Pregnancy disability claim mailed in - can I check status online or only by mail?

Yes, you can absolutely check a mailed claim online! You'll need to register for an SDI Online account if you haven't already. Go to the EDD website and click on 'Benefit Programs Online' to create an account. Once you're registered, you can then register for SDI Online specifically. You should be able to see your claim status within about 7-10 days after they receive your paperwork. The system will match your personal information with your paper claim. Make sure the name and SSN match exactly what you put on your DE 2501 form.

when I did my pregnancy claim last year I had to wait for the first letter in the mail which had my claim number before I could see anything online. took like 2 weeks to get that first letter. so annoying!

I HATE how the EDD makes everything so complicated!!! I went through the exact same thing with my pregnancy disability last year. You basically CANNOT check anything online until they process your claim and mail you that stupid first letter with your claim number. It's ridiculous in 2025 that they can't have a better system. I ended up calling them like 30 times before I finally got through to check my status because I was so anxious about when my payments would start.

You might want to try using Claimyr if you need to reach an EDD representative to check your status before you get that first letter. I was in the same boat and was going crazy waiting. I used claimyr.com and it got me through to an agent in about 20 minutes when I had been trying for days on my own. They have a demo video that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/1X-mEsLtbmQ?si=1hcSq3KFtCr4oAmd The agent I spoke with was able to confirm they received my claim and gave me an estimate of when processing would be complete. Saved me a lot of anxiety during an already stressful time with my pregnancy.

Yes, there is a fee, but for me it was worth it to get peace of mind and actually talk to someone. They don't get you through any faster than anyone else would if they got lucky with the phone system - they just handle the hold time and callbacks for you. With pregnancy stress and doctor appointments, I didn't have hours to spend redialing EDD.

One thing to keep in mind with pregnancy disability claims specifically is that they usually take a bit longer to process than regular disability claims. This is because they have to determine both your disability period before birth AND your potential bonding period after birth (which is actually PFL, not SDI). Sometimes the EDD representatives get confused between the two programs themselves! If you're already on bed rest, make sure your doctor clearly documented that on the medical certification. If they just put your expected delivery date, the EDD might incorrectly assume your disability starts 4 weeks before your due date (the standard for normal pregnancies), which would be a problem if you're already unable to work 8 weeks before. If it's been more than 14 business days since you mailed your claim, I'd definitely recommend calling them to check on status.

just make sure when u do eventually get online access that u double check everything is correct!! my first payment was super delayed becus they used the wrong start date for my pregnancy disability

Since you're already on bed rest, if you haven't received anything by day 14-15 after submitting, I'd definitely recommend following up. Pregnancy disability claims that start earlier than the standard 4 weeks before due date sometimes need additional review, but they shouldn't take significantly longer. Once you do get access to your online account, make sure you set up email notifications - that way you'll get alerts when there are any updates to your claim status without having to constantly check the portal. Also, remember that there's a 7-day waiting period for SDI benefits (including pregnancy disability) where you won't be paid. This is normal and applies to everyone. Your first payment will come after that waiting period.

I went through this exact same situation with my pregnancy disability claim 6 months ago! The waiting is absolutely nerve-wracking, especially when you're already dealing with pregnancy complications. Here's what I learned: you really can't do anything online until they process your paperwork and assign you a claim number. It took exactly 12 business days for me to get that first letter with my claim number, then I was able to register for SDI Online and see everything. One tip - when you do get your claim number and can access the online portal, screenshot everything! I had issues where the system would show different information on different days, and having screenshots helped when I had to call for clarification. Also, since you mentioned you're on bed rest due to complications, make sure your doctor was very specific about your current inability to work on the medical form. The EDD can be picky about pregnancy claims that start before the standard 4-week window. Hang in there - the process is slow but it does work!

I'm in a very similar situation right now - submitted my pregnancy disability claim by mail 8 days ago and feeling anxious about the wait! Reading through all these responses is really helpful. It sounds like the consensus is that we just have to wait for that first letter with the claim number before we can access anything online, which is frustrating but at least now I know what to expect. @Adriana Cohn - I hope you get your letter soon! The bed rest situation makes the financial stress so much worse. I'm also dealing with complications that put me out of work earlier than the typical 4-week window, so I'm crossing my fingers that my doctor was clear enough on the medical forms. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - it's so reassuring to know others have been through this successfully even though the process is slow and stressful.

I just went through this process a few months ago and completely understand your anxiety! Unfortunately, you really do have to wait for that first letter with your claim number before you can access anything through SDI Online. The system can't match your account to a claim that hasn't been assigned a number yet. In my experience, it took about 14 business days to get that initial letter (not counting weekends). Since you're at day 10, you're getting close! Once you do get the claim number, registering for SDI Online is pretty straightforward - just make sure all your personal info matches exactly what you put on your DE 2501 form. Given that you're on bed rest due to complications, your claim might need a bit of extra review since it's starting before the standard 4-week window, but that doesn't necessarily mean delays if your doctor documented everything clearly. Try to hang in there - I know the financial stress is overwhelming, especially when you're dealing with pregnancy complications. The process does work, it's just painfully slow!