EDD asking for paystub verification for dad's SDI claim - confused about requirements

You're fine submitting the paystub with "THIS IS NOT A CHECK" on it. That's just standard language on many paystubs to prevent people from trying to cash/deposit them as actual checks. What EDD is looking for is proof of wages. Regarding the SSN, having just the last 4 digits on the paystub might be an issue. I would definitely submit both the paystub AND the W-2. The W-2 showing the full SSN will satisfy that requirement. Just make sure you include a brief note explaining that you're providing both documents to meet all verification requirements. If you submit through SDI Online, there should be an option to upload multiple documents for income verification.

when I filed for my disabilty last yr they ask for same thing. my check stub had last 4 #s of ssn only and they rejected it!!!!! had to send w2 after and it delayed payment by 3 wks. defintly send BOTH to be safe

I recommend you send both documents together from the start. EDD is very specific about verification requirements and many paystubs no longer show full SSNs for security reasons. This is a common issue. Make sure your submission includes: 1. The most recent paystub (even with just partial SSN) 2. The W-2 showing full SSN 3. A brief cover note explaining you're submitting both to meet all requirements Also, be absolutely certain your dad's name appears exactly the same on both documents as it does on his disability claim. Even minor differences (like Mike vs. Michael) can trigger additional verification steps. If you don't receive confirmation within 10 days that they've accepted your documents, I'd recommend calling to verify. The online status doesn't always update promptly.

The middle name variation shouldn't be a major issue as long as first and last names match exactly. EDD deals with those minor variations routinely. What's most important is that the SSN is correct and matches across all documents. The W-2 with full SSN will be your primary verification document, with the paystub providing additional wage information they need.

UGH the EDD verification process is SO FRUSTRATING!!! I went through this exact nightmare in January. Sent my paystub - REJECTED because it only had last 4 of SSN. Sent W-2 - REJECTED because it was from previous tax year (even though that was the most recent one available). Had to get a special letter from my employer with current wages AND full SSN. The whole time my claim status just said "pending" with NO EXPLANATION. Couldn't get anyone on the phone for weeks. Finally used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me through to an actual EDD representative who explained exactly what documents they needed. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/1X-mEsLtbmQ?si=1hcSq3KFtCr4oAmd Saved me from going another month without benefits while recovering from a serious health condition. Worth every penny not to deal with the constant busy signals and hangups.

My dad had the same issue last month! What they're looking for is proof of wages in the base period, and any official document showing both identity (name, SSN) and earnings should work. The "not a check" language is totally normal on paystubs. The partial SSN on the paystub is the real issue. Most employers now only show last 4 digits for security. You're smart to send the W-2 also. Make sure it's the most recent W-2 though. One thing we ended up doing was having his employer write a letter confirming his wages and full SSN on company letterhead. This worked for us when there were issues with the other documents.

Yes, once we submitted the employer letter on letterhead, his claim was approved within 5 business days. The letter included his full name, SSN, employment dates, and salary information. The HR person mentioned they do these letters frequently for disability claims.

I work in payroll and deal with this all the time. Send both documents together. The "THIS IS NOT A CHECK" is standard payroll form language and has nothing to do with the document's validity for EDD purposes. Most modern paystubs only show last 4 of SSN due to identity theft concerns. EDD knows this but their forms and requirements haven't caught up to modern privacy practices. That's why the W-2 is important. One tip: if you're uploading through SDI Online, combine both documents into a single PDF file if possible. This prevents one document from being processed without the other.

I typically recommend naming the file something like "LastName_FirstName_IncomeVerification_ClaimNumber.pdf" if you know the claim number. If not, just use the name and income verification part. The more specific, the better chance it gets routed correctly in their system.

Just checking back - were you able to submit both documents? Any updates on your dad's claim status?

That's great that you were able to get everything submitted! The employer verification letter was a smart addition - that should really help speed things along. Keep an eye on your claim status over the next week or so. In my experience, once they have all the right documents, the approval usually comes through pretty quickly. Hope your dad gets his benefits soon!

