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Jamal Harris

SDI appeal denied, not sure why. Help with next steps?

Hey everyone, I'm dealing with an SDI appeal and I'm not sure what's going on. I filed for state disability insurance but I think it got denied? I can't remember the exact reason. Has anyone else gone through this process? What should I expect? Any advice on how to handle the appeal?

Ugh, dealing with SDI appeals can be such a headache. I've been there before. First thing you need to do is figure out exactly why you were denied. Did you get any paperwork or emails explaining the reason?

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Thanks for the reply. I'm not sure if I got any paperwork... I'll have to check my mail again. Do they always send something?

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Yeah, they should've sent you a Notice of Determination explaining why you were denied. Check your spam folder too if you signed up for electronic notifications. If you can't find anything, call them ASAP to get the info.

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Ok, I'll do that. Thanks for the help!

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I went through an SDI appeal last year. Here's what I learned: • First, get clear on why you were denied. You should have received a notice. • Gather all relevant medical documentation to support your claim. • Write a clear, concise appeal letter explaining why you believe the decision was incorrect. • Submit your appeal within 30 days of receiving the denial notice. • Be prepared for a phone interview with an EDD representative. • If denied again, you can request a hearing with an Administrative Law Judge. The process can take several months, so be patient. Good luck!

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This is really helpful info! 👍 I'm saving this for future reference.

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Wow, thank you so much for the detailed breakdown. I had no idea about the 30-day deadline. I better get moving on this!

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No problem! Happy to help. And yeah, that 30-day deadline is crucial. Don't miss it or you'll have to start the whole process over.

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lol good luck getting anyone on the phone at EDD. I've been trying for weeks and can never get through. The system is so broken 🤡

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For real tho. I spent hours listening to that stupid hold music 🎵😫

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Hey, I actually found a way to get through! There's this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that calls EDD for you, waits on hold, and then connects you when a real person picks up. It costs $20 but it saved me hours of frustration. Here's a video about it: https://youtu.be/1X-mEsLtbmQ

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Fr? That sounds too good to be true. Has anyone else tried this?

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I used it last month and it worked great. Saved me so much time and stress.

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Idk man, paying to talk to a government agency feels wrong. Shouldn't this be free?

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I get that, but for me, the time saved was worth the $20. Plus, I was able to actually resolve my issue instead of getting nowhere for weeks.

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Have you considered getting a lawyer? Some specialize in SDI appeals and offer free consultations.

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OMG the SDI system is such a mess rn. I've been waiting 3 months for my appeal to be processed. Anyone else experiencing crazy delays? 😤

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Yep, same boat here. Going on 4 months now. It's ridiculous.

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I heard they're super backlogged because of covid. Might be why it's taking so long.

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Quick tip: keep a log of all your calls, letters, and interactions with EDD. It'll help if you need to escalate your case later.

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That's a great idea, thanks! I'll start doing that right away.

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Anyone know if the appeal process is different for mental health related disabilities? Asking for a friend...

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It's pretty much the same process, but make sure you have solid documentation from a mental health professional. They can be stricter with those claims.

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Hey Jamal, I just went through this exact situation a few months ago! The most important thing is to act fast - you really don't want to miss that 30-day appeal deadline that Liam mentioned. Here's what worked for me: I went to my local EDD office in person instead of trying to call (saved me hours of frustration). They were able to pull up my case immediately and print out a copy of my denial notice on the spot. Also, don't forget to request your complete claim file - it's your right and it'll show you exactly what medical records they reviewed. Sometimes they're missing key documentation that could change everything. If you're still struggling to get info, try reaching out to your local state assembly member's office. They have caseworkers who can help navigate EDD issues. Good luck! 🤞

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Hey Jamal! I'm new to this community but I've been lurking and reading through everyone's experiences. Your situation really hits home because I'm currently dealing with my own SDI issues (still waiting on my initial determination). Reading through all these responses has been so eye-opening - I had no idea about things like the 30-day appeal deadline or that you can request your complete claim file. This community is amazing! One thing I wanted to add that might help: if you're having trouble finding that denial notice, you can also check your SDI Online account at edd.ca.gov. Sometimes the notices show up there before you get the physical mail. Also, if you have a MyEDD account, make sure to check both your inbox and the "Correspondence" section. Best of luck with your appeal! It sounds like you're getting great advice here and I'm definitely taking notes for my own potential future needs. Keep us posted on how it goes! 🤞

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Welcome to the community @Ravi Malhotra! 👋 Thanks for sharing that tip about checking the SDI Online account - that's really smart since sometimes digital notifications come through faster than mail. I actually just created my MyEDD account after reading everyone's advice here, so I'll definitely check both the inbox and correspondence sections like you suggested. It's crazy how much useful info gets shared in threads like this - I feel like I've learned more in the past hour than I did trying to figure this out on my own for weeks! Hope your initial determination goes smoothly and you don't have to deal with the appeal process at all. Fingers crossed for both of us! 🤞

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