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Alberto Souchard

What day of the week do EDD SDI payments actually arrive?

Hey everyone, I'm going on disability next month for a scheduled surgery (herniated disc) and trying to plan my finances. I've looked through the EDD website and FAQ but can't find a straight answer about what DAY payments typically hit your account. Is it the same day every week? Random? I need to schedule some auto-payments and want to make sure I have the money when bills come due. I know there's the 7-day waiting period, but after that, is there a pattern to when the disability money actually arrives? Thanks!

In my experience, there's no set day. When I was on disability last year, the payments seemed pretty random. Sometimes Wednesday, sometimes Friday. Not very helpful for planning!

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Ugh that's what I was afraid of. Did you have direct deposit or the debit card? I wonder if that makes a difference.

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There isn't an official set payment day for SDI benefits like there is with unemployment benefits. Here's what you need to know: 1. Once your claim is established, payments are issued every two weeks 2. The actual day your payment arrives depends on when your certification is processed 3. With direct deposit, funds usually appear 1-2 business days after processing 4. With the EDD debit card, it can take 2-3 business days Since certifications are processed in batches throughout the week, there's no guaranteed "payment day" unfortunately. I recommend keeping a small buffer in your account for bills if possible.

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Thanks for the detailed explanation! That makes sense, even if it's not what I hoped to hear. I'll definitely keep a buffer in my account.

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mine came every other tuesday like clockwork but my friend got hers on thursdays so i think it depends on when u first applied or something idk

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Actually it depends on when your certification is processed, not when you applied. Different processing batches = different payment days. It's stupid but that's EDD for you.

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I just went through this!!! It's SO frustrating not knowing when money will arrive. For me it was every other Monday but I think that was just luck. My friend and I both started disability the same week (both pregnancy) and she got paid on Thursdays! Makes no sense.

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Interesting that you both had different days despite starting the same week. I guess I'll just have to wait and see what pattern emerges for me. Congrats on your pregnancy btw!

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If you need to contact EDD directly about this (which might be helpful since your payment schedule will be specific to your claim), I'd recommend trying Claimyr.com. It helped me get through when I was in payment limbo with my disability claim. Instead of redialing for hours, they got me connected to an EDD rep in about 15 minutes. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/1X-mEsLtbmQ?si=1hcSq3KFtCr4oAmd showing how it works. The agent was able to tell me exactly when my payments would process based on my specific claim details.

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Thanks for the tip! If I have trouble with payments when they start, I'll definitely check that out. Spending hours on redial is exactly what I'm hoping to avoid!

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The whole system is DESIGNED to be confusing!!! I've been on disability three times in the last two years (chronic condition) and my payments have NEVER been consistent. Sometimes Monday, sometimes Thursday, sometimes skipped entirely and I had to call a million times to fix it! Don't count on ANY regular schedule - the EDD is a nightmare.

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omg yes i had a payment randomly skipped too! thought i was the only one. called for weeks before they fixed it

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One important clarification - you mentioned "every week" but just to make sure you know, SDI payments are issued bi-weekly (every two weeks), not weekly. Also, make sure you're certifying on time to avoid processing delays that can further change when your payment arrives.

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Thanks for pointing that out! Yes, I meant every two weeks. I'll make sure to certify right away when it's time.

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Wait are we talking about SDI or PFL here? Because I was on paid family leave last year and my payments were totally different schedule than when I was on disability the year before. The whole system is so confusing!

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The original question is about SDI (State Disability Insurance), not PFL (Paid Family Leave). While they're administered by the same department, they can have different processing timelines. But neither one has a guaranteed payment day of the week.

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I've been on SDI twice in the past few years and can confirm there's really no set day unfortunately. My first time I got payments on Tuesdays, second time it was Fridays. What I learned is to track your first few payments to see if YOUR specific claim develops a pattern - mine usually did after the first month or so. Also pro tip: set up text alerts through your bank so you know immediately when the deposit hits, that way you're not constantly checking your account. Good luck with your surgery and recovery!

