EDD still shows 'Pending Medical Forms' after doctor submitted them online - worried about my claim

This whole process is a NIGHTMARE!! The EDD website is completely useless - it'll say 'pending medical forms' for WEEKS even when they actually HAVE your forms. I had knee surgery last year and it took them 22 days to update my claim status even though my doctor submitted everything on day 1. Their whole system is broken and designed to make you give up. Don't even bother with their regular phone number. The ONLY way I finally got through was using Claimyr (claimyr.com). It got me connected to an actual EDD agent in about 25 minutes when I'd been trying for days on my own. They have a video demo that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/1X-mEsLtbmQ?si=1hcSq3KFtCr4oAmd. Seriously, it's worth it because otherwise you'll waste weeks waiting for the website to update.

Don't panic yet - this is actually pretty normal with EDD SDI claims. The online status doesn't always update immediately even when they've received the medical certification. Here's what's likely happening: your doctor submitted the forms, but they're in a processing queue. The status won't change from "Pending Medical Forms" until a claims examiner actually reviews them, which typically takes 10-14 business days (so about 2-3 weeks). As long as your doctor submitted the DE 2501 form correctly with all required information about your disability, you should be fine. If you're approaching the 3-week mark with no update, then you might want to have your doctor verify they submitted everything properly.

Hey I actually work at a medical office and deal with these EDD forms all day. One thing to check - did your doctor submit the actual DE 2501 form or just a medical note? Because a lot of doctors think a regular medical note is enough, but EDD specifically needs the DE 2501 Medical Certification form. Also, make sure they included your correct SSN and claim ID on the form. If ANY information is missing or incorrect, your claim will sit in limbo without anyone contacting you. I've seen this happen so many times with our patients. Also, was this submitted electronically through SDI Online or did they fax/mail it? Electronic is MUCH faster processing time.

oh man the same thing happned to me when i broke my ankle last month!!! i waited for like 2.5 weeks with the 'pending medical forms' message and was freaking out. but then it suddenly changed to approved and i got my first payment like 4 days later. the weird thing was they never even sent me an email saying it was approved, the website just updated. so maybe check your payment history section too cuz sometimes that updates before the claim status does

when i had my gallbladder removed in january my surgeon submitted everything through the edd system but it turned out the staff entered my birthdate wrong on the form so my claim was stuck in pending for weeks! make sure you check with your doctor that they put all your personal info correctly especially birthdate and SSN. also i ended up having to get my claim backdated because it took so long to fix everything. just make sure you document everything and keep track of when forms were submitted in case you need to request backdating later. good luck with your recovery from your construction accident too, that sounds really painful!

Here's a step-by-step process to resolve this issue: 1. First, contact your doctor's office and ask them to log into their SDI Online account to verify the submission status of your medical certification. They should be able to see if it was successfully received or if there were any errors. 2. If the doctor confirms successful submission, wait until the 14th business day from submission before taking further action. The processing times are currently longer than usual. 3. After 14 business days with no update, you have two options: a) Ask your doctor to resubmit the DE 2501 form electronically b) Try to contact EDD directly 4. For option b, call exactly at 8:00 AM when their phone lines open for the best chance of getting through. 5. If your claim is approved after a lengthy delay, you can request backdated payments to your original eligibility date. One final note: make sure you've completed your part of the certification process. Many claimants don't realize they need to certify for continued benefits every two weeks, even while waiting for initial approval.

Just to add some context to help ease your mind - EDD has been overwhelmed with claims since the pandemic, and they never fully recovered their processing times. The 10-14 business day timeline is their current target, but some claims are taking 15-20 business days for the initial review. As long as your doctor submitted the medical certification within the required timeframe (which they did), your claim will be backdated to your eligibility date once approved. The 7-day waiting period still applies, but you'll receive all eligible benefits even if the processing takes longer. Just make sure you're completing any ongoing certifications while you wait for the initial approval.

To answer your question about certifications - for SDI claims, you typically don't need to certify until after the initial claim is approved. Once approved, you'll receive notifications (usually via email or in your SDI Online inbox) when it's time to certify for continued benefits. This is different from unemployment insurance where you certify from the beginning. Just keep checking your SDI Online account daily, and once your claim status changes from 'Pending Medical Forms' to 'Approved,' you'll see instructions for certification if needed for your specific disability case. For longer-term disabilities, you'll eventually need to have your doctor provide continued certification as well.

I went through something very similar after my work injury last year. The "Pending Medical Forms" status is unfortunately normal and can be really anxiety-inducing when you're already dealing with financial stress. A few things that helped me: First, create a simple log of all your submission dates and any reference numbers your doctor might have received. Second, while you're waiting, gather all your medical records and keep them organized - you might need them later. Third, if you haven't already, take screenshots of your current claim status and save any confirmation emails from when you first filed. This documentation will be crucial if you need to request backdated payments or resolve any issues later. The waiting is horrible, but based on what others have shared here, it sounds like your claim is probably just working its way through their system. Hang in there - construction injuries take time to heal properly, and you deserve the support while you recover.

