Extended maternity SDI benefits payment delayed - completed certification form, now what?

yeah you have to certify every 2 weeks after the initial period. its super annoying but thats how it works for extended benefits. usually takes 2-3 days to get paid after certifying but sometimes longer if the system is backed up

When your disability period gets extended beyond the initial period, you do need to complete continuation certifications. This is standard for extended SDI benefits, including maternity disability extensions. Typically, you should receive payment within 5-7 business days after certifying. Since you just completed it this morning, I'd expect payment by early next week. And yes, you'll need to certify every two weeks for the remainder of your extended benefit period. I recommend setting calendar reminders for yourself about 3 days before each certification period opens. The EDD doesn't always send notifications, and missing a certification window can cause payment delays.

I WENT THROUGH THIS EXACT THING!! Nobody tells you about the certification requirement for extensions and then suddenly your money stops coming. It's like they WANT us to panic. My doctor extended my maternity leave by 6 weeks and I didn't get paid for almost 3 weeks because I didn't know I had to certify. The EDD system is designed to make everything as confusing and stressful as possible when you're already dealing with a newborn and recovery!!

I've been through the extended maternity disability process a couple times now. Here's what you need to know: 1. After completing your certification form, payments typically process within 3-5 business days, though occasionally it can take up to 10 days if there's a high volume of claims or system issues. 2. Yes, for extended SDI benefits (including maternity extensions), you must certify every two weeks. This differs from the initial claim period where payments are automatic. 3. Set up multiple reminders! The certification windows are strict, and if you miss one, it can delay your benefits significantly. 4. The EDD portal will show your next certification period dates. Write these down somewhere visible. 5. If you don't receive payment within 10 days of certifying, call EDD immediately - but be prepared for a long wait.

When I had my maternity leave extended last year, I ran into the same issue! I found a service called Claimyr that helped me actually get through to a real EDD agent instead of waiting on hold forever. Their website is claimyr.com and they have a video that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/1X-mEsLtbmQ?si=1hcSq3KFtCr4oAmd It saved me so much stress because I had a payment issue with my extended benefits that needed to be resolved immediately. The agent was able to push through my payment that had been stuck in processing for over a week. Definitely worth it when you're dealing with time-sensitive benefit issues!

wait im confused, is SDI the same thing as paid family leave? i thought maternity was under PFL not disability. my sister just had a baby and i think she's getting PFL not SDI???

Just a heads up - I missed a certification deadline during my extended maternity disability and it took THREE WEEKS and countless phone calls to get my benefits restarted. The system is absolutely infuriating. Once your current payment comes through, immediately check your portal for the next certification dates and set multiple alarms. They don't make this clear AT ALL in any of their communications!

Is your doctor extending for medical reasons or just general recovery? My OB extended mine for 4 more weeks too but I had some complications. Just curious if standard extensions are common now cuz my friend is pregnant and wondering if she should expect the standard 6/8 weeks or if longer is possible.

Just checking back - did your payment process yet? In my experience, if you certified this morning, you should see payment by Monday or Tuesday next week. The system typically takes 2-3 business days to process certifications for extended benefits.

btw for anyone who has trouble remembering to certify I just set up auto calendar reminders on my phone for every 2 weeks with multiple alerts. saved me from missing deadlines cuz you know EDD won't remind you until its too late lol

I'm going through something similar right now! My maternity SDI also got extended (6 additional weeks for c-section recovery) and I'm currently waiting for my first extended payment after certifying. The whole process is so confusing - nobody explains that the certification requirements change once you hit the extension period. One thing that helped me was calling the SDI phone line directly instead of the main EDD number. The wait times are still long but I've had better luck actually getting through to someone who understands disability claims specifically. The number is 1-800-480-3287. Also, make sure you're checking your EDD portal daily during this waiting period. Sometimes the payment status updates there before you actually receive the money. Hang in there - you're not alone in this stress! 💙

Hey! I'm dealing with the exact same situation right now - my maternity SDI got extended for an additional 8 weeks and I had no idea about the certification requirements until my payments stopped coming. It's so stressful when you're already dealing with recovery and a newborn! I just wanted to add that if you're still having trouble getting through to EDD, try calling right at 8am when they open - I've had better luck getting connected then versus later in the day. Also, if you have to call multiple times, don't give up. I literally called 47 times one day (yes I counted!) before finally getting through to someone who could help. The whole system really does seem designed to make us jump through hoops when we're at our most vulnerable. Sending you support and hoping your payment comes through soon! 🤞

I'm going through this too! My SDI got extended 6 weeks and nobody warned me about the certification changes. Just wanted to share that I found it helpful to take screenshots of my certification confirmation page each time I submit - it shows the date/time you completed it which can be useful if there are any disputes about timing. Also, I learned the hard way that if you're even one day late on certification, it can really mess things up. The system is super strict about those deadlines. I now have THREE different alarms set for each certification period because I'm so paranoid about missing another one. Hope your payment comes through soon - the financial stress on top of recovery is just awful! 😔

I'm so sorry you're going through this stress! I just went through the exact same thing with my extended maternity SDI - the sudden stop in payments with no warning about needing to certify is such a shock when you're already dealing with recovery and a new baby. From my experience, after you submit that continuation certification form, it usually takes about 3-5 business days for the payment to process and show up in your account. Since you completed it this morning, I'd expect to see something by Wednesday or Thursday of next week. And unfortunately yes, you'll need to certify every two weeks for the remainder of your extended period - it's totally different from the initial automatic payments. I wish they made this clearer upfront! One thing that really helped me was immediately checking my EDD portal after certifying to see when my next certification window opens, then setting multiple phone reminders. The windows are usually about 2 weeks apart but the exact dates can vary slightly. Hang in there - the payment should come through soon and once you get into the rhythm of the bi-weekly certifications, it becomes more manageable. You've got this! 💙