EDD SDI early return to work - what documentation is required from my doctor?

Good news that you're feeling better! When returning to work earlier than your projected return date, you should: 1. Notify EDD immediately by calling or through your SDI Online account (use the Contact EDD option) 2. You don't necessarily need a new doctor's form, but it's good practice to let your doctor know 3. Your benefits will stop as of your return-to-work date 4. Make sure to report your actual return date accurately to avoid overpayment issues If you've already been paid for dates after your actual return, you may need to repay those benefits. Don't just stop certifying - you need to actively notify them of the change.

i went back 2 work early last yr and just told my doc and called edd... kinda nerve wracking cuz nobody answered for like 3 days but they finally did... dont certify for any days after u go back or theyll want that $$ back!! trust me lol

I tried calling for DAYS when I went back early and could never get through. I ended up sending a message through the SDI Online portal and also sending a letter through regular mail (just to be extra safe). The mail one was probably overkill but I was paranoid about getting an overpayment. What worked best for me was using Claimyr to get through to an actual EDD agent. It's a service that connects you with EDD without all the waiting and busy signals. You can check them out at claimyr.com and they have a demo video here: https://youtu.be/1X-mEsLtbmQ?si=1hcSq3KFtCr4oAmd. I used them when I needed to confirm my return date was properly recorded. The agent updated my record right away and I never had any overpayment issues.

To properly end your disability claim early, you should: 1. Inform your doctor that you're planning to return early 2. Call EDD at 1-800-480-3287 to report your actual return-to-work date 3. Update your SDI Online account with your new return date 4. Do NOT certify for any days after your actual return date 5. If you've already received benefit payments for days after your return, set those funds aside as you'll need to repay them Technically, Form DE 2525XX (Notice of Resumed Work) is what EDD uses to process early returns, but you don't usually need to submit this yourself - the EDD representative will handle this when you call. If your doctor initially certified you couldn't work until April 15th but you're returning March 30th, it's good practice to have documentation from your doctor noting your improved condition, especially if your employer requires medical clearance to return.

MAKE SURE you report it!!! Don't just stop certifying!! I went back to work 3 weeks early last year and thought I could just stop certifying. BIG MISTAKE!! They kept paying me and then 2 months later hit me with a $3200 overpayment notice!!! Took me 6 months to resolve it and they took money from my tax return. The EDD system is BROKEN and assumes you're still disabled until the original end date unless you SPECIFICALLY tell them otherwise.

I had the same situation as you in January. I tried calling EDD several times but couldn't get through. I ended up using Claimyr (claimyr.com) to reach an agent and sorted it out right away. Saved me hours of frustration. When I finally got through, the agent told me I just needed to report my return date - no doctor's form required for EDD. But like others mentioned, your employer might want something separate.

I just returned early last month and my doctor wanted me to come in for a final check before clearing me. Your doctor probably wants to make sure you're actually ready and not pushing yourself too hard. If your doctor approves, they can give you a simple note saying you're cleared to return on X date. My employer wanted this too - they were actually more strict about it than EDD was!

@profile9 No, Claimyr doesn't need your SSN. They just connect your call to EDD - they don't access your claim or anything. You still talk directly to the EDD agent for all the personal stuff. I was skeptical too but their video demo explains how it works: https://youtu.be/1X-mEsLtbmQ?si=1hcSq3KFtCr4oAmd

Thanks everyone for the helpful advice! I called my doctor today and they're going to provide a note clearing me to return on the 30th. I'll try calling EDD tomorrow morning to notify them, and if I can't get through I'll check out that Claimyr service. I'll also make sure to document everything. Really appreciate all the guidance!

Just wanted to add - if you're having trouble getting through to EDD by phone, you can also try using their "Ask EDD" feature in your SDI Online account. I used this when I returned early from my disability last year and got a response within 24 hours. While it's not as immediate as talking to someone, it creates a paper trail showing when you notified them of your early return date. I'd still recommend calling too, but the online message can serve as backup documentation that you attempted to notify them promptly.

