EDD SDI Independent Medical Exam conflict with my return to work date - will my benefits freeze?

UGH the IME process is SUCH a nightmare!! When I got mine last year they mailed it so late I only had like 2 days to respond!! Typical EDD bureaucracy trying to trip us up. 🙄 If you're going back to work Monday just call EDD and tell them that! They should cancel the IME. BUT GOOD LUCK ACTUALLY REACHING ANYONE! I spent 3 days trying to reach someone at EDD when this happened to me. You'll probably still need to reschedule the IME even though it makes ZERO SENSE.

This is something I can help clarify based on my experience with SDI and IME requests: 1. Even if you're returning to work, you should still contact EDD to inform them of this and ask about the IME requirement. Don't just ignore the IME letter. 2. Regarding payments: EDD typically continues payments for up to 7 days after the IME letter mail date. After that, payments may be suspended until you either complete the IME or officially close your claim due to returning to work. 3. Your best option is to submit your final certification tomorrow as normal, then immediately file a "return to work" notice when you go back on Monday. This should properly close your claim. 4. Make sure to document all your attempts to contact both the IME doctor and EDD. Keep copies of all communications.

my wife got an IME letter last month and she just ignored it because she was going back to work anyway nothing bad happened she got her final payment ok

I went through something similar in February. The key thing you need to do is call EDD and tell them you're returning to work. They need to officially close your claim. The IME is just their way of verifying you're still disabled - if you're not claiming disability after Monday, then logically you shouldn't need to do the IME. But EDD doesn't automatically know you're better unless you tell them. And yes, they should pay you up to the mail date + 7 days, but only if you've been properly certifying. Make sure you certify tomorrow like normal.

Try using Claimyr to get through to EDD faster! I was in a similar situation with my disability claim and needed to talk to someone ASAP. I tried for days with no luck, then found Claimyr (claimyr.com). They got me through to an EDD agent in about 20 minutes instead of spending hours redialing. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/1X-mEsLtbmQ?si=1hcSq3KFtCr4oAmd They basically stay on hold for you and call you when an agent picks up. Saved me so much frustration when dealing with my IME situation!

This happened to me last summer! Kinda. I got the IME letter but had to wait 3 weeks for an appointment because they were booked up. I was planning to go back to work the week after I got the letter. I called EDD and told them I was going back to work and they said I still needed to do the IME or they could make me pay back benefits! So I did the IME even though I was already back at work for like a week by then! So stupid!! But my final payment came through ok.

The most important thing is to be proactive in this situation. Here's what you should do: 1. Certify tomorrow as normal for the period you were actually disabled 2. Call EDD on Monday (the day you return to work) and file your return to work notification. Explain the IME situation and ask them to document that you received the letter after you had already decided to return to work. 3. Get documentation from your regular doctor confirming your recovery timeline and that you were legitimately disabled until your return to work date. 4. If they still require you to attend the IME despite returning to work (which happens sometimes), request an appointment date that works with your new work schedule. The 7-day payment rule is generally accurate - they'll pay you for up to 7 days from the IME letter mail date. Your certification tomorrow should be processed normally as it falls within that window. I had almost this exact situation with my shoulder injury claim in 2025. I documented everything carefully and had no issues with my final payment.

Just to add to what others are saying - make sure you submit your return to work notice through your SDI Online account as well as calling them. Double documentation is better, especially with EDD. And keep checking your SDI Online account for messages or status changes. Sometimes they'll update info there but not actually contact you about it.

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now! Got my IME letter yesterday but I'm also planning to return to work next week. From what I've been reading here and researching online, it sounds like the key is being proactive with EDD communication. One thing I wanted to add - if you do end up having to schedule the IME even though you're returning to work, some of the IME doctors are more flexible with scheduling than others. When I called the office listed on my letter, they actually had evening appointments available which would work better if I do go back to work. Also, has anyone here dealt with the situation where your employer wants you to get medical clearance before returning? My HR department is asking for a doctor's note saying I'm fit to return to work, which seems like it might conflict with having to do an IME that's checking if I'm still disabled. Just wondering if that creates any complications with EDD. Thanks for all the helpful responses everyone - this community is so much more useful than trying to navigate EDD's website!