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Giovanni Conti

Mandatory EDD independent medical exam (DE2546) - will payments continue during evaluation?

Just opened my mail to find a DE2546 form saying I need to see an EDD independent medical examiner. I'm totally confused since my regular doctor (who is EDD-certified) already put me on disability for my back injury from a work accident in January. My claim was approved and I've been receiving payments since February. Now suddenly they want this independent exam?? The appointment is scheduled for next Friday, but the form doesn't say anything about what happens to my benefits during this process. Will my payments continue while I'm waiting for this exam and their decision? Has anyone dealt with this before? I'm really worried they're going to cut me off and I can't afford to miss even one payment with my rent due soon.

Same thing happend to me last year. Don't worry to much, they do this randomly to check people aren't scamming the system. I still got paid during the waiting period but the examiner was super rude when I met him.

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That's somewhat reassuring. Did they continue payments after the exam too? Or was there a gap while they made their determination?

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NeonNova

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Yes, your payments should continue while the examination is being scheduled and conducted. The DE2546 (Independent Medical Examination Notice) is part of EDD's standard review process. They periodically select claims for verification, especially those that might extend beyond the initial estimated recovery period. The exam doesn't mean they suspect fraud - it's just their way of confirming your doctor's assessment. Make sure to: 1. Attend the appointment as scheduled 2. Bring copies of your medical records if you have them 3. Be honest about your symptoms and limitations 4. Ask the examiner for a timeline on when they'll submit their report Payments typically continue until a final determination is made, unless they find evidence that contradicts your disability claim.

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Thank you for the detailed explanation. That helps a lot with my anxiety about this. I'll definitely bring my medical records and x-rays to the appointment.

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I got one of those too! My payments stopped for 3 weeks after the exam because the EDD doctor said I could work. Had to appeal and everything. Make sure you don't say anything that makes it sound like youre getting better if you're not!!!

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Oh no, that's exactly what I'm afraid of! Did you eventually get back pay for those 3 weeks? How long did your appeal take?

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I've dealt with this many times with my clients. The DE2546 exam is standard procedure, especially for claims that might extend beyond the initially estimated recovery time. Your benefits should continue during this period. However, if you're having trouble reaching EDD to confirm this, I'd recommend using Claimyr (claimyr.com) - it got me through to an actual EDD representative in under 25 minutes when I needed to resolve a similar issue for a client. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/1X-mEsLtbmQ?si=1hcSq3KFtCr4oAmd Most importantly, be prepared for your exam. Bring all medical documentation, be consistent with your symptom reporting, and don't exaggerate or minimize your condition. The independent examiner will be looking for consistency with your doctor's assessment.

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Thanks for the tip about Claimyr - I've been trying to call EDD for two days with no luck. I'll check out that service. And I appreciate the advice about the exam preparation!

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THEY DO THIS ALL THE TIME!! The EDD is always looking for ways to cut people off benefits. I had THREE of these exams during my 8-month disability period. Each time I was terrified they'd stop my payments but they kept coming. Just be careful about what you say to the examiner - they twist your words and look for ANY reason to deny you. Don't let them see you walking normally in the parking lot either - I heard they sometimes watch you before you come in!!!

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Ava Thompson

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omg that's creepy if they watch you in the parking lot! never thought about that

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Miguel Ramos

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Just wondering - what type of disability are you on? I'm on pregnancy disability and never got one of these exams. Maybe they only do it for certain conditions?

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I'm on disability for a herniated disc and nerve damage from a workplace injury. Maybe they're more likely to request these exams for conditions that have variable recovery times? Pregnancy obviously has a more defined timeline.

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hey just checking in - did u have ur exam yet? how did it go?

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Had it yesterday! The doctor was actually pretty thorough and professional. Asked a lot of questions about my pain levels and did some mobility tests. Said he'd submit his report within 48 hours, so now I'm just waiting. Still received my payment this week, so that's a relief!

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Jake Sinclair

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Glad to hear your exam went well! That's such a relief that the doctor was professional and thorough. The fact that you're still getting payments is definitely a good sign. Hopefully his report comes back positive and you can put this whole stressful situation behind you. Thanks for updating us - it really helps to know how these things actually play out in real life!

