EDD SDI termination date confusion - doctor exam vs return-to-work date?

the same thing happened to my cousin last year... edd always tries to cut benefits early if u see their doctor. its BS!!

Your termination date should be based on the actual return-to-work date certified by your doctor (April 19), not the independent medical examination date. The IME is just an evaluation, not a determination that you're able to return to work immediately. You should file an appeal immediately - you have 30 days from the date of the notice. Make sure to include a copy of your medical certification showing the April 19 return date. This is actually a common issue with EDD SDI claims, and appeals for this specific reason are often successful.

Quick question - was this a regular disability claim or pregnancy disability? The rules can be slightly different for each type and that might affect how your termination date is calculated.

I would definitely contact EDD directly to ask about this before filing an appeal. Sometimes it can be resolved with a simple phone call if you can actually reach someone. I spent 3 days trying to get through their phone system last month and kept getting the "call volume too high" message and disconnects. Finally used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) which got me connected to an agent in less than 25 minutes. They have a video that explains how it works: https://youtu.be/1X-mEsLtbmQ?si=1hcSq3KFtCr4oAmd Once I actually spoke to someone, they fixed my issue right away. It was way faster than waiting for an appeal process which can take weeks or months.

This is a common misunderstanding about disability termination dates. According to EDD policy, your disability period ends on whichever date comes FIRST: 1. The date your doctor certified you can return to work 2. The date an independent examiner determines you're able to work 3. The date you actually returned to work So if the independent examiner determined on April 12 that you could return to work, EDD can use that date even if your doctor's certificate says April 19. It's frustrating but that's the policy. You can still appeal, but you'll need to provide additional medical evidence showing why the examiner's determination was incorrect.

I went through EXACTLY this last fall!! The EDD doctor said I could go back to work but my actual doctor said no way. I called EDD like 50 times before getting through and they told me I needed to have my doctor submit a FORMAL DISAGREEMENT with the EDD doctor's findings. There's a specific form for it but I don't remember what it's called. Something like "Medical Provider Objection" form???

Last year I had knee surgery and my benefits stopped 5 days before my return to work date too! I just took the loss because I was afraid of messing up my claim which was already confusing enough. Plus I was going back to work anyway so whatever. But yeah pretty sure EDD just does this to save money.

Update: I finally got through to EDD this morning! The representative explained that when there's a discrepancy between the IME date and my doctor's return-to-work date, I need to have my doctor submit additional documentation explaining why I couldn't return on the earlier date. I'm going to ask my doctor to submit that paperwork tomorrow. Thanks everyone for your help and advice!

This is exactly why I always recommend keeping detailed records of everything! I learned the hard way that EDD will try to use any excuse to cut benefits short. For future reference, if you ever have to do another IME, make sure to bring a copy of your treating doctor's most recent assessment and ask the EDD examiner to review it during your appointment. Sometimes they don't have all the current medical information when they do their evaluation. Also, don't be afraid to speak up during the exam about your limitations - they're making decisions based on what they observe in that short visit. Glad you got through to someone and are getting it sorted out!

I'm dealing with something similar right now - my SDI benefits were cut off after an IME even though my doctor said I need another week off. Reading through all these responses is really helpful! It sounds like the key is getting your treating physician to submit detailed documentation explaining why the EDD examiner's assessment was wrong. I'm definitely going to ask my doctor about that DE 2551D form that was mentioned. It's so frustrating that we have to fight for benefits we're legitimately entitled to, but at least there are ways to appeal these decisions. Thanks for sharing your experience - it gives me hope that this can be resolved!