I'm going through this exact same situation right now! Filed my SDI claim on June 15th after a workplace back injury, and my doctor submitted all the medical forms electronically on June 16th. It's been 18 days and still showing "Pending Medical Forms" - I was starting to think something was seriously wrong with my claim. Reading everyone's responses here is actually making me feel so much better. I had no idea this was such a common issue with EDD's system. The financial stress is real though - I've been living off credit cards waiting for this to get resolved. @Nina Fitzgerald your advice about documenting everything is really smart. I'm going to start keeping a log of all my dates and reference numbers. Has anyone had success with having their doctor call EDD directly to check on the status? My orthopedist's office offered to do that, but I wasn't sure if it would help or just waste their time.

I'm dealing with the exact same frustrating situation right now! Filed my SDI claim on June 20th after a workplace shoulder injury, and my doctor submitted everything electronically on June 21st. It's been 13 days and still showing "Pending Medical Forms" - I was starting to panic thinking my claim was lost in the system somewhere. Reading through all these responses is actually really reassuring that this is just how EDD's broken system works unfortunately. The financial stress is unreal though - I've already had to ask family for help with rent this month. @Isabella Ferreira your insight about checking that the doctor used the correct DE 2501 form is super helpful - I'm definitely going to call my doctor's office tomorrow to verify they submitted the right paperwork. And @NebulaNomad thank you for that step-by-step process, that's exactly what I needed to see. It's crazy that we all have to become experts on EDD's dysfunctional system just to get the benefits we're entitled to. Hope everyone's claims get approved soon!

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this stress on top of your injury recovery! I went through something very similar when I filed my SDI claim after a car accident last year. The "Pending Medical Forms" status stuck around for almost 3 weeks even though my doctor had submitted everything correctly on day one. What really helped me was creating a simple spreadsheet to track everything - dates of submission, reference numbers, who I talked to and when. It kept me sane during the waiting period and proved invaluable later when I had to request backdated payments. One thing I learned is that EDD's online status updates are notoriously unreliable - sometimes claims get approved internally but the website doesn't reflect it for days. Try checking both your claim status AND the payment history sections daily, as they don't always sync up. Also, if you haven't already, make sure you have notifications turned on in your SDI Online account settings. Sometimes EDD sends important updates through the message center rather than email. The waiting is absolutely brutal when you're already dealing with medical bills and lost income, but based on your timeline (11 days since submission), you're still well within the normal processing window. Hang in there!

I'm going through this exact same nightmare right now! Filed my SDI claim on June 19th after a workplace back injury, and my doctor submitted everything electronically through SDI Online on June 20th. It's been 14 days and still stuck on "Pending Medical Forms" - I was starting to think my claim got lost somewhere in their system. Reading through everyone's experiences here is both frustrating and oddly reassuring that this seems to be completely normal with EDD's broken system. The financial stress is absolutely crushing though - I've already burned through most of my savings and had to ask my parents for help with bills this month. Thank you all for sharing such detailed advice, especially about verifying the DE 2501 form was used correctly and checking both claim status AND payment history sections. I had no idea they might not sync up! I'm definitely calling my doctor's office first thing tomorrow to double-check everything was submitted properly. It's insane that we have to become EDD system experts just to get benefits we're legally entitled to while recovering from injuries. Hoping all our claims get approved soon - this waiting game is brutal when you're already dealing with medical recovery!

I'm going through the exact same situation! Filed my SDI claim on June 28th after breaking my wrist in a slip and fall at work, and my doctor submitted the medical certification electronically on June 29th. It's been 6 days now and still showing "Pending Medical Forms" - I was already starting to panic that something went wrong. This thread has been incredibly helpful and reassuring to know this seems to be totally normal with EDD's system, even though it's absolutely maddening when you're already stressed about finances and recovery. The advice about calling the doctor's office to verify they used the DE 2501 form and checking both claim status AND payment history sections daily is so valuable - I had no idea these were separate systems that might not sync up! I'm definitely going to call my orthopedist tomorrow to double-check everything was submitted correctly with all my personal info. It's crazy that we all have to become EDD experts just to navigate what should be a straightforward process. Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences and timelines - knowing I'm still well within that 2-3 week processing window helps manage my anxiety a bit. Hope all of our claims get approved soon!

I'm dealing with this exact same issue right now! Filed my SDI claim on June 30th after a workplace knee injury, and my doctor submitted everything electronically on July 1st. It's been 4 days and I'm already checking my account obsessively - this thread is both a reality check and hugely reassuring that this limbo period is unfortunately normal. The financial anxiety is real though, especially when you're already dealing with medical expenses and can't work. Thank you everyone for sharing such detailed experiences and advice - I had no idea about checking both the claim status AND payment history sections separately, or that something as simple as incorrect personal info could cause major delays. I'm definitely calling my doctor's office tomorrow to verify they used the DE 2501 form correctly and that all my details are accurate. It's insane that we have to become EDD system experts just to access benefits we're entitled to, but at least we're not navigating this broken system alone. Reading that most people see updates in the 14-20 business day range helps me set realistic expectations instead of panicking every day the status doesn't change. Hope everyone's claims get approved soon - we shouldn't have to stress about bureaucracy while trying to heal from injuries!

