Finding physician's medical certification form for SDI claim - urgent help needed!

Yes, you can download the form! It's called the "Physician/Practitioner Certification" (Part B of the DE 2501). Go to the EDD website, click on 'Forms and Publications', select 'Disability Insurance', and you should see it listed there. You can download it as a PDF, print it, and take it to your aunt's doctor. The doctor completes it, then can either give it back to you to submit or they can mail/fax it to EDD themselves. Just make sure your aunt's claim number is included on the form when the doctor fills it out. That will ensure it gets properly matched to her existing claim in the system.

That's not entirely correct. The DE 2501 has to be ORDERED from EDD. What you can download is the DE 2501FC "Fast Certification" form which is different. It's a shorter version that many doctors won't accept because it doesnt have all the sections they need to fill out. My dr office refused to use that form when I had the same issue last month!!

I had the same exact problem in January with my pregnancy disability claim! So frustrating. Here's what I found out: 1. You CAN download the "Physician/Practitioner's Certificate" part (DE 2501 Part B) directly from the EDD website. Go to: https://edd.ca.gov/siteassets/files/forms_and_publications/forms/de/de2501b_sample.pdf 2. IMPORTANT: That link above is just a SAMPLE. For the actual fillable PDF, go to Forms and Publications, filter by Disability Insurance, and look for "Physician/Practitioner's Certificate - DE 2501 Part B" 3. Make sure your aunt's claim number AND her name are on the form 4. Once the doctor completes it, they should fax it directly to EDD at the number printed on the form (it's faster than mailing) One more thing: call your aunt's doctor's office and ask if they already have the form. Many medical offices keep these forms on hand even if they don't do online certification. Hope this helps! The system is such a mess to navigate.

If you're still having trouble getting through to EDD or finding the right form, I used Claimyr a few weeks ago when I was in a similar situation with my disability paperwork. The service connected me to an EDD agent in about 20 minutes when I had been trying for days on my own. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/1X-mEsLtbmQ?si=1hcSq3KFtCr4oAmd The agent I spoke with was able to email me the exact form I needed immediately. It saved me so much time and stress. Their website is claimyr.com if you want to check it out. Way better than waiting 10 business days for forms to arrive by mail!

i had da same problem last year...wat I did was go to da nearest EDD office in person and they gave me the form right there. took like 15 mins. way easier than all this online stuff tbh

THIS MAKES ME SO ANGRY!!! EDD is DELIBERATELY making this process difficult for people. I had to deal with this garbage last year and it delayed my claim by ALMOST A MONTH! They don't answer phones, their website is confusing, and they make doctors jump through hoops to file the forms. Then they wonder why there's a backlog of claims??? RIDICULOUS!

Here's an update on my situation in case it helps anyone else: I was able to download the DE 2501B form directly from the EDD website (had to dig around a bit but found it). I took it to my aunt's doctor yesterday, they filled it out, and said they would fax it directly to EDD. The doctor's office also gave me a tip - they recommended calling EDD to add a note to my aunt's claim that the medical certification would be coming separately via fax. I managed to get through to EDD this morning (called right when they opened at 8am), and they added a note to her file. The agent said that should help prevent any delays in processing once they receive the fax from the doctor. Thanks everyone for your helpful suggestions! I'll update again once we hear about the claim status.

I went through this exact same situation with my mother's SDI claim just two months ago! The key thing that worked for us was going directly to the EDD office - much faster than trying to navigate their website or wait for mail. A few tips from my experience: - Call the EDD office first to confirm they have the forms available and their current hours - Bring your aunt's claim number and a copy of her ID (some offices require this) - Ask for the DE 2501 Part B specifically - some staff know it by different names - Get the office fax number while you're there in case the doctor needs it Also, once you get the form to the doctor, ask them to call EDD to confirm they received the fax. We had an issue where the doctor's office said they faxed it but EDD never got it - turned out their fax machine was having issues that day. Having the doctor follow up saved us another week of delays. The whole process is unnecessarily complicated but hang in there! Your aunt is lucky to have someone advocating for her through this maze.

Just wanted to chime in as someone who's been through this process multiple times with family members. One thing I learned that might help - if your aunt's doctor's office is hesitant about faxing directly to EDD, you can also have them give you the completed form in a sealed envelope and you can deliver it to the EDD office yourself. Some medical offices prefer this because they get confirmation that it was actually received. Also, make sure to get a copy of the completed form for your records before the doctor submits it. I've had situations where forms got "lost in the system" and having that copy saved us from having to start the whole medical certification process over again. One more tip - if you do end up going to the EDD office in person, try to go mid-week (Tuesday-Thursday) and avoid the first/last days of the month when they tend to be busiest. The wait times are usually much shorter. Hope your aunt's claim gets processed quickly! The system is definitely frustrating but it sounds like you're doing everything right to help her through it.

