How long after mailing SDI maternity form until EDD processes it? No luck calling!
I'm 39 weeks pregnant and finally got my doctor to complete my DE2501 disability form for maternity leave last week. I mailed it on Monday (first class mail) and I'm getting anxious because my due date is in 8 days! I tried calling EDD this morning to confirm they received it but kept getting the 'all representatives are busy' message for over an hour before giving up. Does anyone know how long it typically takes for them to process mailed forms? Will I see something on my online account before I get anything in the mail? I'm freaking out because I need this processed before I deliver - I seriously can't afford to miss my maternity disability payments with twins on the way! First time mom problems π°
21 comments


Brian Downey
Ugh the EDD mail processing is HORRIBLE right now! I mailed my form in January and it took EIGHTEEN DAYS just to show up in the system. And that was before they had the big backlog they're dealing with now. You should have faxed it instead - that's way faster.
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Myles Regis
β’Eighteen days?!? Omg I'm literally due in 8 days! This is so stressful. I had no idea faxing was faster. My doctor didn't mention that option π
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Jacinda Yu
Deep breath! This happens to lots of first-time moms. Here's what you need to know about EDD SDI for pregnancy: 1) Mail processing is currently taking 7-10 business days before it shows in their system 2) Once it shows up, expect another 7-14 days for claim processing 3) Your claim is backdated to when your doctor certified you stopped/will stop working, not when EDD receives the paperwork 4) You can still submit even after delivery - you won't lose benefits if it's late Check your UI Online account daily - that's where it will first show up. The status will change from "No Disability Claims Filed" to "Claim Filed" before you get any mail.
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Myles Regis
β’Thank you so much for the detailed explanation! That's really reassuring. I didn't realize the claim would be backdated to my last day of work. I'll keep checking my UI Online account daily. Hopefully something shows up soon.
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Landon Flounder
i had my bbay in march and had the same freakout lol... took about 2 weeks from when i mailed it to see anything online and then another week to get my first payment. but they did backpay from when my doctor signed me out (36 weeks). dont worry too much!
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Myles Regis
β’Thanks for sharing your experience! That helps calm my nerves. Did you do anything special to follow up or did you just wait for it to appear in the system?
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Callum Savage
If you need to reach EDD quickly, try Claimyr (claimyr.com). They got me through to an EDD rep in 15 minutes after I was trying for days with no luck. They have a video that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/DOLxZQb92wM?si=6N1iCQ3a8Cdb2Ay5 The rep I spoke with was able to confirm they received my paperwork even though it wasn't showing online yet, which saved me so much anxiety. Totally worth it when you're 9 months pregnant and stressed!
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Ally Tailer
β’does this claimyr thing actually work?? i've been trying to call EDD for 3 days about my maternity leave payment being late and cant get through
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Aliyah Debovski
You need to understand the difference between SDI and PFL for maternity. What you submitted was the pregnancy disability claim (SDI) which covers 4 weeks before birth and 6-8 weeks after depending on delivery type. Baby bonding (PFL) is COMPLETELY SEPARATE and you'll need to file another form (DE2508) after your disability period ends. Sometimes claims DO get lost in the mail. If nothing shows up in 10 business days, you might need to resubmit. And yes, you can resubmit the same form if needed.
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Myles Regis
β’Thank you for explaining the difference! I did know that I'll need to file for PFL baby bonding after the disability period, but I appreciate you making sure I understood. I'll definitely resubmit if nothing shows up in 10 business days.
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Miranda Singer
Waiting for mail processing is the WORST! When I had my baby last year I submitted my form then gave birth 3 days later before it was even processed. What a nightmare! Just make sure you have all your documentation ready for when they finally process it. Keep a copy of your form, doctor's certification, and last paystub handy because sometimes they call asking for more info.
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Brian Downey
β’This is why the whole system is GARBAGE! Why are we still mailing paper forms in 2025?! Every other state has fully online disability systems now! California EDD is living in the stone age!!!
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Jacinda Yu
Quick update on current processing times based on what I'm seeing with my clients (I help people navigate leave benefits): Most SDI pregnancy claims mailed in the past month are taking about 6-8 business days to appear in the system and then 10-12 days for processing. So roughly 3 weeks total from mail date to payment. Important: Once your claim shows up online, immediately set up your SDI Online account if you haven't already. That's how you'll certify for continued benefits. And remember to have your doctor submit a separate form if you need an extension beyond the standard 6-8 weeks postpartum due to any complications.
