EDD keeps using wrong return-to-work dates on UI extensions - haven't been paid!
Hey everyone, I'm having an issue with my unemployment benefits. My doctor's office keeps putting return to work dates on my extensions when they should be left blank. This is causing problems with my claim and I haven't received my money since my last extension. Has anyone else dealt with this? Any advice on how to fix it?
26 comments


Tom Maxon
I found a way to solve EDD doctor's return-to-work date issue, watch this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGsBblRHiJE
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Nia Watson
Ugh, that sucks! I had a similar issue last year. Have you tried calling EDD to explain the situation? They might be able to override those dates in their system.
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Micah Trail
•I've tried calling but can never get through 😫 It's so frustrating!
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Alberto Souchard
•Pro tip: call right when they open. I usually get through within 15 minutes that way.
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Micah Trail
•Thanks for the tip! I'll give that a shot tomorrow morning.
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Katherine Shultz
This is a common problem, unfortunately. Here's what you need to do: 1. Contact your doctor's office and explain the issue. Ask them to resubmit your extension without a return-to-work date. 2. If they've already submitted it, request a corrected form. 3. Once you have the correct form, fax it to EDD (yes, they still use fax 🙄). 4. Follow up with a phone call to EDD to ensure they received the corrected form. 5. Keep detailed records of all communications. It might take some time, but stay persistent. Good luck!
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Micah Trail
•Wow, thank you so much for the detailed advice! I'll definitely follow these steps.
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Marcus Marsh
•This is solid advice. I'd add: make sure to get the name of every EDD rep you talk to. It helps if you need to reference the convo later.
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Hailey O'Leary
I found a way to actually get someone on the phone. I used this site's (claimyr.com) calling tool that dials the phone menu, stays on hold, waits for a live agent to pick up, then sends the call to my phone. It does cost $20, but it works. Here's a video about it: https://youtu.be/1X-mEsLtbmQ
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Cedric Chung
•Sounds too good to be true. Is this legit?
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Hailey O'Leary
•Yeah, it's legit. I was skeptical at first too, but it saved me hours of frustration. Worth every penny imo.
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Talia Klein
•20 bucks to avoid hours on hold? Sign me up! 🙌
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Maxwell St. Laurent
have you tried going to ur local edd office? sometimes face-to-face is better than phone tag
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PaulineW
The whole system is broken af 🤬 I've been dealing with similar bs for months now. Good luck, OP. You're gonna need it.
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Annabel Kimball
•Preach! 🙌 EDD needs a complete overhaul.
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Chris Elmeda
Quick question - are you on regular UI or on disability? The process might be slightly different depending on which one you're on.
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Micah Trail
•I'm on regular UI. Does that change things?
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Chris Elmeda
•Gotcha. For UI, def follow what {profile 3} said. If you were on SDI, you'd need to go through their separate process. But for UI, those steps should work!
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Jean Claude
Have you considered reaching out to your local state representative? Sometimes they can help cut through the red tape.
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CosmicCaptain
I went through this exact same issue earlier this year! The key is to be super clear with your doctor's office about what needs to be left blank. I actually printed out the form and highlighted the section that should NOT have a return-to-work date, then brought it to them in person. Sometimes they automatically fill it out thinking they're being helpful, but it just creates more problems. Also, once you get the corrected form, I'd recommend both faxing AND mailing it to EDD - redundancy helped me avoid further delays. Hang in there, it's frustrating but fixable!
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Chloe Zhang
•This is really helpful advice! I never thought about highlighting the form beforehand - that's actually brilliant. My doctor's office probably has no idea they're causing issues by trying to be thorough. I'm definitely going to try the redundant submission approach too. Thanks for sharing your experience!
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Nia Jackson
I'm dealing with something similar right now! My doctor's office keeps automatically filling in return-to-work dates even though I've told them multiple times to leave it blank. It's like they don't understand how it messes up the whole process. I'm going to try the highlighting approach that CosmicCaptain mentioned - seems like a visual cue might finally get through to them. Has anyone had luck getting EDD to retroactively fix payments once the correct paperwork goes through, or do you have to start the whole process over again?
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Ivanna St. Pierre
•Hey Nia! I actually just went through this whole mess a few months ago. The good news is that EDD can usually process retroactive payments once they get the corrected forms - you shouldn't have to start over completely. In my case, it took about 3-4 weeks after they received the proper documentation for the back payments to show up. The key is making sure they actually receive and process the corrected forms (hence why people are suggesting both fax AND mail). I'd also recommend calling to confirm they got the updated paperwork and ask them to put a note on your account about the error. It's such a headache, but hang in there - the money should come through eventually!
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Ava Rodriguez
I'm new to this community but dealing with a similar nightmare right now. My doctor's office filled in a return-to-work date on my last extension even though I specifically told them to leave it blank, and now my payments are completely frozen. Reading through everyone's advice here is giving me hope though! I'm definitely going to try the highlighting approach and calling first thing in the morning. It's so frustrating that such a small mistake can completely derail everything. Has anyone had success getting their doctor's office to actually understand why this matters so much? I feel like I'm talking to a brick wall when I try to explain it to them.
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Freya Larsen
•Welcome to the community, Ava! I totally feel your frustration - it's maddening when something so "simple" can completely mess up your benefits. What worked for me was bringing a printed copy of the EDD guidelines to my doctor's office and sitting down with the office manager to explain exactly how their "helpful" date entry was actually harmful. I also asked them to flag my file so that anyone filling out future forms would know to leave that field blank. Some offices are just on autopilot and don't realize the downstream effects. If you're still hitting a wall, you might consider asking if there's a specific staff member who handles disability paperwork - sometimes getting to the right person makes all the difference. Hang in there!
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Santiago Martinez
I'm going through this exact same situation right now! My doctor's office has done this THREE times despite me explaining the issue each time. What's really helped me is creating a one-page "cheat sheet" that I give them every time I need an extension form filled out. It has the specific field circled in red with "LEAVE BLANK - DO NOT FILL" written next to it, plus a brief explanation of why. I also started asking to speak directly with whoever will be filling out the form, not just the receptionist. It's extra work but it's saved me from more delays. Also, pro tip: if you do have to resubmit corrected paperwork, ask EDD for the confirmation number when you fax it - that way you have proof they received it if there are any issues later!
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