When can I file EDD SDI claim before scheduled surgery? Doctor uses mail forms - payment timeline?

Yes, you can file for SDI up to 9 days before your disability starts, not 2 weeks. This is actually better than waiting until after surgery when you'll be in pain and medicated. Make sure your doctor knows exactly when to submit their portion (DE 2501) - timing matters! They can mail it, but it will add 3-5 business days to processing compared to electronic submission.\n\nAs for payment timeline, once both parts are submitted correctly, it typically takes 10-14 days for the first payment. However, with mailed forms, add those extra days for mail processing. Also remember there's a mandatory 7-day unpaid waiting period before benefits begin.\n\nI'd recommend submitting your portion online through SDI Online as soon as you can (again, 9 days before surgery date), then immediately give your doctor the claim number so they can mail their form right away. This gives the best chance of having payment ready shortly after your surgery.

Thank you SO much for the clarification about the 9 days! I was stressing about the 2 week timeline. I'll definitely submit my part online right at that 9-day mark. \n\nDo you know if there's any way to track that my doctor's mailed form was received by EDD? I'm really nervous about forms getting lost in the mail and delaying everything.

just went thru this in November for my knee surgery!! u get the first payment after the 7 day waiting period plus however long it takes to process. took me like almost 3 weeks after surgery to see $$$. doctor paperwork was the holdup. make sure doc includes ALL recovery time on initial form or ull have to get extensions later which is a giant pain in the butt

3 weeks post-surgery?? That's exactly what I'm afraid of... I have mortgage and car payments due the first week of February. Did you have to call EDD multiple times to check on the status? I've been trying to get through on the phone with no luck.

I filed for SDI last summer for eye surgery. The mail process with my doctor caused quite a delay. My recommendation is to physically take the form to your doctor's office after you submit your portion online - don't rely on them to mail it promptly. Then follow up every few days to ensure they've sent it. Ask them to make a copy before sending.\n\nRegarding the payment timeline, my experience was not great. It took nearly 4 weeks from surgery to receive my first payment because of all the mailing delays. The system really isn't set up well for doctors who don't use electronic certification.\n\nI finally reached an EDD agent who was able to help after days of trying. I used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me through to an actual person instead of the endless busy signals and disconnections. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/1X-mEsLtbmQ?si=1hcSq3KFtCr4oAmd. That saved me a lot of frustration when I needed to check my claim status.

I tried that Claimyr thing last month when I had issues with my claim and it's actually legit? I was super skeptical but I was literally talking to an EDD rep in like 20 minutes after trying for DAYS on my own. Wish I'd known about it sooner.

Dont worry so much!! My cousin had surgry and the EDD paid her fast. I think like 1 week?? Doctors send papers slow tho thats true

There's no way she got paid in one week unless she was already on disability before the surgery. EDD has a mandatory 7-day waiting period before benefits begin, and that's not counting processing time. Please be careful about giving incorrect information as it can cause people to make poor financial plans.

oh maybe ur right she told me it was fast but maybe i remembered wrong sry

THE SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO MAKE YOU GIVE UP!!!!! I had a similar surgery last year and EDD \

Oh no, that sounds terrible! Did you ever figure out what happened with the lost forms? I'm going to ask my doctor's office to send it certified mail with tracking if possible.

Let me clear up some confusion about the timing. You can submit your claim for SDI through SDI Online exactly 9 days (not 14 days) before your disability begins. The system won't allow earlier submission.\n\nFor your doctor's portion, here's what you should do:\n\n1. File your claim exactly 9 days before surgery\n2. Immediately take the paper form (DE 2501) to your doctor with your claim number written on it\n3. Ask your doctor's office if they can fax the form instead of mailing it (many offices will do this if you explain the situation)\n4. If they insist on mailing, request they use certified mail\n\nRegarding payment timeline:\n- The 7-day waiting period begins on your first day of disability (your surgery date)\n- After that week passes, EDD begins processing payment\n- With electronic forms: typically 7-10 days after waiting period\n- With mailed forms: typically 14-21 days after waiting period\n\nThe most common delay is when the doctor's information doesn't match what you submitted. Make sure your name, date of birth, date of disability, and diagnosis code are exactly the same on both forms.