I'm going through this exact same nightmare right now! Filed my SDI claim on July 2nd after injuring my shoulder in a warehouse accident, and my doctor submitted the medical forms electronically on July 3rd. It's only been 2 days but I'm already obsessively checking my account every few hours - finding this thread has been such a relief to know this "Pending Medical Forms" limbo is unfortunately the norm with EDD's broken system. The financial stress is already hitting hard since I can't work and have medical bills piling up. Thank you everyone for sharing such detailed advice, especially about verifying the DE 2501 form was used correctly and checking both claim status AND payment history sections daily. I had no idea they might not sync up! I'm going to call my doctor's office tomorrow to double-check they submitted everything properly with the right form and accurate personal information. It's absolutely ridiculous that we have to become EDD experts just to access benefits we're legally entitled to while recovering from work injuries. Reading that most people see updates in the 14-20 business day range helps me set realistic expectations instead of panicking daily. Hope everyone's claims get approved soon - dealing with bureaucratic stress on top of injury recovery is just awful!

I'm going through this exact same situation right now! Filed my SDI claim on July 5th after a workplace back injury, and my doctor submitted everything electronically on July 6th. It's only been 1 day but reading through this entire thread has been incredibly helpful and honestly a huge relief. I was already starting to panic that something might go wrong, but seeing how common this "Pending Medical Forms" status is makes me feel so much better about setting realistic expectations. The advice about calling the doctor's office to verify they used the DE 2501 form correctly is something I never would have thought of - I'm definitely doing that first thing Monday morning. Also had no idea about checking both the claim status AND payment history sections separately since they don't always sync up. This whole thread should honestly be pinned as a resource for anyone dealing with SDI claims because the information here is way more helpful than anything on EDD's actual website. Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences and timelines - it's comforting to know we're not dealing with this broken system alone. The financial stress is real when you can't work and have medical bills, but at least now I know what to expect over the next few weeks instead of checking my account every hour!

I'm going through this exact same frustrating situation! Filed my SDI claim on July 8th after a construction accident injured my back, and my doctor submitted the medical certification electronically on July 9th. Even though it's only been a few hours, I'm already anxious about the process after hearing horror stories from coworkers. Finding this thread has been incredibly reassuring though - it's clear that the "Pending Medical Forms" status lasting 2-3 weeks is unfortunately completely normal with EDD's broken system. The detailed advice here is amazing, especially about verifying the DE 2501 form was used correctly and checking both claim status AND payment history sections since they don't sync up. I'm definitely calling my doctor's office Monday to double-check they submitted everything properly with accurate personal information. The financial pressure is already stressing me out since I can't work and have medical bills from the ER visit, but knowing what to expect from everyone's experiences here helps me prepare mentally for the waiting period ahead. Thank you all for sharing such helpful insights - this thread is way more useful than anything on EDD's actual website! It's comforting to know we're all supporting each other through this bureaucratic nightmare while trying to recover from our injuries.

I'm so sorry you're going through this stress while recovering from such a serious injury! A crushed leg from a construction accident sounds absolutely awful, and the last thing you need is financial anxiety on top of physical pain. Reading through all these responses, it's clear that the "Pending Medical Forms" status lasting 2-3 weeks is unfortunately completely normal with EDD's broken system, even when doctors submit everything correctly and promptly like yours did. The fact that your orthopedic surgeon submitted the forms electronically the day after you filed is actually really good timing. Based on everyone's experiences here, at 11 days you're still well within the normal processing window, though I know that doesn't make the financial pressure any less stressful. Definitely follow the advice about calling your doctor's office to verify they used the DE 2501 form and that all your personal information was entered correctly - those seem to be the most common causes of delays. Also check both your claim status AND payment history sections daily since they don't always sync up. Try to hang in there - construction injuries take time to heal properly, and you deserve these benefits while you recover. Document everything with dates and reference numbers in case you need to request backdated payments later. Wishing you a smooth recovery and hoping your claim gets approved soon!

I'm really sorry you're dealing with this stress on top of your injury! The "Pending Medical Forms" status is unfortunately one of EDD's most frustrating quirks - their system basically sits there saying "pending" even after they've received everything, until a human examiner actually looks at your file. At 11 days since your doctor submitted the forms, you're actually still in the normal timeframe (most people here have seen 14-20 business days). The key thing is making sure your orthopedic surgeon used the correct DE 2501 form and didn't just send a general medical note. When you call them tomorrow, ask specifically: 1) Did they submit the DE 2501 Medical Certification form? 2) Was it submitted through SDI Online provider portal? 3) Can they verify your SSN, birthdate, and claim ID were all correct on the form? Also, check both your claim status AND payment history tabs daily - sometimes one updates before the other. I know the financial pressure is crushing when you're already dealing with medical bills from a construction accident, but based on everyone's experiences here, your claim will likely be backdated to cover the full eligible period once it's finally approved. Hang in there!