EDD SDI extension after benefit year ends and funds depleted - is it possible?

once ur benefit year is up thats it, they dont extend. i tried last yr and they said no way

The previous commenter isn't entirely correct. While standard SDI doesn't typically offer extensions beyond your benefit year, there are some options you might consider: 1. If your condition has changed or worsened, you can file a NEW claim (not an extension) with updated medical certification 2. Look into whether you qualify for Long Term Disability if you have that through your employer 3. If your condition meets the criteria, you might consider applying for SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance) The important thing is to have your doctor document that your disability is continuing beyond the initial projected recovery date. You'll need updated medical certification regardless of which path you take.

When I was trying to reach EDD about my extension question last month, I kept getting disconnected or waiting for hours!!! SO FRUSTRATING!!! Then my cousin told me about this service called Claimyr that got me connected to an actual EDD rep in like 20 minutes. They have a video showing how it works at https://youtu.be/1X-mEsLtbmQ?si=1hcSq3KFtCr4oAmd and their website is claimyr.com if you want to check it out. It seriously saved me so much stress - the agent I talked to explained all my options clearly.

The technical answer about SDI extensions is that California doesn't offer formal "extensions" to SDI after your benefit year ends. However, there are legitimate pathways to continued benefits depending on your specific medical situation: 1. New claim with new certification: If your condition persists or you develop a related condition, this is the proper approach 2. Transitioning to PFL: In some circumstances, if you need to care for a family member or bond with a new child, you could transition to Paid Family Leave 3. Employer disability programs: Some employers offer supplemental disability coverage that extends beyond state benefits What's critical is not creating a gap in your medical certification. Have your doctor document your continuing disability before your current certification ends. This paperwork timing is absolutely crucial regardless of which benefit program you ultimately use.

this whole SDI system is designed to CUT YOU OFF when you need it most!! 😠 i was in the same boat last year. back injury, funds running out, year ending, and suddenly EDD acts like i should magically be healed on THEIR timeline not my doctor's!! tried calling 50+ times and either got disconnected or was on hold until they closed for the day. the whole system is BROKEN. they don't care about disabled workers AT ALL

My sister went through exact same thing with her pregnancy disability. She had complications after delivery but her SDI year was ending. Her doctor submitted paperwork showing she still couldn't work and she got a new claim approved. So don't listen to people saying it's impossible! Just need right documentation👍

Based on the discussion here, it seems your best path forward is: 1. Contact your doctor IMMEDIATELY to document your continuing disability and get updated medical certification (Form DE 2501) 2. File a new SDI claim before your current benefit year ends 3. Make sure your medical provider clearly documents that this is a continuation of your existing condition that requires additional recovery time 4. If you're having trouble reaching EDD by phone (which is very common), consider using a contact service or reaching out to your state representative's office for assistance Keep in mind that while this isn't technically an "extension," a new claim for the same continuing condition can provide continued benefits if properly documented and submitted.

I went through something similar with my knee injury last year. One thing that really helped me was getting my doctor to write a detailed letter explaining why my recovery was taking longer than initially expected - not just the standard form, but an actual narrative letter explaining the complications and setbacks. When I filed my new claim, I included both the updated DE 2501 form AND this detailed letter from my doctor. The EDD rep I eventually spoke with said the detailed explanation really helped them understand why I needed continued benefits. Also, if you have any physical therapy records or specialist reports showing your ongoing limitations, include those too. The more documentation you can provide showing your disability is continuing, the stronger your new claim will be. Good luck!

I'm dealing with a very similar situation right now - been on SDI since August for a workplace back injury and my benefit year is ending in February. My orthopedic surgeon says I'll need at least another 6-8 weeks before I can even think about returning to work, and potentially longer depending on how physical therapy goes. Reading through everyone's advice here has been really reassuring because I was starting to panic thinking I'd just be cut off completely. I already have an appointment scheduled with my doctor next week to discuss getting updated medical certification. One question I have - for those who successfully filed new claims, did you wait until your current claim was completely exhausted or did you file the new one while you still had some benefits remaining? I'm worried about timing this wrong and creating a gap in coverage. Also, has anyone had experience with how long EDD typically takes to process a new disability claim when it's for a continuing condition?

I'm currently going through this exact situation with my disability claim ending next month while I'm still recovering from surgery. Based on all the helpful advice in this thread, I wanted to share what I've learned from calling EDD this week: 1. You definitely CAN file a new claim for the same condition - it's not technically an "extension" but serves the same purpose 2. The key is having your doctor complete NEW medical certification (DE 2501) that clearly states your disability is continuing beyond the original expected recovery date 3. File the new claim AT LEAST 2-3 weeks before your current benefit year ends to avoid any payment gaps 4. Make sure your doctor documents any complications or reasons why recovery is taking longer than initially expected I was able to get through to an EDD rep using one of those callback services mentioned earlier in the thread, and they confirmed this process. The rep emphasized that as long as your medical provider certifies you're still unable to work due to the same condition, the new claim should be processed without the usual waiting period since you already served that with your original claim. Hope this helps others in similar situations!

I was in a very similar situation about 8 months ago with a shoulder injury that needed multiple surgeries. What really saved me was getting organized early and being proactive with the paperwork. Here's what worked for me: 1. Don't wait - I filed my new claim about 3 weeks before my benefit year ended, which gave EDD plenty of time to process everything 2. Get your doctor to be very specific in their medical certification - mine wrote detailed notes about why the recovery was taking longer than expected (scar tissue complications, need for additional PT, etc.) 3. Keep copies of EVERYTHING - I made copies of all forms, medical records, and correspondence 4. Follow up regularly - I called EDD every week to check on the status of my new claim The transition was actually pretty seamless once I got all the documentation in order. I think the key is treating it like a brand new application rather than expecting it to automatically continue. The medical documentation is absolutely critical - your doctor needs to clearly state that you're still unable to work due to the same condition. One tip that helped me: I asked my doctor's office to fax the medical certification directly to EDD in addition to mailing the hard copy, which seemed to speed up the processing. You've got this! Don't let the stress get to you - there are legitimate pathways to continued benefits if you're still legitimately disabled.

I went through this exact situation last year with my workers comp case that transitioned to SDI. My benefit year was ending in March but I still needed another 8 weeks of recovery after spinal fusion surgery. What saved me was getting my surgeon to write a very detailed progress note explaining that while my initial healing was going well, the nerve recovery was taking much longer than initially projected. The key thing I learned is that EDD doesn't care about your original timeline - they only care about your CURRENT medical status. So when filing the new claim, make sure your doctor focuses on your present limitations and prognosis, not just referring back to the original injury. My surgeon included specific functional limitations (can't lift over 10 lbs, can't sit for more than 30 minutes, etc.) which really helped justify continued benefits. I filed my new claim about 4 weeks before my benefit year ended and there was zero gap in payments. The EDD rep I spoke with said that as long as the medical certification clearly shows ongoing disability from the same condition, they process it pretty routinely. Also, don't be discouraged if the first person you talk to at EDD doesn't seem helpful - I had to call back twice before I got someone who really understood the process for continuing disability claims. Hang in there!