Thank you so much for the detailed information! I didn't realize I should be writing my claim number on the doctor's form - that's super helpful. I'll ask about faxing too, though this particular medical group seems pretty set in their ways. \n\nIs there any way to see in the SDI Online system when my doctor's form has been received? I'm trying to plan for when I might actually see a payment.

One thing no one mentioned yet - make sure your disability dates match exactly between your application and what your doctor puts on their form. My doctor put that my disability started on my pre-op appointment date rather than my actual surgery date, and it created weeks of confusion. The EDD computer system automatically flags mismatched dates for review, which adds significant processing time.\n\nAlso, if you're going to be out longer than what your doctor initially certifies, start the extension process at least 10 days before your current certification ends. The recertification process is actually where most people run into payment gaps.

That's such a good point about the dates matching! I'll make sure to be really clear with my doctor about using my surgery date (1/18/25) as the start date. Do you recommend that I call my doctor's office the day after I submit my part online to make sure they have the claim information? I'm so nervous about this whole process.

when i had my gallbladder out last year i got my first payment almost a month after surgery bc my doctor didnt send the paper... had to keep calling his office... so annoying... make sure u bug them everyday lol

Ugh, that's exactly what I'm worried about. Did you have any luck calling EDD to check if they'd received the doctor's form? I'm planning to be really persistent with my doctor's office!

To answer your follow-up question about tracking the doctor's form - yes, you can see this in SDI Online. Once you've filed your claim, log into your account and go to

As someone who just went through this process for my shoulder surgery in October, I can share some real-world timing. I submitted my SDI claim exactly 9 days before surgery (as allowed), and my orthopedic surgeon's office also only does paper forms via mail. Here's what actually happened: - Filed online: 9 days before surgery ✓ - Took DE 2501 form to doctor same day with claim number written on it - Doctor mailed it 3 days later (I called to confirm) - EDD received doctor's form 1 week after my surgery date - First payment arrived 18 days after surgery The key things that helped me: 1. I physically walked the form to my doctor's office and explained the urgency 2. I asked them to put a "rush" note on it for their medical records department 3. I called every 2-3 days to confirm they'd sent it (annoying but necessary) Also, create a simple calendar countdown starting from your surgery date so you know exactly when that 7-day waiting period ends. Mine ended on a weekend, so the processing didn't start until the following Monday. One more tip: Screenshot your SDI Online account showing you filed timely, just in case there are any disputes later about when you submitted your portion.

I went through SDI for my back surgery in 2023 and learned a few things the hard way. First, yes you can file 9 days before surgery - do it online the moment you're eligible because the system is date-locked. For the doctor's mail issue, here's what saved me time: I brought a pre-addressed, pre-stamped envelope to my doctor's office when I dropped off the DE 2501 form. I also included a sticky note with my claim number and surgery date highlighted. The staff appreciated not having to handle postage, and it went out the same day. One thing I wish someone had told me - call EDD's automated line (1-800-480-3287) and use the claim status option. You can check if they've received your doctor's form without sitting on hold forever. The system will tell you if medical certification is "pending" or "received." Regarding payment timing with a Saturday surgery - EDD processes payments on business days, so your 7-day waiting period would end on Saturday 1/25, but processing wouldn't start until Monday 1/27. Plan accordingly for bill timing. Also keep receipts for any medical expenses during your disability period - some are deductible if you itemize taxes. Hope your surgery goes smoothly!

