EDD denied my postpartum SDI claim - urgent help with DE 1000A appeal form

Sorry to hear you're dealing with this while caring for a newborn! Unfortunately, you can't appeal by phone - the DE 1000A must be submitted in writing. The mailing address should be on the disqualification notice (usually bottom or back page), but if not, send it to: EDD Appeals Office, PO Box 826880, Sacramento, CA 94280. Common reasons for postpartum disqualification include: 1) Your doctor entered dates incorrectly in the certification, 2) You had employment gaps before delivery, or 3) They're confusing your claim with Paid Family Leave instead of disability. I'd recommend writing a detailed letter explaining your situation along with your DE 1000A. Include your doctor's certification paperwork if you have a copy. Appeals usually take 30-45 days to process, but postpartum cases often get expedited.

omg this EXACT thing happened to me in January!!! they mixed up my SDI claim (for recovery from birth) with a PFL claim (for bonding) and denied me too! so stupid bc they're completely different benefits. i had to appeal and it was a NIGHTMARE. took almost 2 months to resolve. make sure u write "POSTPARTUM DISABILITY - NOT PFL" in big letters on your appeal form.

You should ABSOLUTELY try calling first before going through the appeal process! The EDD phone system is terrible, but if you can actually reach a human, they can often fix these mix-ups on the spot if it's a clear error like confusing SDI with PFL. The problem is getting through - that number you listed (1-800-480-3287) is correct, but you'll likely be disconnected multiple times due to "high call volume." I had success using Claimyr to get through to EDD when I had a similar issue with my disability claim. It's a service that connects you directly to an EDD agent, bypassing the hold times. Their website (claimyr.com) has a video demo showing how it works: https://youtu.be/1X-mEsLtbmQ?si=1hcSq3KFtCr4oAmd I was skeptical at first but tried it out of desperation and got through to an actual EDD rep in minutes instead of days of calling. The agent was able to fix a similar mix-up on my claim without me having to mail anything or wait for an appeal.

I think the SDI system is DELIBERATELY designed to be confusing to deny people benefits!!!! My sister had the EXACT same issue with her postpartum claim in 2024. They denied it saying she "wasn't disabled" when she literally just gave BIRTH!!!! The whole system is broken and they dont care about new mothers AT ALL!!!!! Even after she appealed and won they took FOREVER to pay her back benefits. its all a SCAM!!!!

As others have mentioned, this is almost certainly a mix-up between SDI and PFL. Here's what I recommend (I'm a benefits coordinator and see this frequently): 1. Call EDD using the number you have. Best times to call are Tuesday-Thursday between 8:00-8:30am or 4:30-5:00pm. Be prepared with your claim ID, EDD Customer Account Number, and delivery date. 2. While trying to call, also complete and mail the DE 1000A appeal form. This protects your rights in case the phone resolution doesn't work. Your appeal must be postmarked within 30 days of the disqualification notice date. 3. On your appeal form, clearly state: "This is a postpartum disability claim for my own recovery from childbirth on [date]. This is NOT a Paid Family Leave claim. My physician has certified my disability period." 4. If you have a copy of your doctor's certification, include it with your appeal. 5. Send your appeal via certified mail or with delivery confirmation so you have proof of submission. This type of administrative error happens often but is usually corrected once a human reviews your claim. The key is getting someone to actually review it!

btw make sure u read the ENTIRE notice carefully. my disqualification had the mailing address hidden on like page 3 in tiny print. its probably there somewhere!!

Quick update on timing: Appeals filed now (April 2025) are taking 6-8 weeks minimum according to someone in my disability support group who just went through this process. If you can resolve by phone, that's definitely the fastest route. Just make sure you get the name of any representative you speak with and request a confirmation number for any changes they make to your claim. Document everything!

I had my baby in February and got approved for SDI right away but then had issues switching to PFL after my 6 weeks disability. The whole system is confusing! Good luck mama!

UPDATE: I finally got through to EDD this morning! Used the Claimyr service someone mentioned and got connected to an agent in about 20 minutes. The representative confirmed exactly what you all suspected - they somehow processed my claim as a PFL bonding claim instead of disability for postpartum recovery. She said this happens frequently (which is ridiculous!) and was able to correct it in the system. My claim is now being reprocessed as SDI with my doctor's original certification. She said to allow 7-10 days for processing and I should see a payment after that. HUGE relief! I'm still going to mail the appeal form as a backup just in case, but the rep seemed confident it would be fixed now. Thank you all for your help and suggestions!

