How quickly can EDD approve SDI benefits? Fastest approval timelines?

I got approved in 7 days last winter. Filed online on a Monday, doctor submitted certification Tuesday, and I got the EDD debit card the following Monday with my first payment. I think it really depends on your doctor's office being on point with their paperwork. No errors on the medical certification form makes a huge difference.

mine took 5 weeks lol don't get your hopes up

The official EDD guideline is that most SDI claims are processed within 14 days if there are no issues with your application. Here are some factors that affect processing time: 1. Completeness of your application - any missing information will delay it 2. How quickly your healthcare provider submits their certification 3. Whether your employer responds promptly to EDD's request for wage information 4. Current claim volume at EDD (certain seasons are busier) 5. Any discrepancies between your information and your employer/doctor records In my experience working with disability claims, the fastest I've seen was 9 days from filing to payment, but the average is closer to 2-3 weeks. Make sure your claim shows "received" not just "submitted" in the SDI Online portal.

FASTEST? Friend of mine got hers in 5 days! But that was like right after COVID when they were apparently pushing claims through super fast. I think that's totally not normal though. Mine took 18 days earlier this year for pregnancy disability.

If you need to speak with someone at EDD about speeding up your claim, good luck getting through on the phone. I spent TWO WEEKS trying to reach someone about my delayed SDI claim - constantly getting disconnected or told to call back later. I finally used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me through to an actual EDD representative in about 20 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/1X-mEsLtbmQ?si=1hcSq3KFtCr4oAmd Once I actually talked to someone, they found the issue with my claim (employer reported different wages) and fixed it right away. Payment came 2 days later.

I filed for disability last year when I broke my ankle and couldn't do my nursing job. The first time I filed it took 26 days to get approved because I made a stupid error on the form. The second time (for the same injury when I needed surgery), I triple-checked everything and it was approved in 10 days. If you're really worried about money while waiting, you should check if your employer offers any short-term disability insurance that might kick in faster than state disability. Some employer plans pay out while you're waiting for EDD to approve your claim.

mine took 2 weeks exactly but my friend is still waiting after 3 weeks sooooo idk

Just to update everyone with current information: EDD has been experiencing higher claim volumes in 2025, so processing times have increased slightly. The 14-day guideline is still their target, but many claims are now taking 14-21 days even without issues. If your claim shows "pending" for more than 21 days, that usually indicates there's a specific issue that needs to be resolved. At that point, contacting EDD directly is your best option.

just fyi they NEVER answer their phones lol

Quick update for anyone following this thread or finding it later - my claim was approved today! That makes it 12 days total from submission to approval. My first payment should be deposited in the next 24-48 hours according to the portal. Not as fast as some of you, but way better than 5 weeks! Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences.