How to switch doctors on EDD SDI claim when return-to-work date needs extension?

Yes, you can absolutely have a new doctor extend an existing SDI claim! The new doctor needs to complete and submit a "Supplemental Certificate" (DE 2525XX form). Your husband should create an account on SDI Online if he hasn't already, and request this form. The new doctor completes it with their medical opinion about the extended disability period. Make sure they include detailed medical justification for why the original return-to-work date needs extension. The key is that this has to be submitted BEFORE the current disability period ends on 7/15, or it becomes much more complicated.

my wife had same thing happen last yr her dr got mad and wouldnt extend but we got new dr and it worked fine. just make sure new dr knows its for edd sdi claim extension not a whole new claim!!!! they get confused somtimes

The doctor situation with EDD is SO frustrating. I've been through THREE doctors during my disability claim and each time it's a nightmare getting them to communicate properly with EDD. The system is designed to make us fail I swear!! I'd recommend calling EDD directly to explain the situation but GOOD LUCK getting through their phone system - I spent 16 DAYS trying to reach someone about my doctor change!!! Eventually I found Claimyr (claimyr.com) which got me connected to an EDD agent in about 15 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/1X-mEsLtbmQ?si=1hcSq3KFtCr4oAmd. The agent I spoke with confirmed that any licensed physician can submit a supplemental certification for an existing claim, but they need the claim ID number and should clearly indicate it's a certification extension, not a new claim.

I'm a disability case manager and I deal with this situation quite frequently. Here's what your husband needs to do: 1. Have the new doctor document that they are taking over care from the previous physician 2. The new doctor completes form DE 2525XX (Supplemental Certificate) with the new estimated return-to-work date 3. On the form, make sure the doctor checks "continuing disability" NOT "new disability" 4. The doctor must include their medical license number and contact information 5. It must be submitted before the current disability period ends If EDD questions the doctor change, they may request additional documentation showing the transfer of care. This could be admission records to the new facility or a referral from the original doctor. One important note: If your husband's condition might become permanent, you should begin preparing for a transition to long-term disability or SSDI, as SDI is limited to 52 weeks maximum.

Correct - there's no separate form specifically for changing doctors. The new doctor's supplemental certification serves that purpose. However, I recommend your husband also upload a brief note in his SDI Online account under "Contact EDD" explaining the situation. Something simple like: "I've transferred care from Dr. Smith to Dr. Jones at [new facility] due to specialized care needs. Dr. Jones will be submitting certification for my continuing disability." This creates a record of the change in case questions arise later. Additionally, make sure the new doctor's office understands they're dealing with a California SDI claim, not private disability insurance or workers' comp. Many medical offices get confused by the different systems.

I WOULDN'T TRUST THE ONLINE SYSTEM!!! When I had to change doctors last year, I uploaded all the forms online like they said and guess what?? THREE WEEKS LATER I found out they "never received anything" and my benefits were suspended!!! I had to start all over again and almost lost my apartment waiting for them to fix it. MAKE SURE you call and confirm they received everything. The EDD system is broken beyond belief!!!!

Wait I'm confused...is this SDI or workers comp? You mentioned accident at work which would be workers comp not SDI right? The processes are totally different for those two things. SDI is for non-work illnesses/injuries and workers comp is through your employer's insurance for work injuries.

Just a follow-up on my earlier comment - make sure your husband's claim number appears on all documentation from the new doctor. This helps EDD properly associate the supplemental certification with the existing claim. And don't forget that the 7-day waiting period has already been satisfied on the original claim, so benefits should continue uninterrupted if everything is filed correctly before the current disability period ends.

my cousin works at edd and she says doctors switching happens ALL THE TIME its totally normal just make sure u have his claim number handy cuz thats the main thing they need to find his file good luck!!!

Just wanted to add one more thing that helped me when I switched doctors during my SDI claim - make sure to get a copy of all the paperwork the new doctor submits for your records! I learned this the hard way when EDD claimed they never received my doctor's extension form, but I had no way to prove it was sent. Now I always ask the doctor's office to give me copies of everything they submit to EDD, including the date they sent it. Also, if possible, have the new doctor fax the DE 2525XX form directly to EDD's disability fax line AND upload it through SDI Online - double submission gives you better chances of it being processed on time. The fax number should be on the form itself. Best of luck with everything!

As someone who recently went through a similar doctor transition on SDI, I can confirm that the process works! A few additional tips that saved me stress: 1) Ask the new doctor's office to call EDD directly after submitting the DE 2525XX form to verify receipt - some offices are familiar with this process and happy to do it. 2) If your husband has any upcoming medical appointments or procedures scheduled, make sure the new doctor includes those dates in their medical justification for the extension. 3) Keep a detailed timeline of all submissions and communications - dates, times, confirmation numbers, etc. This documentation becomes crucial if there are any processing delays. The tight timeline is stressful, but you're taking all the right steps. Wishing your husband a smooth recovery and hoping the extension goes through without any hiccups!