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Myles Regis
β’Thank you for the updated timeline! That's really helpful. I already set up my SDI Online account a while back when I was preparing for maternity leave. Fingers crossed my claim shows up in the system soon!
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Landon Flounder
when i had my last baby i tried calling edd for DAYS with no answer then found out from my sister that u can actually go to the edd office in person!!! the one by me lets u make appointments online now and they can look up ur claim right there. just an idea if ur still having problems
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Myles Regis
β’That's a really good suggestion! I didn't even think about going to an EDD office in person. I'll definitely consider that if I don't see any updates soon. Thank you!
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Nia Jackson
Hey there! I'm going through this exact same situation right now - 37 weeks pregnant and just mailed my DE2501 form yesterday. Reading through all these responses is making me feel so much better about the timing! One thing I wanted to add that helped me prepare: I created a simple checklist on my phone to track everything. I'm checking my UI Online account every morning, and I also took photos of all my paperwork before mailing just in case I need to resubmit. Also, my OB mentioned that if I go into labor before the claim is processed, I should call the hospital's patient advocate - they apparently have contacts at EDD who can help expedite urgent cases. Not sure if that's true everywhere, but might be worth asking about! Sending you good vibes for a smooth process and safe delivery! The fact that you got your paperwork in at 39 weeks shows you're more on top of things than you think! πͺ
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Fatima Al-Hashemi
β’Oh wow, thank you so much for sharing this! It's so comforting to know I'm not the only one going through this right now. I love your checklist idea - I'm totally going to do that! Taking photos of all the paperwork before mailing is brilliant too, I wish I had thought of that. That's really interesting about the hospital patient advocate having EDD contacts! I had no idea that was even a possibility. I'm definitely going to ask about that when I go in for my next appointment. It's reassuring to know there might be options if things get really urgent. Thank you for the encouragement! Sometimes it feels like I'm behind on everything but you're right - at least we got our paperwork submitted. Good luck with your claim processing too! Hope we both see updates in our accounts soon! π€
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Natalie Chen
I just went through this exact situation 2 months ago! I was 38 weeks when I mailed my DE2501 and was panicking just like you. Here's what happened with mine: Day 5: Nothing online yet, called EDD with no luck Day 7: Still nothing, started freaking out Day 9: FINALLY showed up in my UI Online account as "Claim Filed" Day 14: Got my approval letter in the mail Day 16: First payment hit my EDD Debit Card The key thing that saved my sanity was setting up text alerts through UI Online so I got notified the moment my claim status changed. Also, even though it felt like forever, everything was backdated to my last day of work just like others mentioned. One tip: if you haven't already, make sure your mailing address is updated in your UI Online account. I've heard of people having delays because EDD had their old address on file. You've got this! The waiting is torture but it WILL get processed. Try to focus on getting ready for those twins - that's way more important than stressing about EDD right now! πΌπΆπΆ
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Amara Eze
β’This timeline is exactly what I needed to see! Thank you so much for breaking it down day by day - it really helps manage my expectations. I had no idea about the text alerts through UI Online, I'm definitely setting that up right now! And you're absolutely right about checking my mailing address. I actually moved about 6 months ago and while I thought I updated everything, I should double-check that EDD has my current address on file. That would be such a nightmare if my approval letter went to the wrong place! I really appreciate the reminder to focus on preparing for the twins instead of stressing about EDD. You're so right - this will all get sorted out, but these babies are coming whether the paperwork is processed or not! Time to shift my energy to more important things. Thank you for the encouragement! π
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Tasia Synder
I'm also a first-time mom and went through this same anxiety spiral a few months ago! One thing that really helped me was calling EDD first thing in the morning (like 8:01 AM sharp) - I had much better luck getting through then versus later in the day. Also, don't panic if you give birth before it's fully processed! My baby came 5 days early while my claim was still pending, and everything worked out fine. The hospital social worker actually helped me follow up with EDD and made sure I knew exactly what to expect for the processing timeline. In the meantime, make sure you have your employer's information handy (like your last day of work and wage info) because EDD might need to verify that when they process your claim. And if you're planning to breastfeed, ask your doctor about getting the pumping supplies covered through your insurance now - one less thing to worry about later! Wishing you a smooth delivery and hope your claim gets processed soon! π
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