I'm going through the exact same thing right now - scheduled for knee replacement surgery in February and also dealing with a doctor's office that only does paper forms! Reading through everyone's experiences here has been so reassuring because I was getting really anxious about the timing too. One thing I wanted to add that might help - I called my doctor's billing department instead of the main office line, and they were way more knowledgeable about insurance forms and timelines. The billing staff deal with disability paperwork all the time, so they understood the urgency better than the front desk. They even offered to call me when they put my form in the mail so I'd know exactly when it went out. Also, I set up text alerts through my bank for low balance warnings since everyone's saying 3-4 weeks is realistic for first payment. Better to know early if I need to adjust any automatic payments during recovery. @Jamal Carter - you've got this! Sounds like you're being way more proactive than I was initially. That January 18th surgery date gives you a good timeline to work with, and all the advice here about the 9-day filing window and hand-delivering forms is spot on.

Just wanted to add one more tip that really helped me when I went through SDI for my hip surgery last year - consider asking your doctor's office if they can take a photo of the completed form before mailing it. That way if it gets lost in the mail, you have proof it was filled out correctly and they don't have to start from scratch. Also, I see people mentioning certified mail, but regular mail with delivery confirmation is usually enough and cheaper. The important thing is having some kind of tracking number. One last thing - if you're really worried about cash flow during those first few weeks, some credit unions and banks offer short-term hardship loans if you can show proof of pending disability benefits. Might be worth checking with your bank just as a backup plan. The interest is usually pretty reasonable for a 30-day bridge loan. Your surgery is still a few weeks away so you have time to get all this sorted out. The fact that you're planning ahead puts you way ahead of most people who wait until the last minute!

Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly eye-opening! I had my rotator cuff surgery back in September and wish I'd found advice like this beforehand. A few additional things that might help based on what I learned: 1. When you submit your SDI claim online 9 days before surgery, print out the confirmation page immediately. The system sometimes has glitches and having that printout saved me when I had to prove my filing date later. 2. For the doctor's office situation - I found that asking to speak with the "medical records coordinator" or "insurance specialist" often gets you to someone who really knows the disability form process. They deal with these forms regularly and can give you realistic timelines. 3. One thing that caught me off guard was that EDD sends important notices by mail during your claim period. Make sure your mail is being collected if you'll be laid up after surgery - I almost missed a request for additional information because I wasn't checking my mailbox during the first week of recovery. 4. Keep a simple log of all your phone calls and interactions with both your doctor's office and EDD. Include dates, who you spoke with, and what they told you. This documentation became really helpful when I had to follow up on delays. The waiting is definitely the hardest part, but it sounds like you're being much more proactive than most people. Your January 18th timeline gives you a good window to get everything sorted out properly!

I just went through this exact process for my carpal tunnel surgery in November, and I want to echo what others have said about being proactive with your doctor's office. The 18 days post-surgery timeline that @GalacticGladiator shared is pretty typical for mailed forms. One thing I didn't see mentioned that really helped me - ask your doctor's office what day of the week they typically send out mail. My orthopedist's office only sends mail on Tuesdays and Fridays, so knowing that helped me time when to drop off my form. If I had brought it on a Wednesday, it would have sat there until Friday, adding unnecessary delay. Also, for the payment timeline anxiety - I actually called my mortgage company and explained the situation before my surgery. They were surprisingly understanding and let me defer my January payment to February without penalty since I could show them my scheduled surgery date and SDI filing confirmation. Might be worth checking if your lenders have similar hardship accommodations. The automated status line that @Hunter Brighton mentioned (1-800-480-3287) was a lifesaver. I called it every few days after my doctor mailed the form, and it clearly showed when EDD received the medical certification. Way better than trying to get through to an actual person. You're being so much more prepared than I was - stick to that 9-day filing window and you'll be in good shape!

