EDD SDI claim shows benefit amount but only waiting period in payment activity - am I approved?

Yes, you're approved! When the pending applications section is empty and it shows your weekly benefit amount, that means your claim has been processed. The first payment should include all 3 weeks in one lump sum, and then you'll get weekly payments after that. My claim was processed the same way last year. The waiting period is always the first 7 days of your claim that you don't get paid for.

not always true. mine was like that too but i ended up having to call because there was a problem with my docrors certification they never told me about. took another 2 weeks to fix it. check ur messages section on the portal, thats where they usually tell u if something is wrong

That's actually a common confusion point with SDI. The empty pending applications section combined with your weekly benefit amount showing up is generally a good sign. However, there are a couple things to check: 1. Look at the "Claim Status History" section - it should say "Claim Filed" and then "Claim Established" if everything is approved 2. Sometimes your first payment can take 7-10 business days to process after approval 3. Yes, they will pay all retroactive benefits in one lump sum going back to your first compensable day (after the 7-day waiting period) If you want to be 100% sure, you really need to speak with an EDD representative. I know the hold times are ridiculous, but it's sometimes necessary.

I HATE how they make this whole process so confusing!!!! I had the EXACT same issue last year after my gallbladder surgery and spent WEEKS trying to figure out if I was approved. WHY don't they just clearly say "YOUR CLAIM IS APPROVED" instead of making us decode their stupid system?? And the phone lines are a JOKE. I tried calling over 30 times and never got through. The whole system is BROKEN.

If you're having trouble reaching EDD by phone (which is unfortunately common), I'd recommend trying Claimyr. I was in a similar situation with my disability claim and couldn't get through after dozens of attempts. Claimyr connected me to an EDD agent in less than 30 minutes. They have a video demo showing how it works at https://youtu.be/1X-mEsLtbmQ?si=1hcSq3KFtCr4oAmd. Their website is claimyr.com if you want to check it out. It saved me weeks of stress and uncertainty about my claim status.

Just want to confirm what others have said - when your weekly benefit amount shows up and the pending applications section is empty, that means you ARE approved! And yes, your first payment will include everything they owe you going back to after the waiting period. For me, the payment showed up in my account about 5-6 business days after my claim was established. Just make sure you continue to certify for your benefits every two weeks if required (some doctor-certified claims don't require this, but others do). That's the most common reason payments stop unexpectedly.

my friend had surgery for something else but same thing happened. her doctor took forever and she got approved too. the payment came like 4 days later i think? you should be fine just check your bank account if you did direct deposit

One more important tip since this is your first time on SDI: If your doctor initially certified you for 8 weeks but you need more time to recover, make sure to request an extension at least 5-7 days BEFORE your current disability period ends. Your doctor will need to submit a supplemental certification form (DE 2525XX). Many people don't realize this until it's too late and end up with a gap in their benefits. Also, if you're getting paid by direct deposit, double-check that your banking info is correct in the system. You'd be surprised how often payments get delayed because of simple typos in account numbers.

I went through something very similar with my SDI claim after a back injury last year. The fact that your claim status shows "Claim Established" and you can see your weekly benefit amount is definitely a good sign that you're approved! One thing I learned the hard way is to keep detailed records of everything - screenshot your claim status page, save copies of all correspondence, and document any phone calls you make. It really helped when I had questions later. Also, since you mentioned this is your first time with CA disability, be aware that the SDI payments are taxable income. You might want to set aside a small portion for taxes if you don't have them automatically withheld. Most people don't realize this until tax season! Hope your recovery goes smoothly and you get that payment soon. Herniated disc surgery is no joke - take care of yourself!

Hey Omar! I went through almost the exact same situation a few months ago after my knee surgery. The combination of your weekly benefit amount showing up, empty pending applications section, and "Claim Established" status definitely means you're approved - congratulations! Based on my experience, your first payment should arrive within 5-10 business days and will include all the backpay from after your waiting period. So you should get 3 weeks worth in that first payment ($3,750 total if my math is right). Just a heads up - make sure you keep checking your SDI portal regularly even after you start getting payments. Sometimes they'll post important notices there about your claim that you might miss otherwise. And definitely keep all your medical documentation handy just in case they need anything else. The whole process is definitely stressful when you're dealing with recovery AND financial worries. Hang in there - sounds like you're almost at the finish line! Hope your back is healing well too.

