How long does EDD SDI take to process mailed-in claims vs. online filing?

oof mailed claims take FOREVER!! my friend did that last summer and it took like 6 weeks before she saw anything. online is way faster, maybe 2 weeks. you should probly just do the online one now

Paper SDI claims typically take 4-5 weeks for processing compared to 1-2 weeks for online claims. The delay is due to manual data entry and mail processing time. I wouldn't recommend filing another claim online as it could trigger a fraud alert in their system. Instead, wait until the 10-day mark after mailing, then try to contact EDD to confirm they received your application. Your doctor's certification being submitted electronically is good news - that part is ready once your claim is entered into the system.

The system is BROKEN! They intentionally delay paper claims to discourage people from using them. I sent a paper claim in January and didn't hear ANYTHING for 7 weeks! When I finally got through to someone, they claimed they never received it so I had to start the whole process over. Then they backdate it but make you wait even longer for payments. It's all designed to make people give up.

I had to call EDD when I mailed in my claim last year and was getting worried after 2 weeks of silence. The problem is actually getting through to someone - I tried for days before giving up. Finally used Claimyr (claimyr.com) which got me connected to an EDD representative in about 20 minutes. They were able to confirm they had my claim and gave me an estimate for processing. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/1X-mEsLtbmQ?si=1hcSq3KFtCr4oAmd It was definitely worth it to get peace of mind and an actual update. Sometimes they can even expedite it if you explain your situation.

My husband n me both filed for disability last yr, he did online and got approved in 10 days, i did paper form bc i dont trust computers w/ my info and it took 5 weeks!!!! its crazy the difference! they say its the "same" on there website but thats A LIE. if u can do online ALWAYS do online!!!!!

One important thing to know: you can check if your mailed claim has been entered into the system by trying to register for SDI Online with your SSN. If you get an error saying you don't have an existing claim, they haven't processed your paperwork yet. If it lets you create an account, that means your claim is in the system! Also, once your claim is established, you can switch to online certification for faster payments going forward, even if you started with a paper application.

btw sometimes they dont even text u when they get it! the texts r super unreliable. my mom never got one but then suddenly got a letter in the mail 3 weeks later saying she was approved. the whole system is weird

My sister works for the state (not EDD) and she says they're still catching up on paperwork from the pandemic! Unbelievable right? But it definitely explains why paper applications take so long. When I did my maternity disability last year, online took 9 days to process vs my coworker who mailed hers and waited almost 6 weeks. If you're really worried about bills, you might want to look into if your employer offers any advance options while waiting for disability?

Final piece of advice: make sure you're prepared when you call EDD. Have your claim information, SSN, and detailed questions ready. The representatives are often rushed and may not volunteer information unless you specifically ask. Questions to ask: 1) Has my claim been received? 2) When was/will it be entered into the system? 3) Are there any issues or missing information they need from me? 4) What's the expected timeline for approval? 5) Can they see that my doctor submitted the medical certification? Good luck, and I hope your claim gets processed soon!

I went through the same situation last month! Mailed my SDI claim when my laptop died right before the deadline. Here's what I learned: paper claims definitely take 3-4 weeks longer than online ones. The good news is that once they process it, they'll backdate your benefits to your disability start date, so you won't lose money - just have to wait longer to receive it. I'd recommend calling after day 10 to confirm they received it, but honestly the hold times are brutal (sometimes 2+ hours). One trick that worked for me was calling right when they open at 8am - got through in about 45 minutes vs hours later in the day. Also keep checking that SDI Online registration trick @Charlie Yang mentioned - that's how I knew when mine finally got entered into their system. Hang in there!

I'm in a similar boat - sent my SDI claim by mail about 2 weeks ago and still haven't heard anything. Reading through all these responses is both helpful and terrifying! It sounds like the consensus is that paper claims take 4-6 weeks vs 1-2 weeks online, which is way longer than what their website suggests. @Charlie Yang's tip about trying to register for SDI Online to check if your claim is in the system is brilliant - definitely going to try that. And @Andre Dubois, thanks for the 8am calling tip, I'll give that a shot too. One question for anyone who's been through this: if you eventually get approved, do they send you some kind of confirmation letter or is it just the first payment that shows up? Want to make sure I don't miss any important correspondence while waiting!

I work for a disability advocacy organization and deal with EDD SDI claims regularly. Here's what I can tell you: paper claims are currently taking 4-6 weeks for initial processing vs 10-14 days for online submissions. The delay isn't just mail time - it's because paper claims require manual data entry by staff who are still backlogged from pandemic-era claim volumes. A few important points: 1) Don't file a duplicate claim online - this WILL trigger a fraud investigation that can delay your case by months. 2) Your doctor's electronic certification is actually advantageous - it's already in their system waiting to be matched to your claim once it's entered. 3) The text confirmations are notoriously unreliable, so don't panic if you don't receive one. My advice: wait until the 14-day mark, then call EDD at exactly 8:00 AM when they open. Have your SSN, mailing date, and claim details ready. Ask specifically if they've received your paperwork and when it might be data-entered. If you're facing financial hardship, mention this - sometimes they can expedite processing for urgent cases. Remember, once approved, benefits are backdated to your disability start date, so you won't lose money - just have to wait longer to receive it. Hang in there!

