EDD SDI name change process - will my disability claim be delayed?

congrats on getting married! when i changed my name last yr the EDD system actually matched everything through my SSN like u mentioned. BUT u should update ur name with social security first if u havent already, then EDD will eventually sync with that. my doctor put my new name on the form and it was fine

You need to make sure your name is updated with Social Security Administration first (which you've done - good!). When you file your SDI claim, there will be a section where you can indicate "name has changed" and provide your previous name. This helps EDD match your records. Your SSN is the primary identifier they use, so as long as that's consistent, the system should process your claim correctly. One tip: when you complete your DE 2501 claim form, I recommend noting your recent name change in the "Additional Comments" section as well. This creates another reference point for the claims examiner.

The previous advice is correct, but I want to add that you should also bring a copy of your marriage certificate or court order for the name change when dealing with EDD, just in case there are any verification issues. While most claims with name changes process smoothly, I've seen cases where EDD requests additional documentation if there are discrepancies in their system. Also, when your doctor submits the medical certification form, make sure they include both your new name AND your SSN to ensure proper matching. If the doctor only includes your new name without the SSN, this is where delays sometimes happen.

I had this EXACT same situation last year and it turned into a NIGHTMARE!! My claim was pending for 6 weeks because of the name discrepancy! I called EDD like 50 times and couldn't get through to anyone to explain. Ended up having to resubmit all my paperwork with both names listed. So frustrating!!

Yeah I did update with Social Security first but there was some lag time I guess?? The EDD computer system flagged my claim for "identity verification" and then it just sat there. Nobody called me to tell me there was a problem - I had to figure it out myself after waiting forever.

I work in HR and deal with this frequently. Here's the correct process: 1. Update your name with Social Security first (which you've done) 2. When filing your SDI claim, indicate your name has changed 3. List BOTH names on your claim form - new name as primary, maiden name as previous 4. Make sure your doctor includes your SSN on their certification form 5. If possible, have a digital copy of your marriage certificate ready The SDI system is separate from regular unemployment, so even if you previously had EDD unemployment under your old name, the systems don't always communicate perfectly. Don't panic though - most name change issues resolve automatically with minimal delay.

has anyone had issues with their weekly benefit amount being calculated wrong after a name change? i filed after getting married and they somehow pulled old wage info from like 2 years ago instead of my current earnings. took forever to fix.

Thank you everyone for all this helpful advice! I'm going to: 1) Note both names on my claim form, 2) Make sure my doctor includes both my name and SSN on the medical certification, 3) Have my marriage certificate handy just in case, and 4) Double-check my benefit calculation when it comes through to make sure they're using my current wages. This community is amazing - I was really stressed about this!

Just wanted to add my experience as someone who went through this recently! I got married in January and had to file for SDI in February. I was super worried about delays too, but it actually went really smoothly. I made sure to update with Social Security first (took about 10 days to process), then when I filed my SDI claim I put my new married name as primary and listed my maiden name in the "previous names" section. My doctor put both my new name and SSN on the medical certification form. The whole claim was approved in about 2 weeks with no issues! The key really is making sure your SSN is consistent everywhere and being proactive about listing both names. Don't stress too much - the system handles name changes pretty well when you follow the right steps!

I went through this exact situation about 8 months ago! I was so worried about delays but it actually went smoother than expected. The key things that helped me were: 1) Making sure my Social Security name change was fully processed first (I waited about 2 weeks after getting confirmation), 2) When filling out the DE 2501 form, I clearly indicated my name change and included both my married name and maiden name, 3) I had my doctor's office confirm they would include both my new name AND my SSN on all medical forms. My claim was approved without any issues in about 10 business days. The EDD rep I eventually spoke with said that as long as your SSN matches their records and you're upfront about the name change on your forms, their system handles it pretty well. Don't let the horror stories scare you too much - most name change cases go through just fine when you follow the proper steps!

