EDD SDI post C-section payments stopped - missing extra 2 weeks' benefits?
Hey everyone, feeling a bit lost with my pregnancy disability benefits right now. Had a planned natural delivery scheduled for mid-March but ended up needing an emergency C-section on February 28th instead. When I initially filed my SDI claim in early February, my doctor put March 30th as my expected return-to-work date. After the C-section, my OB updated my medical certification and extended my recovery time to April 15th (since C-sections get those additional 2 weeks of recovery time). EDD confirmed receipt of the updated medical info and even sent me a notice showing the new end date. Here's the weird part - my payments stopped completely after April 2nd! It's now been almost 2 weeks with no additional benefits despite having those 2 extra weeks approved. My SDI Online account just shows the claim as 'active' but with no pending payments. Is this normal? Should I be receiving additional payments for those extra 2 weeks or did I misunderstand something? I've tried calling EDD approximately 738 times (only slightly exaggerating) with no luck getting through. Starting to panic about bills!
25 comments


Yuki Yamamoto
your probably fine, edd just takes foreverrr to process changes. the system is super backed up right now! my sister had same situation and her payment came like 3 weeks later suddenly with no warning. just keep checking ur account
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Ethan Brown
•That's a tiny bit reassuring! Did your sister have to do anything special to get the payment or it just showed up randomly? I'm checking my account obsessively at this point.
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Carmen Ruiz
This is a common issue with SDI pregnancy claims that switch from vaginal delivery to C-section. What likely happened is that when your doctor submitted the updated medical certification with the extended recovery time, it created a new "period" in your claim that needs separate processing. The system treats it almost like a claim extension rather than a continuation of your original claim. Here's what you should do: 1. Log into SDI Online and verify that your claim shows the updated end date (April 15th) 2. Check if there's a message in your inbox about the extension being processed 3. Look for any notifications about additional certification needed If everything looks correct in the system but you're still not receiving payments, you definitely need to speak with an EDD representative directly. The extension should have processed automatically, but there could be a technical issue with your specific claim.
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Ethan Brown
•Thank you so much for this detailed explanation! I've checked my SDI Online account and you're right - there's actually a message I somehow missed saying "Claim Extension Processing" but no other details. I still need to talk to someone though since it's been almost 2 weeks since that message appeared.
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Andre Lefebvre
same thing happend to me in January!!! its so annoying how they dont tell u whats going on. I had to wait like 3 weeks for my last payment after csection. EDD is the worst
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Zoe Dimitriou
•This is actually quite typical with SDI pregnancy claims that involve delivery method changes. The system requires manual review when the recovery period extends, which creates delays. The payments should eventually come through retroactively, but the wait is certainly stressful for new parents.
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QuantumQuest
Have you tried using Claimyr to reach an actual EDD representative? I was in a similar situation with my disability extension and couldn't get through for days. A friend recommended Claimyr (claimyr.com) and they connected me to an EDD agent in about 20 minutes. The agent was able to see exactly what was happening with my claim and manually release my pending payments that day. You can see how it works in their video demo: https://youtu.be/1X-mEsLtbmQ?si=1hcSq3KFtCr4oAmd For claim extensions like yours (especially with the switch from natural delivery to C-section), sometimes the system needs a manual review and getting to an actual person is the only way to resolve it quickly.
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Jamal Anderson
•I was just gonna suggest this!!!! Used it last week when my certification was stuck for a month. Got to talk to a real person in like 15 mins after trying for DAYS on my own.
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Ethan Brown
•Wait, this actually looks really helpful. I've literally been trying to call for over a week with no luck. I'll check out that site - at this point I'm desperate to talk to someone who can explain what's happening with my claim!
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Mei Zhang
YES! You should absolutely get paid for those additional two weeks. The California SDI program specifically allows for additional recovery time for C-sections (up to 8 weeks total vs 6 weeks for vaginal delivery). Since your doctor submitted the updated certification and EDD acknowledged the change, you're entitled to those benefits. The issue is likely a processing delay. When a claim changes mid-stream like this, it can trigger a manual review. Unfortunately, the system isn't great at handling these transitions smoothly. I'd recommend continuing to try reaching a representative. Morning calls (right when they open) tend to have slightly better success rates. Also double-check that you don't have any pending forms or certifications needed in your SDI Online account - sometimes they require additional verification for extended claims.
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Ethan Brown
•Thank you for confirming! I was starting to doubt whether I was even eligible for those extra weeks even though my doctor said I was. I'll keep trying to get through to them in the mornings.
