Need to restart SDI after brief return to work - reopen claim or file new one?

if its been less than 60 days you can reopen the old claim. login to SDI online and look for the option to reopen. my cousin did this last year

What you're experiencing is what's called a 'recurrence claim' in EDD SDI terminology. The specific process depends on timing: - If it's been less than 14 days since you returned to work, you may be able to simply continue your existing claim without additional paperwork. - If it's been 15-60 days, you'll need to file a 'recurrence claim' through SDI Online. You'll see this option when you log in. Your doctor will need to submit a new medical certification confirming it's the same condition. - If it's been more than 60 days, you'll need to file a completely new claim. Your weekly benefit amount should remain the same as long as it's within the same benefit year (which runs for 12 months from your original claim date). Just make sure both you and your doctor specify it's a recurrence of the same condition.

I went through EXACTLY THIS with my back injury!! Went back to work too soon and omg big mistake. I had to do what they call a recurrence claim and my benefit stayed the same. Just make sure your doctor fills out their part ASAP because mine took forever and I almost didn't get paid for those weeks!!!

when this happened to me my doc was super slow with the paperwork and i almost lost my mind waiting!!! call your doctor's office EVERY DAY until they confirm its been submitted! the edd website is useless for checking if they received it

Be aware that even though this is a recurrence claim, you may still face a waiting period. EDD's rules on this can be confusing. If it's been more than 14 days since you returned to work, you might need to serve another 7-day waiting period before benefits resume. Also, make sure your doctor clearly documents that this is the same condition that simply worsened after returning to work. If it's coded differently, EDD might treat it as a new claim which could affect your benefit calculation and create delays. You might want to submit a DE 2501 Recurrence Certification through your doctor rather than a completely new claim form to avoid confusion. Good luck!

When I tried to do this EXACT thing the EDD KEPT DENYING my recurrence claim even though it was the SAME EXACT problem!!! They said I didn't provide enough medical evidence that it was related to my first claim. I had to appeal THREE TIMES and wait 4+ months to get paid. The system is BROKEN!!!! 😡

After struggling with getting through to EDD about my recurrence claim last month, I found this service called Claimyr that connected me with an EDD agent in about 20 minutes instead of endless busy signals. Saved my sanity! You can see how it works at https://youtu.be/1X-mEsLtbmQ?si=1hcSq3KFtCr4oAmd or just go to claimyr.com if you need to actually talk to someone about your case. Made a huge difference for me when I had questions about my recurrence paperwork.

Just to add some clarity to what others have said - for a recurrence claim you'll need: 1. Your doctor to complete a "Physician/Practitioner's Supplementary Certificate" (DE 2525XX) form 2. You to complete a "Notice of Recurrence of Disability" (DE 2551A) Both can be done through SDI Online. Since you've passed the 14-day mark but it's under 60 days, your claim should be processed as a recurrence rather than a new claim. Your benefit calculation should remain the same. Regarding the waiting period - if it's the same or related condition and within 60 days, you shouldn't have to serve another 7-day waiting period, but there are exceptions. When you file, EDD will determine if another waiting period applies.

update us what happens!! im about to go back to work after 3 months on disability and im worried the same thing will happen to me

I'm going through something similar right now - returned to work too early from a shoulder injury and had to go back on disability after just 10 days. The recurrence claim process was actually smoother than I expected once I got all the paperwork sorted. One thing I wish someone had told me is to keep detailed records of your work dates and symptoms during your brief return. EDD asked for specific information about when exactly I stopped working again and why. Also, if you have any text messages or emails with your supervisor about leaving work early due to pain, save those - they can help establish the timeline. My recurrence claim was approved in about 2 weeks, which seemed faster than my original claim. The key was making sure my doctor was very specific about it being the same condition that wasn't fully healed when I returned to work. Good luck with everything!

