EDD denied my pregnancy disability claim but I can't find appeal form on SDI Online

Sorry you're dealing with this frustration. For appealing a disqualification, you need form DE 1000A, but it's not always available through SDI Online. You need to request it specifically or download it from the EDD website. The appeal must be filed within 30 days of the disqualification notice date. For reaching someone, call exactly at 8:00 AM when they open - that's your best chance. Also, make sure your doctor's office submitted form DE 2501 completely, including all medical verification sections. Sometimes they miss sections 5-9 which causes these issues.

same thing happened with my pegnancy claim last year. they denied me cause my doctor put the wrong date on the form. did u check if your doc put the right dates?

Ugh dealing with EDD during pregnancy/postpartum is THE WORST!! Not what you need with a newborn! When my claim got denied I had to call like 50 times before getting through. Once you do get through they can actually fix most problems pretty quickly, at least that was my experience. Have you tried calling right when they open? That worked for me.

I used a service called Claimyr when I was in a similar situation with my disability claim. It got me through to an actual EDD representative in about 20 minutes after I'd spent days trying on my own. They have a demo video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/1X-mEsLtbmQ?si=1hcSq3KFtCr4oAmd Once I got through, the EDD rep was able to immediately see what was wrong with my claim (my doctor had entered an incorrect diagnosis code) and helped me fix it without needing a formal appeal. Might be worth trying before going through the whole appeal process. The website is claimyr.com if you're interested.

The EXACT same thing happened to me this year!!! I was put on bed rest for preeclampsia in March, had my baby in April, and then got a disqualification notice. The problem was that my doctor checked the wrong box on the form saying I could do "modified work" when I actually couldn't work at all. You need to get the DE 1000A appeal form AND have your doctor submit a corrected DE 2501 form. I won my appeal but it took almost 8 weeks for them to review it, so expect a long wait. Make sure your appeal clearly explains why the disqualification was incorrect.

I had to mail mine in with certified mail so I could track it. Make copies of EVERYTHING before you send it! And call your doctor's office every few days to make sure they submit the corrected forms. Mine kept saying they'd done it but hadn't actually sent anything 🙄

One important thing to check - make sure your claim wasn't disqualified because of the 7-day waiting period. If your doctor put you on disability starting April 23, but didn't properly document that you were still disabled when your baby was born on May 30, there might be confusion about whether you're eligible for the pregnancy disability portion. The system requires clear documentation showing you were disabled due to pregnancy, then transitioned to recovery from childbirth, and finally to bonding time (PFL). Each transition needs proper documentation. When you appeal, clearly outline these dates and ask your doctor to support each phase.

I filed an appeal last year for a similar issue. Here's what worked for me: 1. Download DE 1000A form from EDD website 2. Fill it out completely - be VERY specific about dates and medical facts 3. Include a clear letter explaining exactly what happened 4. Get a new medical certification from your doctor specifically for the appeal 5. Make copies of EVERYTHING 6. Send via certified mail with return receipt 7. ALSO fax a copy to the Appeals office (keep fax confirmation) While waiting, try calling the Appeals office directly rather than the main EDD line. Their number is different and sometimes easier to get through: 1-800-300-5616. Ask specifically for the Appeals department.

Yes, they backdated everything once approved. It took about 9 weeks for the decision, then another 2 weeks for payment. Make sure you keep certifying each week during the appeal process - that was key to getting backdated properly.

I tried that claimyr service someone mentioned after reading their comment. It actually worked! Got through to EDD in about 25 mins when I'd been trying for days. The rep said my doctor submitted the form but was missing some additional medical documentation they needed. They're sending me a new form for my doctor to complete. Might save me from having to do the whole appeal!

The rep said appeal forms are NEVER in the online portal for some reason - it's a huge design flaw they know about. You either have to call and request one be mailed, download it from their website, or visit an office in person. Makes no sense!

UPDATE: I finally got through to EDD! Turns out there was confusion because my doctor had me on disability for pregnancy complications, but when inputting my claim, they somehow categorized it as a standard disability claim instead of pregnancy disability. The rep said this happens a lot because they're different processing systems. She's sending me the DE 1000A appeal form and also submitting a request for my doctor to provide additional certification specifically stating this was pregnancy-related. She said I should still file the appeal to protect my rights while they try to fix it administratively. Thank you all for your helpful advice! This community has been a lifesaver.

That's such great news that you finally got through and got some clarity! The fact that they miscategorized it as standard disability instead of pregnancy disability explains everything - those are totally different systems with different requirements. It's ridiculous that this kind of mix-up is "common" but at least now you know what happened. Definitely still file that appeal like the rep suggested, even if they're trying to fix it administratively. I learned the hard way that EDD's left hand doesn't always know what the right hand is doing, so having the appeal as backup protection is smart. Hope your doctor can get that pregnancy-specific certification submitted quickly and this all gets resolved soon. You shouldn't have to deal with this stress while caring for a newborn!