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Jamal Edwards

Will my doctor get notified before my EDD SDI claim ends? Need extension info

I've been on disability since March 2025 for a spinal injury (just had surgery about 6 weeks ago), and my current claim is set to expire in about 20 days. My recovery is taking longer than expected and my doctor mentioned he'll probably need to extend my disability. What's confusing me is whether the EDD will automatically notify him when my claim is ending or if I need to be proactive about this? We've both been handling everything online through SDI Online - no paper forms so far. Does anyone know if there's an automatic notification sent when the claim is about to expire? Or do I need to remind my doctor to submit a new medical certification? And how far in advance should this be done? I'm worried about having a gap in benefits if we don't time this right. Thanks for any help! This is my first time being on disability and I'm still figuring out how everything works.

EDD doesn't automatically notify your doctor when your claim is ending. You need to be proactive about this. Ideally, you should talk to your doctor about 1-2 weeks before your claim is set to expire to discuss extending it. The doctor will need to submit a new medical certification (DE 2501) through SDI Online confirming you still can't work. Don't wait until the last minute because processing can take a few days. Your doctor needs to clearly explain why your condition still prevents you from performing your regular work duties. Make sure they include an expected recovery timeline too.

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Thank you so much for this information! I have a follow-up appointment next week, so I'll definitely bring this up with my doctor then. Is there anything specific I need to do on my end through the SDI Online portal, or is it all on my doctor to submit the extension?

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i just went thru this in january!! nobody tells u anything lol. ur doctor has to submit another certification form before ur current one runs out. mine didnt do it in time and i had like a 2 week gap with no money coming in and it was a NIGHTMARE. def bug ur doctor about it asap!!

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Oh no, that sounds stressful! I definitely don't want to have a gap in benefits. I'll call my doctor's office tomorrow just to make sure they're aware. Did you have to do anything special to get your payments restarted after the gap?

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The EDD system is SO FRUSTRATING!! I had the same issue last year and ended up with no income for almost a month because nobody told me or my doctor that we needed to submit anything. I called EDD like 50 times and couldn't get through to anyone. My doctor's office was equally clueless and kept saying they hadn't received any forms to fill out. The whole system is designed to make you fail!

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Same experience here. It's ridiculous how difficult they make everything. My claim got delayed for weeks just because my doctor put the wrong date format on one form. They never even contacted me to fix it, I had to figure it out myself after calling for days.

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When your disability claim is nearing its end date, you need to take action if you need an extension. Here's exactly what needs to happen: 1. Your doctor must submit a new medical certification (DE 2501) through SDI Online stating you still cannot perform your regular work 2. This should ideally be done 5-7 days before your current claim period ends 3. After your doctor submits this certification, you'll need to complete a new claim form (DE 2501) yourself 4. Make sure your doctor includes detailed information about why you need additional recovery time Keep in mind that extensions aren't automatically approved - EDD will review the new medical information to determine if continued benefits are justified. The extension request should clearly explain why you need additional time beyond what was originally estimated.

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This is super helpful, thank you! Just to clarify - I need to submit a new claim form myself AFTER my doctor submits the updated medical certification? Is that something I'll see as a prompt in my SDI Online account or do I need to initiate it?

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My wife just dealt with this for her pregnancy disability! The doctor has to do a new certification but honestly you should be the one reminding them because doctors offices forget this stuff all the time. She had her doctor submit the form about 10 days before her original end date just to be safe. Also make sure you keep certifying for benefits every two weeks even while waiting for the extension to be approved!

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I had such a nightmare trying to reach EDD about my extension last month. Called for days and kept getting disconnected or waiting on hold for hours. Finally found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to an actual EDD agent in about 20 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/1X-mEsLtbmQ?si=1hcSq3KFtCr4oAmd Totally worth it to speak with someone who could actually tell me what was going on with my extension request. The agent confirmed my doctor had submitted everything correctly and my extension was being processed.

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does that service really work?? i might need this next time cuz i wasted like 3 days of my life trying to get thru to edd!!

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Yes, it really worked for me! I was skeptical too but I was desperate after trying to get through for days. The agent I talked to was able to see exactly what was happening with my claim and confirm my extension was being processed.

