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?
26 comments
Join the conversation
Mei Chen
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?
0 coins
Jamal Harris
•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?
0 coins
Mei Chen
•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.
0 coins
Jamal Harris
•Ok, I'll do that. Thanks for the help!
0 coins
Liam Sullivan
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!
0 coins
Amara Okafor
•This is really helpful info! 👍 I'm saving this for future reference.
0 coins
Jamal Harris
•Wow, thank you so much for the detailed breakdown. I had no idea about the 30-day deadline. I better get moving on this!
0 coins
Liam Sullivan
•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.
0 coins
CosmicCommander
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 🤡
0 coins
Giovanni Colombo
•For real tho. I spent hours listening to that stupid hold music 🎵😫
0 coins
Fatima Al-Qasimi
•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
0 coins
CosmicCommander
•Fr? That sounds too good to be true. Has anyone else tried this?
0 coins
Dylan Cooper
•I used it last month and it worked great. Saved me so much time and stress.
0 coins
Sofia Ramirez
•Idk man, paying to talk to a government agency feels wrong. Shouldn't this be free?
0 coins
Fatima Al-Qasimi
•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.
0 coins
Dmitry Volkov
Have you considered getting a lawyer? Some specialize in SDI appeals and offer free consultations.
0 coins
StarSeeker
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? 😤
0 coins
Ava Martinez
•Yep, same boat here. Going on 4 months now. It's ridiculous.
0 coins
Miguel Ortiz
•I heard they're super backlogged because of covid. Might be why it's taking so long.
0 coins
Zainab Omar
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.
0 coins
Jamal Harris
•That's a great idea, thanks! I'll start doing that right away.
0 coins
Connor Murphy
Anyone know if the appeal process is different for mental health related disabilities? Asking for a friend...
0 coins
Yara Sayegh
•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.
0 coins
StardustSeeker
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! 🤞
0 coins
Sean Doyle
•This is really solid advice! I had no idea you could go to the EDD office in person - that sounds way better than trying to get through on the phone. Do you know if all EDD offices can help with SDI appeals or just certain ones? Also, requesting the complete claim file is genius - I never would have thought of that. Thanks for sharing your experience!
0 coins
Ezra Bates
•Wow, this is incredibly helpful! @StardustSeeker I'm definitely going to try going to the EDD office in person - that sounds so much more efficient than the phone runaround everyone's talking about. Quick question: do you remember if they required an appointment or could you just walk in? Also, the tip about requesting the complete claim file is brilliant. I'm learning so much from this thread. Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences! 🙏
0 coins