EDD SDI claim stuck in 'pending' for 8 weeks after workplace back injury - what's next?

wow thats crazy!!! i filed my SDI claim in jan for carpal tunnel and got paid in like 10 days. did u file online or with a paper form? sometimes the paper ones take wayyy longer

I filed online immediately after the doctor's appointment. My doctor said they submitted their part electronically too. That's why I'm so confused about why it's still pending after 8 weeks!

You might be caught in what's called an \

Oh that's interesting! I did have a disability claim last year for about 4 months for an unrelated surgery. I'll double check all my mail again, but I'm pretty sure I haven't received anything from them. Is there any way to verify if I'm in this \

Unfortunately, there's no way to see this status on the portal. The only way to confirm is by speaking with an SDI representative directly. If you had a previous claim, they might be reviewing your case more carefully to ensure there's no overlap in conditions (even though yours are completely different). In these situations, your claim won't advance from \

You need to call right when they open at 8:00 AM!! I had the same issue two months ago and could NEVER get through. I was literally in tears because I was about to get evicted. Then I found out about this service called Claimyr - it's a call-back service that gets you through to an actual EDD person. Costs money but TOTALLY worth it cuz I got my pending claims fixed in one call. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/1X-mEsLtbmQ?si=1hcSq3KFtCr4oAmd and their website is claimyr.com. Saved my sanity!

is this a legit service? sounds kinda sketchy to me tbh

Yeah it's legit! I was super skeptical too but I was desperate. They don't access your EDD account or anything. They basically just keep calling until they get through, then connect you with the EDD rep. You still handle all the personal info stuff directly with EDD.

Thanks for the suggestion. I'm at the point where I'll try anything. I'll check out that video and see if it looks legit. I've been calling at 8:01am every day for two weeks with no luck.

THE EDD DISABILITY SYSTEM IS COMPLETELY BROKEN!!! I've been dealing with these incompetent people for THREE MONTHS trying to get my pregnancy disability claim sorted out. They lost my paperwork TWICE and then had the nerve to tell me I didn't submit it! This agency is a JOKE and nobody in government cares because they all have cushy benefits. Meanwhile we're out here suffering and can't pay bills. I'd definitely contact your assembly person - it was the ONLY thing that finally got movement on my claim. Good luck, this system is designed to make us give up!!!

Ugh, I was afraid of that. Did you call your assembly person's office, or did you email them? I've never had to do this before so I'm not sure of the process. How long did it take after you contacted them to see movement on your claim?

I called AND emailed with

Several things could be causing your delay:\n\n1. Medical Provider Verification Issue: Sometimes EDD can't match the doctor's certification to your claim. Ask your doctor to verify they've properly submitted form DE 2501.\n\n2. Previous Claim Review: Since you had a recent prior claim, EDD may be conducting a more thorough review to ensure there's no overlapping medical condition.\n\n3. Base Period Wage Issues: If your wages in the base period are significantly different than your previous claim, this could trigger additional verification.\n\n4. Special Investigation Unit Flag: Not common, but sometimes claims with certain patterns get automatically flagged for review.\n\nI'd recommend three steps:\n\na) Contact your state representative (Assembly or Senate) as others have suggested\nb) Have your doctor's office verify the status of your medical certification\nc) Try calling at 8:00am exactly OR at 4:30pm (sometimes easier to get through)\n\nIf you need immediate financial assistance while waiting, contact your county's general assistance program. Back injury claims sometimes face additional scrutiny but yours should definitely have been processed by now.

Thank you so much for this detailed information. I'll contact my doctor's office tomorrow to confirm they submitted everything correctly. I just checked, and I think the base period for this claim would overlap with my previous disability period, so maybe that's causing issues? I'll definitely be contacting my assembly member now. Thanks again for laying out the steps so clearly!

my frend said u should just go back to work if u can. disability pays so litte anyways and the stress of dealing with EDD makes people sicker imo. my wifes claim took 3 monts to get paid and we almost got evicted!!!

This is potentially dangerous advice. If a medical provider has certified someone as unable to work, returning to work prematurely could worsen their condition, especially with something like a herniated disc which can lead to permanent damage if not properly healed. Additionally, returning to work terminates the disability claim, which might make it harder to reinstate if they find they can't physically handle it.

sorry i didnt mean to give bad advice, just sharing what worked for my friend! everyone situation is different for sure

I wish I could, but I literally can't stand for more than 15 minutes without severe pain. My doctor says I need at least 3 more weeks before they might clear me for even light duty, and my job doesn't offer modified work anyway. But I get what you're saying about the stress making things worse - I feel like my recovery is being affected by all this financial worry.

wait i just remembered!! did u check ur spam folder?? EDD sent me a important email about identity verification but it went to spam and i almost missed the deadline!!

Just checked all my folders including spam - nothing from EDD except the initial confirmation when I first filed. I'm starting to think my claim is just stuck in limbo. I'm going to try calling at 8:00am sharp tomorrow and also contact my assembly member. Thanks for the suggestion though!

Quick update for your situation: There's actually been a recent system issue affecting claims filed in January 2025, particularly for claimants who had previous disability claims. EDD hasn't publicly announced it, but several disability representatives I've spoken with have confirmed a processing backlog specifically for these cases. If you've contacted your assembly person, they should be able to get your claim prioritized for manual review. Just make sure to emphasize the financial hardship the delay is causing.

Thank you for this update! I just submitted a request through my assembly member's website and mentioned both the January filing date and my previous claim, as well as the financial hardship. Really appreciate the insider knowledge - it helps to know I'm not alone and there's actually a system issue.

One final suggestion - after you've contacted your assembly member, make sure to document any additional expenses you incur due to the delay (like late fees, interest charges, etc.). In some cases, EDD has been required to compensate claimants for financial damages caused by excessive processing delays, particularly when medical certification was properly submitted. Keep all documentation of your attempts to contact them as well.

That's really good to know! I've already been hit with a late fee on my rent and had to use a credit card for groceries last week. I'll start keeping better records of these expenses. I hope it doesn't come to filing for compensation, but I'll be prepared if needed. Thanks again!