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!