SDI nightmare: 1+ month, no benefits, broke & desperate. How to actually reach someone?!
I'm at my wits end with SDI. I got hurt on the job and filed for disability benefits over a month ago. The whole process has been a nightmare. First, my doctor's office lost my paperwork, so I had to redo everything. Then I got letters saying I missed signatures, but I'm sure I signed everything. I've tried calling, going online, everything I can think of, but I'm getting nowhere. It's been over a month with no income. I'm broke, can't buy food, and had to go back to work early even though I'm not fully healed. Anyone else dealing with this? Any advice on how to actually get through to someone at SDI?
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Zara Khan
Ugh, I feel your pain. The SDI system is a total mess rn. I was in a similar situation last year and it took me almost 3 months to get my first payment. It's ridiculous how hard they make it for people who are already struggling. Have you tried reaching out to your local assemblyperson? Sometimes they can help push things through faster.
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Sean Fitzgerald
•3 months?! That's insane. I'll def look into contacting my assemblyperson, thanks for the tip. Did you have to do anything special to get their attention?
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Zara Khan
•Nah, just called their office and explained the situation. They have staff dedicated to helping with state agency issues. Good luck!
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MoonlightSonata
•This is solid advice. I work in a state rep's office and we deal with SDI cases all the time. We can often get things moving much faster than individuals can on their own.
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Mateo Gonzalez
I found a way to actually get someone on the phone. I used this site's (claimyr.com) calling tool that dials the phone menu, stays on hold, waits for a live agent to pick up, then sends the call to my phone. It does cost $20, but it works. Here's a video explaining it: https://youtu.be/1X-mEsLtbmQ
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Nia Williams
•Sounds too good to be true. Has anyone else tried this?
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Luca Ricci
•I'm skeptical. How do we know this isn't just some scam to get our info?
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Mateo Gonzalez
•I get the skepticism, but it's legit. I was desperate and took a chance. Got through to an agent in about 2 hours. Way better than wasting days trying to call myself.
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Aisha Mohammed
•Can confirm, I used it last week. It's basically just a robot that waits on hold for you. Saved me a ton of time and frustration.
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Ethan Campbell
Here's what you need to do: 1. Document EVERYTHING. Keep copies of all forms, letters, and note down every call you make. 2. Call first thing in the morning, right when they open. You're more likely to get through. 3. If you can't get through on the phone, try faxing your documents. Sometimes that's faster. 4. Check your online account daily for updates. 5. If all else fails, contact your state representative or senator. They can often cut through red tape. 6. Consider legal aid if you're really stuck. Some nonprofits offer free help with SDI claims. Hang in there. The system sucks, but keep pushing and you'll get your benefits eventually. 💪
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Sean Fitzgerald
•This is super helpful, thank you! I'll start working through this list tomorrow. Fingers crossed 🤞
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Yuki Watanabe
•Great advice! I'd add: if faxing, always get a confirmation page. SDI loves to claim they never received stuff 🙄
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Carmen Sanchez
have u tried going to an actual SDI office? sometimes face-to-face is the only way to get stuff done w/ these clowns 🤡
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Andre Dupont
This is why we need universal healthcare smh. The fact that getting injured can leave you broke and starving is a national disgrace. Vote people!
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Zoe Papadakis
•Preach! 🙌 The whole system is broken af
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ThunderBolt7
•Yeah cause the government runs everything else so efficiently 🙄 Hard pass
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Andre Dupont
•Found the bootlicker 👆 How's that corporate koolaid taste?
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Jamal Edwards
Pro tip: if u keep getting bounced around diff departments, ask for a supervisor. They usually have more authority to actually fix issues.
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Sean Fitzgerald
•Good idea, I'll try that. Do they usually let you talk to a supervisor if you ask?
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Jamal Edwards
•Sometimes they'll push back, but be polite and persistent. If one person won't transfer you, hang up and try again with someone else.
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Mei Chen
OMG are you me?? I swear I could have written this post myself. I've been dealing with the exact same BS for weeks now. SDI is the absolute worst. Solidarity, friend. We're all in this sinking ship together ðŸ˜
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Liam O'Sullivan
Have you checked if your claim is flagged for any reason? Sometimes there's a hold on claims that isn't communicated well. You might need to provide additional documentation.
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Sean Fitzgerald
•How would I check for that? Is it something I can see online?
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Liam O'Sullivan
•You'd probably need to talk to someone directly. Try calling right when they open or use that calling service someone mentioned above. Ask specifically if there are any flags or holds on your claim.
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Amara Okonkwo
lol welcome to the wonderful world of government bureaucracy. where everything's made up and the points don't matter! ðŸŽ
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