I went through SDI for my ACL surgery earlier this year and wanted to share a few things that really made a difference in my experience. First, absolutely file exactly 9 days before your surgery date - the system is strict about this timing and won't let you file earlier. For dealing with your doctor's old-school mail process, here's what worked for me: I created a "SDI packet" for my orthopedic surgeon's office that included the DE 2501 form, a pre-addressed stamped envelope, a sticky note with my claim number and surgery date highlighted, and a simple cover letter explaining the urgency for my recovery timeline. The office staff really appreciated having everything organized and ready to go. One tip I wish someone had told me - ask your doctor to estimate your TOTAL recovery time accurately on the initial form. If you need extensions later, it adds weeks to the process. For spinal fusion, 6-8 weeks sounds conservative - I'd discuss with your surgeon whether they should certify for the full 8 weeks or even 10 weeks initially. Also, that automated status line (1-800-480-3287) is gold for tracking when EDD receives your doctor's form without waiting on hold. I checked it every few days and it clearly showed the progression. For the financial anxiety - I made a list of all my January/February bills and called each company to explain my upcoming surgery and potential payment delays. Most were surprisingly accommodating with short-term deferrals when I could show proof of my scheduled surgery and SDI filing. Realistic timeline expectation: 18-21 days from surgery to first payment with mailed doctor forms. Plan for that and you'll be less stressed during recovery. You're being way more proactive than most people - that preparation will definitely pay off!

I just want to say how incredibly helpful this entire thread has been! As someone who's never dealt with SDI before, I was completely overwhelmed trying to figure out the timing and process for my upcoming spinal fusion surgery. Reading everyone's real experiences and practical tips has transformed my anxiety into an actual action plan. Here's what I'm taking away from all your advice: - File exactly 9 days before surgery (January 9th for my January 18th surgery) - Create an "SDI packet" with the DE 2501 form, pre-addressed stamped envelope, sticky note with claim number/surgery date, and cover letter explaining urgency - Ask my neurosurgeon to certify for the full 8-10 weeks initially to avoid extension delays - Call the billing department or medical records coordinator instead of front desk - Use the automated status line (1-800-480-3287) to track when EDD receives the doctor's form - Contact my mortgage and car loan companies proactively about potential payment deferrals - Plan realistically for 18-21 days from surgery to first payment - Keep detailed logs of all interactions and print/screenshot everything This community has been so much more valuable than any official EDD resource I found online. Thank you all for sharing your experiences and taking the time to help someone navigate this stressful process. I feel so much more prepared and confident now! I'll definitely update this thread after my surgery to share how the timeline actually plays out with all your advice. Hopefully it can help the next person going through this! 🙏

This thread has been such a goldmine of practical information! I'm scheduled for ankle surgery next month and was panicking about the SDI process until I found this discussion. @Ben Cooper - your action plan checklist is perfect and I'm basically copying it for my own surgery prep! The idea of creating an SDI packet for the doctor's office is brilliant. One question for the group: has anyone dealt with SDI while also having employer-provided short-term disability insurance? My HR department mentioned I might be eligible for both, but I'm not sure how they interact or if there are any timing issues to be aware of. I don't want to accidentally mess up either claim by filing incorrectly. Also wanted to add - I called that automated status line (1-800-480-3287) just to test it out and it's so much better than trying to get through to a human! Even before filing a claim, it gives you helpful menu options and information. Definitely bookmarking that number. Thanks everyone for sharing your real experiences. This community support is amazing! 🙏

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm scheduled for shoulder surgery in February and was completely lost about the SDI process until I found all this advice. One thing I wanted to add that might help others - I work for a company that uses ADP for payroll, and they actually have a partnership with EDD that can expedite the verification process. When I called ADP's disability services line, they told me they can electronically verify my employment and wage information with EDD, which can speed up processing by 3-5 days compared to manual verification. It might be worth calling your payroll company (ADP, Paychex, etc.) to see if they offer similar EDD integration services. Every day counts when you're waiting for that first payment! Also, @Ben Cooper - your checklist is amazing and I'm definitely using it as a template. The organized approach you're taking is exactly what I needed to see to feel confident about tackling this process. Thanks for putting together such a comprehensive action plan from everyone's advice! This community is seriously the best resource I've found for real-world SDI guidance. Much better than trying to decode the official EDD website! 🙏