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To answer your follow-up question: Yes, you do need to file a new claim form yourself after your doctor submits the updated certification. When you log into your SDI Online account, you'll see a section for filing a new claim. Select the option for "Extension of Benefits" rather than starting a completely new claim. The system won't automatically prompt you to do this - you need to initiate it after your doctor has submitted their part. This is why many people experience gaps in benefits; they don't realize both parties have paperwork to complete for extensions.

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Thank you for clarifying! I'll make sure to check my SDI Online account after my doctor submits their certification. I appreciate everyone's help - this has been really informative. I'll talk to my doctor next week and make sure we get everything submitted with plenty of time to avoid any benefit gaps.

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just my 2 cents but make sure ur doctor includes detailed notes about why u need more time. my first extension got denied because my doc just wrote basically "patient needs more time" without explaining why my recovery was taking longer than expected. second time he wrote a detailed explanation and it was approved right away.

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Great advice everyone! I'm currently dealing with a similar situation and this thread has been super helpful. One thing I'd add is to make sure you have your doctor's office contact info handy and maybe even set a reminder on your phone about 2 weeks before your claim expires. I learned the hard way that doctor's offices can be slow to respond, especially if they're busy. Also, if you're working with a specialist (like an orthopedic surgeon for spinal issues), sometimes they're less familiar with the EDD process than your primary care doctor, so you might need to be extra proactive in explaining what forms they need to submit. Good luck with your recovery!

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This is such great advice about setting reminders and having contact info ready! I'm definitely going to do both of those things. You're right about specialists potentially being less familiar with EDD processes - my orthopedic surgeon is amazing with the medical side but seems less experienced with disability paperwork. I'll make sure to be really clear about what he needs to submit and when. Thanks for the tip about being proactive with explanations!

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As someone who just went through this process successfully, I can confirm what others have said - you absolutely need to be proactive! My disability claim was also for a spinal issue and I learned that timing is everything. Here's what worked for me: 1. I contacted my doctor's office 3 weeks before my claim expired to schedule a follow-up appointment specifically to discuss the extension 2. At that appointment, I brought a printed summary of exactly what forms needed to be submitted and the deadline 3. I followed up with the office 1 week later to confirm they had submitted everything The key is treating this like a project you're managing rather than assuming the system will work smoothly. My doctor's office appreciated having the clear timeline and requirements, and we avoided any gaps in benefits. Don't feel bad about being "pushy" - your financial stability depends on this going smoothly! Also, keep documenting everything (dates you called, who you spoke with, etc.) just in case you need to reference it later.

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This is exactly the kind of organized approach I needed to hear about! I love the idea of bringing a printed summary to the appointment - that's so smart. I'm definitely going to follow your timeline and schedule that follow-up appointment specifically for discussing the extension. It makes so much sense to treat this like a project I'm managing rather than hoping everything just works out. Thank you for sharing what worked for you - this gives me a clear action plan to follow!

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Ev Luca

Just wanted to add another perspective as someone who's been through multiple EDD extensions over the past year. One thing I learned is that if your doctor is submitting through SDI Online, you can actually check the status of their submission in your account. Look for a section called "Medical Certifications" or something similar - it will show you when your doctor last submitted paperwork and if it's been processed. This saved me a lot of anxiety because I could see that my doctor had actually submitted the extension even though I hadn't received any confirmation from EDD yet. The processing time can vary quite a bit depending on how busy they are, so don't panic if you don't see an immediate update to your claim status. I've had extensions take anywhere from 3-10 business days to be reflected in the system. Also, pro tip: if you do end up with a gap in payments while they process your extension, you'll get backpaid for those weeks once it's approved. It's still stressful not having the money come in on time, but at least you won't lose those benefits permanently. Hope your recovery goes well!

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This is incredibly helpful information! I had no idea I could check the status of my doctor's submissions in my SDI Online account. That will definitely help reduce my anxiety about whether everything was submitted properly. It's also really reassuring to know that if there is a gap, I'll get backpaid once the extension is approved - that takes some of the pressure off. Thanks for sharing your experience with multiple extensions and the timeline for processing. Your pro tip about the "Medical Certifications" section is exactly what I needed to know!