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I'm dealing with the same situation right now - also going on disability for surgery next month! Reading through everyone's experiences, it sounds like we're both in for some unpredictable payment timing. What I'm planning to do is set up a small emergency fund specifically for this period, maybe enough to cover 2-3 weeks of essential bills. That way if payments come later than expected or get delayed like some people mentioned, I won't be scrambling. Isabella's tip about bank text alerts is brilliant - definitely going to set that up. Also thinking about temporarily moving my bill due dates to later in the month if possible, just to give myself more breathing room. Good luck with your herniated disc surgery - hope you have a smooth recovery!

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That's such a smart approach! I'm definitely going to steal your idea about moving bill due dates to later in the month - never thought of that but it makes perfect sense. The emergency fund is a great idea too, especially after reading about people having payments randomly skipped. It's oddly reassuring to know I'm not the only one dealing with this uncertainty right now. Thanks for the practical tips and good luck with your surgery too! Hoping we both get lucky with consistent payment timing once everything gets rolling.

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Been on SDI for the past 8 months due to a back injury and can add some insight here. Like everyone else said, there's no guaranteed day - mine bounced around between Tuesday and Thursday for the first few months. BUT here's something helpful: once you establish your pattern (usually takes 3-4 payment cycles), it tends to stabilize somewhat. I'd say about 80% of my payments now come on the same day bi-weekly. The key is certifying consistently on the same day each period - I always do mine first thing Monday morning of my cert week and that seems to help with timing. Also echoing what others said about direct deposit being faster than the debit card. One more tip: download the EDD mobile app if you haven't already - it sends push notifications when your certification is processed, which gives you a heads up that payment should hit in 1-2 days. Hope your surgery goes well!

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This is really helpful info! The tip about certifying consistently on the same day each period is something I hadn't thought about - makes total sense that it could help with timing. And downloading the EDD app for those processing notifications is brilliant, that'll definitely help with the anxiety of not knowing when money is coming. It's encouraging to hear that your payments eventually stabilized to a mostly predictable pattern after a few cycles. Gives me hope that even though the first few months might be chaotic, there's light at the end of the tunnel. Thanks for sharing your experience and the practical tips!

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I went through this exact situation last year when I had knee surgery! The uncertainty about payment timing was honestly one of the most stressful parts of the whole process. What ended up working for me was calling EDD right after my first payment to ask specifically about my claim's processing schedule - the rep was actually able to tell me which batch my certifications would be processed in, which gave me a rough idea of timing. It wasn't 100% accurate but helped me plan better. Also, I learned the hard way that holidays can throw everything off by a day or two, so factor that in if your surgery is around any holiday periods. One last thing - consider asking your bank if they offer any short-term overdraft protection or a small line of credit just for this transition period. I know it's not ideal, but it gave me peace of mind knowing I had a backup if timing got weird. Wishing you a smooth surgery and recovery!

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This is exactly the kind of real-world advice I was hoping for! Calling EDD after the first payment to ask about my specific processing batch is such a smart move - I never would have thought to do that but it makes perfect sense. And you're absolutely right about holidays potentially throwing things off, my surgery is actually scheduled for early May so I should probably factor in Memorial Day. The overdraft protection idea is really practical too, even though I hate the idea of fees it's probably worth it for the peace of mind during this transition. Thanks for sharing what actually worked for you - it's so much more helpful than the vague info on their website!

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I'm currently on SDI for a work injury and wanted to share my experience since I know how stressful the uncertainty can be! My payments have been coming every other Wednesday for the past 3 months, but it took about 6 weeks to establish that pattern. The first few payments were all over the place - one came on a Friday, another on a Tuesday. What really helped me was keeping a simple calendar note of when each payment hit so I could start to see the pattern emerge. Also, I set up my bank account to send me balance alerts twice a day during my certification weeks, which helped me catch payments as soon as they arrived. One thing I wish someone had told me earlier: if you're switching from another type of EDD benefit (like unemployment) to disability, your payment timing will likely change completely, so don't expect it to follow your old schedule. The whole system really could use more transparency about timing! Hope your surgery goes smoothly and you get a consistent payment schedule once everything settles in.

