EDD Pregnancy Disability waiting time - really 6 weeks before benefits start?

That doesn't sound right. I filed for pregnancy disability in January 2025 and it took about 10-12 days to get approved and receive my first payment (after the 7-day waiting period). Make sure your doctor completed the medical certification properly - that's usually what causes delays. Also check that your employer responded to their portion promptly. You can log into your SDI Online account to see if there are any pending items or messages about missing documentation.

six weeks???? that's insane! when i had my baby last summer it only took like 9 days after the waiting period. the edd people always say the worst case so ppl don't complain if it takes long lol

Well I hate to be the bearer of bad news but my pregnancy claim DID take 5 weeks to process in December 2024. And I called EVERY SINGLE DAY trying to get information. The phone lines were constantly busy, and when I did get through, I was on hold for hours only to be disconnected. So frustrating!!! The EDD system is completely BROKEN especially during high-volume times like the end of the year. I ended up eating through most of my savings before the payments finally started coming in, and they never even explained the delay.

Have you tried using Claimyr to get through to an EDD representative faster? I was in a similar situation with my SDI claim (not pregnancy but surgery) and couldn't get reliable information. Tried Claimyr (claimyr.com) and they got me connected to a real EDD agent in about 20 minutes instead of spending days trying to get through. The agent was able to look at my specific claim and tell me exactly what was causing the delay and what I needed to do. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/1X-mEsLtbmQ?si=1hcSq3KFtCr4oAmd - definitely worth it for peace of mind.

Hi there! I'm a disability benefits counselor, and I can provide some accurate information about current SDI processing timeframes for pregnancy claims. The standard processing time for a clean SDI pregnancy claim (with no issues or missing information) is typically 7-14 calendar days after receipt of a complete claim. After approval, you'll receive your first payment following the 7-day unpaid waiting period. However, there are several factors that can cause delays: 1. Missing or incomplete medical certification from your doctor 2. Employer delay in verifying employment and wages 3. Identity verification issues 4. Discrepancies between reported wages 5. High claim volume periods (which we're currently experiencing) The 6-week estimate is definitely on the extreme end and is likely a worst-case scenario. I recommend checking your SDI Online account daily for any correspondence or requests for information. For pregnancy claims specifically, make sure your doctor clearly indicated your expected date of delivery and the date disability begins.

I'm actually going through this right now - filed my pregnancy claim on February 1, 2025 and just got approved yesterday (February 11). So it took about 10 days, which isn't terrible but definitely felt like forever! One thing that helped was making sure my doctor used the exact terminology EDD looks for regarding pregnancy disability. My OB specifically noted "disabled due to pregnancy" rather than just stating I was pregnant with complications. Apparently that specific wording matters! Also, I submitted everything online rather than by mail which I think speeds things up.

my sister was on pregnancy disability last year and they kept telling her different things every time she called. first it was 2 weeks, then 4 weeks, then suddenly they said her doctor filled something out wrong... total nightmare. but once they fixed everything the payment came the next day and they did backpay everything she was owed. the whole system is just super confusing and nobody gives you straight answers

Just wanted to follow up - one thing to remember is that after your baby is born, you'll need to transition from SDI to Paid Family Leave (PFL) for bonding time. Make sure you're prepared for that transition too, as there can sometimes be a gap between the two benefit periods if you don't file for PFL promptly. Your SDI typically ends 6-8 weeks after delivery (depending on delivery type), and then PFL can begin. The good news is that PFL doesn't have a waiting period like SDI does.

UPDATE: I just got off the phone with EDD after trying ALL MORNING! The representative (who was actually pretty helpful) said the 6-week estimate is their standard response for ALL claims right now because they're backlogged from system upgrades they did in January. But she looked at my specific claim and said everything looks complete and properly submitted, so it should be processed within 2 weeks. She said they're prioritizing pregnancy claims that are closer to the disability start date (which makes sense). So I feel a bit better now! I'll update again when I hear something.

I'm in a very similar situation - 29 weeks pregnant and just submitted my SDI claim last week. Reading through all these responses has been so helpful! It sounds like the processing times are really all over the place right now. I'm planning to stop work at 37 weeks, so I have a little more buffer time than you do, but I'm still nervous about potential delays. One thing I noticed from everyone's experiences is that having everything submitted correctly the first time seems to make the biggest difference. I double-checked with my doctor that she used the exact wording "disabled due to pregnancy" like Yara mentioned, and made sure my employer submitted their portion promptly. Fingers crossed for both of us that we get approved quickly! Please keep us posted on your progress - it really helps to hear real experiences rather than just the official EDD timelines.

I'm a new member here and just wanted to say how incredibly helpful this thread has been! I'm 28 weeks pregnant and was planning to file for SDI in a few weeks, but after reading everyone's experiences, I think I should probably submit my claim sooner rather than later to account for any potential processing delays. The variation in processing times is pretty concerning - from 9-10 days for some people to 5+ weeks for others. It seems like the key takeaways are: 1) Make sure your doctor uses the exact phrase "disabled due to pregnancy" on the medical certification, 2) Submit everything online rather than by mail, 3) Double-check that your employer submits their portion promptly, and 4) Monitor your SDI Online account daily for any updates or requests. StarSailor, I really hope your claim gets processed quickly! Please do update us when you hear back. And thank you to everyone who shared their experiences - it's so much more valuable than the generic information on the EDD website.