I went through this exact same situation with my mom's SDI claim about 6 months ago! The "THIS IS NOT A CHECK" language is completely normal and won't cause any issues - that's just standard payroll software putting that disclaimer to prevent confusion. For the SSN issue, you're absolutely right to be concerned. EDD is pretty strict about having the full SSN visible on at least one document. Submitting both the paystub AND W-2 is definitely the smart move here. One thing I learned the hard way - make sure the wages shown on both documents are consistent. If there's a big discrepancy between what's on the paystub vs the W-2 (like if the paystub includes overtime or bonuses that aren't reflected in the annual W-2), include a brief note explaining the difference. Also, double-check that your dad's disability claim application has his name spelled exactly as it appears on these documents. Even small variations can trigger additional verification steps that delay everything. Good luck with the claim! The verification process is nerve-wracking but once they have what they need, things usually move pretty smoothly.

I just went through this exact process with my sister's SDI claim a few weeks ago! The "THIS IS NOT A CHECK" text is totally standard - don't worry about that at all. EDD sees thousands of these paystubs with that language. For the SSN issue, you're being smart by planning to submit both documents. What we found helpful was creating a simple cover letter that said something like "Enclosed are two documents for income verification: paystub showing recent wages and W-2 showing full Social Security number as requested." This helped the reviewer understand why we were submitting multiple items. One tip that really helped us - if your dad has access to his online employee portal, sometimes you can generate a more detailed earnings statement that shows the full SSN. Not all employers offer this, but it's worth checking since it would be more recent than the W-2. The whole process took about 7-10 business days once we submitted everything correctly. Hang in there!

Just want to echo what everyone else has said - you're definitely on the right track! I helped my uncle with his SDI claim last year and we had the exact same concerns about the paystub language and partial SSN. The "THIS IS NOT A CHECK" text is just a security feature that payroll companies use - it has nothing to do with the document's validity for EDD purposes. Think of it like the watermarks you see on official documents. For the SSN issue, submitting both documents is absolutely the way to go. We learned this the hard way when EDD initially rejected just the paystub. The W-2 with full SSN saved us from having to get additional employer documentation. One thing I'd add - when you upload the documents, try to do it during business hours if possible. I noticed that submissions made on weekends or late at night seemed to take longer to get reviewed, though that could have just been coincidence. You're being really proactive about this, and your dad is lucky to have your help navigating the process. It can be overwhelming when you're dealing with health issues on top of bureaucracy!

I'm going through the exact same verification process right now for my own SDI claim! Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful. I was also worried about the "THIS IS NOT A CHECK" language on my paystub, but it sounds like that's completely normal. One thing I wanted to add - if your dad's employer uses ADP or a similar payroll service, you might be able to request a "verification of employment and wages" document directly through their system. I just discovered this option and it includes full SSN, current wages, and employment dates all on one official document. It might be worth calling the HR department to ask if they can generate something like this. Also, I've been checking my claim status obsessively and learned that EDD typically updates their system overnight, so if you submit documents on a Tuesday, you might not see any status changes until Wednesday evening at the earliest. Just wanted to share that to save you some of the anxiety I've been experiencing! Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences here - it's so reassuring to know we're not alone in dealing with these verification requirements.

I just wanted to share my recent experience since it might help with your situation! I went through SDI verification about 2 months ago and had almost identical issues - paystub with "THIS IS NOT A CHECK" and only partial SSN showing. What ended up working perfectly was submitting both documents (paystub and W-2) together with a brief explanatory note, exactly like others have suggested. But here's what I wish someone had told me - make sure to keep copies of everything you submit and note the submission date/time. EDD's online system can be glitchy sometimes, and having that documentation saved me when I had to call and verify they received my documents. Also, if you submit through SDI Online, you should get an email confirmation - if you don't receive that within a few hours, definitely follow up. The whole process took about 8 business days from submission to approval once I sent both documents together. The "THIS IS NOT A CHECK" language was never an issue at all. Good luck with your dad's claim - you're doing all the right things by being thorough with the documentation!