EDD SDI suddenly requiring manual certification after auto-payments - 14 day wait?!

Just got off the phone with an EDD supervisor about this exact issue! Apparently after a certain number of auto-payments, the state REQUIRES you to manually certify for a couple payments to verify you haven't returned to work or earned wages. It's like a random audit. She said it can take up to 14 DAYS every time you manually certify, but should be 24-48 hours if there's no issue with your claim. Here's the good part - the specialist I spoke with actually pushed my payment through while we were on the phone! So definitely call them at 800-480-3287, enter your verification number, then press 304# to reach disability. They can clear it while you're on the call. I was stressing for days until I called. Don't wait like I did!

this happened to me in january. took 9 days to get paid after certifying. so frustrating!!!

It's part of EDD's fraud prevention measures. They do this periodically throughout longer disability claims to ensure you're still eligible. The process is actually mentioned in the fine print when you first apply, but nobody reads that stuff. I've been through 3 lengthy disability claims over the years and it happens every time around the 3-4 month mark. Their internal process requires manual review of these certifications, which is why it takes longer than the initial processing time. Make sure you answered all questions accurately - any inconsistencies will flag your account for additional review. The good news is that after 1-2 manual certifications, they typically put you back on auto-pay if nothing has changed with your condition.

If you need to get through to an actual human at EDD faster, I highly recommend using Claimyr (claimyr.com). They have this service that essentially waits on hold for you and then calls you when an EDD agent is available to talk. Saved me HOURS of frustration when I had a similar issue with my disability payments being delayed. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/1X-mEsLtbmQ?si=1hcSq3KFtCr4oAmd Worth it when you're dealing with payment delays and rent is due!

THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO ME!!!! Was on auto pay for 4 months then BAM had to certify and waited 12 DAYS for payment!!! EDD is THE WORST!! They don't tell u ANYTHING about this process and people have bills to pay!!! I ended up having to borrow money from my parents which was humiliating at my age. Their system is broken and they don't care about disabled people at all.

I've been on SDI for seven months for post-surgical recovery, and they've made me manually certify three separate times now. First time was around month 2, then again at month 4, and just recently at month 6. Each time, I've learned to immediately call them the day after certifying. One important thing to know: when you manually certify, your claim gets placed in a special queue that can indeed take up to 14 days if you do nothing. However, calling them essentially pulls your claim out of that queue for immediate review. The representatives have the ability to process it while you're on the phone. Don't be passive with EDD - be proactive! Call them, but be prepared for a long wait. I usually call right when they open at 8:00 AM and still wait 45+ minutes. Keep all your claim information handy when you call.

Everyone here is saying to call but nobody mentioned that its impossible to get through to EDD lol. I tried calling 15 times over 3 days when this happened to me last month and never got through. Just prepare to wait the full 14 days honestly, that's what happened to me.

UPDATE: I called this morning using the 304# extension after entering my verification number like @profile3 suggested and got through after waiting about 35 minutes. The rep confirmed exactly what everyone said - they periodically require manual certification for fraud prevention. She pushed my payment through immediately and said it should be in my account within 24-48 hours! She also confirmed I'll need to do one more manual certification and then I should return to auto-pay. Thank you all for the help and advice! This forum literally saved me from a rent crisis.

This is such valuable information for anyone dealing with SDI! I'm currently on disability for chronic back pain and have been dreading the day this happens to me. Reading through all these experiences, it sounds like the key takeaways are: 1) This is normal fraud prevention that happens every few months, 2) Call immediately using the 304# extension after your verification number, 3) Don't wait the full 14 days if you can avoid it, and 4) Have all your info ready when you call. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this kind of real-world advice is exactly what people need when navigating EDD's confusing system!

As someone who's been through this process multiple times, I wanted to add a few additional tips that might help others facing this situation: 1) Keep detailed records of your certification dates and payment dates - it helps when you're on the phone with EDD to have exact dates ready 2) If you're certified but haven't received payment after 5 business days, don't wait any longer - call immediately. The reps can see exactly where your claim is in the system 3) Be persistent but polite with the phone reps. They deal with frustrated people all day, so being kind can actually help get your issue resolved faster 4) Consider setting up direct deposit if you haven't already - it can speed up payment processing once your claim is approved The whole system is definitely frustrating, but knowing what to expect and being proactive about calling really does make a difference. Glad to see @Jessica got her payment sorted out!