I'm going through this exact situation right now with my husband's SDI claim! His doctor also stopped using the online system due to technical issues. What I found that worked was calling EDD's main number early in the morning (around 8:05 AM) and asking them to email me the DE 2501 Part B form directly. The agent was able to send it to me within minutes as a PDF attachment. The key is being very specific about what you need - tell them "I need the Physician/Practitioner Certificate form DE 2501 Part B for an existing SDI claim" and have your aunt's claim number ready. They can also walk you through exactly where to find it on their website if you prefer to download it yourself. Also, pro tip: when you take the form to the doctor, ask them to include the date they're submitting it on the form itself. This helps EDD track when it was sent in case there are any processing delays. Good luck with your aunt's claim!

I work at a medical office and deal with SDI forms regularly. A few things that might help speed up the process: 1. When you call EDD or visit their office, ask specifically for the "current version" of DE 2501 Part B. Sometimes older versions are still floating around online and doctors will reject outdated forms. 2. If your aunt's doctor is part of a larger medical group, try calling their main medical records department - they often have dedicated staff who handle disability paperwork and are more familiar with the process than individual office staff. 3. Make sure to get the doctor's NPI number and DEA number if they ask for it on the form - some versions require this and having it ready saves another trip back to the office. 4. Ask the doctor's office what their typical turnaround time is for completing these forms. Many offices batch-process disability paperwork once or twice a week, so knowing their schedule can help set expectations. The system really shouldn't be this complicated, but these little details can make a big difference in avoiding delays. Hope this helps your aunt get her benefits processed quickly!

I've been through this nightmare with my own disability claim and wanted to share what finally worked for me. After reading through all these great suggestions, here's what I'd recommend trying in this order: 1. First, try calling EDD right at 8:00 AM sharp - they seem to have better availability in the first 15 minutes after they open. Ask them to email you the DE 2501 Part B form directly. 2. If that doesn't work, definitely try visiting the EDD office in person. I went on a Wednesday morning and was in and out in 20 minutes with the form. 3. Before taking the form to your aunt's doctor, call ahead and ask if they need any specific information like her claim number, NPI/DEA numbers, or if they prefer certain submission methods (fax vs. mail vs. in-person delivery). One thing I learned the hard way - make sure your aunt signs a HIPAA release form at the doctor's office specifically allowing you to discuss her disability paperwork with them. Some offices get strict about this and won't talk to family members without proper authorization, which can cause delays. Also, keep detailed notes of every interaction (who you spoke to, when, what was discussed). If there are any issues later, having that paper trail really helps when you need to escalate with EDD supervisors. Your aunt is so fortunate to have you advocating for her through this process. Hang in there - it's frustrating but you're doing everything right!

I'm going through something similar with my grandmother's SDI claim right now and this thread has been incredibly helpful! Just wanted to add one more tip that saved us time - if you're able to visit the EDD office in person, ask them to print out multiple copies of the DE 2501 Part B form while you're there. We had to go back to the doctor twice because they made a mistake on the first form (wrong dates), and having extra copies meant we didn't have to make another trip to EDD or wait for downloads. Also, some doctors' offices like to keep a copy for their own records, so having extras prevents any delays. The staff at our local EDD office was actually really helpful once we got there in person - much better experience than trying to navigate their website or phone system. It's definitely worth the drive if you have an office nearby. Hope your aunt's claim gets processed quickly!

Just went through this exact situation with my mom's SDI claim last month! After reading through all these helpful responses, I wanted to add one more option that worked for us when everything else seemed to hit roadblocks. If you're still having trouble getting the form or if the doctor's office is being difficult about the process, try contacting your state assembly member's office. I know it sounds like overkill, but they often have dedicated staff who help constituents navigate state agency issues like EDD problems. I called my assembly member's office after we'd been stuck in the system for 3 weeks, and their constituent services coordinator actually called EDD on our behalf and got the whole thing sorted out within 48 hours. They were able to email us the correct form and even followed up to make sure EDD received the completed medical certification from the doctor. Most people don't know this is an option, but it's a free service and they deal with EDD issues regularly. You can find your assembly member's contact info on the California Assembly website by entering your aunt's zip code. Worth trying if you continue to hit walls with the regular channels! The process really shouldn't be this complicated, but at least there are people willing to help navigate the maze. Hope your aunt's claim gets approved soon!

