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.