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This is such valuable firsthand experience - thank you for sharing! I love your tip about keeping a calendar note to track the pattern, that's something concrete I can do while waiting for things to stabilize. The detail about switching from other EDD benefits potentially changing timing is really good to know too, even though it doesn't apply to me since this will be my first EDD claim. Setting up those twice-daily balance alerts during cert weeks is brilliant - I'm definitely doing that to avoid obsessively checking my account every hour! It's reassuring to hear that even though your first few payments were chaotic, you eventually got into a predictable Wednesday pattern. Gives me hope that after the initial uncertainty, there's usually some consistency that emerges. Thanks for taking the time to share such detailed and practical advice!

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Just wanted to jump in as someone who's been navigating the EDD system for a while now! I'm currently on my second round of SDI (chronic condition that flares up periodically) and can confirm everything everyone's saying about the unpredictable timing. What I've learned is that while there's no official set day, your individual claim usually does settle into somewhat of a pattern after the first month or so - mine comes every other Friday now, but my first claim was Tuesdays. A few practical tips that have saved my sanity: 1) Set up low balance alerts with your bank so you know when you need to be extra careful with spending, 2) If possible, try to build up even a small buffer before your surgery - even $200-300 can make a huge difference when timing is uncertain, and 3) Consider reaching out to your utility companies and other bill providers to explain your situation - many have hardship programs or can work with you on due dates during medical leave. The whole system definitely isn't designed with our peace of mind in mind, but once you get through those first few chaotic payments, it does become more manageable. Wishing you the best with your herniated disc surgery - that's no joke and you'll need to focus on healing, not stressing about payment timing!

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This is incredibly comprehensive advice - thank you so much! Your point about reaching out to utility companies and bill providers is something I hadn't even considered, but it makes total sense that many would have hardship programs during medical leave. I'm definitely going to contact them proactively rather than waiting until I'm in a tight spot. The tip about building up even a small buffer beforehand is spot on too - I've been so focused on the big picture finances that I forgot how much peace of mind even a couple hundred dollars can provide during uncertain timing. It's really encouraging to hear from someone who's been through this twice and has developed such practical strategies. Your comment about focusing on healing rather than stressing about payments really hits home - I know I'll recover better if I'm not constantly worried about money timing. Thanks for sharing such thoughtful and experienced advice!

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I'm new to this community but going through a similar situation soon - scheduled for shoulder surgery in a few weeks and trying to figure out the SDI payment timing too. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly helpful! It sounds like the consensus is that there's no set day but patterns usually emerge after a month or two. I'm planning to combine several of the strategies mentioned here: building a small buffer beforehand, setting up bank alerts, tracking payments on a calendar, and reaching out to my utility companies about flexible due dates during recovery. The tip about certifying consistently on the same day each period to help stabilize timing seems really smart too. One question for those who've been through this - did anyone find that the type of surgery or expected recovery time affected their payment processing at all? Or is it really just about when your certification gets processed regardless of your specific medical situation? Thanks to everyone for sharing such detailed real-world advice. This thread has given me way more practical information than the EDD website ever did!

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Welcome to the community! From what I've experienced and read from others here, the type of surgery or recovery time doesn't seem to affect payment processing timing at all. The EDD system processes SDI certifications in batches based on when they're submitted and processed, not on your specific medical condition or expected recovery length. Whether you're out for 6 weeks or 6 months, it's really just about which processing batch your certification ends up in each cycle. Your shoulder surgery timeline will be the same as someone recovering from back surgery or any other condition - the medical details don't influence the payment schedule. It's good that you're planning to use multiple strategies from this thread! That combination approach seems like the smartest way to handle the uncertainty. Good luck with your surgery!

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I'm dealing with the exact same situation! Just scheduled my surgery for next month (gallbladder removal) and the uncertainty about payment timing has been keeping me up at night. This thread has been a goldmine of practical advice though - I had no idea about things like calling EDD after the first payment to ask about processing batches or setting up consistent certification days to help stabilize timing. What really resonates with me is how many people mentioned that while the first few payments are chaotic, most eventually settle into some kind of pattern after 3-4 cycles. That gives me hope that the uncertainty is temporary even if it's stressful initially. I'm definitely going to implement the "multi-pronged approach" that several people mentioned: building a small emergency buffer beforehand, setting up bank alerts, keeping a payment calendar, and proactively contacting my utility companies about flexible due dates during recovery. The tip about holidays potentially throwing timing off is especially helpful since my surgery might coincide with some summer holidays. Thanks to everyone who shared their real experiences - this is exactly the kind of practical insight you can't get from official EDD resources. It's oddly comforting to know so many others have navigated this uncertainty successfully!

