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Oliver Alexander

When to file SDI for pregnancy complications at 34 weeks - claim date confusion

Hi everyone, I'm dealing with some complications with my pregnancy (34 weeks now) and my doctor has recommended I stop working immediately. My last day at the office will be February 15, 2025. I'm confused about the actual filing process - can I submit my SDI claim on February 16 and list that as my first day of disability? Or should I wait the 7-day waiting period first and then apply? I've heard different things from coworkers and I'm worried about messing up my claim dates since this isn't technically my due date yet. Has anyone gone through early pregnancy disability leave recently? Thanks for any advice!

Lara Woods

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You can absolutely file your SDI claim on February 16, 2025, and list that as your first day of disability! The 7-day waiting period is built into the benefit calculation - you don't get paid for those first 7 days, but they count as part of your claim period. Just make sure your doctor completes the medical certification promptly confirming the pregnancy complications that require you to stop working. Your doctor needs to verify the medical necessity for disability before your due date.

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Thank you! That helps a lot. My doctor mentioned she'd complete the forms, but I wasn't sure if I needed to wait before actually submitting the claim. I appreciate the clarification!

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Adrian Hughes

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I just did this in January! Same boat - pregnancy issues at 33 weeks. You file right away after your last day worked and the EDD handles the waiting period. Just remember you don't get $$$ for the first week. Also MAKE SURE your dr office submits their paperwork asap bc mine took forever and delayed everything!!

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Oh that's good to know about making sure the doctor submits quickly! Did you have any issues with them processing your claim since it was before your actual due date?

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Pregnancy SDI is so confusing honestly. I think you put the first day AFTER your last day worked as your disability date. Thats what I did for mine. But then my claim was pending for like 3 weeks and nobody answered when I called!!!

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Ian Armstrong

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You're right about the first day after your last day worked being your disability start date. For pregnancy complications before the standard 4 weeks pre-delivery disability period, your doctor just needs to specify the medical reason. The standard SDI pregnancy disability is typically 4 weeks before delivery and 6-8 weeks after (depending on delivery type), but complications can certainly extend this period with proper medical certification.

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Eli Butler

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Congrats on your pregnancy! My sister just went thru this whole process i think she told me you dont get any money for the first week anyway so dont stress too much about the exact date lol

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I had to stop working at 30 weeks due to preeclampsia in 2024 and the EDD system is HORRIBLE to navigate. I filled out everything correctly, doctor submitted everything on time, and my claim was STILL pending for 5 weeks with NO INCOME while I was on bedrest stressing about paying bills!! I couldn't get through to ANYONE on the phone for weeks - it just disconnected me after waiting for hours! FINALLY I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me 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 rep fixed my claim immediately once I actually got to talk to someone. Just keeping this in mind if you run into problems because pregnancy is stressful enough without fighting with EDD!

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Lydia Bailey

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I second this. The EDD phone system is absolutely broken. I spent 6 days trying to reach someone before using Claimyr. Was connected within 25 minutes and had my pregnancy complication claim sorted out that same call. Worth it for the peace of mind alone.

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is this service legit? im always worried about these things that charge you to help with government stuff...

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Mateo Warren

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when i was pregnant last year my doctor put me off work at 36 weeks due to high blood pressure i filed my claim on my first day off and everything went fine but then i got really confused because after i had the baby they automatically transitioned me to recovery disability and i thought i had to file a whole new claim but you dont

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Lara Woods

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That's a really good point about the transition! Once you're on SDI for pregnancy complications, after delivery it should automatically transition to postpartum recovery disability (typically 6 weeks for vaginal delivery or 8 weeks for C-section). Your doctor just needs to update the EDD with your delivery information. You might want to follow up after delivery to make sure this happens smoothly.

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Ian Armstrong

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To clarify for everyone: For SDI claims related to pregnancy complications before the standard disability period (which is 4 weeks before due date), you should: 1. File your claim on the first day after your last day worked (list this as your first day of disability) 2. Have your doctor submit medical certification specifying the complications requiring you to stop working 3. The 7-day waiting period begins on your first day of disability (you won't be paid for this week) 4. Benefits begin after the waiting period if your claim is approved 5. After delivery, your claim will transition to postpartum recovery (6-8 weeks, depending on delivery type) For your February situation, you would file on February 16, 2025, listing it as your first day of disability. Your benefits would begin on February 23, 2025 (after the waiting period).

