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Manny Lark

SDI form 'I authorize' field too small for my name - help!

Hey everyone, I'm having trouble with my SDI form. I'm trying to fill out the 'I authorize' field, but my first name is too long for the box. It's 14 characters, but the box only allows 12. Any ideas on how to handle this? I'm worried about messing up my claim.

Tom Maxon

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I found a way to solve SDI form name length issue, watch this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oq1FDhRo9eI

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Rita Jacobs

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Ugh, those forms are the worst! I had a similar issue. Try using an abbreviation or your initials for your first name. Like if your name is Christopher, you could put Chris or C. Make sure to note your full name somewhere else on the form tho!

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Manny Lark

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Thanks for the suggestion! I'll give that a try. Do you think I should add a note explaining the abbreviation somewhere on the form?

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Rita Jacobs

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Yeah, definitely! Better safe than sorry. Maybe write a quick note in the margins or in any 'additional comments' section if there is one. πŸ‘

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Khalid Howes

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This is why the system is so messed up. They can't even make forms that fit people's names! πŸ€¦β€β™‚οΈ

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Ben Cooper

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Naila Gordon

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Ben Cooper

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I was skeptical at first too, but it really worked for me. Saved me hours of frustration!

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Cynthia Love

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20 bucks tho? That's kinda steep...

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Ben Cooper

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I get it, but for me it was worth it. Time is money, ya know? And I was going crazy trying to get through on my own.

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Darren Brooks

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Here's what you need to do for the SDI form 'I authorize' field when your name is too long: 1. Use an abbreviation or initials for your first name 2. Write your full name in the margins or any 'additional comments' section 3. If possible, attach a separate sheet explaining the name discrepancy 4. When you speak to an agent, explain the situation and ask them to note it in your file 5. Keep a copy of the form and any additional notes for your records 6. If you're really worried, consider reaching out to the SDI office directly for guidance Remember, they deal with these issues all the time. As long as you're clear and consistent, it shouldn't cause problems with your claim. Good luck!

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Manny Lark

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Wow, thank you so much for this detailed response! This is super helpful. I'll definitely follow these steps. πŸ™

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Rosie Harper

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This is great advice! I wish I had known this when I was filling out my form. Saving this for future reference.

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have u tried using ur middle name instead? that might fit better in the box

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Demi Hall

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I swear, dealing with government forms is like playing a game where the rules keep changing and nobody tells you πŸ™„ Hang in there, OP!

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Lol fr tho πŸ˜‚ It's like they WANT us to mess up

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Kara Yoshida

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Mood. I've been trying to sort out my claim for weeks now. It's a full-time job just dealing with the bureaucracy!

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Philip Cowan

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Pro tip: Take screenshots of everything you submit online and keep copies of all paper forms. You never know when you'll need to prove what you sent in. learned this the hard way 😭

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Manny Lark

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That's a great idea, thanks! I'll definitely do that.

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Max Knight

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I had the exact same problem! My first name is 15 characters and I was panicking about it. What I ended up doing was using my nickname (which is what most people call me anyway) and then I wrote my full legal name in the "Additional Information" section at the bottom of the form. When I called to check on my claim status, the rep said that was totally fine and happens all the time. Don't stress too much about it - they're used to dealing with this kind of thing!

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Luca Esposito

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This is really reassuring to hear! I was getting so anxious about potentially messing up my claim over something like this. It's good to know the reps are familiar with name length issues. Did you have any problems later on in the process, or did everything go smoothly after that?

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Sophia Miller

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I totally get your frustration! I had a similar issue with my middle name being too long for one of the fields. What worked for me was abbreviating my first name to the first initial plus a shortened version (like if your name is "Christopher" you could do "C. Chris" or just "Chris"). Then I made sure to write my full legal name clearly in the margins next to that field with an arrow pointing to it. I also called the SDI office after submitting to let them know about the name length issue, and they made a note in my file. The whole process went through without any problems! The key is just being proactive about documenting it so there's no confusion later.

