EDD SDI return to work form confusion - can I say 'not recovered' but still return?

You should absolutely mark "No" for the recovery question. This is a common situation and won't cause problems with ending your claim. The form is asking two separate things: whether you've *recovered* and whether you've *returned to work*. Many people return to work before being 100% recovered. In fact, EDD recognizes this distinction specifically for situations like yours where you're returning with restrictions or accommodations. Just be sure to contact EDD and inform them of your return-to-work date so your benefits stop appropriately.

i had this EXACT same form last year!!! put NO for question 1 and YES for question 2. its totally fine, i did that and had zero problems. my doctor told me its normal to go back before ur 100% better

Be VERY careful with this! My coworker marked "No" for recovery and "Yes" for return to work, and EDD flagged her account for review. She had to provide additional medical documentation and her benefits got delayed for almost 3 weeks! The system is designed to be confusing on purpose. I would personally mark "Yes" for recovery with the return date, even if you're not 100%, just to avoid the headache.

When I returned to work after my shoulder surgery, my doctor specifically told me to mark "No" for full recovery but to still put my return date. The form is designed to capture partial recoveries where you can work but still have the condition. If you mark "Yes" to recovery and then have a relapse or need additional treatment for the same condition, it could complicate future claims. Just be honest - that's the best policy with these forms.

Have you tried calling EDD directly to ask? I spent TWO HOURS trying to get through to them last month with a similar question and kept getting disconnected. So frustrating!

Did your doctor give you any specific instructions about this form? When I went back to work after my disability leave, my doctor actually filled out part of the form for me to avoid any confusion. Might be worth checking with them if possible since they cleared you for work with restrictions.

what about your weekly benefit? do you still get partial disability when you go back with restrictions??

UPDATE: I ended up marking "No" for recovery and "Yes" for return to work with tomorrow's date. I also called EDD this morning (took forever but finally got through!) and the representative confirmed this was the correct way to fill out the form. She said they see this situation all the time, and it won't cause any issues with my claim ending properly. Thanks everyone for your help!

This is such great information for anyone dealing with this situation! I'm currently on SDI for a knee injury and expecting to get a similar form soon. It's really helpful to see that EDD confirmed marking "No" for recovery and "Yes" for return to work is the right approach when you're not fully healed but cleared to work with restrictions. Did they mention anything about how long it takes for benefits to officially stop once you submit the form?

Thanks for sharing your experience with calling EDD directly! I'm actually dealing with a similar situation right now - been on SDI for a wrist injury and my doctor just cleared me to return to work next week with ergonomic accommodations. I was dreading filling out that form because the wording is so confusing. Your post and the responses here have been incredibly helpful. It's reassuring to know that EDD actually expects people to mark "No" for recovery when returning to work with ongoing restrictions. I'll definitely follow your approach and contact EDD to confirm my return date. Hope your back continues to improve!

As someone who's been through this process multiple times with different injuries, I can confirm that marking "No" for recovery and "Yes" for return to work is absolutely the correct approach when you have ongoing restrictions. The EDD system is specifically designed to handle partial recoveries like yours. One thing I'd add that hasn't been mentioned - keep a copy of your doctor's work restrictions document with the completed form, just in case EDD needs additional documentation later. Also, if your condition worsens after returning to work, having marked "No" for full recovery initially will make it easier to file a new claim if needed. The key is always being truthful about your medical status rather than trying to game the system.

I went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago with a rotator cuff injury. The confusion on that form is so real! I ended up calling EDD three times because I was so worried about filling it out wrong. Each agent I spoke with confirmed the same thing - mark "No" for recovery if you still have pain/restrictions, and "Yes" for return to work with your actual return date. They told me it's one of the most common questions they get. The form language is definitely misleading, but EDD understands that most people return to work before being 100% healed. Just make sure to keep records of everything you submit, and don't stress too much about it - you're doing the right thing by being honest about your condition!

I'm currently dealing with this exact situation! Been on SDI for a shoulder impingement and just got cleared to return to work Monday with restrictions (no overhead lifting, modified duties). Reading through everyone's responses has been so helpful - I was stressing about the same form questions. It's really reassuring to see that EDD confirmed the "No" recovery/"Yes" return to work approach is correct. I'm definitely going to try calling EDD tomorrow to double-check, though I'm not looking forward to the wait times everyone's mentioned! Thanks to the original poster for sharing this - it's amazing how many of us are dealing with the same confusing form language.