Welcome to the community! I can definitely relate to the stress and confusion around SDI claims - the system really isn't user-friendly at all. Based on everything you've described (weekly benefit amount showing, empty pending applications, and "Claim Established" status), it sounds like you're in good shape and should see that payment soon. One thing I learned during my own disability experience is to set up text or email alerts through your bank if possible, so you'll know immediately when the payment hits your account. That way you're not constantly checking and stressing about it. Also, since you mentioned this is your first time with the system, make sure you understand what happens when you return to work. You'll need to report your return-to-work date to EDD, and if you have any work restrictions that affect your ability to do your regular job, you might be eligible for additional benefits. Your doctor should provide you with a return-to-work form that outlines any limitations. Hope you get some good news in your bank account very soon! Take care of yourself during recovery.

Hi Omar! Welcome to the community! I can see from all the responses that you've gotten some really solid advice here. I just wanted to add one more perspective as someone who's been through the SDI process twice - once for a c-section recovery and once for a wrist injury. The combination of signs you're seeing (benefit amount displayed, empty pending section, "Claim Established" status) is definitely the pattern we see when claims are approved. The waiting can be nerve-wracking, but it sounds like you're in the home stretch! One thing I didn't see mentioned is that you can call your bank directly to ask if there are any pending ACH deposits from the state of California. Sometimes the payment is already in process but hasn't shown up in your account yet. This saved me a lot of anxiety during my second claim when I was able to confirm the payment was coming even though it hadn't hit my account yet. Also, keep that medical documentation from your surgery and doctor visits in a safe place even after you're back to work. Sometimes EDD will audit claims months later and request additional verification. Having everything organized makes that process much smoother if it ever comes up. Hope you get that payment notification soon and can focus on healing! Herniated disc surgery recovery is tough enough without the financial stress on top of it.

Hey Omar! Just wanted to chime in as someone who works in healthcare administration and deals with SDI paperwork regularly. The signs you're describing - weekly benefit amount showing up, empty pending applications, and "Claim Established" status - are exactly what we see when our patients' claims get approved. I totally understand the frustration with your medical provider taking so long to submit the certification. Unfortunately, this is way more common than it should be. Many offices don't prioritize these forms because they don't directly affect their revenue, which is really unfair to patients who are already dealing with health issues and financial stress. The good news is that once the claim is established, EDD is pretty reliable about getting the payments out. You should definitely see that lump sum payment covering your 3 weeks of backpay soon. In my experience with our patients, it usually takes about 5-7 business days from the "Claim Established" date. One tip for the future - if you ever need to file another SDI claim, you can actually have your doctor's office fax the certification directly to EDD while you're still in their office. This prevents the delays that happened to you this time. The fax number should be on the form they need to complete. Wishing you a smooth recovery from your surgery! Take care of yourself and don't rush back to work too soon.

Hi Omar! Welcome to the community! I can see you've gotten some fantastic advice here already. As someone who's been through the SDI process myself, I just wanted to add that your situation sounds very promising - all the signs point to an approved claim. One thing I learned during my own disability experience is to keep a simple journal or notes about your recovery process. Not only does it help you track your progress, but it can be useful if you need to provide updates to EDD or your doctor about your condition. Plus, during recovery, it's easy to forget how you were feeling week by week, and having those notes can be really helpful for follow-up appointments. Also, don't feel bad about having to physically go to your doctor's office to get them to submit the paperwork - you did what you needed to do to advocate for yourself! Unfortunately, some medical offices really don't prioritize these forms, and patients end up having to be persistent. You handled it exactly right. Sounds like you should see that payment very soon. Fingers crossed for you, and I hope your recovery continues to go well! Take it one day at a time and don't hesitate to ask if you have any other questions about the process.

Hey Omar! Welcome to the community! I can see you've received some excellent advice here already, and it really does sound like your claim is approved based on all the indicators you mentioned. I just wanted to share that I went through something very similar after my shoulder surgery last fall. The anxiety while waiting for that first payment is absolutely brutal, especially when you're already dealing with recovery and medical bills piling up. But once that "Claim Established" status shows up like yours has, you're really in the home stretch. One small thing that helped me during the waiting period was setting a specific day each week to check my account, rather than checking obsessively every day. It helped reduce some of the stress and gave me back a sense of control over the situation. Also, since you mentioned driving to your doctor's office to get them to submit the paperwork - good for you! I had to do something similar, and while it felt awkward at the time, you were absolutely right to advocate for yourself. Some medical offices really don't understand how critical the timing is for these submissions. Hang in there - based on everything you've described, that payment should be coming very soon. And once it does, you can focus entirely on your recovery without the financial stress hanging over you. Hope your back continues to heal well!

