Need to extend EDD SDI but haven't received extension forms - doctor waiting for paperwork

Your doctor is probably looking for the DE 2525XX form (Supplementary Certificate of Physician/Practitioner). You don't necessarily need to wait for it to come in the mail - your doctor can actually submit an extension request directly through SDI Online if they're registered in the system. Have you asked if they can do that instead?

OMG I went thru the EXACT same thing last summer!!! my dr kept asking for some form and i never got anything in the mail either. turns out u can go on the EDD website and print the form yourself but i NEVER could get thru on the phone either it was a NIGHTMARE

The form your doctor needs is the DE 2525XX (Supplementary Certificate). It should have been mailed to you automatically 5-7 days before your current claim period ends, but clearly that didn't happen. You have two options: 1. Your doctor can file the extension electronically through SDI Online (fastest) 2. You can download and print the form from the EDD website here: https://edd.ca.gov/siteassets/forms/disability/de2525xx.pdf Bring the printed form to your doctor to complete. They must submit it within 20 days after your current disability period ends to avoid payment delays. Make sure they include clear medical documentation showing why your disability needs to be extended beyond the original estimated recovery date.

Sometimes EDD sends those forms late or they get lost in the mail. It happens all the time so don't worry too much about it. Just make sure your doctor fills out all of the sections completely especially the part about why they're extending it and for how long.

I've been through the disability extension process twice now and here's what I've learned: there should NOT be a gap in your payments if everything is filed correctly. But with EDD, that's a big IF! The key is getting that DE 2525XX form submitted ASAP. Also, I got completely frustrated with the phone system too until I discovered a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com). They have this system that gets you connected to an actual EDD agent quickly instead of dealing with the busy signals and disconnections. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/1X-mEsLtbmQ?si=1hcSq3KFtCr4oAmd I used it for my last extension when I had similar issues, and it saved me days of phone frustration. The agent I spoke with was able to expedite my extension paperwork and even sent the form directly to my doctor's office.

Just to add my experience - when my disability was extended last winter, I never received ANY of the forms in the mail either! My doctor just submitted something electronically and it worked fine. The whole system is really confusing and the right hand doesn't know what the left is doing. One thing to be aware of - make sure your doctor includes detailed medical documentation about WHY you need the extension. My first attempt got denied because my doctor was too vague, but when he resubmitted with more specific information about my recovery timeline, it got approved right away. Don't panic if there's a slight gap in payments during the extension review - they'll backpay you once approved.

my cousin works at edd and says they're super behind on mailing forms this year because of budget cuts or something. your dr should be able to just write a letter explaining why you need more time off if they really cant find the right form

I went thru this too!! SO FRUSTRATING!!! What worked for me was going to the disability office IN PERSON and getting the form right there. Saved me like 2 weeks of waiting. If you live near an EDD office you might try that too.

Just a follow-up to my earlier comment: When your doctor completes the extension form, make sure they indicate the NEW end date of your disability period, not just the additional weeks. I've seen many extension delays happen because doctors put something like "additional 6 weeks" rather than the specific new end date. Also, confirm they've included their medical license number on the form - another common reason for delays. If you get the form submitted this week, you shouldn't experience any payment gap. Extensions are technically processed as continuations of your existing claim rather than new claims.

I'm so glad you found all the help you needed here! This community is amazing. Just wanted to add one more tip - if you run into any issues with your doctor's office being slow to submit the form, you can also check the status of your extension online through your EDD account. Sometimes it shows as "pending" even before you get any official notification, which can give you peace of mind that it's in the system. Good luck with your appointment tomorrow and I hope your recovery goes smoothly!

Hey there! I'm new to this disability extension process and reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful. I'm currently on SDI and getting close to my original return date, but my physical therapist thinks I might need a few more weeks. Should I be proactive and ask my doctor about the extension form now, or wait until I'm closer to the end date? I don't want to get caught in the same situation you were in with the missing paperwork. Also, has anyone had experience with extensions for physical therapy recovery specifically? I'm worried EDD might be more strict about approving extensions for PT compared to post-surgical recovery.

Just wanted to share my experience as someone who's been through multiple SDI extensions - the advice everyone's given here is spot on! I went through this exact same panic about 8 months ago when my forms never showed up in the mail. The DE 2525XX form link that Ahooker-Equator shared is exactly what you need, and printing it yourself is totally fine. One thing I'd add that saved me a lot of headaches: when you take the form to your doctor tomorrow, ask them to make a copy for your records and get a receipt showing when they submitted it (whether electronically or by mail). That way if there are any processing delays on EDD's end, you have proof of when it was submitted. Also, if your doctor submits it electronically through SDI Online, it usually processes much faster than mailed forms - took about 5-7 business days for mine versus the 2-3 weeks I've heard for paper submissions. You're going to be fine! The fact that you're getting this sorted out now means you shouldn't have any gap in benefits. Keep us posted on how it goes!

Welcome to the community! I just went through a similar situation about 3 months ago and can totally relate to that panic feeling when the forms don't show up. Reading through this thread, it looks like you got some excellent advice - that DE 2525XX form link is a lifesaver! One quick tip that hasn't been mentioned yet: if you're still having trouble reaching EDD by phone after your doctor submits the extension, try calling right at 8:00 AM when they open. I found that's usually the only time you can actually get through without waiting hours or getting disconnected. Also, make sure to have your claim number ready - they'll ask for it right away. The good news is that once your extension is approved, it should be retroactive to cover any gap, so you won't lose out on benefits even if there's a small delay. Best of luck with your appointment tomorrow - sounds like you're all set with the right form now!