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Malik Davis

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That's great news! I'm so glad the doctor was professional - that makes such a huge difference when you're already stressed about the whole process. It's really helpful that you shared your experience here. I've been lurking on this forum for a while dealing with my own disability claim anxiety, and seeing real updates like yours gives me hope that the system actually does work sometimes. Fingers crossed your report comes back quickly and everything stays on track!

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Eli Wang

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That's awesome that everything went smoothly with your exam! It's such a relief when the doctors are actually professional and fair about these evaluations. I'm dealing with a similar back injury situation and have been dreading getting one of these notices, but your experience gives me hope that it might not be as scary as I've been imagining. Really appreciate you taking the time to update everyone - it means a lot to those of us who are anxious about this whole process. Hope your report comes back quickly and favorably!

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Mei Wong

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Thanks so much for sharing your experience! As someone who just joined this community because I'm dealing with my first disability claim, reading through all these updates has been incredibly helpful. It's scary when you don't know what to expect with these independent medical exams. Your positive experience gives me some peace of mind that the process might not be as intimidating as I feared. Really hoping your report comes back with good news!

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Diego Ramirez

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I'm new to this community and just wanted to say thank you to everyone who shared their experiences here! I'm currently going through my first disability claim for a shoulder injury and this thread has been incredibly informative. @Giovanni Conti, I'm so glad your exam went well - it really helps to see that these independent medical exams aren't always as scary as they seem. The advice everyone gave about bringing medical records and being honest about symptoms is really valuable. It's reassuring to know that payments typically continue during the evaluation process too. This community seems like such a supportive place for people navigating the EDD system!

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Welcome to the community, @Diego Ramirez! I'm also pretty new here myself and have found everyone to be incredibly helpful and supportive. It's amazing how much less scary these processes seem when you can hear from people who have actually been through them. @Giovanni Conti s'experience really shows that these independent medical exams, while stressful, are often just routine checks rather than attempts to cut people off. Hope your shoulder injury claim goes smoothly - sounds like you re'in good hands with this community for advice and support!

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Just wanted to jump in as someone who's been through this process twice now. The DE2546 independent medical exam is definitely nerve-wracking the first time, but it's really just part of their standard review process. I'm glad to see @Giovanni Conti had a positive experience! One thing I'd add that helped me - if you take any medications for your condition, bring a current list with dosages. The examiner asked about my pain management routine and it was helpful to have everything written down clearly. Also, don't be surprised if they ask you to do some basic movements or tests - it's not a trap, they just need to document your current functional capacity. The whole process usually takes about 30-45 minutes. Most importantly, your benefits should definitely continue during this evaluation period unless they find clear evidence that contradicts your disability status. Stay positive and just be honest about your limitations!

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Henry Delgado

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Thanks for that additional advice, @Malik Robinson! The tip about bringing a medication list is really smart - I wouldn't have thought of that but it makes total sense that they'd want to know about pain management. It's also reassuring to hear from someone who's been through this twice that it's really just routine. @Giovanni Conti, hoping you get good news on your report soon! This whole thread has been such a great resource for understanding what to expect with these exams.

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Diego Vargas

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As someone who just went through this exact situation a few months ago, I wanted to share my experience to hopefully ease some anxiety. I also received a DE2546 for my disability claim (chronic pain condition) and was terrified they were going to cut me off. Like others have mentioned, my payments continued throughout the entire process - both during the waiting period before the exam and while they reviewed the examiner's report afterward. The key things that helped me were: being completely honest about my pain levels and limitations, bringing all my medical records and imaging results, and not trying to "power through" activities during the exam just to seem tough. The examiner was actually quite understanding and took detailed notes about how my condition affects my daily activities. The whole process took about 3 weeks from exam to receiving confirmation that my benefits would continue. I know it's scary when you're already dealing with a disability and financial stress, but try to view it as just another step in maintaining your legitimate claim. Wishing you the best outcome!

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