SDI claim stuck pending 10 days after doctor submitted medical certification - normal processing time?
I submitted my claim for SDI last week and my doctor submitted the medical certification form on the 23rd (so it's been about 10 days now), but my claim still shows as 'pending' on the EDD website. I was expecting to see something by now. Is this normal? How long does it usually take for SDI claims to be approved? I'm starting to get worried because my short-term disability through work runs out next week, and I really need the SDI payments to start coming in. I can't reach anyone on the phone - just keeps saying 'high call volume' and disconnects me. Has anyone filed recently who can tell me what the current approval times are like?
23 comments

Liam Fitzgerald
The standard processing time is 14 days from when they receive the medical certification, but realistically it's often taking 3-4 weeks right now. My claim in March took exactly 22 days to change from pending to approved. As long as your doctor filled everything out correctly, you should be fine - it's just a waiting game. Make sure you've completed your certification for the first benefit period too, as that can sometimes hold things up.
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Mei Lin
AuthorThanks for the info. That's longer than I expected... do you know if there's any way to get it expedited? I'm seriously worried about my bills coming up.
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Amara Nnamani
mine took a WHOLE MONTH!! and then they denied it cuz my doctor used the wrong code or something. had to resubmit and wait AGAIN. edd is the worst!!!
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Mei Lin
AuthorOh no, that's terrible! Did they at least tell you what was wrong so you could fix it?
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Amara Nnamani
yeah they sent a letter like 2 weeks later. such a mess. call them ASAP if u can get thru
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Giovanni Mancini
I work with disability claims professionally, and I can tell you that current processing times vary significantly based on claim volume and staffing. The ten-day mark is still within normal range. A few tips: 1. Make sure your claim form and your doctor's certification dates match or overlap 2. Verify your doctor included all required medical information (diagnosis codes, functional limitations, etc) 3. If your claim shows "pending" rather than "processing with issues" or some other status, that's actually a good sign If it hits the 14-day mark with no change, then it's reasonable to start following up. But right now, your timeline is still within normal parameters.
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Mei Lin
AuthorThank you for the detailed response! I'll check with my doctor to make sure the dates align properly. Is there any way to see more detailed status information than just 'pending'?
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Giovanni Mancini
Unfortunately, the online system only shows those basic statuses. More detailed information is only available when speaking with a representative. The system was supposed to be upgraded this year to show more detailed status information, but that project has been delayed until 2026 from what I understand.
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NebulaNinja
I recently went through this same exact thing! It's so frustrating how long it takes and not being able to get any real answers. I tried calling 14 times in one day and couldn't get through. I finally tried using Claimyr (claimyr.com) and they got me connected to an EDD rep in about 20 minutes. The rep was able to tell me exactly what was happening with my claim - turned out they were waiting on some additional verification from my employer. Might be worth checking out their demo video: https://youtu.be/1X-mEsLtbmQ?si=1hcSq3KFtCr4oAmd Once I cleared up the issue, my claim was approved within 2 days.
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Fatima Al-Suwaidi
does that service really work? seems kinda sketchy idk
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NebulaNinja
It worked for me! I was super skeptical too but was desperate after trying to call for almost a week straight. It's basically just a service that calls EDD repeatedly for you and connects you when they get through.
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Dylan Mitchell
my dr submitted my paperwork on feb 2 and my claim wasnt approved till march 1st almost a whole MONTH later!!! and then it took another week to get the card in the mail. EDD is sooooo slow its criminal honestly. people have bills to pay!!
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Mei Lin
AuthorA whole month? That's terrifying. Did you try calling them during that time? I'm already stressing about my rent coming up.
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Sofia Morales
Sometimes the status online doesn't update right away. My claim still said pending for like 3 days after I actually got my first payment. Have you checked your BofA card balance or mail for the physical card? You might actually be approved already.
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Mei Lin
AuthorI didn't even think of that! I'll check right now, thanks for the suggestion.
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Mei Lin
AuthorJust checked - no card in the mail yet and I don't have a BofA account set up, so I think it really is still pending. Guess I'll just have to wait it out...
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Dmitry Popov
The whole system is designed to delay payments and hope people just give up. I've been through it three times for different medical conditions and it always takes forever. I know ppl who gave up cuz they couldn't deal with the stress anymore. Try calling exactly at 8:00 AM when they open - slightly better chance of getting through.
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Giovanni Mancini
I understand your frustration, but I want to clarify that the system isn't designed to make people give up. The EDD is severely understaffed for the volume of claims they process. In 2025, they're handling approximately 230,000 active disability claims at any given time with a staff that should be twice its current size. The problems are structural and budgetary, not intentional.
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Liam Fitzgerald
One other thing to check - did you complete the ID verification process if they asked for it? Sometimes that holds up claims and the notification gets lost in email or mail. Log into your account and make sure there are no outstanding tasks or messages.
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Mei Lin
AuthorI just double-checked and don't see any pending tasks or verification requests. I did the ID.me verification when I first set up my account. I guess it's really just the standard processing time that's the issue.
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Sofia Morales
update us when your status changes! I'm curious how long it's taking for people right now.
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Mei Lin
AuthorWill do! I'm going to try calling again tomorrow morning right when they open. If I can't get through, I might try that service someone mentioned above. I'll let you know what happens!
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Leslie Parker
I'm going through something similar right now - filed my SDI claim two weeks ago and it's still showing pending. The wait is really stressful when you're counting on those payments! From what I've read here and other places, it seems like 2-4 weeks is pretty normal right now, which is way longer than the 14 days they advertise. I've been trying to call every morning at 8 AM sharp but still haven't gotten through. The automated system just hangs up on you after saying they're busy. Really hoping things speed up for all of us waiting - the financial stress on top of dealing with a disability is just brutal.
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