EDD SDI claim stuck between online submission and doctor's paper form - what do I do now?

oh yeah this happens all the time! some doctor offices r still living in the stone age lol. you need to print out the DE 2501 form from the EDD website and take it to ur doctor. make sure u already filled out the first part before u bring it to them. and they have 2 mail it in which takes foreverrrr

There's actually a hybrid process for this exact situation. Your online claim is still valid, but you need to download and print the Physician/Practitioner Certification form (DE 2501) from your SDI Online account. Look under "Forms and Publications" after you log in. Take the printed form to your doctor's office, have them complete it, and they need to mail it directly to EDD. Be aware that this can add 7-10 additional days to your claim processing time. Make sure you follow up with your doctor's office to confirm they've mailed it. I recommend calling EDD to notify them of this situation so they can make a note on your claim. This prevents them from denying your claim due to missing medical certification.

I had the SAME PROBLEM last month with my cardiologist! It's crazy that in 2025 doctors still want paper forms!!! What I did was download the form, took it to my dr's office, and then I actually waited while they filled it out. Then I asked them to fax it instead of mail it (EDD fax is on the form). This made the process faster by at least a week. BTW - I tried calling EDD about 50 times and never got through. The call volume is insane right now because of all the winter respiratory stuff going around. I finally used Claimyr (claimyr.com) and got connected to an EDD rep in about 15 minutes. They have this video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/1X-mEsLtbmQ?si=1hcSq3KFtCr4oAmd It was worth it because the EDD agent was able to put a note in my file about the paper form coming from my doctor, which prevented my claim from being denied for missing documentation.

I'm an office manager at a medical practice, and I can explain why this happens. EDD's system is actually a mix of electronic and paper processes. What most claimants don't realize is that healthcare providers have two options: 1. Register for SDI Online and submit certifications electronically 2. Continue using paper forms Many medical offices (especially smaller practices or specialists) haven't registered for the online system because it requires dedicated staff training and registration processes. It's not necessarily that they're behind the times - it's that the volume of disability claims they process doesn't justify the administrative setup. For your situation: - Your online claim is valid and in the system - Print the DE 2501 from your SDI Online account (under Forms) - Complete Part A with your information and claim receipt number - Have your doctor complete Part B - They must mail or fax it to EDD (address/fax on form) Important: Follow up with your doctor in 3-5 business days to confirm they've sent it. Medical offices get busy, and these forms sometimes get delayed.

When I had surgery last summer my doctor only did paper forms too. I ended up waiting FIVE WEEKS for my first payment because the form got lost in the mail the first time!!!! Make sure your doctor sends it certified mail or with tracking. The EDD is a complete disaster and will use any excuse to delay your claim. And make copies of EVERYTHING.

Actually, there's another option that hasn't been mentioned yet. I work in HR and deal with this regularly. If your doctor's office truly only uses paper forms, you can ask EDD to mail the form directly to your doctor. Call the EDD SDI customer service line at 1-800-480-3287 and request they mail a DE 2501 form to your doctor's office. Provide them with the doctor's name, address, and phone number. This establishes a paper trail showing you're actively trying to complete your claim requirements. That said, since you've already filed online, printing the form yourself is probably faster at this point. But I wanted you to know all your options. Regardless of which method you choose, your benefits will be paid retroactively to your disability start date (minus the 7-day waiting period), so you won't lose any money - it just delays when you receive it. One last tip: When you submit the paper form, call EDD again after 7-10 business days to confirm they've received it. This prevents unnecessary delays if the form gets lost.

btw did anyone else notice that the waiting period changed? it used to be like 14 days but now its only 7 days that u dont get paid for. at least thats something good edd did lol

UPDATE: I took everyone's advice and things are moving forward! I printed the DE 2501 form, took it to my doctor yesterday, and they completed it right away. The office manager actually offered to fax it directly to EDD (much faster than mailing). I also used Claimyr to finally reach EDD by phone, and the representative confirmed they received the faxed form and added notes to my claim to prevent any delays. They said I should expect payment within 10-14 days. Thanks everyone for your help - this forum saved me so much stress and confusion!

