Just got EDD SDI claim approved - payment schedule weekly or biweekly?

Congrats on the approval! EDD disability pays every two weeks, not weekly. Your first payment will include all benefits from your disability start date (minus the 7-day waiting period) through the end of the first payment period. After that, payments continue biweekly assuming you're still certified as disabled. You should see your first payment within 7-10 days of approval if you selected direct deposit, longer if you're getting checks by mail.

its every 2 weeks!! they usally hit my account on tuesdays but sometimes mondays depending on holiday i think

Just to clarify some of the information above - EDD SDI payments are issued every two weeks, but the actual deposit day varies based on when your claim was processed and when your certification periods end. There's no fixed schedule like "always on Tuesdays" that applies to everyone. The first payment includes benefits from your disability start date minus the 7-day waiting period (no benefits are paid for this first week). After the initial payment, you'll receive benefits for each two-week period as long as your doctor continues to certify you as disabled. If you need to check on the status of your payments, you can log into your SDI Online account, but the EDD phone lines are often the fastest way to get specific information about your claim's payment schedule.

I was on disability last year for a broken ankle and I had the WORST time trying to reach someone when my payments suddenly stopped showing up. Kept getting hung up on after waiting for hours. Anyone else have this problem?

To answer your original question, SDI payments come every two weeks, not weekly. For the recertification after your initial 8 weeks, your doctor will need to submit a supplemental certification form. EDD should send you a notice when it's time, but it's good to remind your doctor about 1-2 weeks before your current certification period ends. Make sure to track your payment dates so you can budget accordingly. The biweekly schedule is pretty reliable once it starts, though there can sometimes be delays if there are holidays or if additional verification is needed for some reason. Also, remember that disability payments are approximately 60-70% of your regular wages (up to the maximum benefit amount), so budget accordingly if you haven't already factored that in!

Why is everyone saying its every 2 weeks?? When I was on disability for my pregnancy in 2023 I got paid WEEKLY! Did they change the system or something?? This is so confusing!!

make sure u set up direct deposit!! paper checks take foreeeeever

Thank you everyone for all the helpful responses! Just to update - I got my first payment today (5 days after approval) and it was for the full backpay minus the waiting week. Looks like payments will continue every two weeks as long as I'm certified. This community is awesome!

So happy to hear you got your first payment already! That's actually pretty fast for EDD - 5 days from approval is great timing. The biweekly schedule really does make budgeting easier once you get into the rhythm of it. Hope your recovery goes smoothly and you can get back to work when you're ready!

That's awesome that you got your first payment so quickly! Just wanted to add for anyone else reading this - while Victoria got her payment in 5 days, it can sometimes take up to 10-14 days depending on when your claim gets processed and if there are any verification issues. Don't panic if it takes a bit longer! Also, once you're in the system, those biweekly payments are pretty reliable. Make sure to keep all your paperwork and stay in touch with your doctor about recertification deadlines. Wishing you a speedy recovery with your back injury!

Great to see your update Victoria! That's fantastic timing on getting your first payment so quickly. For anyone else dealing with back injuries like herniated discs, just wanted to share that physical therapy really does help - I went through something similar with my L5-S1 a couple years ago and it took about 12 weeks of PT but I was eventually able to return to full duty. The key is not to rush back too early even when you start feeling better. EDD is pretty good about extending certification if your doctor recommends it and you're making progress but still need more time. Keep up with your treatment plan and don't hesitate to ask your doctor questions about realistic timelines for recovery!