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!