How to reopen a partially used SDI claim after returning to work too early?

This actually happened to me last year. You can't reopen it through the online portal - you have to call EDD directly and request form DE 2501R (Claim Certification for Continuing Benefits). They'll either mail it to you or your doctor can get it. Your doctor needs to complete it showing your new disability period started within 14 days after you returned to work for it to be considered a continuation of your previous claim. Otherwise, they'll process it as a new claim with a new waiting period.

Your doctor should NOT have cleared you if you weren't ready! They often push people back too quickly. I was on disability three times in two years for the same back problem because doctors kept sending me back before I was healed. Each time I had to do the paperwork all over again. Very frustrating.

I think 55% return to work thing?? I did partial SDI where was on disabilit part time then work part time for a while when transitioning back but don't remember how did it. Check if they have that option?

I've been through this exact situation! If you returned to work for less than 60 days and it's the same or related condition, it should be processed as a continuation claim rather than a brand new one. Call the EDD disability office directly at 1-800-480-3287 to explain your situation. Warning: the hold times are INSANE right now - I had to call 28 times before getting through last month!

Thank you all for the helpful information! I finally got through to EDD yesterday after about 2 hours on hold. They confirmed I need the DE 2501R form for reopening within the benefit year. My doctor's office is familiar with it and is completing it now. They said since it's the same condition and I returned to work for less than 60 days, I won't have another waiting period - thank goodness! One more question though - do I need to get a new medical certification from my doctor or does the DE 2501R cover that part too?

My sister went thru this & they made her wait 40 days to get paid!!!! Make sure u follow up with them ALOT. The squeaky wheel gets the grease with edd lol

One important detail I forgot to mention: if you've used up a significant portion of your maximum benefit amount on your first claim period, make sure you check how much remains. The maximum benefit period is 52 weeks, but the maximum benefit amount is calculated when you first apply. Reopening the claim means you continue using that original benefit calculation, not getting a new full amount.

Regarding extensions: EDD SDI can be extended beyond the standard maximum benefit amount if your doctor certifies it's necessary. However, there's a firm maximum of 52 weeks total for any single disability claim (whether continuous or reopened). The extension process requires your physician to submit additional medical documentation showing why you need disability benefits beyond what was initially estimated. Your doctor should submit this documentation before your benefits are exhausted to avoid payment gaps. For your specific surgery recovery situation, make sure your doctor includes detailed post-operative recovery expectations on the DE 2501R form. This helps establish the anticipated disability period upfront.

You've all been incredibly helpful - thank you so much! My doctor completed the DE 2501R form yesterday, and I got confirmation today that EDD received it. They said it will take 10-14 days to process, which is much faster than I expected based on everyone's experiences. I'll definitely keep following up if I don't see movement on my claim after that timeframe. And I'll make sure my doctor is thorough with the medical documentation since it sounds like that makes a huge difference. Fingers crossed this all goes smoothly!

I'm glad you were able to get through to EDD and get the DE 2501R form submitted! Your situation sounds very similar to what I went through last year with a shoulder injury. One thing I'd recommend is keeping detailed records of all your communications with EDD - dates you called, reference numbers, who you spoke with, etc. This saved me when there was confusion about my claim status later on. Also, don't hesitate to reach out to your doctor's office if EDD has any questions about the medical documentation. Sometimes they'll contact the doctor directly for clarification, and having a heads up can speed things along. Wishing you a smooth surgery and recovery process!

As someone who went through a similar situation with a knee injury, I want to echo what others have said about being persistent with follow-up calls. The DE 2501R process can sometimes get stuck in the system, especially if there are any questions about the medical documentation. One thing that helped me was asking for a confirmation number when I called to check on my claim status - that way if you need to call back, you can reference that specific inquiry. Also, make sure your doctor's office knows they might get contacted by EDD for additional information. My orthopedic surgeon's office wasn't familiar with the EDD process initially, which caused some delays. Having them prepared ahead of time can really help speed things along. Best of luck with your surgery and recovery!

I went through almost the exact same thing with a back injury two years ago! The key thing that helped me was calling EDD right when they open at 8am - much shorter wait times. When I reopened my claim with the DE 2501R form, they processed it in about 8 days, which was faster than expected. One tip: if your surgery is already scheduled, make sure your doctor includes the anticipated surgery date and recovery timeline on the form. This helped EDD understand the full scope of my disability period upfront. Also, don't stress too much about the benefit maximum - if you've only used about 4 months worth, you should have plenty left for your surgery recovery. The whole process was way less complicated than I thought it would be once I got the right form. Hope your surgery goes smoothly!

I just wanted to add one more thing that might be helpful - if you end up needing physical therapy after your surgery, make sure your doctor includes that in the recovery timeline documentation. I had to go back and get additional paperwork when my PT extended longer than originally anticipated. Also, once you're approved and start receiving benefits again, you can actually check your remaining benefit balance on the SDI Online portal under "Claim Summary." This helped me budget and plan for my recovery period. It sounds like you're doing everything right though - having the surgery scheduled and the DE 2501R form submitted puts you in a good position. Wishing you the best with your surgery and a speedy recovery!