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Thank you so much for breaking this down step by step. This is exactly what I needed to know! I'll make sure to follow these steps and double-check that my doctor submits everything quickly.

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Lydia Bailey

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Make sure you keep track of your claim status online after you file. With my pregnancy last year, my doctor submitted something incorrectly and I didn't realize it for two weeks. My claim showed as "pending - medical certification" but I assumed everything was fine. You might need to follow up with your doctor's office if it stays pending for more than a few days.

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Just wanted to add another perspective as someone who went through this recently! I had to stop work at 32 weeks due to gestational diabetes complications. One thing that really helped me was calling my doctor's office the day after I filed my claim to confirm they received the medical certification request from EDD and ask when they planned to submit it. Some offices are super quick, others take their time, and it really makes a difference in how fast your claim gets processed. Also, don't forget to keep all your documentation - I had to provide additional medical records later when EDD requested more details about my specific complications. The whole process was stressful but everything worked out once I stayed on top of it. Good luck with everything and hope the rest of your pregnancy goes smoothly!

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Kyle Wallace

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I went through something similar last year at 35 weeks with preeclampsia! Just wanted to add that when you file your claim, make sure to save a copy of everything you submit online - I had to reference my original filing dates later when there was some confusion about my benefit calculation. Also, if your doctor mentions any specific restrictions (like bed rest, no lifting, etc.), make sure those are clearly documented in the medical certification. EDD sometimes requests additional details about work restrictions, especially for pregnancy complications that start before the standard 4-week pre-delivery period. The good news is that once everything is properly documented, the process usually goes smoothly. Wishing you and your baby the best!

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Logan Scott

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Thank you for sharing your experience! That's really helpful advice about saving copies of everything and making sure work restrictions are clearly documented. I hadn't thought about the benefit calculation potentially being affected by filing dates. Did you have any issues with EDD questioning the timing since you started before the standard 4-week period? I'm a bit nervous about that part since I'll be starting at 34 weeks.

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I'm currently going through this exact situation! I'm 33 weeks and just had to stop working due to severe morning sickness that never went away plus some blood pressure issues. My doctor told me the same thing - file immediately after your last day of work. I submitted my claim last week and it's already been approved! The key things I learned: 1) Your doctor needs to be very specific about WHY you can't work (not just "pregnancy complications" but actual symptoms like nausea preventing you from performing duties, blood pressure requiring bed rest, etc.), 2) File online if possible - it's faster than paper, 3) Check your claim status daily online, and 4) Don't stress about the 7-day waiting period - that's automatic and built into the system. One tip: when I called my doctor's office to make sure they got the medical certification request, I asked them to fax it that same day rather than mailing it. This sped things up by almost a week! Hope this helps and congratulations on your little one!

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Sadie Benitez

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This is so helpful, thank you! I'm glad to hear your claim was approved quickly. The tip about asking the doctor's office to fax instead of mail is brilliant - I never would have thought of that but it makes total sense that it would be faster. I'm definitely going to be very specific with my doctor about the symptoms and work restrictions. It's reassuring to hear from someone who just went through this successfully. Congratulations to you too on your pregnancy!

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I just wanted to share my recent experience since I went through this exact situation last month! I had to stop working at 35 weeks due to pregnancy-induced hypertension and was so confused about the timing too. Here's what I learned: You absolutely CAN file on February 16th and list that as your first day of disability - don't wait! The 7-day waiting period is automatic, so you won't get paid for that first week but it still counts toward your claim. The most important thing is getting your doctor to be super detailed in the medical certification about WHY you can't work (specific symptoms, restrictions, etc.) rather than just saying "pregnancy complications." I also recommend calling your doctor's office a day or two after filing to confirm they received the medical form from EDD and ask them to prioritize submitting it. My claim was approved within a week because I stayed on top of the medical paperwork. Don't stress too much about the early timing - as long as your doctor medically justifies the need to stop working before your due date, EDD handles pregnancy complications all the time. Good luck and take care of yourself!

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Thank you for sharing your recent experience! It's really reassuring to hear from someone who just went through this successfully. I'm definitely going to follow your advice about being proactive with the doctor's office and making sure they're detailed about the medical justification. Did you have any issues with EDD questioning why you needed to stop at 35 weeks instead of the usual 4 weeks before due date, or did they accept it without problems once your doctor provided the detailed medical certification?

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