How to extend EDD SDI claim when current disability date is approaching?

Your doctor needs to submit a form DE 2525XX (Supplemental Certificate) with a new estimated return date. Don't wait for EDD to send you anything automatically or you might have a gap in benefits. Take the initiative and bring this up at your appointment tomorrow. Ask your doctor to submit the extension certification as soon as possible because there can be processing delays. If your current certification ends before the extension is processed, your payments will pause until it's approved.

got the same issue last month!! my back injury wasn't healing and i needed more time. just had my dr fill out new paperwork with updated dates. no big deal but make sure they do it BEFORE ur current end date or it causes headaches

I'm actually going through this right now with my pregnancy disability claim. My doctor initially certified me for 4 weeks but I developed complications and needed more time. When I called EDD to ask about the extension process, I sat on hold for THREE HOURS and then got disconnected!! So frustrating!!! The next day I tried again and same thing happened. How is anyone supposed to get answers when they make it IMPOSSIBLE to speak to a human being??? The whole system is broken!!!!

Just wanted to confirm what others have said - your doctor needs to submit the extension before your current disability period ends. I got caught in a gap last year and had to wait 3 weeks for backpay which was super stressful. Also my doctor's office was really slow with paperwork so stay on top of them!

Actually, the form is called DE 2525XX, not to be confused with the initial DE 2501 form. Make sure you're clear with your doctor about which form needs to be completed. If you have SDI Online access, you can also check if there are any forms waiting for you in your inbox. Sometimes EDD will automatically send the extension form if your doctor has already indicated in their system that you need additional time.

I just went through this with my carpal tunnel recovery. My advice is to have your doctor submit the new certification at LEAST 7-10 days before your current claim ends. When I did my extension in January, it took about 5 business days to process the new claim dates, but I've heard it can sometimes take up to two weeks. Also, something nobody mentioned - you may need to complete a new DE 2501 form (not just your doctor). At least that was my experience. I had to fill out my portion again and then have my doctor complete their section with the new dates. The form was identical to the original one I submitted when I first applied for disability.

My sister had to extend her claim twice for her back surgery recovery and the whole thing was a nightmare both times lol. EDD lost her paperwork once and then the second time they kept sending her confusing letters about needing more medical info. Just be prepared that even if you do everything right it might still get messed up! 🤦‍♀️

Just a follow-up point: make sure your doctor understands that the extension needs to be continuous with your current disability period. If there's even a 1-day gap between your current end date and the new start date on the extension, EDD may treat it as a new claim rather than an extension, which requires more paperwork and a new waiting period. This is a common mistake doctors make when filling out the extension certification.

So did u get your extension??? curious how it worked out

That's great to hear it worked out smoothly! For anyone else reading this thread, I just wanted to add that you can also track the status of your extension online through SDI Online. Once your doctor submits the DE 2525XX form, it usually shows up in your account within 1-2 business days as "pending review" before it gets fully processed. This helped me stay on top of things when I extended my claim for knee surgery recovery last year. The online portal is really helpful for peace of mind while waiting for approval!

I'm so glad to see this thread because I'm in a similar situation! My wrist surgery recovery is taking longer than expected and my current disability period ends next Friday. Reading everyone's experiences has been really helpful - I had no idea about the DE 2525XX form or that doctors could submit it electronically. I'm calling my orthopedic surgeon's office first thing Monday morning to make sure they get the extension paperwork submitted before my current claim expires. It's such a relief to know that if done properly, there shouldn't be any gap in benefits. Thank you all for sharing your experiences and tips!

Just wanted to add another tip that helped me during my extension process - if your doctor's office is slow with paperwork (which seems pretty common), you can actually ask them to fax the DE 2525XX form directly to EDD while you're still at your appointment. Most medical offices have fax capabilities and this ensures it gets submitted immediately rather than sitting in their outgoing mail pile for days. When I extended my disability for rotator cuff surgery complications, my doctor's assistant faxed it right from the exam room and I had confirmation it was received within hours. This might be worth asking about at your appointment to avoid any last-minute stress about timing!

I'm currently dealing with a similar extension situation for my herniated disc recovery! One thing that really helped me was asking my doctor's office for a copy of the DE 2525XX form they submitted so I have it for my records. They were able to print me a copy right after they faxed it to EDD. This way I have proof of exactly what dates were requested and when it was submitted in case there are any issues later. Also, I learned that some doctor's offices will call EDD directly to confirm the form was received - mine did this and it gave me huge peace of mind. It's worth asking if your doctor's office offers this service since phone wait times can be brutal when you're trying to call yourself. The whole extension process is definitely nerve-wracking when you're already dealing with health issues, but it sounds like you're being proactive about it which is the key!