EDD medical examiner denied my mental health disability claim - what next?

Unfortunately, this is pretty common with mental health claims that go beyond 8-12 weeks. EDD has contracted doctors who do these evaluations when they want to verify ongoing disability. I went through it last year for my PTSD claim. The exam itself wasn't terrible - about 45 minutes of questions about my symptoms, treatment plan, and daily functioning. The doctor wasn't trying to 'catch me' or anything, but definitely seemed skeptical at first. My advice: 1. Bring copies of ALL your medical documentation 2. Be completely honest about good days AND bad days 3. Focus on how your condition affects your ability to work specifically 4. Ask your treating doctor to write a detailed letter about why you can't work yet As for the payment delays - that's a separate issue you should address. Have you checked your EDD account to see if there are certification issues?

they dont care about mental health AT ALL. i got denied after my exam even tho my docter said i needed more time. the edd dr spent like 15 min with me and said i was fine to work. its all about saving $$$ for them.

These evaluations are standard procedure for extended disability claims, especially for conditions that don't have easily measurable symptoms like mental health disorders. I work in healthcare and see this regularly. Best approach: 1. Have your provider update your medical records with specific functional limitations (can't concentrate for more than 30 minutes, unable to handle workplace stress, etc.) 2. Document medication changes and side effects 3. Be specific about treatment progress and expected recovery timeline Regarding your payment delays - EDD SDI payments should be consistent once approved. If your certification shows processed but payment is delayed, this could indicate a technical issue with your account. Have you tried contacting EDD about this specific problem?

I had this same thing happen with my anxiety/depression claim! The EDD doctor was actually fine but sooooo rushed. Like 20 minutes total when my regular therapy sessions are an hour. The key thing that helped me was having my psychiatrist write a VERY detailed letter explaining exactly why I couldn't work yet and what functions were impaired. Be super honest in the exam but don't downplay your symptoms either. For what it's worth, I got approved for another 6 weeks after my exam. The payment issues are the WORST though. Have you tried using Claimyr to get through to EDD? I was skeptical but it actually worked after weeks of failed calls. Their site is claimyr.com and they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/1X-mEsLtbmQ?si=1hcSq3KFtCr4oAmd. It got me connected to a real person who fixed my payment delay issues.

My husband had 2 EDD exams during his disability claim last year. First one went fine but second one they said he could go back to work even tho his doctor said no. It was a whole mess and took weeks to sort out. Just be prepared to appeal if they deny you. Keep ALL your paperwork!!

Idk why everyone is so negative! I had an EDD doctor evaluation and it was totally fine! Just be honest and bring all your paperwork. I think they mostly want to make sure people aren't taking advantage of the system. My payments were always late too but they did come eventually.

I just went through this exact situation! Here's what helped me: 1. I brought a comprehensive symptom journal (last 30 days) 2. I had my psychiatrist update my treatment plan showing progress but clearly stating why I still couldn't work 3. I was upfront about how my symptoms directly prevent me from working The EDD doctor seemed skeptical at first but by the end of our meeting, she approved my extension. Also, I finally fixed my payment delays by using Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to an actual EDD representative after weeks of failed calls. They connected me to someone who found the glitch in my account that was causing the payment delays. Worth checking out their video demo: https://youtu.be/1X-mEsLtbmQ?si=1hcSq3KFtCr4oAmd

ive heard these edd doctors just deny everyone lol. good luck. the whole system is broken anyways

Update on the payment delays: If your account shows everything is certified correctly but payments are still consistently delayed, this might indicate an account flag or system issue. When you finally connect with EDD, specifically ask if there are any notes or flags on your account causing payment delays. Sometimes there's a verification issue they haven't communicated properly. For the upcoming exam, focus on functionality rather than diagnosis. The EDD doctor mainly needs to verify that your condition prevents you from performing your specific job duties. If your job requires high concentration, customer interaction, multi-tasking, etc., explain precisely how your current symptoms make those functions impossible. Mental health claims can be challenging, but they're definitely approved when properly documented. Best of luck with your exam.

I went through this exact situation about 8 months ago with my bipolar disorder claim. The EDD exam was nerve-wracking, but here's what I learned: The doctor will ask about your daily routine, medication effects, and work-specific limitations. Mine lasted about 30 minutes. I was honest about both good and bad days - don't try to appear "sicker" than you are, but definitely don't downplay your struggles either. What really helped was having my psychiatrist write a letter specifically addressing work functionality. Things like "patient experiences cognitive fog that prevents sustained concentration required for her administrative role" or "medication side effects include morning drowsiness making consistent attendance unreliable." Be job-specific. For your payment delays - this happened to me too! Turned out there was a random flag on my account from when I initially applied. Once they removed it, payments came on time. Definitely ask them to check for any account holds or verification flags. Also, document EVERYTHING from this exam - date, time, doctor's name, questions asked. If they deny you, having detailed records helps with appeals. You've got this! Mental health is real health, and you deserve support while you recover.

I'm so sorry you're going through this stress on top of dealing with your mental health condition. I went through a similar EDD medical exam for my anxiety disorder about 6 months ago, and I understand how terrifying it feels. A few things that helped me prepare: 1. Write down specific examples of how your symptoms affect daily work tasks - like if you have panic attacks during phone calls, can't concentrate during meetings, or need frequent breaks 2. Bring a list of all your medications and side effects (especially if new meds are making you feel worse right now) 3. Ask your psychiatrist to document your current GAF score or similar functional assessment 4. Don't minimize your bad days, but also don't exaggerate - just be completely honest The exam itself was about 45 minutes of questions about my symptoms, treatment history, and daily functioning. The doctor wasn't trying to "catch" me lying, but they did ask detailed questions about what a typical day looks like and how I handle stress. For the payment delays - definitely ask if there are any flags or holds on your account when you call. Sometimes there's a hidden verification issue causing the delays that they don't tell you about upfront. Try to remember that you have legitimate medical documentation from your treating doctors, and that carries significant weight. You're not trying to scam the system - you're genuinely unable to work right now, and that's okay. Take care of yourself through this process.

I just went through this process a few months ago and wanted to share what worked for me. The anticipation was honestly worse than the actual exam. Here are some practical tips: **Before the exam:** - Request your complete medical file from your psychiatrist/therapist to bring with you - Write down how your symptoms specifically impact your job duties (can't handle customer complaints due to anxiety, panic attacks triggered by deadlines, etc.) - List all medications and recent changes - they care a lot about side effects affecting work ability - Get a letter from your doctor explaining your prognosis and expected recovery timeline **During the exam:** - Be honest about both good and bad days - they expect mental health to fluctuate - Focus on functionality, not just feelings ("I can't concentrate for more than 15 minutes" vs "I feel sad") - Mention if you're having medication adjustments that are making things temporarily worse **For payment delays:** This is super common! When you call EDD, ask specifically if there are any "pending issues" or "verification flags" on your account. Sometimes they have internal holds they don't tell you about. The whole process took about 40 minutes for me, and I was approved for another 8 weeks. Mental health claims do get approved when properly documented - don't let the horror stories scare you too much. You're dealing with a legitimate medical condition and deserve support while you recover.