Congratulations on getting this resolved! This is such a perfect example of why the EDD system needs major reform - there's no reason postpartum disability claims should be getting mixed up with PFL claims so frequently. For future readers who might face similar issues, your experience shows that calling really can be more effective than the appeal process when it's a clear administrative error like this. Just goes to show how important it is to have multiple people confirm what type of claim you're actually filing when you submit. Thanks for updating us with the resolution - stories like yours help other new parents navigate this confusing system!

Welcome to the community! I'm a new member here but have been following disability claim issues closely. Your story is really encouraging - it shows that persistence pays off even when dealing with EDD's confusing system. I'm curious about the Claimyr service you mentioned - did you have to pay anything upfront or only if they successfully connected you? I'm dealing with my own EDD issues (not pregnancy related) and have been hesitant to try third-party services. Also, did the rep give you any reference number or case notes about the correction they made? I've heard it's important to document these phone conversations in case the fix doesn't stick. Thanks for sharing your experience and congrats on your new baby!

Welcome to the community! I'm also fairly new here but have been dealing with my own EDD disability claim issues. Your success story is really encouraging - it shows that sometimes the system does work when you find the right approach. The fact that you got connected through Claimyr in just 20 minutes versus potentially weeks of appeals is amazing. I'm curious about one thing - when the EDD rep corrected your claim from PFL to SDI, did she mention if this affects your future eligibility for actual PFL bonding time? I know some people want to take both disability for recovery AND later take PFL for bonding, so I'm wondering if the system mix-up could complicate that transition. Also, for other new parents reading this, it might be worth calling your doctor's office to double-check what type of claim they certified you for when they submit the paperwork. It sounds like the confusion might sometimes start there if the medical certification isn't clear about whether it's for disability recovery versus family bonding. Thanks for sharing your experience and keeping the community updated - stories like yours help all of us navigate this confusing system!

Welcome to the community and congratulations on resolving your claim! As a newcomer here, I've been reading through various EDD disability posts and your experience really highlights both the frustrations and potential solutions with the system. It's incredible that what seemed like a major bureaucratic nightmare got resolved with one phone call once you reached the right person. Your story is particularly valuable because it shows the importance of having multiple strategies - you were prepared to go through the formal appeal process but also tried the phone route first. The fact that Claimyr worked so well is encouraging for those of us who might face similar issues. I'm curious about the timeline - you mentioned filing "immediately after" delivery four weeks ago, but received the denial on 4/15/2025. Do you know if there's typically a standard processing time for postpartum disability claims, or does it vary widely? I'm asking because I might be in a similar situation soon and want to know what to expect. Also, for future reference, did the EDD rep mention anything about how to avoid this type of mix-up when initially filing? It seems like such a common problem that there should be clearer guidance upfront about the difference between SDI and PFL applications. Thanks for taking the time to update everyone with your resolution - success stories like yours give the rest of us hope that these issues can actually be fixed!

Welcome to the community! As a newcomer here, I've been following this thread with great interest since I'm currently pregnant and will likely need to file for postpartum SDI in a few months. Your experience has been incredibly educational - both the initial frustration and the ultimate resolution. What strikes me most is how a simple administrative error (mixing up SDI with PFL) can cause so much stress for new parents who are already dealing with recovery and caring for a newborn. It's encouraging that the phone route worked so quickly once you got through to an actual person, but also concerning that this type of mix-up happens "frequently" according to the EDD rep. For those of us preparing to file future claims, your story highlights several key lessons: 1) Document everything from the start, 2) Don't be afraid to try multiple approaches (phone AND written appeal), 3) Services like Claimyr can be worth the cost if you're getting nowhere with regular calls, and 4) Always get confirmation numbers and rep names when changes are made. I'm bookmarking this entire thread as a reference guide for when I file my own claim. Thank you for taking the time to update everyone with your resolution - success stories like yours give the rest of us confidence that these issues can be resolved with persistence. Congratulations on your new baby and getting your benefits sorted out!