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Zoe Dimitriou
There's a specific issue with pregnancy disability claims that involve delivery method changes. When your claim was initially established, it was coded for the standard 6-week recovery period for vaginal delivery. When your doctor submitted the updated medical certification for the C-section, it created what's called a "recovery period modification" in the EDD system. These modifications require additional processing time because they need to verify the medical necessity for the extended disability period. The most common holdup occurs when the system flags the change for a claims examiner review. The good news is that you WILL receive the additional two weeks of benefits. The delay is unfortunate but relatively common in these situations. When the payments are finally processed, they'll be paid retroactively from April 3rd through April 17th in a lump sum. If you haven't received the additional payments by next week, I would definitely try to speak with a representative to ensure there isn't an underlying issue with your claim.
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Ethan Brown
•This is so helpful! Thank you for explaining exactly what's happening. I had no idea about the "recovery period modification" process. It's frustrating that they don't explain this anywhere. I'll give it until mid-next week before trying more aggressively to reach someone.
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Liam McGuire
•Dont wait!!!! Call NOW they messed up my claim too and i waited 2 months cuz people told me to be patient. You need to talk to someone ASAP. they wont fix it automatically trust me.
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Yuki Yamamoto
how much do u get for maternity leave anyway? im pregnant and trying to figure out if i can afford time off
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Zoe Dimitriou
•This is actually a different topic from the original post about claim extensions. For pregnancy-related disability in California, SDI pays approximately 60-70% of your wages up to a maximum benefit amount. After your pregnancy disability ends, you can transition to Paid Family Leave (PFL) for bonding time. I'd recommend starting a new thread with your specific questions about maternity benefits and eligibility.
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Ethan Brown
Just wanted to update everyone! I finally managed to get through to EDD this morning. Turns out there WAS a processing issue with my claim extension. The representative said that when the delivery method changed, they needed to establish a new disability period, which required additional review. She manually processed the extension and said I should receive the missing payments within 3-5 business days. So relieved to finally have answers! Thanks to everyone who helped explain what was happening!
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Carmen Ruiz
•That's great news! This is exactly why speaking with a representative directly is so important for these types of claim changes. Glad you got it resolved and will be receiving your benefits soon!
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Andre Lefebvre
•congrats! how did u actually get thru to someone?? im still struggling with my claim
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Ethan Brown
•@profile8 I used that Claimyr service that was mentioned above. It wasn't free but after weeks of trying to call myself with no luck, it was worth it to finally talk to someone and get this resolved. Got connected to an EDD rep in about 25 minutes!
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Zara Ahmed
Congratulations on getting this resolved! Your experience really highlights why it's so important for people to speak up when they notice issues with their claims rather than just waiting indefinitely. The fact that you needed manual intervention shows that these pregnancy disability extensions with delivery method changes aren't as automated as they should be. Your story will definitely help other new parents who find themselves in similar situations - knowing that it's worth pushing to get answers rather than assuming the delay is normal. Hope you're recovering well from your C-section and can now focus on enjoying time with your new baby without the financial stress!
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Tyler Murphy
•This whole thread has been so helpful! As someone who's currently pregnant and planning to file for SDI soon, I had no idea about these potential complications with delivery method changes. It's really reassuring to see that Ethan got it resolved, but also concerning that it required so much effort just to get the benefits he was entitled to. I'm definitely going to save this thread for reference in case I run into similar issues. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - it makes navigating this system feel a little less overwhelming!
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Connor Byrne
This is such a perfect example of why the EDD system needs major improvements! The fact that something as common as switching from vaginal delivery to C-section can cause weeks of payment delays is absolutely ridiculous. New parents shouldn't have to become claims experts just to get the benefits they're legally entitled to. I'm so glad you persisted and got it resolved, Ethan - your story will definitely help others who find themselves in the same frustrating situation. It's crazy that manual intervention was needed for something that should be a routine system update. Hopefully EDD will eventually streamline this process, but until then, posts like yours are invaluable for helping people know when to push back instead of just waiting indefinitely.
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Malik Johnson
•Absolutely agree with you, Connor! It's frustrating that the system isn't designed to handle something as predictable as delivery complications. What really bothers me is that there's no transparency - Ethan had to guess what was happening with his claim instead of getting clear communication from EDD about the review process. At minimum, they should send automated updates when claims are flagged for manual review so people know what to expect. Until they fix these systemic issues, threads like this are honestly more helpful than EDD's own website for understanding what's actually going on with claims!
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Edward McBride
This entire thread is incredibly valuable for anyone dealing with pregnancy disability claims! What strikes me most is how common this issue seems to be, yet there's virtually no clear information from EDD about what to expect when delivery methods change. Ethan, I'm so glad you shared your experience and kept everyone updated - it really shows the importance of advocating for yourself rather than just assuming delays are normal. The fact that multiple people here have dealt with similar processing issues suggests this is a systemic problem that EDD should address. For anyone else facing this situation, it seems like the key takeaways are: 1) delivery method changes trigger manual reviews that aren't well communicated, 2) the payments will eventually come through retroactively, but 3) you may need to speak with a representative to get things moving. Thanks to everyone who contributed their knowledge here - this is exactly the kind of real-world insight that helps navigate these bureaucratic maze situations!
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