EDD SDI extension when still in physical therapy with return-to-work date approaching
I've been on disability since January after a pretty serious back injury at work. My doctor initially estimated I'd be recovered by June 17th, which is what's on my current certification. The problem is I'm still doing PT three times a week and making slow progress, but there's no way I'll be ready to return to my construction job by the 17th (which is only 10 days away). My physical therapist agrees it's too soon, but I'm confused about what happens next. Do I need to ask my doctor for an extension? Will there be a gap in my payments? Has anyone gone through extending their disability claim beyond the original estimate? The EDD website is so confusing about this process.
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Oliver Becker
You need to have your doctor submit a new medical certification (DE 2501) extending your disability period BEFORE your current certification ends on the 17th. If there's any gap between certifications, your payments could be delayed or you might have to file a new claim. I've been through this twice with my chronic condition - as long as your doctor submits the extension certification in time, your benefits should continue without interruption. Make an appointment with your doctor ASAP to discuss extending your disability period.
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Amina Bah
•Thank you! I have an appointment with my doctor tomorrow, so I'll definitely bring this up. Does my doctor submit the extension directly to EDD or do I need to file something on my end too? I'm really worried about having a gap in payments since my savings are basically gone at this point.
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Natasha Petrova
ur doc needs 2 do a new form b4 the old one runs out. my doc waited too long last yr and i had 2 go 3 weeks w/no money coming in. call ur doctor TODAY!!!
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Javier Hernandez
•This happened to me too! I was on disability for a shoulder surgery and my doctor waited until AFTER my certification ended to submit the extension paperwork. Ended up with no payments for almost a month while they processed the new certification. The whole system is designed to make things as difficult as possible for people who are already dealing with health issues!
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Emma Davis
Just make sure when your doctor does the extension they clearly document your functional limitations and why you cannot return to your specific job duties. I've seen EDD deny extensions when the doctor just writes "patient needs more time" without specifying why you can't perform your work functions. For construction work, they need to note lifting restrictions, inability to stand/walk for extended periods, etc.
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Amina Bah
•That's really good to know! My job requires lifting 50+ pounds regularly and climbing ladders, which I definitely can't do yet. I'll make sure my doctor includes those specific limitations on the form.
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LunarLegend
Has anyone here tried calling EDD to ask about this? I've been trying to get through to ask about my own extension situation for THREE DAYS. Either busy signals or being disconnected after waiting for an hour. This is ridiculous! My doctor submitted the extension paperwork and I see nothing updated online.
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Malik Jackson
•I was having the same problem trying to reach EDD about my extension paperwork last month. I finally used Claimyr (claimyr.com) and got through to an actual EDD agent in about 20 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/1X-mEsLtbmQ?si=1hcSq3KFtCr4oAmd. Saved me days of frustration and got my extension processed. My doctor had submitted the paperwork but it was sitting in someone's queue not being processed until I called.
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Isabella Oliveira
I'm actually going through this right now! I've been on disability for 4 months for a different issue (surgery recovery) but the process should be the same. Your doctor needs to submit a SUPPLEMENTAL certification before your current one expires. Don't wait for the last day! My doctor's office said it could take 3-5 business days for them to process the paperwork on their end before it even gets to EDD. Also make sure you still do your certification for benefits on time even while waiting for the extension to be processed.
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Amina Bah
•Thanks for this! I just realized I also need to do my next certification for benefits this weekend. I'm going to do that right away and make sure my doctor knows it's urgent to submit the extension paperwork.
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Javier Hernandez
Am I the only one who thinks it's ABSURD that we have to chase doctors and paperwork while we're supposed to be focusing on recovery? The whole system is broken. I bet if you miss a single form or deadline they'll cut you off immediately, but when THEY lose paperwork or take forever to process something, we're just supposed to wait patiently while bills pile up. It's dehumanizing!
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Emma Davis
•It is frustrating, but I've found that being proactive helps a lot. Keep copies of EVERYTHING, follow up regularly, and don't assume anything is being processed until you see it reflected in your account. I take photos of every form before sending it in and keep a detailed log of who I spoke with and when.
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Oliver Becker
OP, did you get this sorted out? Remember that if there is any gap in your disability payments, you might be eligible for Partial Return to Work benefits if you go back part-time while completing your therapy. That's what I ended up doing - went back 20 hours a week while finishing PT, and SDI paid a portion of the difference. Just another option to consider if the extension doesn't work out smoothly.
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Amina Bah
•Update: Good news! My doctor submitted the extension paperwork yesterday right after my appointment. They extended my disability through July 22nd. The nurse said it should process without any gap in benefits as long as I keep doing my certifications on time. I had no idea about the Partial Return to Work option though - that's good to know as a backup plan. Thanks everyone for all the advice - it was exactly what I needed!
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Sean Matthews
That's such great news! I'm so glad your doctor got the extension paperwork submitted in time. It's really reassuring to hear a success story about this process working smoothly. I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - been on disability for a knee injury and my original return date is coming up but I'm nowhere near ready to go back to my warehouse job. Your post gave me the push I needed to call my doctor's office first thing Monday morning instead of waiting until closer to my deadline. Thanks for sharing your experience and congrats on getting the extension sorted out!
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Myles Regis
•I'm so glad this thread helped you too! Definitely don't wait - I almost made the mistake of putting it off until the last minute. One thing I learned is that doctor's offices often need more time than you'd expect to process these forms, especially if they need to coordinate with your physical therapist or review your recent progress notes. When you call Monday, I'd suggest asking them specifically how long their internal process takes and if they need any additional documentation from your PT. Also, if your warehouse job has similar physical demands to construction work, make sure your doctor documents all the specific limitations - lifting restrictions, standing/walking limits, etc. Wishing you the best with your extension!
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Mei Wong
This thread is so helpful! I'm in a similar boat - been on SDI for a rotator cuff injury since February and my original return date is next month, but I'm still doing PT twice a week and can barely lift 15 pounds. Reading everyone's experiences here made me realize I need to be way more proactive about getting my extension paperwork started. Question for those who've been through this - did EDD ever ask for additional documentation from your physical therapist, or was the doctor's certification enough? My PT has been keeping detailed notes about my progress and limitations, so I'm wondering if I should have those ready just in case.
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