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - had to go back on disability after a failed attempt to return to work. One thing that really helped me was getting my doctor to write a detailed letter explaining that my return to work was a "trial work attempt" that failed due to the same underlying condition. This seemed to make the recurrence claim process smoother. Also, when you file the recurrence claim, make sure to be very specific about the dates - when you originally went off disability, when you returned to work, and when you had to stop again. EDD seems to really care about those timelines. And definitely follow up with your doctor's office regularly - mine took forever to submit their part and it delayed everything. The good news is that since it's the same condition within 60 days, your weekly benefit amount should stay the same. Just be prepared for some back-and-forth with paperwork. Keep copies of everything!

I went through this exact situation about 6 months ago with a back injury. Returned to work after 3 months on SDI, lasted exactly 12 days before the pain became unbearable again. Since you're at 16 days, you'll definitely need to file a recurrence claim through SDI Online. A few things that helped me get through the process faster: - Ask your doctor to specifically mention in their certification that this was a "premature return to work" due to the same condition - Keep a daily pain/symptom log from when you went back to work until now - EDD asked me for detailed information about why I couldn't continue working - Screenshot your SDI Online account showing when your original claim ended, it helps establish the timeline My recurrence was approved in about 10 business days and I didn't have to serve another waiting period since it was clearly the same condition. Your $1,580 weekly benefit should remain the same as long as you're still within your original benefit year. Hang in there, the process is stressful but it does work out!

I'm in a very similar situation right now! I've been on SDI for chronic fatigue syndrome since November, tried to go back to my office job three weeks ago, and it's clear I'm not ready. The exhaustion is overwhelming and my symptoms have actually gotten worse since attempting to work again. Reading through all these responses is so helpful - I had no idea about the recurrence claim option or the 60-day rule. It sounds like since I'm at 21 days, I'll need to file the recurrence claim too. The advice about getting your doctor to document it as a "premature return to work" or "trial work attempt" is gold - I'm definitely going to ask my doctor to use that language. One question for anyone who's been through this - did you have to report the wages you earned during those brief weeks back at work? I'm worried that might complicate things or affect my benefit calculation. Thanks for starting this thread, it's exactly what I needed to see right now!

Just want to add another perspective here - I work for a disability advocacy organization and see cases like this regularly. Your situation is actually quite common, especially with pain conditions where people feel pressure to return to work before they're truly ready. A few additional tips based on what I've seen work: - When your doctor fills out the DE 2525XX form, ask them to include specific details about how work activities aggravated your condition (lifting, standing, repetitive motions, etc.) - If you have any documentation from your employer about accommodations you requested or couldn't perform, include that too - The phrase "failed work attempt due to incomplete recovery" in your doctor's notes can be very helpful Also, don't be discouraged if EDD asks for additional information - this is normal for recurrence claims. They want to make sure it's truly the same condition and not something new. The key is consistency in your medical records and clear documentation of the timeline. Your weekly benefit should definitely stay at $1,580 since you're within the same benefit year. The whole process usually takes 2-3 weeks once all paperwork is submitted. Wishing you a smooth process and proper healing time before any future work attempts!

I'm going through almost the exact same situation! I was on SDI for anxiety and depression for about 3 months, went back to my retail job thinking I was ready, but after only 2 weeks the stress and overwhelming feelings came flooding back. My therapist agrees I returned too early. Reading all these responses has been so helpful - I had no idea there were specific forms and terminology for this. It sounds like I need to file a recurrence claim since it's been 14 days exactly. I'm definitely going to ask my therapist to use the "premature return to work" language that several people mentioned. One thing I'm wondering - has anyone dealt with this for mental health conditions specifically? I'm worried EDD might be more skeptical about mental health recurrence claims compared to physical injuries. The stigma is real and I'm nervous about having to "prove" my condition got worse again. Thanks for starting this thread OP, it's exactly what I needed to find today!

I went through this exact same process about 8 months ago with my wrist injury! Tried to go back to work as a dental hygienist after 2 months on SDI, but the repetitive motions made the pain unbearable after just 10 days. Since you're at 16 days, you'll definitely need the recurrence claim option in SDI Online. A few things that really helped speed up my process: - I had my doctor write that my return was a "therapeutic work trial" that failed due to the same underlying condition - I kept detailed notes about which specific work tasks caused pain to worsen (lifting boxes, standing for long periods in your case) - I took photos of any swelling or visible symptoms during those 16 days back at work The recurrence claim took about 2 weeks to process and my weekly benefit stayed exactly the same ($1,420 in my case). I didn't have to serve another waiting period since it was clearly documented as the same condition within the 60-day window. One heads up - EDD did call my employer to verify my work dates and the reason I left again, so make sure your supervisor knows it was due to your medical condition worsening. Don't let anyone pressure you into thinking you're giving up too easily - nerve pain is serious and you know your body best!