Welcome to the community! Based on everyone's advice here, it sounds like you have a solid plan. I went through something similar last year and wanted to add one more tip - when you do get through to EDD (whether by phone or through Claimyr), ask the representative to confirm your new return date back to you and get a reference number or confirmation number for the call. This saved me when there was confusion later about when I actually reported my early return. Also, don't forget to stop certifying for benefits after your actual return date - that seems to be where a lot of people run into overpayment issues. Good luck with your return to work!

As someone new to this community and SDI in general, I'm really grateful for all the detailed advice here! I'm in a similar situation where I might need to return to work early from my disability leave. Based on what I'm reading, it sounds like the key points are: 1) Notify EDD immediately through phone or SDI Online, 2) Get documentation from your doctor if your employer requires it (separate from EDD requirements), 3) Stop certifying for benefits after your actual return date, and 4) Keep detailed records of all communications with EDD. The multiple mentions of overpayment issues are definitely concerning - it seems like EDD's system doesn't automatically stop payments when you return early unless you actively notify them. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences, especially the practical tips about using services like Claimyr when you can't get through by phone, and getting confirmation numbers for calls. This has been incredibly educational!

As a newcomer to this community, I want to thank everyone for sharing such detailed and helpful advice! I'm currently on SDI myself and this thread has been incredibly educational about the early return process. The consistent message I'm seeing is that EDD won't automatically stop your benefits just because you return to work early - you have to actively notify them, which seems like a major system flaw. The overpayment horror stories are definitely eye-opening and make it clear why proper documentation is so crucial. I'm particularly grateful for the practical tips about using Claimyr when phone lines are busy, getting confirmation numbers from EDD representatives, and using the "Ask EDD" feature as backup documentation. It's reassuring to know there's a supportive community here where people share real experiences and solutions rather than just generic advice. Thanks for creating such a valuable resource for those of us navigating the SDI system!

As a newcomer to both SDI and this community, I'm really impressed by how thorough and helpful everyone's responses have been! Reading through all these experiences has given me a much clearer picture of what to expect if I need to return to work early from my own disability leave. The recurring theme seems to be that EDD's system has significant gaps - it won't automatically adjust your benefits when you return early, which creates a lot of potential for overpayment issues if you're not extremely proactive about notification. I'm taking notes on all the practical strategies mentioned here: using multiple notification methods (phone, SDI Online, even mail as backup), getting confirmation numbers from representatives, trying services like Claimyr when phone lines are jammed, and most importantly - stopping certification immediately after your actual return date. The distinction between what EDD requires versus what employers require for medical clearance is also really helpful to understand. Thanks to everyone who shared their real-world experiences, both the successes and the horror stories about overpayments. This kind of peer-to-peer knowledge sharing is invaluable for navigating such a complex system. It's clear this community really looks out for each other!

As someone who's new to this community and currently navigating my first SDI claim, I want to echo what others have said about how incredibly helpful this thread has been! The level of detailed, practical advice here is amazing - it's exactly the kind of real-world guidance you can't find on the official EDD website. What really strikes me is the consistent pattern everyone is describing: EDD's system seems designed to keep paying you until your original end date regardless of when you actually return, which puts all the burden on claimants to proactively report changes. The overpayment stories are genuinely scary and highlight why documentation is so critical. I'm particularly grateful for the specific tips about getting confirmation numbers, using multiple notification methods, and services like Claimyr for when the phone lines are impossible. As a newcomer, it's reassuring to see such a supportive community where people share both their successes and mistakes to help others avoid the same pitfalls. One question for those who've been through this - do you recommend sending a follow-up message through SDI Online even if you successfully reach someone by phone, just to have that written record? It seems like having multiple forms of documentation might be worth the extra effort given how complex EDD's system can be.