Just wanted to chime in as someone who's currently going through a similar situation! I returned to work too early from a wrist injury and had to reopen my claim after 2 weeks when the pain became unbearable again. The DE 2501R process that everyone mentioned is exactly right - I got mine processed in about 12 days. One thing I learned is to ask EDD for a case number when you submit the form, that way you can reference it when you call to check status. Also, if you're having surgery, consider asking your surgeon's office if they have a dedicated person who handles disability paperwork - some larger practices do, and they're usually much more familiar with EDD requirements than the general office staff. It makes the whole process smoother when someone knows exactly what EDD is looking for in the medical documentation.

I'm going through something very similar right now with a hip injury! I returned to work after 6 weeks on SDI thinking I was better, but after just 10 days back I could barely walk again. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful - I had no idea about the DE 2501R form or that you could reopen a claim within the benefit year. I've been trying to figure out whether to file a new claim or if there was another option. It sounds like calling EDD directly is definitely the way to go rather than trying to navigate the online portal. Sarah, I hope your surgery goes well and your claim gets processed quickly! This whole thread has given me hope that I can get this sorted out without starting completely over.

This thread has been incredibly informative! I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - I went back to work too early after a shoulder surgery and now need additional procedures. Reading everyone's experiences with the DE 2501R form gives me hope that I won't have to start completely over with a new claim. One thing I wanted to add for anyone else in this situation: if you're working with a workers' comp case alongside your SDI claim, make sure to clarify with both agencies how they coordinate benefits. I learned the hard way that sometimes there can be overlaps or gaps if the timing isn't handled properly. Sarah, wishing you all the best with your surgery and recovery - it sounds like you're much better prepared than most of us were going into this process!

Wow, this thread has been such a goldmine of information! I'm actually in a very similar boat - returned to work too early from a back injury and now need to go back on disability. I had no idea about the DE 2501R form or that you could reopen a claim within the benefit year instead of filing completely new. Like so many others here, I was dreading having to start over with a new waiting period. Reading everyone's experiences gives me so much hope that this process doesn't have to be as complicated as I thought. Sarah, I really hope your surgery goes smoothly and your recovery is quicker than expected. Thank you for starting this discussion - it's helping so many of us who are dealing with the same frustrating situation of listening to doctors who cleared us too early!

I'm currently going through this exact situation with a knee injury! I returned to work after 2 months on SDI because I thought I was getting better, but after just 2 weeks back the pain and swelling came back worse than before. Reading through all these responses about the DE 2501R form has been a lifesaver - I had been struggling with the online portal for days trying to figure out how to reopen my claim. I called EDD this morning using the tips from this thread (called right at 8am) and got through in about 45 minutes, which felt like a miracle! They confirmed I need the DE 2501R form and said since I was only back at work for 2 weeks with the same condition, it should be processed as a continuation. My orthopedic surgeon's office is already familiar with the form, thankfully. Sarah, I hope your surgery went well and that your recovery is going smoothly! This whole thread has been incredibly helpful for so many of us dealing with the same frustrating situation.

I went through this exact situation with a rotted disc about 18 months ago! The whole "returning to work too early" thing is SO common - doctors seem to underestimate how much our bodies need to fully heal. I was back at work for about 3 weeks before realizing I wasn't ready either. The DE 2501R form everyone mentioned is absolutely the way to go. One thing I'd add is to make sure your doctor is very specific about the connection between your original injury and your current worsened condition on the form. EDD wants to see clear medical documentation that this is a continuation of the same disability, not a separate new injury. Also, if you're having surgery, ask your surgeon to include detailed post-op restrictions and expected recovery timeline - this helped my claim get approved faster. The whole process took about 2 weeks for me once the form was submitted. Don't stress too much about using up benefits - spinal surgeries and recovery take time, and that's exactly what SDI is designed to cover. Hope your surgery goes well and you can finally get the proper healing time your body needs!

I'm dealing with almost the exact same situation right now! I was on SDI for a shoulder injury, returned to work after 6 weeks thinking I was ready, but had to stop again after just 12 days because the pain became unbearable. Reading through all these responses about the DE 2501R form has been incredibly helpful - I had no idea this option existed and was dreading having to file a completely new claim with another waiting period. The tip about calling EDD right at 8am is gold - I tried that yesterday and got through in under an hour compared to the 3+ hour waits I was experiencing before. My doctor's office wasn't initially familiar with the DE 2501R form, but after explaining what I learned here, they were able to get it from EDD directly. One thing I'd add for anyone else in this situation: make sure to get a confirmation number when you submit the form, and don't be afraid to follow up if you don't see movement within their stated timeframe. Sarah, I hope your surgery went well and that your recovery is going smoothly! This thread has been such a lifeline for those of us navigating this confusing process.