EDD SDI paper claim stuck in limbo after name mismatch issue - new dad worried about benefits

Yes, your doctor needed to complete part of the form! The DE 2501 (Claim for Disability Insurance Benefits) has sections for both you AND your medical provider to complete. Without the doctor's certification, your claim is incomplete and won't be processed. You should contact your doctor ASAP to have them complete their portion and submit it to EDD.

wait am confused... are you trying to get disability for yourself or is this for your wife after having the baby? because if its for her after giving birth she would need to file PFL not SDI right? or maybe ur the one with disability? just trying to understand whats happening

There's a lot of confusion here. Let me clarify: 1. For bonding with a new baby, you need Paid Family Leave (PFL), not SDI disability. Though they're administered by the same department, they're different benefits with different forms. 2. For PFL bonding claims, you need to submit the DE 2501FP form, not the regular disability DE 2501 form. 3. For bonding claims, you DON'T need a doctor to certify anything. Instead, you need proof of relationship (birth certificate, etc). 4. If your name is causing issues online, paper forms are the right approach, but you have to make sure you're using the correct form. Since it's been 3 weeks with no response, you should definitely call EDD to check on your claim status. They should be able to tell you if they received your paperwork and what's missing.

This happened to me too!!!! The whole system is rigged to make it impossible to get benefits. I spent MONTHS trying to get PFL after my daughter was born and kept getting sent in circles. One rep would tell me one thing and another would contradict it completely. By the time I finally got approved I'd already gone back to work and missed out on half the benefits I was entitled to. The EDD is a complete disaster.

Try calling them! I know it's nearly impossible to get through, but I used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me through to an EDD rep in about 20 minutes when I was having issues with my PFL claim. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/1X-mEsLtbmQ?si=1hcSq3KFtCr4oAmd I was skeptical at first but desperate after trying for days to get through. The rep I spoke with was able to look up my claim and tell me exactly what was missing and how to fix it. Saved me weeks of waiting for letters in the mail.

PFL and SDI are super confusing and the EDD doesn't help by having an overlapping system. Here's what you should do: 1. Call EDD immediately (try early morning right when they open) 2. Explain that you need PAID FAMILY LEAVE for bonding, not disability 3. Ask if they received your paperwork and if it's the correct form 4. If you sent the wrong form, ask them to send you the DE 2501FP specifically 5. Ask what documentation you need for proving the birth (usually birth certificate) For bonding claims, you have 12 months from the birth to claim your benefits, so you haven't lost eligibility. But definitely get this straightened out ASAP so you can get paid for time you're taking off now. And definitely don't wait for them to contact you - you need to be proactive.

Just want to add my experience... I had a similar issue with the ID verification not matching when I tried to file online. For me it turned out that my middle name was the problem - on some documents I use my full middle name and on others just the initial. When I finally got through to someone, they helped me file over the phone and it was processed within a week. Maybe try that approach instead of paper forms which seem to take forever.

Just as a follow-up for clarity: For PFL bonding claims in 2025, the maximum benefit period is 8 weeks, and the weekly benefit amount is calculated based on your highest quarter wages in the base period (approximately 60-70% of your wages). Make sure when you do get through to EDD, you ask about your potential benefit amount so you can plan your finances accordingly. Also, there is NO waiting period for PFL claims (unlike regular SDI which has a 7-day wait). So once approved, you should be paid for all eligible days.

did u try checking ur mail? sometimes they send letters instead of online messages. my friend had same name issue and they just mailed everything

Hey there! I went through almost the exact same situation last year when my son was born. The confusion between SDI and PFL is SO common - even the EDD reps get it mixed up sometimes. Here's what worked for me: 1. You definitely need the DE 2501FP form for bonding leave, not the regular SDI form 2. The good news is you can still get retroactive payments once it's approved 3. For the name mismatch issue, when you call, ask them to update your profile with the EXACT spelling from your ID while you're on the phone One tip that saved me: when calling EDD, try calling the PFL-specific number (1-877-238-4373) instead of the general SDI line. I found they were more knowledgeable about bonding claims and could help me file directly over the phone. Also, if you do use a service like Claimyr to get through faster, make sure to specifically ask for PFL bonding assistance so they don't transfer you to the wrong department. You haven't lost any benefits - you have up to a year from birth to file, and once approved you'll get paid for all eligible time. Hang in there, new parent life is stressful enough without dealing with EDD bureaucracy!