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Lucas Adams

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This is such helpful advice, thank you! I really appreciate hearing from someone who went through the exact same thing. The idea of calling after submitting to have them make a note in the file is brilliant - I wouldn't have thought of that. It sounds like being proactive and documenting everything clearly is the way to go. I'm feeling much less stressed about this now!

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Emma Davis

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I feel your pain! I ran into this exact issue last month. My first name is 16 characters and I was so worried about messing up my application. Here's what I did that worked perfectly: 1. I used the first 12 characters of my name in the field 2. Added an asterisk (*) at the end to show it was truncated 3. Wrote my full name clearly in the margin with "Full name:" before it 4. Added a note in the additional comments section explaining the truncation When I got my confirmation letter, they had my full name correct in their system! The EDD rep I spoke to later said they see this all the time and as long as you're consistent with whatever version you use and document the full name somewhere, you're good to go. Don't let this small formatting issue stress you out - your claim won't be denied over a name length problem as long as you handle it thoughtfully like you're doing. You've got this! πŸ’ͺ

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Ava Thompson

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This is exactly what I needed to hear! Thank you so much for sharing your experience and the step-by-step approach. The asterisk idea is really smart - I wouldn't have thought of that. It's such a relief to know that this is a common issue and that the EDD is used to handling it. I was really worried I'd mess something up, but your success story gives me confidence. I'm going to follow your method exactly. Really appreciate you taking the time to write out all the details! πŸ™

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I'm dealing with the same exact issue right now! My first name is 13 characters and I've been staring at this form for the past hour trying to figure out what to do. Reading through all these responses is so helpful - it's reassuring to know I'm not the only one with this problem. I think I'm going to go with the approach of using an abbreviation and then noting my full legal name in the margins like several people suggested. Has anyone had issues later in the process where they needed to verify their identity because of the name discrepancy, or do they usually just reference the full name you provided elsewhere on the form?

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Hey! I haven't had any identity verification issues at all - they've been really good about cross-referencing the full name I provided in the margins and additional comments section. When I had to verify my identity later for a phone appointment, the rep actually had my full legal name pulled up in their system, so they clearly connected everything properly. I think as long as you're consistent with whichever abbreviated version you use throughout the form and make sure your full name is clearly documented somewhere visible, you should be fine. The key is just being thorough with the documentation like everyone's been saying. You're definitely not alone in this - seems like it's super common!

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Everett Tutum

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I just went through this same issue a few weeks ago! My first name is 14 characters too and I was so stressed about it. What ended up working perfectly for me was using my nickname in the field (which is only 8 characters) and then writing my full legal name right next to it in the margin with an arrow. I also made sure to put my complete legal name in the "additional information" section at the bottom of the form. When I submitted everything, I got a confirmation number and later when I called to check my status, the rep confirmed they had my full legal name in their system correctly. She told me this happens constantly and they're totally used to it. The most important thing is just being consistent - whatever version of your name you use in that field, use it throughout the entire form, and make sure your full name is documented clearly somewhere else. Don't let this minor formatting issue derail your claim - you're handling it exactly right by asking for advice!

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Owen Jenkins

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This is so reassuring! I'm dealing with the exact same situation right now and was getting really anxious about potentially messing up my claim. It's great to hear that using a nickname worked well for you and that the reps confirmed this is a common issue. I think I'll go with a similar approach - use a shortened version of my name in the field and make sure to document my full legal name clearly in multiple places on the form. Thanks for sharing your experience and for the encouragement! 😊

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Jenna Sloan

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I'm dealing with this exact same issue right now! My first name is 15 characters and I was really worried about messing up my application. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly helpful - it's such a relief to know this is a common problem and that EDD is used to handling it. I'm planning to use the first 12 characters of my name in the field, add my full legal name in the margins with an arrow, and include a note in the additional comments section. It's amazing how something so simple can cause so much stress! Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and solutions. This community is a lifesaver! πŸ™