I just wanted to jump in as someone who went through this exact nightmare about 6 months ago! The stress is so real when you're stuck between EDD's bureaucracy and your doctor's requirements. Everyone here has given you fantastic advice - that DE 2525XX form is definitely what you need, and downloading/printing it yourself is completely legitimate. One thing that really helped me was creating a little checklist to bring to my doctor's appointment: 1) Make sure they fill in the specific new end date (not just "6 more weeks"), 2) Include their medical license number, 3) Be very detailed about why I couldn't perform my specific job duties, and 4) Ask for a copy of everything for my records. Also, don't beat yourself up about not knowing about this form - EDD's communication is terrible and so many people miss these mailings. The fact that you're getting it sorted now means you should be totally fine. Your benefits will continue seamlessly once the extension is processed. Hang in there - you've got this!

I'm really glad you found the help you needed! This whole thread has been so informative - I'm bookmarking it for future reference since I'm also on SDI right now. One small addition to all the great advice: when you go to your doctor's appointment tomorrow, you might want to ask if they have experience with SDI extensions and if they prefer submitting electronically vs. paper. Some doctors' offices are more comfortable with one method over the other, and knowing their preference ahead of time can help speed up the process. Also, if your surgery was complex or you had complications, make sure they document those specific details - it helps justify the extension to EDD. You've got this handled now with all the info from everyone here. Good luck tomorrow!

As someone who's been lurking in this community for a while and recently started my own SDI claim, this entire thread has been incredibly eye-opening! I had no idea about the DE 2525XX form or that you could download it directly from EDD's website. The fact that so many people seem to miss getting these forms in the mail makes me think EDD really needs to fix their mailing system - it's causing unnecessary stress and financial anxiety for people who are already dealing with medical issues. I'm saving all this advice for when I potentially need an extension in a few weeks. The checklist that Gabriel mentioned is particularly helpful, and that tip about calling at 8 AM sharp might actually save my sanity if I need to reach them. It's amazing how this community comes together to help each other navigate these bureaucratic nightmares. Sienna, I hope your appointment goes smoothly tomorrow and you get everything sorted out quickly!

I just wanted to add my experience since I went through something very similar last year! I never received my extension forms either and was in total panic mode. What really saved me was that my doctor's office ended up being registered for SDI Online (even though they initially said they weren't) - turns out one of the nurses knew how to submit extensions electronically but the front desk staff didn't know about it. It might be worth asking if anyone else at your doctor's office is familiar with the electronic submission process, especially if they have other patients on disability. Sometimes the person you talk to first isn't the most knowledgeable about EDD procedures. Also, once my doctor submitted the extension electronically, I got confirmation in my EDD online account within 24 hours, which was such a relief after weeks of stress. The DE 2525XX form everyone mentioned is definitely the right one - I ended up needing to use it for a second extension later on. You're doing everything right by being proactive about this now!

Just wanted to chime in as someone who's been through the SDI extension process multiple times - you've gotten some really solid advice here! The DE 2525XX form is definitely what you need, and downloading it yourself is totally legitimate. One thing I'd add that helped me avoid gaps in payment: when you're at your doctor's appointment tomorrow, ask them to submit it electronically if possible through SDI Online rather than mailing it. Electronic submissions typically process in 5-7 business days versus 2-3 weeks for paper forms. Also, make sure they're very specific about your job limitations - don't just say "needs more recovery time" but explain exactly why you can't perform your specific work duties yet. The stress you're feeling is totally normal - EDD's communication system is honestly terrible and so many people miss these mailings. But you're handling this the right way by being proactive now. Once submitted properly, your benefits should continue without interruption. Keep us posted on how it goes!

I'm new to this community but had to jump in after reading through this whole thread - what an incredible example of people helping each other navigate EDD's confusing system! I'm currently on SDI myself and getting close to my original return date, so this has been like a crash course in extension procedures. The consensus seems clear: get that DE 2525XX form (thanks for the direct link earlier!), push for electronic submission through SDI Online if your doctor's office can do it, and make sure all the medical documentation is super detailed and specific about job limitations. It's honestly frustrating that EDD's mail system is so unreliable that we all have to become our own case managers, but at least we have communities like this to share knowledge. Sienna, it sounds like you're all set for tomorrow's appointment with everything you've learned here. Really hoping your extension goes through smoothly and you can focus on recovery instead of bureaucratic stress!

I'm so glad I found this thread! I'm actually in a very similar situation right now - my SDI benefits are supposed to end next week but my physical therapist says I need at least another month before I can return to my desk job due to ongoing back issues. I've been calling EDD for days with no luck getting through, and I had no idea about the DE 2525XX form or that I could download it myself. This community is amazing - you've all provided more helpful information in one thread than I could find anywhere on EDD's website! I'm printing out that form right now and scheduling an appointment with my doctor for this week. Thank you especially to everyone who shared the direct link and specific tips about electronic submission. It's frustrating that we all have to become EDD experts just to get our legitimate benefits, but at least we can help each other navigate this broken system!