I went through this exact situation last year when my doctor suddenly stopped cooperating with my SDI claim extension. Here's what worked for me: Make sure you get a written statement from the new doctor's office confirming they received all your husband's medical records from the previous doctor - EDD sometimes asks for this to verify continuity of care. Also, if your husband has been at the new facility for a month already, they should have enough documentation to support the extension request. One thing that really helped me was asking the new doctor to specifically reference the original injury date and claim number in their DE 2525XX form, which makes it crystal clear to EDD that this is a continuation, not a new claim. Don't panic about the tight timeline - I submitted mine just 2 days before my benefits were set to end and it went through fine. The key is making sure all the paperwork is complete and accurate. You've got this!

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now with my own SDI claim! One thing I learned from my experience is to also ask the new doctor to include a brief note about why the transfer of care was medically necessary (specialized treatment, better facilities, etc.). This helps justify the doctor change to EDD and shows it wasn't just doctor shopping. Also, if your husband's new medical team thinks he'll need 6-8 more weeks, make sure they put a realistic return-to-work date on the DE 2525XX form - don't lowball it thinking it will look better to EDD. It's much harder to extend again later than to get it right the first time. The fact that his new doctors are experienced with SDI claims is a huge advantage! Most of the problems I see in this community come from doctors who aren't familiar with the EDD system. Sounds like you're in good hands and on the right track.

I went through almost the exact same situation with my husband last year! His original doctor also got difficult about extensions and we had to switch to a new doctor mid-claim. The process was actually smoother than I expected once we knew what to do. A few things that really helped us: 1) Make sure your husband brings his current SDI award letter to the appointment with the new doctor - it has all the claim details they need. 2) Ask the new doctor's office if they can submit the DE 2525XX form electronically rather than by mail - it's faster and you get confirmation. 3) If possible, schedule a follow-up call with the doctor's office a day or two after they submit to make sure EDD received it. The tight timeline is scary but totally doable - we submitted ours 3 days before the deadline and had no issues. The most important thing is that the new doctor clearly indicates this is a "continuation of existing disability" on the form. Sending you good vibes that everything works out smoothly for your husband's recovery and claim extension!

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this stressful situation on top of your husband's recovery! I went through something similar with my mom's SDI claim last year. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is to make sure the new doctor's office understands the urgency of your 7/15 deadline. When we were cutting it close, I actually went to the doctor's office in person with all the paperwork already filled out (except the medical parts) to speed up the process. Also, if you're worried about the submission getting lost in the system, consider having the new doctor submit the DE 2525XX form via certified mail AND through SDI Online - belt and suspenders approach. The postal tracking gives you proof of delivery if EDD claims they didn't receive it. One last tip: screenshot everything in your SDI Online account before and after any submissions, including the date/time stamps. These screenshots saved us when there was a processing delay. You're being so proactive about this - I'm confident you'll get it sorted out in time!

I just went through this same nightmare scenario three months ago! My sister was in a similar situation where her original doctor basically abandoned her SDI claim and we had to switch mid-stream. Here's what I learned that might help you: First, call EDD's SDI line TOMORROW morning at exactly 8:00 AM (best chance to get through) and explain the doctor change situation - they can put a note in your husband's file about the transition. Second, when you meet with the new doctor, bring a typed summary of your husband's injury, treatment timeline, and current limitations - this helps them write a more comprehensive DE 2525XX form. Third, ask the new doctor to include specific functional limitations (can't lift X pounds, can't sit for X hours, etc.) rather than just general statements. EDD processes these faster when they have concrete details. Also, if the new facility has a patient advocate or social worker, they're often experts at dealing with EDD paperwork and can help ensure everything is submitted correctly. The 7/15 deadline is tight but absolutely manageable - we submitted ours literally the day before our deadline and it went through without issues. You're asking all the right questions and being proactive, which puts you way ahead of most people in this situation. Your husband is lucky to have someone fighting for him like this!

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this stressful situation while your husband is still recovering! I went through something very similar with my brother's SDI claim last year when we had to switch doctors due to a hospital transfer. One thing that really helped us that I haven't seen mentioned yet is to ask the new doctor's office if they have a dedicated person who handles disability paperwork - many larger facilities do, and these specialists know exactly how to fill out the DE 2525XX form correctly and what language EDD looks for. Also, since you mentioned the new doctors are familiar with SDI claims, ask them if they can include a brief statement about the medical necessity of the facility transfer in their certification - this helps EDD understand why the doctor change was required for proper care rather than just preference. The 6-8 week timeline they're suggesting sounds very reasonable and shows they're being thorough about his recovery needs. One last tip: if the new facility has a case manager or discharge planner, they often have direct contacts at EDD and can sometimes expedite the review process. The fact that you're being so proactive and organized about this gives me a lot of confidence that you'll get everything sorted out before the 7/15 deadline. Wishing your husband a smooth recovery and hoping the extension process goes smoothly for you both!