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I'm so glad this thread exists! I just started filling out my SDI form and ran into the exact same problem - my first name is 13 characters and I was starting to panic thinking I might have to start over or that it would delay my claim. Reading everyone's success stories and practical solutions has been such a huge relief. It's crazy how these seemingly small technical issues can cause so much anxiety when you're already dealing with being out of work. I'm definitely going to follow the approach that seems to work for most people here - abbreviate in the field, document the full name clearly in margins and additional comments, and maybe call after submitting to have them note it. Thank you all for sharing your experiences! πŸ’™

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I'm so glad I found this thread! I'm currently dealing with the exact same issue - my first name is 13 characters and I've been stressing about this for days. Reading through everyone's experiences and solutions has been incredibly reassuring. It sounds like this is way more common than I thought! I'm planning to use the approach that several people mentioned - abbreviate my name to fit the field, write my full legal name clearly in the margins with an arrow, and add a note in the additional comments section explaining the situation. It's such a relief to know that EDD reps are familiar with this issue and that it won't mess up my claim as long as I document everything properly. Thanks to everyone who took the time to share their experiences - this community is amazing! πŸ™Œ

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Aisha Mahmood

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I'm in the exact same boat! My first name is 14 characters and I was literally losing sleep over this form. This whole thread has been such a lifesaver - it's incredible how many of us are dealing with this same issue. I love seeing how supportive everyone is here and how willing people are to share what actually worked for them. I'm definitely going to follow the tried-and-true method that so many people have had success with. It's honestly wild that in 2024 we still have government forms that can't handle longer names, but at least we have each other to figure out the workarounds! Good luck with your claim, and thanks for adding to this helpful discussion!

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I just wanted to add my experience to this incredibly helpful thread! I had the exact same issue with my 13-character first name not fitting in the "I authorize" field. I was so worried about it affecting my claim, but after reading similar advice in forums like this, I decided to use my nickname (which is 6 characters) in the field and wrote my full legal name in the margins with "Legal name:" and an arrow pointing to the field. I also added a note in the additional comments section explaining the name length issue. When I called EDD a week later to check my status, the representative immediately had my full legal name in their system and mentioned that they see this issue multiple times every day. She said as long as you're consistent with whatever shortened version you use throughout the form and document your full name somewhere clearly visible, there's absolutely no problem. My claim processed without any delays or issues! Don't let this stress you out - it's such a common problem that they have standard procedures for handling it. The key is just being thorough with your documentation like everyone here has mentioned. You've got this! πŸ’ͺ

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Amara Eze

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This is such a perfect example of how helpful this community is! Thank you for sharing your successful experience - it really helps to hear that the EDD reps see this issue multiple times daily and have procedures for it. I'm new here and was getting really anxious about my 15-character first name not fitting in that field, but reading through everyone's solutions and success stories has been so reassuring. It's amazing how something that seems like such a big problem when you're dealing with it alone turns out to be super common and manageable. I'm definitely going to follow the approach you and others have outlined. Thanks for taking the time to share your outcome! πŸ™

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I'm dealing with this exact same problem right now! My first name is 16 characters and I was literally about to give up on the form when I found this thread. It's so comforting to see that I'm not alone and that so many people have successfully navigated this issue. Based on all the great advice here, I think I'm going to use the first 12 characters of my name in the field, write my full legal name clearly in the margin with an arrow, and add a detailed explanation in the additional comments section. It's honestly ridiculous that in 2024 government forms still can't accommodate longer names, but I'm grateful for communities like this where we can help each other figure out these workarounds. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences - you've all been lifesavers! πŸ™Œ

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I'm so glad you found this thread before giving up on the form! I was in a similar situation a few months ago with my 14-character name and honestly thought I was going to have to legally change my name just to deal with government paperwork πŸ˜… The approach you outlined sounds perfect - that's basically exactly what I ended up doing and it worked flawlessly. It really is frustrating that these forms haven't been updated to handle longer names, especially considering how diverse our communities are. But you're absolutely right that this community is amazing for helping each other navigate these bureaucratic obstacles. You've definitely got the right plan, and I'm confident it'll work out smoothly for you. Best of luck with your claim!