I'm so glad I found this thread! I'm currently dealing with a herniated disc and have been on SDI since January. My doctor is talking about clearing me to return to work soon, but honestly I'm terrified of going back too early and ending up in the same situation as you and so many others here. Reading everyone's experiences with recurrence claims is really eye-opening. It sounds like the key things are: file within 60 days, get your doctor to document it as the same condition with specific language like "premature return" or "therapeutic work trial," and keep detailed records of everything. @Elijah Knight - I hope your recurrence claim goes smoothly! Please do update us on how it turns out. Your situation is helping so many people understand this process better. And don't feel bad about returning too early - it sounds like your doctor and employer were both supportive of the decision to try, and sometimes you just don't know until you try. Better to take the time you need to heal properly now than push through and make things worse long-term. Thanks to everyone sharing their experiences and advice. This community is so valuable for navigating these complex situations!

I'm a case worker at a disability advocacy clinic and wanted to chime in with some additional guidance for your situation. Since you're at 16 days post-return, you're definitely in recurrence territory which is actually good news - it's typically much faster than filing a completely new claim. A few professional tips that might help: - When your doctor completes the DE 2525XX form, ask them to specifically mention any workplace accommodations you needed or requested during those 16 days that weren't available - Document if you had to take any pain medication, leave work early, or call out sick during your brief return - this helps establish the severity - Your $1,580 weekly benefit will remain the same since you're within the same benefit year One thing I tell all my clients: don't feel guilty about this. Nerve conditions are unpredictable and what seems manageable in a medical setting often proves different under real work demands. The recurrence process exists precisely because premature returns to work are common and medically recognized. You made the right decision prioritizing your health. Feel free to reach out if you run into any roadblocks with the paperwork or need help understanding EDD correspondence. Good luck!

I'm dealing with a very similar situation right now - been on SDI for a shoulder impingement since December, went back to my construction job 3 weeks ago thinking I was ready, but the overhead work and heavy lifting brought all the pain flooding back. Just like you, my doctor now agrees I returned too early. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful! I had no idea about the recurrence claim process or the 60-day rule. Since I'm at 21 days back at work, sounds like I'll need to file the recurrence claim too. The advice about getting your doctor to use specific language like "premature return to work" or "therapeutic work trial" is exactly what I needed to hear. One thing I'm curious about - did anyone have issues with their employer when they had to leave again so quickly? My foreman wasn't thrilled when I told him I need to go back on disability, and I'm worried it might affect my job security when I'm actually ready to return for good. Any advice on handling that side of things would be really appreciated. Thanks for starting this thread - it's amazing how many of us are going through the exact same experience!

I'm going through almost the exact same situation right now! I've been dealing with chronic lower back pain and was on SDI for about 5 months. Tried to return to my job at a shipping warehouse last month, but after only 18 days the pain became absolutely unbearable again - especially with all the bending and lifting. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly reassuring. I had no idea about the recurrence claim process and was panicking thinking I'd have to start completely over with a new claim. It sounds like since I'm just past the 14-day mark, I'll need to file the recurrence claim through SDI Online. The advice about getting your doctor to document this as a "premature return to work" or "therapeutic work trial" is pure gold - I'm definitely going to ask my doctor to use that exact language. I kept a mental note of which specific tasks made my pain worse (the heavy package lifting and being bent over sorting belts were the worst), so I can help my doctor document those details too. @Elijah Knight - please keep us updated on how your recurrence claim progresses! Your situation sounds so similar to mine and I know a lot of us here are rooting for you. Thanks for being brave enough to share your story - it's helping so many people realize they're not alone in this struggle.