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Welcome to the surgery prep club! It's such a relief to find others going through the same uncertainty, isn't it? Your gallbladder surgery timing with potential summer holidays is definitely something to plan for - I hadn't even thought about how July 4th or other holidays might throw off an already unpredictable schedule. The multi-pronged approach really does seem like the smartest way to handle this. I'm also finding it oddly reassuring that so many people have said their payments eventually settled into patterns after those first chaotic months. It makes the initial uncertainty feel more manageable knowing it's typically temporary. One thing I'm adding to my prep list after reading everyone's advice is downloading that EDD mobile app for the processing notifications - seems like every little bit of advance warning helps when you're trying to manage bills around unpredictable payment timing. Good luck with your gallbladder surgery! Hopefully we both end up with nice predictable payment schedules once everything settles in.

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I've been on SDI for about 6 months now and wanted to share what I've learned about payment timing since I know how frustrating the uncertainty can be! Like everyone else has mentioned, there's definitely no set day of the week - my payments have shifted around quite a bit. What I've found helpful is tracking not just when payments arrive, but also when I certify each period. I noticed that when I certify early in my certification window (like Monday morning), my payments tend to process faster than when I wait until later in the week. Also, something I haven't seen mentioned yet - if you have other direct deposits going into the same account (like from a spouse's job), sometimes that can affect when you see the EDD deposit post, even though it processes at the same time. My bank groups deposits by timing and my EDD payments would sometimes get bundled with my husband's paycheck, making it look like it came on a different day. Just another variable to consider when you're tracking patterns! Best of luck with your herniated disc surgery - having a plan like you're doing definitely helps reduce the stress during recovery.

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That's a really interesting point about how the timing of certification within your window can affect processing speed - I hadn't thought about that but it makes total sense that earlier submissions might get processed sooner. The insight about direct deposits potentially getting bundled together by your bank is something I never would have considered either! That could definitely confuse the tracking if you're trying to figure out patterns. I'm planning to certify first thing Monday morning of each certification period now based on your experience. It's details like these that make such a difference in understanding how the system actually works versus how we think it should work. Thanks for sharing those practical insights from your 6 months of experience!

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I've been on SDI twice in the past three years and can share some insights that might help with your planning! Like everyone has mentioned, there's unfortunately no guaranteed payment day, but I did notice a few patterns that might be useful. My payments typically arrived within the same 2-3 day window each cycle once things stabilized (usually around the 4th or 5th payment). The key factors that seemed to influence timing were: 1) How early I certified in my window (I always did mine on the first day possible), 2) Whether there were any holidays that week, and 3) My bank's processing schedule for direct deposits. One thing that really helped me was creating a simple spreadsheet tracking certification dates, processing notifications, and actual deposit dates. After a few cycles, I could see the pattern and plan accordingly. Also, don't forget that your first payment might be delayed beyond the normal processing time since they have to establish your claim - mine took an extra 3-4 days compared to subsequent payments. The unpredictability is definitely stressful, but most people do find their groove after the first month or two. Hope your herniated disc surgery goes smoothly and you get a consistent payment pattern once everything is set up!

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The spreadsheet idea is brilliant! I'm definitely going to set one up to track certification dates, processing notifications, and deposit dates like you did. Having that data organized will probably help me spot patterns much faster than just trying to remember or keep mental notes. Your point about the first payment potentially taking longer due to claim establishment is really good to know too - I'll make sure to plan for that extra delay on top of everything else. It sounds like being consistent with early certification really does make a difference based on your experience and others here. Thanks for such organized and practical advice - the spreadsheet approach feels like something concrete I can control even when the payment timing itself is unpredictable!