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Oliver Becker

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I'm currently facing this exact same issue! My first name is 13 characters and I've been staring at this form for hours, worried I'll mess something up. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been such a huge relief - it's amazing to see how common this problem actually is and how many people have found successful solutions. Based on all the great advice in this thread, I'm planning to use an abbreviated version of my name that fits in the field, write my full legal name clearly in the margins with an arrow, and add a detailed note in the additional comments section explaining the situation. It's honestly mind-boggling that government forms in 2024 still can't handle names longer than 12 characters, but I'm so grateful for this supportive community helping each other navigate these bureaucratic hurdles. Thank you to everyone who shared their successful experiences - you've all helped turn what felt like an impossible obstacle into a manageable solution! πŸ™

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Luis Johnson

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I'm so glad you found this thread too! I just joined this community recently and was dealing with the exact same stress about my 14-character name not fitting in that field. It's incredible how this one thread has become like a support group for all of us with longer names! 😊 The solution you've outlined based on everyone's advice sounds spot-on - that's exactly the approach I'm planning to take as well. It really is wild that we're all having to come up with creative workarounds for something as basic as fitting our legal names on official forms, but seeing how many people have successfully navigated this gives me so much confidence. This community is honestly the best - everyone is so willing to share what actually worked for them instead of just offering generic advice. Good luck with your form, and thanks for adding your voice to this helpful discussion!

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QuantumQuest

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I'm dealing with this exact same issue right now and this thread has been a lifesaver! My first name is 15 characters and I was honestly panicking about potentially messing up my SDI application over something that seems so simple but is actually such a common problem. Reading through everyone's experiences and solutions has been incredibly reassuring - it's amazing how many of us are facing this same challenge and how supportive this community is in sharing what actually works. Based on all the excellent advice here, I'm going to use the first 12 characters of my name in the field, write my full legal name clearly in the margins with an arrow pointing to the field, and add a detailed explanation in the additional comments section. It's honestly frustrating that in 2024 we're still dealing with government forms that can't accommodate the full diversity of people's names, but I'm so grateful for communities like this where we can help each other navigate these bureaucratic obstacles. Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their successful experiences - you've turned what felt like a major roadblock into a totally manageable situation! πŸ™

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Omar Mahmoud

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Welcome to the community! I'm new here too and just went through this exact same situation last week. My first name is 14 characters and I was having the same panic about messing up my application. I ended up following the advice from this thread - used the first 12 characters in the field, wrote my full name in the margins, and added a note in the comments section. Just got confirmation that my application went through with no issues! The EDD rep I spoke with said they handle this literally dozens of times per day, so you're definitely in good company. It's such a relief to find this supportive community where people actually share what works instead of just saying "call the office" (which we all know is nearly impossible to get through to anyway πŸ˜…). Your plan sounds perfect - you've got this!

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I'm going through the exact same thing right now! My first name is 14 characters and I was getting so stressed about this until I found this thread. It's incredible how many of us are dealing with this issue - makes me feel so much less alone in this frustrating situation. Based on all the amazing advice everyone has shared here, I'm planning to use the first 12 characters of my name in the field, write my full legal name in the margins with a clear arrow, and add a detailed note in the additional comments section explaining the truncation. It's really reassuring to hear from so many people who have successfully used this approach without any issues with their claims. It's honestly ridiculous that government forms in 2024 still can't handle names longer than 12 characters, but this community is proof that we can figure out solutions together! Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences - you've all helped turn what felt like a major problem into something totally manageable. This is exactly why I love this community! πŸ™

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