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm currently on SDI for chronic pain issues and expecting to get this same form soon. It's such a relief to see that EDD actually recognizes the difference between being recovered and being able to return to work - I was worried they'd make you choose one or the other. The fact that multiple people have successfully used the "No" recovery/"Yes" return approach gives me confidence when I face this situation. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and especially to Lindsey for updating us after calling EDD directly. It really shows how important it is to get official confirmation when the forms are unclear!

This entire thread has been so incredibly valuable! I'm currently on SDI for a knee injury and my doctor just told me I'll likely be cleared to return to work next month with some restrictions (no prolonged standing, limited walking). I was already dreading getting this form because I'd heard horror stories about people filling it out wrong and having issues with their claims. Seeing everyone's experiences and especially that EDD directly confirmed the correct approach has taken such a weight off my shoulders. It's amazing how something that seems so straightforward ("are you recovered?") can be so confusing in practice when you're dealing with partial recovery. I'll definitely be following the advice here - mark "No" for recovery since I'll still have restrictions, "Yes" for return to work with the actual date, and call EDD to confirm. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences, especially those who took the time to call EDD and report back what they said!

This thread has been such a lifesaver! I'm dealing with a very similar situation - been on SDI for carpal tunnel and just got medical clearance to return to work next week with ergonomic modifications (special keyboard, mouse, frequent breaks). Like so many others here, I was completely confused by that form's wording. The distinction between "recovered" and "able to work" seems so obvious now that everyone's explained it, but when you're staring at that form alone, it feels like a trick question! I'm definitely going to follow the consensus here - mark "No" for recovery since I still have symptoms and need accommodations, "Yes" for return to work with my actual start date. It's so reassuring to know that EDD agents have confirmed this approach multiple times. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences, and special thanks to those who took the time to actually call EDD and report back. This community is incredibly helpful for navigating these confusing processes!

I'm in a very similar boat right now! Been on SDI for a lumbar strain and my physical therapist just cleared me to return to work with restrictions (no lifting over 20 pounds, sit/stand breaks every 30 minutes). I was literally stressing about this same form last night, wondering if I should wait longer to be "fully" recovered before going back. But reading through all these experiences, it's clear that partial recovery with work restrictions is totally normal and expected by EDD. It's such a relief to see that multiple people have successfully marked "No" for recovery and "Yes" for return to work without any issues. I'm definitely going to follow this approach and try to get through to EDD to confirm my return date. Thanks for posting this question - you've helped so many of us who are dealing with the exact same confusing situation!

I'm currently going through this exact same process and this thread has been incredibly helpful! I've been on SDI for a torn meniscus and just got cleared by my orthopedist to return to work Monday with restrictions (no squatting, limited stair climbing, desk job modifications). Like everyone else, I was completely stumped by that form - the wording really makes it seem like you have to choose between being recovered OR returning to work, not both scenarios. After reading all these experiences, especially hearing that multiple EDD agents confirmed the "No" recovery/"Yes" return approach, I feel so much more confident about filling it out correctly. It's amazing how many of us are dealing with this same confusing situation! I'm definitely going to call EDD tomorrow to confirm my return date and make sure everything processes smoothly. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this community is such a valuable resource for navigating these tricky EDD processes!

I'm so glad I found this thread! I'm dealing with the exact same situation right now - been on SDI for a disc bulge in my neck and just got cleared to return to work next week with restrictions (no overhead reaching, ergonomic setup, breaks every hour). I was literally Googling "EDD return to work form recovery question" when I found your post! The way that form is worded is so misleading - it really does make you feel like you're doing something wrong by not being "fully" recovered but still going back to work. After reading everyone's experiences and seeing that EDD agents have consistently confirmed the "No" recovery/"Yes" return approach, I feel so much better about filling it out honestly. It's incredible how common this situation is - pretty much everyone returns to work before being 100% healed, especially with musculoskeletal injuries. Thanks for posting this question and updating with what EDD told you directly. This thread should be pinned somewhere for future reference because I bet this confusion comes up all the time!