I just want to echo what everyone else has said about how unnecessarily complicated this whole process is! I'm currently dealing with something similar for my disabled sister and this thread has been a goldmine of practical advice. One thing I'd add that hasn't been mentioned yet - if your aunt is over 65, make sure to ask EDD if there are any age-specific considerations for her claim. Sometimes there are different processing timelines or requirements for older claimants that aren't clearly explained on their website. Also, when you do get the DE 2501B form, I'd recommend taking a photo of it with your phone before giving it to the doctor's office, in addition to making photocopies. I learned this the hard way when my sister's doctor's office claimed they never received the form we dropped off (it was sitting on someone's desk the whole time). Having that photo with a timestamp helped prove we'd delivered it. The assembly member tip from Sofia is brilliant - I had no idea that was an option! Filing that away for future reference. It's so frustrating that we have to become experts in navigating government bureaucracy just to help our family members get the benefits they've paid into, but at least we can help each other figure it out. Hoping your aunt's claim gets processed quickly! Keep us posted on how it goes.

I'm so glad I found this thread! I'm currently helping my father navigate his SDI claim and we're facing the exact same issue with his doctor no longer using the online system. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful - there's more practical advice here than I found in hours of searching EDD's website. A few quick questions for those who've been through this: 1. When you downloaded the DE 2501B form, did you need to create any kind of account on the EDD website or was it a direct download? 2. For those who visited EDD offices in person, do they typically ask for any ID verification before giving you forms for someone else's claim? 3. Has anyone had experience with doctors who refuse to fax directly to EDD? My father's doctor says they only mail forms, which seems like it would cause more delays. Also wanted to add - the tip about calling your assembly member's office is genius! I had no idea that was even an option for EDD issues. Definitely keeping that in my back pocket if we hit more roadblocks. Thank you all for sharing your experiences and practical solutions. It's so reassuring to know we're not alone in struggling with this unnecessarily complicated system!

I've been following this thread as someone who went through a similar nightmare with my brother's SDI claim earlier this year. The amount of helpful, practical advice here is incredible - way better than anything I found on EDD's official resources! One thing I wanted to add that might help speed things up: if you do end up calling EDD, try using their automated system first to check your aunt's claim status before speaking to an agent. Sometimes the system will tell you exactly what documents they're waiting for, which can save you time explaining the situation. The automated line is usually available 24/7 unlike the agent line. Also, I noticed someone mentioned the DE 2501FC "Fast Certification" form earlier in the thread. While it's true that some doctors won't accept the shorter version, it's worth asking your aunt's doctor if they'd be willing to use it as a temporary measure while you work on getting the full DE 2501B. Sometimes EDD will accept the fast cert to prevent claim delays and then request the full certification later if needed. The persistence you're showing in advocating for your aunt is admirable - the system is designed to be confusing and many people give up. Keep pushing through and don't hesitate to escalate to supervisors if you hit roadblocks. Your aunt is lucky to have someone fighting for her benefits!

I'm a social worker who helps families navigate disability benefits, and I wanted to share a few additional resources that might help with your aunt's situation: If you're still having trouble locating the DE 2501B form online, try searching for "Physician Practitioner Certificate" instead of just the form number - EDD's search function sometimes works better with the full form names. Also, many local disability advocacy organizations keep copies of these forms on hand and can provide them for free. One thing I always recommend to families is to create a simple tracking sheet with dates, names, and reference numbers for every interaction with EDD. Include when forms were submitted, who you spoke with, and any case notes or confirmation numbers. This becomes invaluable if you need to escalate or if there are processing delays. Also, don't forget that your aunt may be eligible for expedited processing if her condition is severe or if she's facing financial hardship. When you call EDD (or visit in person), specifically ask about "hardship expediting" - many people don't know this option exists. The fact that you're advocating for your elderly aunt shows incredible dedication. The system shouldn't be this complex, but your persistence will make all the difference in getting her the benefits she needs and deserves. Keep us updated on how things progress!

I just wanted to add another option that worked for my family when we hit similar roadblocks with my grandfather's SDI claim. If you have access to a local library, many of them have dedicated computer stations for accessing government services and sometimes the librarians are familiar with navigating EDD's website. Our local library actually had printed copies of common EDD forms available at their reference desk! The librarian told me they keep them on hand because so many people come in struggling with the same issues we're all discussing here. It might be worth calling your local library to see if they have the DE 2501B form or can help you navigate the EDD website to download it. Also, if your aunt has a case worker through any other services (like Medicare, social services, or senior programs), they often have experience with SDI claims and might be able to help guide you through the process or even make calls on her behalf. The amount of helpful advice in this thread is amazing - it's like having a support group of people who actually understand how frustrating this system can be. Your aunt is so fortunate to have someone willing to fight through all this bureaucracy for her!