EDD SDI final certification confusion - do I certify last day of disability or return-to-work date?

You should certify through your last day of disability, which would be today (6/9) if you're returning to work tomorrow (6/10). Your first day back at work is not covered by disability benefits, so you wouldn't include that day in your certification. The key is to remember that SDI covers up through your last day being unable to work, not the day you return.

i did mine wrong when i went back in january & they made me pay back the extra day i claimed 😬 dont do what i did lol

THE EDD SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO CONFUSE PEOPLE!!! This happens to EVERYONE because they purposely make the instructions vague. They WANT you to make mistakes so they can hit you with overpayments later. I had the EXACT same question last year and when I called they gave me TWO DIFFERENT ANSWERS from two different reps!!! How are we supposed to know what's right when they don't even know???

I just went through this last month! When the doctor releases you to return to work on a specific date, that means your disability coverage ends the day before. So if you're returning on 6/10, your last day of disability is 6/9. By the way, when I was dealing with my final certification, I had other questions and spent THREE DAYS trying to reach someone at EDD. Finally used Claimyr (claimyr.com) and got through to an EDD representative in about 15 minutes. They have a demo video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/1X-mEsLtbmQ?si=1hcSq3KFtCr4oAmd. Saved me so much stress when I needed clarification on my certification dates!

I work in HR and help employees with disability paperwork. Here's the official answer: You certify through your last day of disability, which is the day before your return-to-work date. If your doctor's note states "return to work 6/10," then your last day of disability is 6/9. This is covered in the EDD SDI handbook (DE 2515) which states that benefits are paid through your last day of disability, not including your return-to-work date. They specifically define your period of disability as ending the day before you're able to return to your regular or customary work. Make sure to keep your doctor's note that shows your return-to-work date in case there are any questions from EDD later.

I almost made this exact misteak last month! Return to work date is NOT covered by disability. That first day back at work is paid by your employer not EDD disability so you can't claim both or it's double dipping. Ask me how I know lol

So I had surgery in April and my return date was 4/22, so my last disability day was 4/21. But here's what nobody tells you - make sure you do that final certification RIGHT AWAY. I waited a few days because I was busy with returning to work and they flagged my account for late certification and delayed my final payment by 3 weeks! Just giving you a heads up so you don't make the same mistake I did.

One more thing to keep in mind: If your doctor extends your disability period later (which sometimes happens if you try returning to work and have complications), you'll need to file a supplemental claim. That's different from your regular certification. Just something to be aware of in case your return to work doesn't go as planned.

my sister had twins last year and she said she did her final certify wrong and EDD never noticed or said anything so maybe it doesnt matter that much? idk disability is so confusing

Just wanted to chime in as someone who recently went through this exact situation! I had my final certification due last week and was equally confused. After reading through all the advice here, I can confirm that you should certify through your last day of disability (6/9), NOT your return-to-work date (6/10). I made the mistake of overthinking it initially, but the rule is simple: your disability benefits cover you up until the day before you return to work. Your employer pays you starting from your actual return date, so there's no overlap. I submitted mine correctly and got my final payment within a few days with no issues. Don't stress too much about it - you've got the right answer now! Just make sure to submit it today like Julia mentioned to avoid any delays.

I went through this same situation about 6 months ago and it was so stressful! Just to add another confirmation to what everyone else is saying - you definitely certify through 6/9 (your last day of disability), not 6/10 (your return-to-work date). One tip that helped me: I printed out a copy of my doctor's release note and kept it with my records just in case EDD ever had questions later. Also, when you submit your final certification, you should get a confirmation number - screenshot that too! The whole process seemed scary at first but once I understood that disability benefits stop the day before you return to work, it made perfect sense. You've got this!

I'm new to this community but going through the same situation right now! My doctor cleared me to return to work next Wednesday, so based on all the helpful advice in this thread, I should certify through Tuesday as my last disability day, right? It's such a relief to find this discussion - I was about to make the same mistake of including my return-to-work date in the certification. Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences! This has been incredibly helpful for a newcomer like me who's navigating this process for the first time.