Doctor refuses to extend SDI for hospitalized father - multiple facilities sending me in circles

omg this sounds EXACTLY like what happened with my mom last yr!!! its so frustrating when the drs all point fingers at eachother. have u tried asking for the hospital social worker? they sometimes can help navigate this stuff better than regular drs

You need to speak with the attending physician at the long-term care facility once your father is transferred there. They're typically the ones who handle ongoing disability certifications for patients under their care. In the meantime, contact EDD directly to explain the situation - they sometimes can grant a short extension while you sort out the medical certification issues. Also, make sure you're using the correct form. For extensions, the doctor needs to complete a "Physician/Practitioner's Supplementary Certificate" (DE 2525XX). This is different from the initial claim certification.

I went thru hell with EDD when my husband was hospitalized last year!!! No one would extend his disability and we almost lost everything. The KEY is to get to an actual EDD REP asap!! After dozens of failed calls, I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) - they got me connected to an actual EDD disability specialist in under 25 minutes when I'd been trying for weeks!! They have this demo video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/1X-mEsLtbmQ?si=1hcSq3KFtCr4oAmd The rep was able to note our situation in the system and gave us a 2-week extension while we sorted out which doctor would sign the form. Seriously worth it when you're desperate.

I work in healthcare administration and deal with this frequently. Here's what you need to know: 1. The attending physician at the current hospital CAN complete the extension paperwork, even if your father is being transferred soon. They are legally qualified while he's under their care. 2. Ask to speak with the hospital's Patient Advocate or Case Manager (not just a social worker). Explain that you're being sent in circles and need their help. Their job is to solve these exact problems. 3. If still no success, call EDD and request a "Reasonable Accommodation" for your father's situation. They can sometimes make special arrangements for unusual circumstances, especially with hospitalized patients. 4. Document EVERYTHING - names, dates, who refused and why. This will be important if you need to file an appeal later. Don't give up! The system is designed to be difficult, but there are ways through it.

u should file 4 Long Term Disability 2... not just SDI. if ur dad is that sick he probably qualifies and that's y the first dr mentioned it. SDI only last like 1 year max but LTD can go longer. also check if he has private disability thru his work benefits.

Have you tryed contacting the EDD directly??? Sometimes they have specialists who can help with these kind of issues. My cousin had similar problem when she broke her back and couldnt go to doctors appointments. EDD told her which forms to fax where!!

This is EXACTLY why our healthcare system is broken!!! Doctors pass the buck and patients suffer. When my wife was going through cancer treatment last year, we ran into the same ridiculous situation with her SDI. Finally I had to THREATEN one of the doctors with a formal complaint to the medical board before they agreed to sign her extension paperwork. Sometimes you have to get tough with these people! Don't be afraid to escalate to hospital administration or even contact your state representative's office for help navigating the bureaucracy. THE SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO MAKE YOU GIVE UP - DON'T!

One important thing I forgot to mention: if your father is transferred to a new facility, you have a 20-day window where the previous doctor's certification is still considered valid while you obtain a new one. This is per EDD's own rules, but many representatives don't know about it unless you specifically ask. In 2025, they actually extended this grace period from 15 to 20 days, which might help in your situation. Make sure to reference this policy when speaking with EDD.

Update us on what happens! I'm sure many others will face similar situations and your experience could help them navigate the process.

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this nightmare situation! I went through something similar when my mother was in the ICU for three months. Here's what finally worked for us: Contact the hospital's "Utilization Review" department - they're different from case managers and specifically handle insurance/disability coordination. They have more authority to get doctors to sign paperwork because it affects the hospital's discharge planning. Also, if your dad has a social worker assigned through the hospital (most do for long-term patients), they can often facilitate getting the attending physician to complete the forms. The key is explaining that his discharge is being delayed by the disability paperwork issue. One more tip - if he's being transferred to a long-term care facility, call them NOW and ask them to assign a physician before he even arrives. That way you'll have someone lined up to handle future extensions without the runaround. Hang in there - the system is absolutely broken but there are people within it who will help once you find the right ones!