EDD SDI claim rejected - surgeon cleared me but employer won't accommodate lifting restrictions

u should def appeal!!! this happned to me last yr. EDD doesn't get that theres a diff between 'cleared to work' and 'cleared to do YOUR job'. they kept denying me till i got my dr to write a letter saying i CANNOT do my specific job duties with the restrictions. make sure doc mentions specific job duties u cant do!

This is a common issue with disability claims. You're in what we call the 'work restrictions gap' - where you're medically cleared with restrictions, but your employer won't accommodate those restrictions. You should definitely appeal the SDI decision. Your doctor needs to complete a supplemental medical certification (DE 2525XX) that specifically states you cannot perform your USUAL or REGULAR job duties due to your medical restrictions. The key is having your doctor specify that while you can do some work, you cannot perform your specific job duties. You have 30 days from the date on your disqualification notice to file the appeal. Make sure you gather documentation from your employer stating they cannot accommodate your restrictions as well.

DONT FILE FOR UNEMPLOYMENT!!! Thats a total mistake in your situation and could mess up everything!! UI requires you to be 100% able to work ANY job and actively looking. With a doctors restriction, you'll get denied for UI and it could complicate your SDI appeal. The system is SO BROKEN!!! My husband went through this exact thing after his shoulder surgery and we ended up having to borrow money from family for 2 months while fighting with EDD. The appeals process was ridiculous but we eventually won.

I work as an HR benefits coordinator, and I see this situation frequently. Your doctor needs to be very specific in their documentation. The key distinction is between being 'able to work with restrictions' versus 'unable to perform your regular or customary work.' For SDI purposes, if you cannot perform your regular job duties, you're still considered disabled even if you could theoretically work in a different capacity. Request a supplemental medical certification from your doctor that clearly states you cannot perform your regular or customary work due to your medical restrictions. Then file your appeal with both the doctor's certification and a letter from your employer stating they cannot accommodate your restrictions. You should also call the SDI office directly to explain your situation.

Have you considered filing for Partial SDI? When I had a similar situation after my carpal tunnel surgery, my doctor filled out a form stating I could only work 4 hours per day instead of 8 due to my condition. EDD approved me for partial disability benefits for the hours I couldn't work. Might be worth asking your doctor if this applies in your situation with the lifting restrictions. The form is DE 2525XX I believe.

weird question but have u been useing ur edd debit card lately? i had issues where my claim was suposed to be active but my card wasnt getting money and it turned out it was a differnt problem with the bank of america card system, not my actual claim. might be worth checking the b of a edd card website to make sure theres not a seperate issue?

Just to be clear on the appeals process - you'll need to complete a DE 1000M appeal form. While the appeal is being processed, you should continue to certify for benefits every two weeks even though you won't receive payments during this time. If your appeal is successful, you'll receive backpay for those weeks. Make sure to include as much supporting documentation as possible with your appeal: the doctor's note with specific work restrictions, a letter from your employer stating they cannot accommodate these restrictions, and any other relevant medical records. The appeals process typically takes 30-45 days, so you'll need to plan financially for that waiting period.

My coworker just went through this SAME EXACT THING with her pregnancy disability! Her doc cleared her for light duty but our company didn't have any light duty positions available. She had to fight with EDD for WEEKS. She ended up havingto get a DIFFERENT DOCTOR to fill out a new certification form saying she COULDN'T work at all because dealing with the restrictions was too complicated for EDD to understand!! The whole system is broken and they don't care that people have bills to pay while they figure out their bureaucratic nonsense!

One more important point - if your employer has more than 50 employees, you might be eligible for job protection under FMLA/CFRA, which would require them to provide reasonable accommodations for your medical restrictions. This is separate from SDI benefits but could help you return to work. You should speak with your HR department specifically about reasonable accommodations under ADA as well. Sometimes employers say they can't accommodate restrictions without actually exploring all options as required by law.

I'm really sorry you're going through this - it's such a stressful situation to be caught between medical clearance and employer accommodation issues. Based on what everyone's shared here, it sounds like the key is getting your doctor to be very specific about your work restrictions. I'd suggest calling your surgeon's office ASAP and asking them to complete a supplemental form (DE 2525XX) that clearly states you cannot perform your regular warehouse duties due to the 15-pound lifting restriction. Make sure they mention specific job tasks you can't do - like lifting packages over 15 pounds, moving heavy inventory, etc. Also get something in writing from your employer stating they cannot accommodate your restrictions. Then file your appeal with both documents. The 30-day deadline is crucial, so don't delay. I know it's tough financially, but the backpay when you win will cover those weeks. Stay strong!

I went through almost the exact same situation after my knee surgery last year! The key thing that helped me was getting my doctor to write a very detailed letter specifically stating that I could NOT perform my "usual and customary work duties" due to the medical restrictions - not just that I had restrictions. My orthopedic surgeon had to list out specific job tasks I couldn't do (lifting over 10 lbs, standing for more than 2 hours, climbing ladders, etc.) and explain how these restrictions made it impossible for me to do my warehouse job. I also had to get HR to write a formal letter stating they had no light duty positions available that would accommodate my restrictions. The appeal took about 6 weeks but I did get approved for continued SDI and received all the backpay. Don't give up - this is definitely appealable! The wording on the medical forms is everything with EDD.

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this nightmare! I went through something very similar after my rotator cuff surgery in 2023. The gap between medical clearance with restrictions and what your actual job requires is so frustrating, and EDD really doesn't make it easy to understand. Based on everyone's advice here (which is all spot-on), I'd prioritize three things immediately: 1) Get your surgeon to complete that DE 2525XX form ASAP - make sure they specifically mention you cannot perform your warehouse duties like lifting packages, moving inventory, etc. 2) Get written documentation from your employer that they cannot accommodate your 15lb restriction, and 3) File that appeal within your 30-day window. One thing I learned the hard way - when you talk to your doctor, bring a copy of your actual job description if you have one. It helped my surgeon understand exactly why the restrictions made my job impossible. Also, if your employer has an employee handbook that lists physical requirements for your position, bring that too. The more specific documentation you can provide, the stronger your appeal will be. Hang in there - I know the financial stress is overwhelming, but this is definitely winnable with the right paperwork. Keep certifying during the appeal process so you don't miss out on any backpay when you win!