I actually just went through this process a few months ago when I got married! Here's what worked for me: First, make sure your Social Security name change is completely processed (I waited about 3 weeks to be safe). When you file your SDI claim, there's a specific section where you can indicate a recent name change - don't skip this! I listed my new married name as primary and my maiden name in the "previous name" field. The most important thing is making sure your doctor includes BOTH your new name and your SSN on the medical certification forms. I also kept a copy of my marriage certificate handy, though I didn't end up needing it. My claim was processed normally in about 2 weeks with zero issues. The SSN really is the key identifier they use to match everything up. One small tip: when you submit your weekly certifications later, use your new married name consistently - don't switch back and forth between names as that can sometimes flag the system. You've got this! The process is much more straightforward than it seems.

I'm going through this exact same process right now! Just got married two months ago and need to file for SDI next week for a scheduled procedure. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been SO helpful - I was really stressed about potential delays but it sounds like following the right steps makes a huge difference. I've already updated with Social Security and waited about 3 weeks for it to fully process. My plan is to be very clear about the name change on my DE 2501 form, list both names, and make sure my doctor includes both my new name and SSN on all medical forms. It's so reassuring to see multiple success stories here! Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this community is amazing for getting real advice from people who've actually been through it.

I went through this same situation about 6 months ago! The anxiety is totally understandable, but I can share that it went much smoother than I expected. Here's what worked for me: I made sure my Social Security name change was fully processed first (waited about 2.5 weeks after getting the confirmation), then when filing my SDI claim I was very explicit about the name change - I put my new married name as primary and clearly listed my maiden name in the previous names section. The most crucial part was coordinating with my doctor's office to ensure they put both my new name AND my SSN on all the medical certification forms. My claim was approved in about 12 business days with no complications! The EDD system really does use your SSN as the primary matching identifier, so as long as that's consistent and you're transparent about the name change on your forms, it should process normally. One extra tip: keep your marriage certificate easily accessible (digital copy on your phone works great) just in case, though I never needed mine. You've already done the hardest part by updating with Social Security first - you're on the right track!

I'm in a very similar situation right now! Just got married last month and will need to file for SDI in a few weeks for a medical procedure. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly helpful and reassuring. It sounds like the key is really being proactive and transparent about the name change rather than hoping EDD will just figure it out. I've already updated with Social Security and am waiting the full 3 weeks for it to process completely before filing. My plan is to clearly indicate the name change on my DE 2501 form, list both my married name and maiden name, and make sure my doctor includes both my new name and SSN on all medical forms. It's so nice to see so many recent success stories - gives me confidence that following these steps will lead to a smooth process. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences!

I just went through this exact process a few weeks ago and wanted to share my experience! I was super anxious about it too, but it ended up being much smoother than expected. Here's what I did: First, I made sure my Social Security name change was completely processed (waited about 2.5 weeks after getting confirmation). When filing my SDI claim, I was very clear about the name change - listed my new married name as primary and put my maiden name in the "previous names" section. The most important thing was coordinating with my doctor to make sure they included BOTH my new name and SSN on the medical certification forms. My claim was approved in exactly 2 weeks with zero issues! The SSN really is the key - EDD uses that as the primary identifier to match everything up. One tip that helped me: I actually called my doctor's office a day before my appointment to remind them about my recent name change and asked them to make a note in my file. That way when they filled out the forms, they remembered to include both pieces of info. You've already done the hardest part by updating with Social Security first - you're totally on the right track! Don't let the few horror stories scare you; most name change cases go through just fine when you follow the proper steps.

I went through this same situation about 4 months ago and wanted to add my experience to all the helpful advice already shared here! I was absolutely terrified about delays since I needed my benefits to start right away for my maternity leave. Here's what worked perfectly for me: I updated with Social Security first and waited the full 3 weeks for processing (this seems to be the magic number based on everyone's experiences). When I filed my SDI claim, I made sure to check the "name has changed" box and listed both my new married name and maiden name clearly. The most crucial step was having a conversation with my doctor's office staff before my appointment - I explained the situation and they made a note in my file to include both my new name AND my SSN on all forms they submitted to EDD. My claim was approved in 11 business days with absolutely zero complications! The weekly benefit amount was calculated correctly using my current wages under my new name. One additional tip I haven't seen mentioned yet: I kept a running log of all the steps I took (dates of Social Security update, when I filed, confirmation numbers, etc.) just in case I needed to reference anything later. Turned out I didn't need it, but it gave me peace of mind. You're going to be fine - the system really does handle name changes well when you're proactive about it!