This is such a helpful thread! I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - filed my SDI claim online for a knee replacement but my orthopedic surgeon's office also only does paper forms. Reading through all these responses, it sounds like the key is to act fast and get that DE 2501 form to your doctor ASAP. One thing I learned from my experience is to ask the doctor's office upfront about their preferred method (fax vs mail) when you drop off the form. Some offices are more comfortable with fax because they can get confirmation it went through, while others prefer mail with tracking. Either way is fine as long as you follow up to make sure they actually sent it! Also wanted to mention that if anyone is struggling with the 7-day waiting period financially, some local food banks and community organizations have emergency assistance programs specifically for people waiting on disability benefits. Don't be afraid to ask for help while you're waiting for your claim to process.

This whole thread has been incredibly eye-opening! I had no idea there was such a disconnect between the online system and what doctors actually use. I'm not dealing with an SDI claim right now, but I'm bookmarking this for future reference because it seems like this hybrid paper/electronic situation is way more common than EDD lets on. The fax option seems like the real winner here - much faster than mail but still gives you that paper trail. And @Ethan Moore's point about asking the doctor's office upfront about their preferred method is brilliant. Would have never thought of that but it makes total sense. One question for anyone who's been through this - do you think it's worth calling EDD preemptively when you know your doctor only does paper forms? Like, right after you file online but before you even get the form to your doctor? Wondering if getting ahead of it might help avoid any system flags or delays.

Wow, reading through this entire thread as someone who's about to have surgery next month - this is exactly the kind of info I needed! It's honestly ridiculous that in 2025 we still have this confusing mix of online and paper systems, but at least now I know what to expect. The biggest takeaway for me is definitely asking my doctor's office RIGHT NOW (before I even file) whether they do electronic submissions or paper forms only. If they only do paper, I'm planning to: 1. File my claim online anyway (since that seems to be the fastest way to get in the system) 2. Immediately download and print the DE 2501 form 3. Get it to my doctor ASAP and ask them to fax it 4. Call EDD (probably using Claimyr based on everyone's experience) to add notes about the paper form Thanks @Sofía Rodríguez for starting this thread and everyone else for sharing your real experiences. This is way more helpful than anything on the official EDD website!

This thread is a goldmine of practical info! As someone who works in healthcare administration, I can confirm that the paper vs electronic divide is very real and frustrating for everyone involved. One tip I haven't seen mentioned yet - if your doctor's office says they "only do paper," ask specifically if they're registered for SDI Online or if they've just chosen not to use it. Sometimes smaller practices are registered but their staff isn't trained on the electronic system, so they default to paper. In those cases, you might be able to work with the office manager to submit electronically, which is much faster. Also, for anyone reading this thread for future reference - consider asking about this during your pre-surgery appointment or when scheduling your procedure. Most offices can tell you their disability form process ahead of time, which lets you plan accordingly instead of scrambling after surgery when you're already stressed and recovering. The fact that @Sofía Rodríguez got everything sorted within a few days using the fax method shows the system CAN work efficiently when you know the right steps. Really glad this community exists to share these real-world experiences that the official websites never seem to cover!

This entire thread should honestly be pinned or turned into a guide! I'm a social worker who helps clients navigate disability benefits, and I'm constantly running into this exact situation. The number of times I've had to explain to confused clients why their "online" claim still needs paper forms is ridiculous. What really frustrates me is that EDD's website makes it seem like everything is seamless and electronic, but then you hit these roadblocks with medical providers who haven't adopted the digital system. It creates so much unnecessary stress for people who are already dealing with health issues. I'm definitely bookmarking this thread to share with future clients. The step-by-step advice here, especially about faxing vs mailing and calling EDD proactively, is going to save so many people time and anxiety. One thing I tell my clients that might help others - if you're working with a case manager, social worker, or patient advocate at your medical facility, they can often expedite the disability paperwork process since they deal with these forms regularly. Don't hesitate to ask for help navigating the system!

As someone who just went through the exact same situation with my disability claim after shoulder surgery, I can't stress enough how important it is to stay on top of the paperwork process! I made the mistake of assuming my orthopedic surgeon's office would handle everything electronically after I filed online, and ended up waiting almost 3 weeks before realizing they never submitted anything. What worked for me was similar to what others have mentioned - printed the DE 2501 form, took it directly to the office, and specifically asked them to fax it the same day. I also made sure to get the name of the person who would be handling it and asked for a confirmation that it was sent. One additional tip that helped me: I created a simple tracking spreadsheet with dates for when I dropped off the form, when they promised to send it, when I followed up, and when EDD confirmed receipt. It sounds a bit obsessive, but when you're dealing with multiple parties (you, doctor's office, EDD) and waiting on income, having everything documented really reduces the stress and helps you stay organized. The fax method seems to be the real game-changer here - got my confirmation from EDD within 2 business days versus what could have been 1-2 weeks with regular mail. Hope your recovery goes smoothly and your payments start soon!

