First-time SDI claim after work injury - When will payments actually arrive?

When I filed for SDI last year, it took about 10-14 days from the time all paperwork was complete until my first payment was processed. There is a mandatory 7-day waiting period before benefits start, so you won't get paid for the first week after your disability began. They do backdate to day 8 though, so you'll eventually get all the money you're entitled to after that waiting period.\n\nTo check your claim status, log into SDI Online and go to the 'Claim History' section. It should show if they've received your doctor's certification and where your claim stands in the process. If it says 'pending' that usually means they have everything they need but are still processing it.\n\nKeep in mind that the waiting period was extended during COVID but has gone back to the standard 7 days now.

Thank you! I logged into SDI Online but all I see is a message saying my claim has been received. There's nothing about my doctor's certification. Should I be worried? He said he submitted everything electronically right from his office system.

it depends on how busy they are tbh... i got my first payment in 9 days but my coworker with the same injury waited almost 3 weeks. just luck of the draw i think

3 weeks?? That's terrifying. Did your coworker do anything to speed it up? I literally can't wait that long.

The system is TOTALLY BROKEN right now! I've been waiting 5 WEEKS for my claim to process! Called 47 times and never got through to a human being. They don't care that people have bills and families! My doctor had to resubmit certification TWICE because they claimed they never received it the first time. Don't count on getting paid anytime soon - have a backup plan!

Thats not normal though. Most claims are processed within 14 days. Sounds like you had some kind of specific issue with your claim.

I just went through this in February. Here's what happens: Your doctor submits the claim form (DE 2501). EDD takes about 2-3 business days to process it into their system. Then it takes 7-10 additional business days for them to review and approve the claim. After approval, your first payment is typically issued within 24-48 hours.\n\nImportant details:\n- The 7-day waiting period means your benefits start on the 8th day of your disability\n- Your first payment will include all days from day 8 through the date they process it\n- Payments go onto an EDD debit card if this is your first claim\n- Standard processing is about 2 weeks total IF everything is complete and accurate\n\nIf your claim shows as \

This is super helpful - thank you! I'm going to check again tomorrow to see if the status changed. So even in the best case scenario, I'm looking at about 2 weeks total from submission to payment? That's going to be cutting it close with my rent.

When I filed mine last month my dr office actually forgot to submit part of the form lol but I had no way of knowing that cause the EDD site just said

Omg that's my biggest fear! How did you actually manage to reach someone on the phone? I tried calling today and just got a message about high call volume and then it hung up on me.

I was in the same boat last month trying to reach EDD about my claim. After getting nowhere with the regular phone line, I used Claimyr (claimyr.com) and got through to a rep in about 15 minutes. They basically hold your place in line and call you when an agent is available. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/1X-mEsLtbmQ?si=1hcSq3KFtCr4oAmd\n\nThe EDD agent was able to tell me exactly what was missing from my doctor's certification and I got it fixed that same day. My claim was approved 2 days later. Definitely worth checking if something is holding up your claim rather than just waiting and hoping.

I've never heard of this service but I'm desperate at this point. I'll check it out tomorrow. Did they tell you what information you need to have ready before the EDD rep calls you back?

You'll need your claim ID number, social security number, and the date your disability began. Also have your doctor's info handy in case there are questions about the medical certification. When I called, they were able to see exactly where my claim was stuck and what was needed to move forward.

I tried that Claimyr thing too but the EDD rep STILL couldn't help me! Said there was a \

Just wanted to add - if you're really in a bind with rent, ask your landlord for an extension and explain the situation. Many landlords are familiar with EDD delays and might work with you. Also, if your injury happened at work, have you filed for workers' comp as well? That's a separate system from SDI and might provide additional benefits.

That's good advice about talking to my landlord. I'll try that tomorrow. As for workers' comp, my supervisor told me to use SDI first since it's faster to get payments started? But now I'm wondering if I should have done both. The whole system is so confusing.

Quick update on timelines - I've noticed claims are processing a bit faster in 2025 than they were last year. My most recent claim (filed in January) was approved in 8 business days, and I had money on my card 2 days later. So about 10 days total. If your doctor submitted everything correctly and there are no issues with your claim, you might still make your rent deadline. But definitely have a backup plan just in case.

that wasn't my experience at all... filed in february and took almost 3 weeks. guess it just depends who processes ur claim maybe??

UPDATE: I got through to EDD this morning! Turns out my doctor DID submit everything correctly but there was some confusion because I had filed for unemployment 6 months ago (though I never collected). The rep said my claim should be processed by the end of this week and I should see funds early next week. She also confirmed the 7-day waiting period starts from my injury date, not from when the claim was filed. Thanks everyone for your help and advice!

Great news! Glad you got through and got some clarity. The UI/SDI confusion happens fairly often since they're both EDD programs but completely separate systems. Thanks for updating us!