I just wanted to add something that helped me tremendously when I switched doctors during my SDI claim - make sure to get the EXACT spelling of your husband's name as it appears on his original SDI claim when you meet with the new doctor tomorrow. Even small discrepancies (like "Michael" vs "Mike" or missing middle initials) can cause processing delays or make EDD think it's a completely different person's claim. I learned this the hard way when my new doctor used a shortened version of my name and it held up my extension for almost two weeks! Also, if your husband has been receiving benefits via debit card, bring that card or the card number with you to the appointment - sometimes doctors' offices ask for it to verify the active claim. The fact that you're being so thorough with all these details tells me you're going to navigate this successfully. Just remember to breathe - you've got a solid plan and everyone here is rooting for you both!

I've been following this thread and wanted to share one more tip that saved me during my doctor transition - make sure the new doctor includes your husband's current claim number AND the original effective date of disability on the DE 2525XX form. I made the mistake of assuming they'd automatically look this up, but when my first extension got delayed, the EDD rep told me it was because the doctor only included the claim number but not the original disability start date. This made it harder for them to verify it was a continuation rather than a new claim. Also, since you mentioned his benefits show as available on the EDD website, screenshot that page tomorrow before the appointment as additional proof that he's in good standing and eligible for extension. The combination of having everything documented and being so prepared puts you in the best possible position to get this resolved before 7/15. You've clearly done your homework with all these great suggestions from everyone - your husband is lucky to have such an advocate!

I'm a newcomer here but wanted to share something that might help since I just went through a similar doctor switch situation with my SDI claim last month. One thing I learned that hasn't been mentioned yet is to ask the new doctor's office to call EDD's provider line (it's different from the regular claimant line) to verify your husband's claim details before filling out the DE 2525XX form. This provider line is specifically for healthcare professionals and they can confirm active claim status, remaining benefit weeks, and proper form submission procedures. The number should be on the DE 2525XX form itself. This extra step helped my doctor's office avoid any mistakes and gave me peace of mind that they had the most current information. Also, if your husband has been moved to a specialized facility, that actually works in your favor - EDD tends to view transfers to higher levels of care as legitimate medical decisions rather than "doctor shopping." The medical necessity is already built into your situation. Wishing you both the best with tomorrow's appointment and hoping everything goes smoothly with the extension!

I'm new to this community but wanted to share my recent experience since I went through almost exactly what you're describing just two months ago! My situation was also a hospital transfer during an active SDI claim with an uncooperative original doctor. Here's what worked for us: First, make sure you have your husband's complete claim details ready - claim number, original start date, current benefit amount, everything from his award letter. Second, ask the new doctor's office if they can submit the DE 2525XX both electronically through EDD's provider portal AND via certified mail as backup. Third, request a written confirmation from the doctor's office stating when they submitted the form and to which EDD department. The key thing that saved us was having the new doctor specifically note "continuation of existing disability claim [claim number]" rather than just "disability extension." This made it crystal clear to EDD that we weren't filing a new claim. Also, since your husband's transfer was medically necessary (specialized care), that actually strengthens your case - EDD recognizes legitimate medical transfers. The 7/15 deadline is stressful but totally manageable if you get the paperwork submitted in the next few days. One last tip: after submission, call EDD within 48 hours to verbally confirm they received the extension request. Better to spend an hour on hold than risk benefits stopping! You're being incredibly thorough and proactive - that gives me confidence you'll get this resolved successfully. Best wishes for your husband's recovery!

I'm new to this community but wanted to share something that might help with your tight timeline. When I had to switch doctors during my SDI claim last year, I discovered that some EDD offices have a "same-day processing" option for urgent disability extensions when you're within 5 days of your benefit end date. You have to call and specifically ask for "expedited processing due to imminent benefit cessation." Not all representatives know about this, so you might need to ask to speak with a supervisor, but it can move your extension from the usual 7-10 business days down to 24-48 hours. Given that you're cutting it so close to 7/15, this could be a lifesaver! Also, make sure the new doctor's office understands the urgency - sometimes they don't realize how quickly SDI benefits can stop if paperwork is late. I actually brought a calendar to my appointment highlighting the deadline date, which really drove home the time sensitivity. The fact that your husband was transferred for specialized care is actually a strong point in your favor - EDD views this as legitimate medical necessity rather than doctor shopping. You're doing everything right by being so proactive. Hoping tomorrow's appointment goes smoothly and you get that extension submitted with time to spare!