EDD wants me to see doctor 110 miles away - can't drive that far due to condition. Help!

I found a way to solve EDD doctor appointment location issues, watch this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ym7qGVgfdX0

Ugh, that sucks! EDD can be such a pain sometimes. Have you tried calling them to explain your situation? Maybe they can find a closer doctor for you.

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

I've been in the same boat, OP. Here's what I did: 1. Document everything. Write down why you can't travel that far. 2. Get a note from your current doctor explaining your limitations. 3. Call EDD (I know, easier said than done) and explain your situation calmly. 4. Ask if there are any closer doctors or if a virtual appointment is possible. 5. If they won't budge, ask to speak to a supervisor. Stay persistent! It took me a few tries, but I eventually got them to assign me a closer doctor. Good luck!

have u tried asking for a teleheath appointment? some doctors r doing that now bc of covid

This is ridiculous! 110 miles?! The system is so broken. 🤬 I swear they make it hard on purpose to discourage people from claiming benefits.

Contact your local state representative. They often have staff dedicated to helping constituents with EDD issues. They might be able to intervene on your behalf.

lol edd at it again with the 🤡 behavior

Hey OP, just wondering - what kind of condition do you have that prevents you from driving that far? No pressure to share if you're not comfortable, just curious if it's something I might be able to offer advice on.

This happened to me last year. I ended up having to make the long drive and it was awful. Don't be like me - fight it!

I'm so sorry you're going through this! I had a similar situation a few months ago. Here's what worked for me: I got a letter from my doctor specifically stating that long-distance travel would exacerbate my condition and could cause additional harm. Then I called EDD (used the early morning trick someone mentioned) and explained that requiring me to travel 110 miles violated the Americans with Disabilities Act reasonable accommodation requirements. I asked them to either find a closer doctor or allow a virtual consultation. It took three calls and speaking to two supervisors, but they eventually found me a doctor only 20 miles away. Don't give up - you have rights and they need to accommodate your disability!

I went through something similar last year! EDD initially assigned me a doctor 95 miles away for my disability evaluation. What saved me was getting my treating physician to write a detailed letter explaining how the long drive would worsen my condition and potentially cause a flare-up. I also researched the specific EDD regulations and found that they're required to make reasonable accommodations under disability laws. When I called (early morning around 8 AM worked best), I calmly explained my situation and referenced both the medical documentation and their legal obligation to accommodate. It took persistence - about 4 calls total - but they eventually found me a doctor only 15 miles away. Don't let them bully you into that ridiculous drive. You have rights, and they absolutely can find closer alternatives if you advocate for yourself properly!

I'm dealing with this exact issue right now too! EDD assigned me a doctor 130 miles away and I have fibromyalgia that makes long car rides unbearable. Reading everyone's advice here has been so helpful - especially the tips about getting a detailed letter from your doctor and mentioning ADA accommodations. I had no idea we could push back on this! Going to try calling first thing tomorrow morning with all these strategies. It's so frustrating that we have to fight this hard just to get basic reasonable accommodations, but at least now I know it's possible. Thanks to everyone who shared their success stories - you're giving me hope that I can get this sorted out too!

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this - it's incredibly frustrating when EDD makes unreasonable demands like this. Based on what others have shared, here's what I'd recommend: 1) Get a detailed letter from your doctor explaining how the 110-mile drive would worsen your condition, 2) Call EDD early in the morning (around 8 AM seems to work best) and mention that requiring this travel violates ADA reasonable accommodation requirements, 3) Be persistent and ask for supervisors if needed - it might take 3-4 calls but people here have had success getting closer doctors assigned. Document everything and don't give up! You absolutely have the right to reasonable accommodations for your disability. The fact that so many others have successfully fought this gives me hope that you can too!

Hi everyone. I am in the same boat. I just received a letter in the mail requesting that I travel 140 miles round trip, with 5–6 hours of travel time due to LA traffic. I read this thread and called EDD immediately. I spoke to an agent who was very understanding. He said he would put a notation on my file indicating that we discussed this issue, and that he would submit an escalation request to the appropriate department to review it and call me back with a decision. He told me to allow 3–5 business days for them to process the request and reach out. He also advised me to hold on to the initial letter but said I do not need to do anything yet (including making an appointment with the original doctor) while waiting to hear back. I later called again and spoke with a different agent, who confirmed that there is a notation on my file and that the request has been submitted to a higher-level department. Here are my questions: 1. For those who were successful in having a closer doctor reassigned, was this the process you went through (an escalation to a different department and waiting), or did the supervisor/agent assign you a new doctor immediately during the phone call? The agent that I spoke to said he doesn't have the power to assign a new doctor on his end. Is this true? 2. I know I am required to make an appointment within 7 days of the mailing date of this letter. This deadline will likely pass while I wait for the callback. Would this affect my benefits while the issue is pending, even though the deadline has passed? According to the agent, it should not, since there is a notation on my file and the issue is under review. However, I am still worried. Did anyone have a similar experience? Thank you so much. This is so stressful. 😞