ONE mistake they'd freeze your account and good luck ever reaching anyone to fix it. Took me 3 MONTHS to get my account unfrozen last time because some EDD rep accused me of fraud when I accidentally put the wrong date on something. The disability system is WAY better - you apply once, doctor confirms, and then you get paid. No weekly nonsense!!!

Just to clarify a couple of important points about SDI vs. unemployment: 1. With SDI, your doctor provides the medical certification, and you typically don't need to do bi-weekly certifications like unemployment. 2. However, if your disability extends beyond what your doctor initially certified, you'll need a supplemental certification from your doctor (form DE 2525XX). 3. For Pregnancy Disability claims, there's a special form after delivery (DE 2501FP) to transition to bonding time if you're eligible. 4. If you return to work part-time while still disabled, you DO need to report those wages by calling EDD or completing a form. The main thing to watch for is any correspondence from EDD requesting additional information. They might send forms if they need clarification on anything. Make sure your address is up-to-date in the system.

I've been on both unemployment and disability in the past year, and they are completely different systems. With unemployment, you have to certify every two weeks and answer those questions about looking for work, etc. With disability, once your claim is approved, the payments just come automatically based on your doctor's certification. However, trying to get through to EDD if there are ANY problems with your disability claim is absolute torture. I tried for 2 weeks straight when my payments suddenly stopped - calling from 8am until the lines closed, getting disconnected, waiting on hold for hours...

just make sure ur doctor put the right dates on the form. my doc accidentally put that i could return to work in 2 weeks when i was getting surgery that needed 8 weeks recovery and they only paid me for 2 weeks then cut me off. huge mess to fix.

Just to add some clarification - SDI pays approximately 60-70% of your wages, up to a maximum benefit amount. Payments are based on your highest quarter of earnings in your base period. For 2025, the maximum weekly benefit amount is $1,720. Also, there's a 7-day waiting period before benefits begin. This means you won't be paid for the first week of your disability period. This waiting period is unpaid unless your employer provides paid sick leave. If all your paperwork is in order, most claims begin processing within 7-14 days, and you'll typically receive your first payment within 14-21 days after filing. You can check your claim status through your SDI Online account.

One thing I'll add that helped me when I was on SDI - make sure to keep all your documentation organized! Save copies of everything your doctor submits, any correspondence from EDD, and keep a record of your claim number. Even though SDI is much simpler than unemployment, if anything goes wrong you'll want to have all your paperwork ready. Also, sign up for direct deposit if you haven't already - it's faster than waiting for checks in the mail. The whole process really is much less stressful than unemployment once you get it set up correctly. Hope your back heals up quickly!

I went through SDI for the first time last year after a knee surgery and was so relieved to discover it's nothing like unemployment! No bi-weekly certifications, no job search requirements, no constantly having to prove you're eligible. Once your doctor submits the initial paperwork and EDD approves your claim, the payments just come automatically. The hardest part for me was actually the waiting - it took about 2 weeks to get my first payment, but after that it was smooth sailing. Just make sure your doctor is thorough with the initial certification and includes realistic recovery timeframes. If you need an extension later, they can submit a supplemental form. Much less stressful than unemployment for sure!

Great question! I'm glad you asked because this is such a common source of confusion for first-time SDI claimants. As others have mentioned, SDI is completely different from unemployment - no bi-weekly certifications required! Once your doctor submits the medical certification and your claim is approved, payments come automatically for the certified period. Just a heads up though - make sure to monitor your EDD Online account regularly even though you don't need to certify. Sometimes they'll send notices requesting additional information or updates, and you'll want to respond promptly to avoid any payment delays. Also, if your recovery takes longer than the initial 6 weeks your doctor certified, don't stress - your doctor can easily submit a continuing certification form to extend your benefits. The system really is much more straightforward than unemployment. Focus on your recovery and let the doctors handle the paperwork side of things. Wishing you a smooth healing process with your back injury!

As someone new to this community but familiar with EDD processes, I wanted to add that you should also be aware of potential tax implications with SDI payments. Unlike unemployment benefits which are fully taxable, SDI benefits are generally not subject to federal income tax (though they may be subject to state tax depending on your situation). This can be a nice surprise come tax time! Also, if you're currently receiving any other benefits or workers' compensation, make sure to report your SDI claim as there can be coordination of benefits that might affect payment amounts. The good news is that SDI is definitely the most user-friendly of all the EDD programs - no job search requirements, no work availability questions, just focus on getting better!

Welcome to the community! Just wanted to add my perspective as someone who's dealt with both systems - SDI is SO much better than unemployment when it comes to the administrative burden. One thing I learned the hard way though is to keep your address updated with EDD if you move during your disability period. I moved apartments while on SDI and almost missed an important notice about a routine review because mail was going to my old address. Also, if you have any employer-provided short-term disability benefits, check with your HR department about how that coordinates with SDI - sometimes you can supplement the SDI payments to get closer to your full salary. The 60-70% replacement rate is helpful but every bit extra helps when you're out of work! Hope your back injury heals quickly and smoothly.

Welcome to the community! I see you've gotten some excellent advice already. As someone who's been through both unemployment and SDI, I can confirm that SDI is much more straightforward. One additional tip I'd share is to take photos or screenshots of all the paperwork your doctor submits, especially if they're doing it electronically. Sometimes there can be discrepancies between what your doctor thinks they submitted and what EDD actually received. Having your own record can save you time if any issues come up. Also, don't be surprised if your first payment comes as a debit card rather than direct deposit - EDD often sends the initial payment via their EDD Debit Card even if you signed up for direct deposit. Subsequent payments should go to your bank account as requested. Hang in there with your back recovery - I know how frustrating it can be to be laid up with an injury!