Just wanted to chime in as someone who's been lurking here for a while but finally created an account because this thread is SO helpful! I'm scheduled for gallbladder surgery next week and was planning to file my SDI claim online, but after reading all of this I realize I need to get ahead of the paperwork situation. I called my surgeon's office this morning after reading through everyone's experiences, and sure enough - they only do paper forms! The office manager was actually really helpful and explained that they tried the electronic system a few years ago but had too many technical issues, so they went back to paper and fax. Based on all the advice here, my plan is to: 1. File online right after surgery to get in the system quickly 2. Immediately print the DE 2501 form 3. Take it to the office within a day or two and ask them to fax it 4. Use Claimyr to call EDD and get notes added to my file 5. Follow up with the doctor's office in a few days to confirm they sent it This community is amazing - I feel so much more prepared now than I would have been just winging it! Thank you everyone for sharing your real experiences, especially @Sofía Rodríguez for starting this thread. Hoping my process goes as smoothly as yours did!

This thread is absolutely incredible! As someone who's been helping family members navigate SDI claims for years, I can't believe how much clearer this whole process is now thanks to everyone's shared experiences. The paper vs electronic confusion is SO real and EDD really should be more upfront about it on their website. I wanted to add one more tip that I learned when helping my mom with her claim last year - if you're dealing with a large medical group or hospital system, sometimes different departments within the same organization handle disability paperwork differently. Her cardiologist's office said "paper only" but when I called the main hospital's patient services department, they actually had a dedicated disability coordinator who could submit forms electronically AND expedite the process. It might be worth asking if your medical facility has a patient advocate, case manager, or disability coordinator - especially at larger hospitals. These folks often know all the shortcuts and can navigate both the electronic and paper systems efficiently. The tracking spreadsheet idea from @Luca Esposito is brilliant too - definitely stealing that for future reference! This community knowledge is worth its weight in gold. Hope everyone gets their claims processed smoothly and recovers well from their surgeries/procedures.

Jumping in as someone who just successfully navigated this exact situation! Had my ACL reconstruction last month and ran into the same paper vs electronic confusion. What saved me was calling my doctor's office BEFORE my surgery to ask about their disability form process - turns out they do both electronic AND paper, but their staff defaults to paper unless you specifically request electronic submission. Here's what I learned: some medical offices are registered for SDI Online but their front desk staff isn't trained on it, so they automatically assume "paper only." When I asked to speak with their office manager about electronic submission options, she was able to submit my form directly through their SDI Online portal the same day I brought it in. Got confirmation from EDD within 48 hours! The key question to ask is: "Are you registered for EDD's SDI Online system, and if so, can you submit my disability certification electronically?" Don't just ask if they "do electronic forms" - be specific about the SDI Online system. Also want to echo what others said about Claimyr - totally worth it to actually reach a human at EDD. The rep I spoke with mentioned that electronic submissions from registered medical providers get processed faster than faxed or mailed forms, so it's definitely worth pushing for if your doctor's office has the capability. Hope this helps others avoid the paperwork runaround! This community is such a lifesaver for navigating these confusing government systems.

This whole thread has been absolutely invaluable! I'm facing hip replacement surgery in a few weeks and honestly had no clue about any of these paper vs electronic complications. Reading everyone's experiences has completely changed how I'm going to approach this. The most helpful takeaways for me are: 1) Call the doctor's office NOW to ask specifically about SDI Online registration (using @Yuki Sato's exact wording), 2) Be prepared with the backup paper/fax plan if needed, 3) Use Claimyr to actually reach EDD, and 4) Keep detailed tracking of everything. What really strikes me is how much this seems to come down to asking the right questions with the right terminology. So many of the delays and confusion could be avoided if we just knew to ask "Are you registered for EDD's SDI Online system?" instead of the vague "do you handle disability forms electronically?" This community knowledge is honestly better than anything I've found on official websites. Thank you @Sofía Rodríguez for starting this discussion and everyone else for sharing your real-world experiences. I feel so much more prepared now! One question for the group - for those who used Claimyr, about how much did it cost to get through to EDD? Trying to budget for all the potential expenses during my recovery period.