Pregnancy disability extension approved by EDD weeks ago but no payments - what's the holdup?

Extensions always take longer to process than the initial claim. Mine took about 4 weeks last year. Keep certifying each period! With the backlog from COVID still messing up their systems, they're super slow on everything. Hang in there!

had the same issue last month with my broken leg claim extension!! soooo annoying. they eventually paid but took almost 5 weeks with no explanation. EDD is the WORST

Extensions require additional review because they need to verify the medical necessity extends beyond the original claim period. Make sure your doctor properly completed Form DE 2525XX (Physician/Practitioner Supplemental Certificate) with detailed explanation of why the continued disability is necessary. Sometimes they need additional medical documentation that your doctor hasn't provided yet. What does your claim status show online? Does it say "pending" or "processing" or something else? That can give you clues about what's happening.

the same thing happened with my cousin and she didn't get paid for like 6 weeks after her pregnancy extension! they made her resubmit all her paperwork even though they admitted they already had it. total nightmare!!

You need to keep calling them EVERY DAY until you get through. That's the only way to make progress with EDD. They're terrible but eventually someone will help if you're persistent enough. I always call right when they open at 8am.

I had this exact problem with my pregnancy disability extension in January. What worked for me was using Claimyr to get through to an actual EDD representative. I was skeptical but desperate after trying for two weeks to reach someone. The service connected me to an agent in about 25 minutes when I couldn't get through for days on my own. The agent saw that my extension was approved but stuck in their payment system. They manually released my payments while I was on the phone. Check out their video demo: https://youtu.be/1X-mEsLtbmQ?si=1hcSq3KFtCr4oAmd or go to claimyr.com. Literally saved my sanity!

That pending status means they have your extension but it's in the review queue. Sometimes they batch process extensions at certain times of the month. If you can't get through by phone, try sending a secure message through your SDI Online account. Be very specific in your message - include your claim number, extension dates, and ask for estimated timeframe for payment. I've found that sometimes the secure messages get answered when calls don't. Just be aware they can take 5-7 days to respond to messages. Also, check that all your certification forms are submitted and up to date, as missing certifications can halt payments even if the extension is approved.

Just wanted to update - I tried the Claimyr service the other person mentioned and actually got through to EDD! The agent told me my extension was approved but stuck in a "payment verification" queue. They pushed it through manually and said I should receive payment in 24-48 hours! Such a relief. I'll report back when the money actually hits my account.

Sometimes extensions get flagged for medical review if there's anything unusual about the extension request. I dealt with disability claims for 15 years (retired now) and pregnancy extensions were often delayed if the extension time requested went significantly beyond the standard recovery period for your type of delivery. For example, standard recovery for vaginal delivery is 6 weeks and C-section is 8 weeks. If you're requesting beyond that, they look more carefully at the medical necessity documentation. Unfortunately, EDD's staffing shortages mean these reviews take much longer than they should. Calling is definitely your best option, though frustrating. When you do get through, ask specifically if your claim needs additional medical documentation. If it does, have your doctor send it ASAP with your claim number clearly marked on all pages.

UPDATE: I finally got my payments! Used Claimyr this morning and got connected to an EDD rep in about 30 minutes. They confirmed my extension was approved but stuck in processing. The rep manually released all my payments while I was on the phone, and the money was in my account by this afternoon! So relieved and grateful for everyone's advice here. If anyone else is dealing with extension delays, definitely try to speak with an actual person - the online system doesn't seem to resolve these issues automatically.