Hi Omar! Welcome to the community! I just wanted to add my voice to the chorus of reassurance here - based on everything you've described, your claim is definitely approved! The combination of your weekly benefit amount showing up ($1,250/week), the empty pending applications section, and especially that "Claim Established" status is exactly what we see when claims go through successfully. I went through a similar situation with my ACL surgery about 18 months ago, and I remember that exact same anxiety while waiting for the first payment. The good news is that when that payment does hit (and it will!), it should include all your backpay in one lump sum - so you're looking at around $3,750 for those three weeks after the waiting period. One thing I learned during my recovery is to be patient with yourself, both physically and emotionally. The stress of navigating SDI while you're healing is no joke, and it sounds like you've handled everything really well despite the frustrating delays with your medical provider. Keep an eye on your account over the next week or so, and don't hesitate to reach out here if you have any other questions. This community has been such a lifeline for so many of us going through the SDI process. Wishing you a smooth recovery and hoping that payment comes through very soon!

Hey Omar! Welcome to the community! I can see you've gotten some amazing support and advice here already, which is what makes this group so special. Based on everything you've described - the weekly benefit amount showing up, empty pending applications, and that "Claim Established" status - you're definitely approved! I just wanted to add a quick tip that helped me during my own SDI experience: if you're feeling anxious about when the payment will arrive, you can actually call the EDD payment line at 1-866-333-4606 and use the automated system to check your payment status 24/7. It won't give you more info than the online portal, but sometimes hearing it spoken out loud can provide extra reassurance during those stressful moments. Also, since this is your first time with SDI, make sure you keep your contact information updated in the system if anything changes during your recovery period. EDD needs to be able to reach you if they have any questions, and outdated contact info can sometimes cause payment delays. You've handled this whole situation really well despite the frustrating delays with your medical provider. That first payment with all the backpay should provide such relief! Wishing you a smooth recovery from your surgery - take care of yourself! 💙

Hey Omar! Welcome to the community! I can see you've gotten incredible support here already, which really shows how amazing this group is. Based on all the indicators you've mentioned - your weekly benefit amount showing ($1,250/week), empty pending applications section, and especially that "Claim Established" status - you are absolutely approved! I went through a very similar experience after my back surgery last year, and that exact combination of signs meant my claim was processed and ready for payment. The anxiety while waiting for that first payment is totally understandable, especially when you're dealing with recovery and bills piling up. One thing that might help ease your mind: you can also check if there's a "Payment History" or "Payment Details" section in your portal that shows your payment schedule. Sometimes this appears even before the actual payment hits your account. Your first payment should definitely include all the backpay from after your waiting period, so you're looking at about $3,750 in that initial payment. In my experience, it took about 6 business days from when my status changed to "Claim Established" to when the money actually appeared in my account. You did exactly the right thing by physically going to your doctor's office to get them to submit the paperwork. I had to do something similar - some medical offices really don't prioritize these forms unfortunately. Hang in there - you're so close to getting this financial stress resolved so you can focus entirely on healing! This community is here if you need any other guidance. 🙏

Hi Omar! Welcome to the community! I can see you've received some absolutely fantastic advice here already from everyone. Based on all the signs you're describing - your weekly benefit amount showing up, the empty pending applications section, and that "Claim Established" status - you are definitely approved! I went through something very similar after my gallbladder surgery about a year ago, and I remember that exact same anxiety while waiting for the first payment. The combination of recovering from surgery AND stressing about finances is just brutal, but you're really at the finish line now. Since you mentioned you've been checking your account obsessively (totally understandable!), one thing that helped me was taking screenshots of my claim status page each time something changed. It created a little visual timeline that helped me feel more in control of the process, plus it's useful documentation to have. Your first payment should definitely include all that backpay, and based on my experience, it usually takes about 5-7 business days from the "Claim Established" date to see the money in your account. So hopefully by early next week you'll have some major financial relief! Really glad you found this community - everyone here has been through some version of what you're experiencing, and the support is incredible. Hang in there, focus on healing, and keep us posted when that payment comes through! 🤞