SDI claim confusion - do I need to certify weekly like unemployment or is payment automatic?

SDI is completely different from UI. Once you're approved, the payments come automatically for the period your doctor certified. You don't need to certify weekly like unemployment. BUT you do need to make sure your doctor completes a "continued claim certification" if your disability extends beyond the initial period they certified. Keep an eye on your claim end date in your SDI Online account!

its automatic they just pay u until the end date ur doc put. wayyyy easier than unemployment thank god lol

To clarify what others have said: SDI payments are automatic once approved, BUT there are a few important things to know: 1. Your doctor certified you for a specific period. Payments will automatically continue until that end date. 2. If you need disability beyond that period, you need a new certification from your doctor (form DE 2525XX). This must be submitted BEFORE your current certification expires. 3. EDD may randomly request a supplemental certification to verify your continued disability. If you receive this request, you must respond within 10 days or payments will stop. 4. If you return to work before your certification ends, you MUST notify EDD immediately to avoid overpayment. 5. Check your SDI Online account regularly for any notices or requests from EDD. Hope this helps clarify things!

be careful about the payments not going thru sometimes. my wife's claim got approved but they suddenly stopped payments after 3 weeks for no reason!! we called like 50 times and couldn't get anyone. then had to wait 6 weeks to get the back pay. edd is a nightmare!!!

As others have mentioned, SDI is fundamentally different from UI in terms of certification requirements. Here's the official process: 1. Once your initial claim is approved, payments are issued automatically based on your doctor's certification period. 2. The standard SDI certification period is typically 6-8 weeks, though it varies depending on your medical condition. 3. EDD calculates your weekly benefit amount (WBA) based on your base period wages, and payments come via EDD debit card or direct deposit depending on your preference. 4. For disability extensions, you must submit a "Physician/Practitioner's Supplementary Certificate" (DE 2525XX) before your current certification expires. 5. Notify EDD immediately if you: return to work (full or part-time), receive other income, move, or your condition changes. One important thing to remember is that while payments are automatic, it's your responsibility to monitor your claim status and respond to any EDD requests promptly. Missing a notification can result in payment delays or even claim termination.

I just want to share something I learned the hard way - don't assume EDD has all your correct information!!! Even after I was approved, I didn't get payments because they had my old address and the debit card was sent there! Check all your info is correct in your SDI Online account.

wait i thought this was about paid family leave at first lol. yeah SDI is different, they just pay you. PFL you gotta do more paperwork i think

I got confused by this too when I first got on disability! It's weird how different it is from unemployment. The automatic payments are nice but sometimes they're not consistent with WHEN they deposit the money. I've had it vary by like 3-4 days sometimes which is annoying when you're trying to pay bills on time.

Just wanted to add something that might help - make sure to keep track of your benefit year end date too! I learned that SDI benefits are limited to 52 weeks maximum in any 12-month period, so even if your doctor keeps certifying you, there's still an overall limit. You can find your benefit year dates in your SDI Online account under "Claim Summary." Also, if you're getting any other benefits like workers' comp or social security disability, that can affect your SDI payments, so definitely report those to EDD if they come up during your claim period.