I'm going through something similar right now - mailed my SDI claim 6 days ago and haven't heard anything yet. Reading through everyone's experiences here is both helpful and nerve-wracking! It's clear that paper claims take WAY longer than what EDD's website suggests. @Charlie Yang, I just tried your registration trick to see if my claim is in the system yet and got the "no existing claim" error, so mine definitely hasn't been processed either. That's actually a relief to know there's a way to check status without having to call and wait on hold for hours. @Amara Torres, your professional insight is really valuable - the 4-6 week timeline for paper vs 10-14 days online is a huge difference that EDD should be more upfront about. I had no idea the pandemic backlog was still affecting processing times this much. For everyone waiting on paper claims - at least we know the benefits will be backdated once approved, so we won't lose money, just have to be patient (easier said than done when bills are due!). I'm going to try the 8am calling strategy next week if I still don't see any movement. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences!

I'm also dealing with this right now - mailed my SDI claim 12 days ago and still nothing! This thread has been incredibly helpful in understanding what's actually happening vs what EDD's website claims. The 4-6 week timeline for paper claims that @Amara Torres mentioned is way more realistic than the vague "processing times may vary" messaging on their site. @Charlie Yang's tip about checking if your claim is in the system by trying to register for SDI Online is brilliant - just tried it and got the "no existing claim" error too, so mine definitely hasn't been entered yet. At least now I have a way to monitor progress without calling constantly. I'm definitely going to try the 8am calling strategy early next week since I'm approaching that 14-day mark @Amara Torres recommended. Really wish EDD would be more transparent about these processing time differences - would have saved a lot of stress and maybe convinced me to wait for my internet to get fixed instead of mailing! For anyone else in this situation, this community has been a lifesaver for realistic expectations and practical tips. We're all in this together!

Just wanted to add my experience to help others who might be in the same situation. I mailed my SDI claim about 3 months ago and went through this exact same panic and uncertainty. The wait was absolutely brutal - took almost 5 weeks before I could even confirm they had received my paperwork, and then another 2 weeks for approval. @Charlie Yang's registration trick is spot on - that's exactly how I tracked when my claim finally got entered into their system. And @Amara Torres is right about the 4-6 week timeline being much more realistic than what their website suggests. For anyone currently waiting: I know how stressful this is, especially when bills are piling up. The good news is that once it's approved, the backpay comes pretty quickly (mine was deposited within a week of approval) and covers everything from your disability start date. I actually got a bigger lump sum than I expected because of all the waiting. My biggest regret was not calling earlier to at least confirm receipt. If I were doing it again, I'd definitely call at the 10-day mark just for peace of mind. The 8am calling strategy really does work better - got through in about 30 minutes vs the 3+ hour waits I experienced calling later in the day. Hang in there everyone - I know it feels endless but you will get through this!

As someone who just went through this exact situation 2 months ago, I completely understand your stress! I also mailed my SDI claim when my computer crashed right before the deadline, and the waiting was absolutely nerve-wracking. Here's what I learned: Paper claims are definitely taking 4-6 weeks right now vs 1-2 weeks online. I didn't hear anything for almost 3 weeks, but when I finally got through to EDD (called right at 8am), they confirmed they had received it and it was just waiting in the data entry queue. The silver lining is that your doctor already submitted the medical certification electronically - that's actually perfect timing! Once your paper claim gets entered into their system, it will automatically match with your doctor's submission, so you won't have any delays on that end. My advice: Don't panic about the 8 days of silence - that's totally normal for paper claims. Try @Charlie Yang's registration trick to monitor when it hits their system, and definitely don't file a duplicate claim online (I've seen that cause major headaches). If you're really stressed, call at exactly 8am after day 10 just to confirm receipt. The wait is brutal but you WILL get through this, and the backpay will cover everything from your start date. Hang in there!

I'm going through this exact same situation right now! Mailed my SDI claim 6 days ago and have been refreshing my phone constantly waiting for that confirmation text that apparently never comes reliably anyway. This whole thread has been incredibly eye-opening - I had NO idea paper claims took 4-6 weeks vs 1-2 weeks online. EDD's website definitely makes it sound like they're processed the same way. Just tried @Charlie Yang's registration trick and got the "no existing claim" error too, so mine definitely hasn't been entered into their system yet. At least now I have a way to check progress without having to call and wait on hold for hours! Really kicking myself for not just waiting for my internet to come back online, but what's done is done. Planning to call at exactly 8am next week if I still don't see any movement. It's somewhat comforting to know I'm not alone in this - seems like a lot of us made the same mistake of choosing mail when our internet/computers failed us at the worst possible time! Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and especially the practical tips. This community is a lifesaver during such a stressful process.