EDD SDI payment stuck in limbo - approved but no money for months despite verification

Unfortunately this is becoming increasingly common with EDD SDI. The identity verification backlog is insane right now. When they say your claim is \

Thank you! I'll definitely send everything certified mail. Do you know if there's any way to expedite this once I send the documents? I'm seriously about to be evicted if this goes on much longer.

this same BS happened to my wife!!! they kept her waiting for 4 MONTHS with no payments even tho her claim was \

That's exactly how I feel - like they're hoping I'll just give up! Did your wife ever get her payments? How did she resolve it?

yeah she finally got paid but only after sending in everything TWICE because they \

Have you tried calling at exactly 8:00 AM when they open? That's usually the best time to get through to an actual claims specialist who can look at your file in detail. The regular reps often just read scripts and don't have the authority to push your claim through. Also, you should submit a formal request for determination in writing - this forces them to provide a written response within 10 days about exactly what is holding up your claim.

I had zero luck calling at 8am - always got the \

Thank you both! I'll definitely try that service - at this point I'll try anything. And I'll also submit the formal determination request in writing. Does it need to be on a specific form or just a regular letter?

A regular letter will work, but be sure to include your full name, claim ID, contact information, and specifically request a \

i don't think u need an attorney yet, i went thru similar last yr but mine was 2 months not 3. do u have a disability case manager or just talking to random reps on the phone? u need to get a assigned case manager!!!

I don't have a case manager that I know of - the reps just seem random each time. How do I get assigned a specific case manager?

ask specifically for a \

This is exactly why the system is broken. They create these ridiculous verification loops without proper notification, then wonder why people get frustrated. I was in a similar situation last summer - approved claim but no payments for almost 10 weeks. What finally worked for me was contacting my state assembly member's office. Most have staff dedicated to EDD issues who can cut through red tape. My payments started within 5 days after they intervened. Here's what you should do:\n\n1. Send all requested documents via certified mail TOMORROW\n2. Contact your local assembly member's constituent services office\n3. File a formal complaint through the EDD website\n4. Document every call - date, time, rep name, what was discussed\n5. Request a \

This is incredibly helpful, thank you! I hadn't thought about contacting my assembly member. I'll try all of these steps immediately. And thanks for the CalFresh suggestion - I'm going to look into that today because I'm down to my last $40.

omg i literally cried reading this because ITS HAPPENING TO ME RIGHT NOW TOO!!!! approved in February but no payments and now they want all these random documents???? why don't they tell us this stuff up front instead of making us wait months and months? my car got repossessed last week because of this garbage. the system is rigged against us.

I'm so sorry to hear about your car! This is exactly what I'm afraid of - the domino effect of financial disaster while waiting. Have you tried any of the suggestions people have mentioned here?

not yet but i'm going to try the assembly member thing tomorrow. i've sent in my docs twice already and they keep saying they don't have them. i hope u get ur money soon!!!!

Quick update suggestion - once you mail your documents, wait 3 business days then call and confirm they received them. Ask them to make a note in your file confirming receipt. Then wait 7 days and call again to check progress. The squeaky wheel absolutely gets the grease with EDD SDI claims. If the rep tells you anything about processing times being 4-6 weeks, ask to speak with a supervisor and mention financial hardship. Supervisors can expedite processing in hardship cases.\n\nAlso, if you sent in an SDI appeal form (DE 2501D), follow up specifically on that as those sometimes get separated from your main claim file.

This is really helpful advice - thank you! I haven't filed an appeal since technically my claim is

In this situation, you'd want to request a review of claim status rather than a formal appeal. There's no specific form for payment delays - instead, send a letter titled \

One other thing to consider - is your employer involved in this situation at all? Sometimes employers contest disability claims or provide incomplete wage information, which can trigger these verification requirements. It might be worth speaking with your HR department to make sure they provided all the necessary info to EDD. I've seen cases where employers were slow to respond to EDD's wage verification requests, which delayed payments for months.

That's an interesting point. I was laid off from my last job just before my disability began (health issues started, then got worse after the layoff). I wonder if that's complicating things. I'll try to contact my former employer's HR department tomorrow to see if they've received any verification requests from EDD.