SDI paper vs. digital certification confusion - new Money Network card questions

Good questions! Let me help clarify: 1. Yes, your husband can absolutely still use SDI Online even if his doctor submits a paper medical certification. He should create/login to his SDI Online account and file his claim there. The system will link his digital claim with the doctor's paper form using his SSN and other identifying information. 2. Yes, set up the SDI Online account right away and file his claim. Don't wait for the doctor to submit their form first - the two parts can be processed separately and will be matched by EDD. 3. Correct about Money Network! Since his old card expired, EDD will automatically issue a new Money Network debit card once his claim is approved. The cards typically arrive 7-10 business days after claim approval. Hope this helps! The mixed paper/digital process confuses a lot of people.

When my wife filed SDI last montj the doctor did paper and she did online too. No problems it all matched up fine. But make SURE he calls to confirm they got the doctors form!! Our doctor said they sent it but EDD never recieved it and we had to get it sent again, lost 2 weeks of benefits cuz of that mess up.

I JUST went through this exact situation last month and it was a NIGHTMARE!!! The EDD phone lines are completely useless - called 47 times in one day and either got disconnected or was on hold for hours only to be hung up on. My husband's doctor sent in the paper form and we did online but then nothing happened for 3 weeks. No updates, no card, NOTHING. Finally I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got us connected to an actual EDD representative in about 20 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/1X-mEsLtbmQ?si=1hcSq3KFtCr4oAmd The EDD rep told us they had received the doctor's certification but it was sitting in a queue waiting to be scanned into the system! Once we got someone on the phone, they expedited everything and the claim was approved 2 days later. Just sharing because I wasted SO MUCH time trying to get through on my own.

im confused... isnt SDI the same as unemploymint? my brother got laid off and he got disability payments... or was that something different? the whole EDD system is so confusing

Make sure your husband's doctor uses the right form! The current medical certification is form DE 2501 (dated 2023 or newer). If they're using old forms, it can cause delays. Also, the 7-day waiting period is still in effect for SDI claims, so he won't get paid for the first week. Benefits start from day 8 of the disability. For the Money Network card - yes, they switched from BofA in 2022. The new cards are black instead of blue. If he still has his old card, you can call Money Network to see if they can reactivate or replace it, but most likely they'll just send a new one once the claim is approved.

I had to do this in January. The trick with paper forms is that doctors often forget to fill out ALL required fields and then EDD rejects it without telling anyone! My doctor's office forgot to check one tiny box and my claim sat pending for a month. Just a tip - have your husband ask for a copy of the completed form before they submit it so you can double-check that everything is filled out properly. Saved me so much headache when I had to file a second claim in April!

one more thing no one mentioned - if ur husband is able to work part time during his disability, make sure he reports ANY earnings on his certification forms. my coworker didn't report 2 days of partial work and ended up with a huge overpayment notice later. EDD does crosscheck with employer payroll records so they WILL find out.

Just to update you on current processing times - as of June 2025, SDI claims with no issues are taking approximately 14-21 days to process. If there are any discrepancies or missing information, it can extend to 30+ days. Another tip: After your husband files his claim, he'll get a DE 2501P form in the mail. This shows his claim number, weekly benefit amount, and other important details. Keep this document safe - you'll need it for references and if you need to contact EDD about the claim status.

Welcome to the community! Just wanted to add one more helpful tip that saved me a lot of stress - after your husband files his SDI claim online, he'll get a confirmation number. Write that down immediately and take a screenshot! I lost mine the first time and had no way to track my claim status until I got the paperwork in the mail. Also, once he gets his Money Network card, download the app right away. You can check benefit deposits, set up direct deposit to your bank account (which is faster than using the card), and get notifications when payments are loaded. The app is way more convenient than calling the customer service line. Good luck with everything - sounds like you've got a solid plan thanks to all the great advice from everyone here!