EDD SDI payment delays after certification suddenly taking 5-6 days instead of same day

Same thing happening to me! I used to get paid within 24 hrs after certifying, now it's taking almost a week. I asked around and apparently EDD implemented some new fraud detection system that's slowing down all payments. Try using Claimyr to get through to an actual EDD agent (claimyr.com) - that's what finally worked for me after days of failed calls. They got me connected to an agent in about 20 minutes who explained the situation. There's a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/1X-mEsLtbmQ?si=1hcSq3KFtCr4oAmd

this happened to my cousin too lol. he said something about EDD doing updates to their computers or whatever

The payment delay is frustrating, but it's actually within their normal processing timeframe. While some payments process same-day, EDD's official policy is that disability payments can take up to 10 days to process after certification. The immediate processing you experienced before was actually faster than their standard timeframe. What likely happened is they're experiencing higher claim volumes or have implemented additional verification steps. Here are some things that might help: 1. Make sure your address and bank information are up to date in your SDI Online account 2. Check that you haven't received any notices requiring additional information 3. Verify your certification doesn't have any errors or inconsistencies that might trigger a review 4. Try certifying earlier in the day (before noon) as processing often begins in batches If you need to speak with a representative, call right when they open at 8:00 AM. That's usually the best time to get through.

I went through the exact same thing back in January when I was on disability for my shoulder surgery. The payment delays started suddenly after months of same-day processing. After calling repeatedly, I finally spoke with a supervisor who explained they implemented new fraud detection measures that occasionally flag accounts for additional review, especially if you've been on disability for several months. The supervisor manually released my pending payment and noted my account so future certifications wouldn't get flagged. Since then, my payments went back to processing within 24 hours. You NEED to speak with a supervisor specifically - regular agents often can't override these holds. Be persistent and explicitly ask for a supervisor review of your payment delays.

IS ANYONE ELSE NOTICING THAT EDD IS GETTING WORSE EVERY YEAR?!?! I've been through disability claims in 2021, 2023 and now 2025 and each time the system gets MORE broken, MORE delayed, and MORE impossible to contact anyone!! I'm convinced they're DELIBERATELY making the system difficult so people give up and they save money. My neighbor works for the state (not EDD) and she says they're massively understaffed and using outdated systems from like 15 years ago. Wouldn't be surprised if they're still running Windows 7 or something ridiculous.

Quick update - certification went through today after 6 days of waiting. Still no explanation for the delays but at least I got paid.

Just wanted to follow up - after using Claimyr to get through to an agent yesterday, they actually explained that there's a new claims review process that kicks in after you've been on disability for more than 4 months. The agent was able to override the delay on my current payment and put a note in my file so future payments should process faster. Definitely worth the call!

I'm dealing with the exact same issue! Been on SDI since November and the first few months were smooth sailing with same-day payments. Then starting in February, boom - suddenly every certification takes 4-6 days to process. It's causing so much financial stress because I budget expecting the payment to hit within 24 hours like it used to. Based on what others are saying about the 4+ month review process, that explains the timing perfectly. I'm definitely going to try calling first thing Monday morning and asking specifically for a supervisor to add a note to my file. This thread has been incredibly helpful - thank you everyone for sharing your experiences and solutions! Has anyone had success with certifying at a different time of day to avoid the delays? I usually certify around 2pm but wondering if earlier might help.

This is SO frustrating and I'm glad I'm not alone! I've been on SDI since October and experienced the exact same pattern - first few months were lightning fast payments, then suddenly after the holidays everything slowed to a crawl. Just got off a 2-hour hold with EDD and the agent confirmed what others have mentioned about the enhanced fraud detection after 4+ months. The agent was actually pretty helpful once I got through. She explained that the system automatically flags longer-term claims for additional verification, but supervisors can add override notes to prevent future delays. She processed my current pending payment immediately and added the note to my file. For anyone still struggling with this - definitely ask specifically for a "payment processing override note" when you speak to a supervisor. The regular agents can't do it, but supervisors have different system access. Also, I learned that if you have ANY changes to your bank account, address, or even your phone number during your claim, it can trigger additional review periods. Hang in there everyone - it's a broken system but at least there are workarounds once you know how to navigate it!

I'm so relieved to find this thread! I just started my SDI claim last month and have been getting same-day payments, but after reading everyone's experiences I'm now dreading what's going to happen when I hit that 4-month mark. It sounds like this delay issue is pretty much guaranteed once you've been on disability for a while. I'm definitely bookmarking this thread and taking notes on everyone's advice - especially about calling right at 8am, asking specifically for a supervisor, and requesting that "payment processing override note." It's crazy that EDD doesn't warn people about these policy changes or explain why payments suddenly start taking longer. For those who successfully got the override note added to their accounts - are your payments back to processing same-day, or are they still taking longer than before just not as long as the 4-6 day delays? Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences. This community is a lifesaver when dealing with EDD's confusing system!

I'm experiencing the exact same delays! Started my SDI claim in December and was getting payments deposited within hours of certifying for the first 3 months. Then suddenly in March, every certification started taking 5-6 days with zero explanation from EDD. Reading through everyone's experiences here, it's clear this is a systematic issue with their fraud detection system kicking in after 4+ months. I had no idea this was even a thing - EDD should really inform claimants about these policy changes instead of leaving us wondering what went wrong. I'm definitely going to try calling first thing Monday morning at 8am and specifically ask for a supervisor to add that "payment processing override note" to my account. @Lucas Parker - thanks for sharing that specific terminology! Did the agent mention if there are any other triggers besides the 4-month mark that cause these delays? I'm trying to figure out if there's anything else I should avoid to keep payments processing smoothly. This thread has been incredibly helpful. It's so frustrating that we have to crowdsource solutions to deal with EDD's broken system, but at least we're helping each other navigate it!