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I'm dealing with a similar situation right now and this thread has been a lifesaver! I'm about 3 weeks out from my claim expiring and was getting really anxious about the process. Based on everyone's advice here, I just scheduled an appointment with my doctor for next week specifically to discuss the extension. One question I have - for those who have gone through this successfully, did your doctor's office ask you to bring any specific documentation to the appointment? Like previous EDD correspondence or medical records? I want to make sure I come prepared with everything they might need to complete the certification accurately. Also, thank you to everyone who mentioned the importance of being proactive and treating this like a project you're managing. That really shifted my mindset from hoping everything works out to taking control of the situation. The tip about checking the "Medical Certifications" section in SDI Online is also gold - I had no idea that feature existed!

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Great question about what to bring to your appointment! From my experience, it's helpful to bring any recent EDD correspondence you've received (especially anything showing your current claim end date), a copy of your original medical certification if you have it, and a brief summary of your current symptoms/limitations. I also brought a list of my current medications and any recent test results or imaging that showed my ongoing condition. My doctor appreciated having all this information in one place when filling out the new certification form. It made the whole process much smoother and ensured nothing important was missed. You're smart to be so prepared - that proactive approach really makes a difference!

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This thread is exactly what I needed to read! I'm in a very similar situation - about 4 weeks out from my claim expiring after a work injury, and I had no idea I needed to be so proactive about the extension process. Reading everyone's experiences has been both eye-opening and a bit scary (especially hearing about those benefit gaps!). I'm definitely going to follow the advice here about scheduling a dedicated appointment with my doctor specifically for the extension discussion. The tip about bringing a printed summary of requirements and deadlines is brilliant - I can already tell my doctor's office will appreciate having everything laid out clearly. One thing I'm curious about - has anyone here dealt with getting an extension while also potentially transitioning back to modified work duties? My physical therapist thinks I might be able to do some light desk work in a few weeks, but I'm not sure if that affects the extension process or if I need to wait until I'm fully cleared to return to my regular job duties. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this community is incredibly helpful for navigating what feels like a really confusing system!

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That's a great question about transitioning to modified work duties! From what I understand, you'll want to discuss this carefully with your doctor during your extension appointment. If you're able to do light desk work but not your regular job duties, your doctor can potentially certify you for a "partial disability" rather than total disability. This might affect your benefit amount, but you could still receive some SDI payments while doing modified work. The key is being completely honest with your doctor about what you can and can't do physically. They need to accurately assess whether you can perform your specific job requirements, not just any type of work. I'd recommend asking your doctor specifically about partial disability options and how that would be documented on the extension forms. You definitely don't want to risk your benefits by working when you're not supposed to, but there may be legitimate options for a gradual return to work while still receiving some support.

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I went through this exact same process about 6 months ago after knee surgery, and I can definitely relate to the confusion! The one thing I wish I had known earlier is that you should also keep a record of exactly when you contact your doctor's office about the extension. I called my doctor's office twice thinking they had submitted the paperwork, but it turned out they were waiting for me to schedule a follow-up appointment first. Also, don't be afraid to ask your doctor's office directly: "What specific steps do YOU need me to take for my disability extension?" Sometimes they have their own internal process (like requiring an appointment, or needing you to fill out a patient form first) before they'll submit anything to EDD. Getting clarity on their process upfront can save you a lot of stress later. One more tip - if your doctor seems unfamiliar with the EDD process, you can actually print out the DE 2501 form instructions from the EDD website and bring them to your appointment. It shows exactly what information they need to include, which can help ensure they fill it out completely the first time. Good luck with your recovery!

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This is such valuable advice about keeping records and understanding your doctor's office process! I never thought about asking them directly what steps THEY need me to take - that's so smart. Every office probably has their own way of handling these things. The tip about printing out the DE 2501 form instructions is brilliant too, especially for doctors who might not be as familiar with EDD requirements. I'm definitely going to do that for my appointment next week. It sounds like being overly prepared and communicative is way better than assuming everything will just work smoothly. Thanks for sharing what you learned from your experience!

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