Welcome to the community! As someone who's been helping folks navigate EDD systems for a while, I'm really glad you asked this question because it's one of the most common sources of confusion for first-time SDI claimants. Everyone here has given you excellent advice - SDI really is night and day compared to unemployment when it comes to the certification requirements. One thing I'd add that hasn't been mentioned yet is to keep an eye on your bank account for the timing of payments. SDI typically pays on a specific schedule (usually weekly), but the day of the week can vary depending on when your claim was processed. Don't panic if your first payment doesn't arrive exactly when you expect it - there's often some variation in the initial payment timing. Also, since you mentioned this is a back injury that could take 6+ weeks, consider asking your doctor about any physical therapy or treatment recommendations that might help with your recovery timeline. Sometimes staying proactive with treatment can actually help you return to work sooner, which benefits everyone. Best of luck with your recovery, and don't hesitate to ask if you have more questions as you go through the process!

Welcome to the community! I'm new here too but wanted to share my experience since I just went through the SDI process for the first time last month after a shoulder surgery. Everyone here is absolutely right - it's SO much easier than unemployment! I was terrified it would be like the unemployment nightmare I went through in 2022 with all those bi-weekly certifications and the website constantly crashing. With SDI, once my orthopedic surgeon submitted the paperwork electronically, I literally didn't have to do anything except wait. My first payment came about 10 days later via the EDD debit card (even though I had signed up for direct deposit), and then all subsequent payments went straight to my bank account weekly. The only "gotcha" I encountered was that I needed to extend my leave from 4 weeks to 6 weeks when my recovery wasn't progressing as quickly as expected. My doctor just had to submit a supplemental form (took him about 5 minutes), and my benefits continued seamlessly with no gap in payments. One tip: download the EDD mobile app if you haven't already - it makes checking your claim status and payment history really convenient, especially when you're laid up recovering. Hope your back heals up quickly!

Welcome to the community! As someone who's also new to the SDI process, I wanted to add one more reassuring point that I learned from my research - if you ever need to contact EDD about your SDI claim, the disability phone lines tend to be much less congested than the unemployment lines. I was dreading having to call EDD after all the horror stories about unemployment, but when I had a quick question about my claim status last week, I actually got through to a representative in about 15 minutes! It's such a relief that the SDI system seems to be better resourced and less overwhelmed than unemployment. The representatives were also much more knowledgeable and helpful compared to my unemployment experience. Just another reason why SDI is so much more manageable - even when you do need help, it's actually possible to get it. Hope this gives you even more peace of mind as you focus on your recovery!

Welcome to the community! As someone who's been through multiple EDD programs, I can definitely confirm what everyone else is saying - SDI is BY FAR the most user-friendly system they have. No bi-weekly certifications, no job search requirements, no constant stress about missing deadlines. Once your doctor submits the paperwork and your claim is approved, you can literally just focus on getting better. One thing I'd add that might help ease your mind - if you're worried about whether your doctor submitted everything correctly, you can actually log into your SDI Online account and check the status. It will show you what documents they've received and if anything is missing. This was super helpful for my peace of mind when I was on SDI for a knee surgery last year. Also, don't feel bad about being confused initially - the EDD website really isn't clear about the differences between their programs. I think they assume people already know, but for first-timers it's genuinely confusing. You asked exactly the right question though, and now you can relax knowing you don't have to worry about those awful bi-weekly certifications while you're dealing with back pain. Focus on your recovery and let the system work for you for once!

Welcome to the community! I'm also relatively new to SDI and just wanted to add my voice to the chorus of relief about how much simpler this system is compared to unemployment. I went through unemployment during the pandemic and it was absolutely brutal - those bi-weekly certifications were stressful enough when healthy, I can't imagine trying to deal with them while recovering from an injury. One small thing that helped me when I was waiting for my SDI claim to process was setting up text alerts through my bank so I'd know immediately when payments hit my account. It eliminated the anxiety of constantly checking my balance wondering if the payment had come through yet. Also, if you're using any budgeting apps or automatic bill pay, make sure to account for the reduced income (that 60-70% rate) and the potential delay in first payment timing. The fact that you're being proactive and asking these questions upfront shows you're on the right track. Focus on that physical therapy and getting better - the administrative side really is much more manageable than other EDD programs. Wishing you a smooth recovery!

As someone who just went through my first SDI claim a few months ago, I can absolutely confirm what everyone else is saying - it's SO much easier than unemployment! I was terrified it would be like the unemployment system where you're constantly worried about missing certifications or making mistakes that could freeze your benefits. With SDI, once my doctor submitted the initial paperwork electronically, I literally just had to wait. No weekly check-ins, no job search requirements, no stress about the website crashing when you're trying to certify. The payments started automatically after about 2 weeks and continued weekly for the entire period my doctor had certified. The only time I had to do anything was when I needed an extension - my original 4-week certification turned into 6 weeks when my recovery took longer than expected. My doctor just submitted one additional form and the payments continued seamlessly with no gap. One tip: make sure to check your SDI Online account occasionally for any notices, but don't stress about it like you would with unemployment. The system actually works in your favor for once! Focus on your recovery and let the doctors handle the paperwork side. Hope your back heals up quickly!