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I'm a newcomer here but wanted to add my perspective since I just finished my first year on SDI for a chronic condition. Reading through all these experiences, I'm struck by how much the uncertainty around payment timing adds unnecessary stress to an already difficult situation. What worked for me was treating the first 2-3 months as a "learning period" where I assumed payments could come any day of the week and planned accordingly. I set up multiple safety nets: a small emergency fund, moved all my bill due dates to the end of the month, and set up bank alerts for both low balances and incoming deposits. The good news is that after those initial chaotic months, my payments did settle into a pattern (every other Thursday), and now I can plan around it. One tip I haven't seen mentioned - consider using your bank's mobile app to set up custom notifications specifically for EDD deposits over a certain amount. That way you'll know immediately when your payment hits without getting alerts for every small transaction. The system definitely isn't user-friendly, but it sounds like you're already thinking ahead and planning smart. That preparation will serve you well during recovery when you want to focus on healing, not financial stress. Best of luck with your surgery!

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This is such a helpful perspective, especially the idea of treating those first few months as a "learning period" - that reframes the uncertainty in a much more manageable way! I love your tip about setting up custom notifications for EDD deposits over a certain amount. That's so much smarter than getting pinged for every little transaction while you're anxiously waiting for your disability payment. Your point about moving bill due dates to the end of the month is something I keep seeing recommended and I think I need to stop procrastinating on that task. It seems like such a simple change but could make a huge difference in reducing stress during those unpredictable early months. It's really encouraging to hear from someone who made it through that learning period successfully and now has a reliable Thursday pattern. Gives me hope that the chaos is temporary and there's light at the end of the tunnel. Thanks for sharing your first-year experience - it's exactly the kind of long-term perspective I needed to hear!

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I'm new to the community and facing the exact same situation - scheduled for rotator cuff surgery in a few weeks and trying to figure out this payment timing puzzle! Reading through everyone's experiences has been incredibly eye-opening and honestly a huge relief. I had no idea that payment timing was so unpredictable, but knowing that most people eventually settle into some kind of pattern after 2-3 months makes it feel more manageable. I'm definitely going to implement the "multi-layered approach" that keeps coming up: building a small buffer fund, setting up bank alerts, tracking everything in a spreadsheet like JaylinCharles suggested, and moving my bill due dates to later in the month. The tip about certifying consistently early in the window seems to be mentioned by everyone who found stable patterns, so that's going on my list too. One question for those with experience - did anyone find that keeping a written log of when you certified versus when payments actually arrived helped you communicate better with EDD if you had to call about delays? I'm thinking it might be useful documentation to have on hand. This thread has given me so much more practical information than hours of searching the EDD website. Thanks to everyone for sharing their real-world experiences - it's made me feel way less alone in navigating this uncertainty!

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Welcome to the community! I'm so glad you found this thread helpful - I was feeling pretty overwhelmed about the whole payment timing thing before reading everyone's experiences too. Your rotator cuff surgery is coming up soon, so you're smart to get all this planning done ahead of time. To answer your question about keeping a written log - yes, absolutely! I haven't had to call EDD yet (knock on wood), but several people in other threads have mentioned that having detailed records of certification dates and payment timing made their calls much more productive. The reps apparently appreciate when you can give them specific dates and details rather than vague complaints about timing. Plus, having it all written down will probably help you spot your own payment pattern faster once it emerges. The multi-layered approach really does seem to be the way to go based on everyone's advice here. I'm implementing the same strategy for my upcoming surgery. It's such a relief to know we're not the first people to face this uncertainty and that others have successfully navigated it. Good luck with your rotator cuff surgery - hopefully we both end up with nice predictable payment schedules once everything settles in!

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I've been on SDI for about 4 months now after a workplace injury and wanted to share my experience since I see you're getting lots of great advice here! Like everyone has said, there's definitely no set day, but I did eventually settle into a pattern - mine comes every other Tuesday now, though it took about 6 weeks to stabilize. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet that might help with your planning: I found it useful to screenshot my EDD online portal whenever I certified, just to have a record of the exact time/date. A couple times there were processing delays and having that timestamp helped when I had to call EDD. Also, if you're planning to use direct deposit, make sure your bank account info is 100% correct because even a small error can cause delays that throw off your whole timeline. The uncertainty is definitely stressful at first, but reading through this thread, it's clear that most people do find their rhythm after those first few chaotic payments. Your herniated disc surgery prep sounds very thorough - that planning mindset will definitely help you get through the initial uncertainty period. Wishing you a smooth surgery and recovery!

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