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Thais Soares

Will my different addresses on DMV record vs physical DL affect my EDD SDI maternity claim?

I'm due with my first baby in late January 2025 and planning to start my maternity leave around December 26th. I just moved last month and updated my address through the DMV online system, but haven't gotten my new physical driver's license yet with the updated address. When I apply for pregnancy disability (SDI), will this cause problems with my claim? My doctor is filling out the medical certification next week and I'm nervous about any potential delays. Has anyone dealt with address discrepancies when filing for maternity benefits? I keep imagining my benefits getting lost in bureaucratic limbo because my physical ID doesn't match my current address!

Nalani Liu

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You'll be fine! The EDD uses your SSN as your primary identifier, not your physical address. I moved twice during my pregnancy last year and it didn't cause any issues with my claim. Just make sure you're using your current mailing address on the DE2501 form when you file for disability, as that's where they'll send any physical mail regarding your claim.

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Thais Soares

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Thank you so much! That's a huge relief. Should I include a note with my application explaining the address situation or will the system just automatically update with my new address?

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Axel Bourke

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I had this EXACT situation last year. My DL had my parents' address but I had moved to a new apartment. I worried about the same thing! What I did was update my address directly with EDD when I filed my claim (used my current address on the application). Then I called them to confirm everything was correct in their system. The rep said as long as the address on the DE2501 matches where you're currently receiving mail, you're good. Your claim gets linked to your SSN and employment info, not your physical ID.

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Aidan Percy

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Did u have to call multiple times? I've been trying to call EDD about my address change for 3 days and cant get thru at ALL. driving me crazy.

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Adding to what others said - the physical address on your driver's license doesn't matter for EDD purposes. What DOES matter: 1. Your mailing address needs to be current so you get your EDD Debit Card and any notices 2. Your employer needs your correct address for their records (Form DE2501 part B) 3. Make sure your doctor has your current address for the medical certification I process payroll for a company with 200+ employees and handle SDI paperwork regularly. Address discrepancies are common and don't affect claim processing at all.

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Thais Soares

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This is so helpful, thank you! Will my employer's HR department need to update my address in their system too, or is it just important that it's correct on the actual SDI application?

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Norman Fraser

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i had a diffrent issue but kinda similar...my name on my DL didnt match my married name that my work had. EDD kept rejecting my claim sayin identity verification failed. took WEEKS to fix and i almost missed rent!! make sure ALL your info matches up everywhere. update everything ASAP!!!

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Kendrick Webb

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That's a completely different situation though. Name changes due to marriage require legal documentation updates and affect your SSN verification. Address changes don't impact identity verification the same way.

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Hattie Carson

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If you're having trouble reaching EDD to confirm your address is correct, try using Claimyr (claimyr.com). I was in a similar situation last month and needed to update some info before my disability claim. Spent two days trying to get through to EDD with no luck. Claimyr got me connected to a rep in about 20 minutes! They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/DOLxZQb92wM?si=6N1iCQ3a8Cdb2Ay5. Totally worth it for the peace of mind.

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Aidan Percy

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omg just tried this and it actually worked!! been trying to reach someone for daysss

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Kendrick Webb

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Others have given good advice. Just to add one practical tip: When you file your claim, print a copy of your DMV address change confirmation if you have it. You probably won't need it, but if there are any questions, having documentation of when you updated your address is helpful. The system should have your current address, but bureaucracies sometimes have glitches!

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Thais Soares

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That's a great idea! I do have the email confirmation from DMV. I'll keep that handy just in case there are any issues. Thanks for the tip!

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One more thing - make sure you understand the difference between SDI (pregnancy disability) and PFL (baby bonding). You'll start with SDI for your pregnancy/recovery (typically 4 weeks before birth and 6-8 weeks after depending on delivery type), THEN you transition to PFL for bonding time (8 weeks). They're two separate claims and many first-time moms don't realize this, causing gaps in benefits. The address issue won't affect either claim, but knowing this transition process is important.

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Thais Soares

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Oh thank you for mentioning this! My doctor told me about the 4 weeks before birth part, but I didn't realize I need to file a separate claim for the bonding time after. Do I need to do anything special during the transition between the two programs?

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Axel Bourke

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About the transition between SDI and PFL that was mentioned - you'll get a notice toward the end of your disability period asking if you want to file for PFL. Say YES! The timing can be tricky - I had a 2-week gap between benefits because I didn't respond to that notice quickly enough. Just a heads up since we're talking about the whole process. But your original address question - definitely not an issue as long as you use your current address on the applications.

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Aidan Percy

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this happened to me too! that stupid transition notice got lost in my mail pile with all the baby cards and hospital bills lol. ended up with no pay for 3 weeks 😭

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Nalani Liu

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To answer your follow-up question about whether to include a note explaining the address situation - it's not necessary. The EDD form just asks for your current mailing address. They don't cross-reference it with your DMV records. Just fill out the form accurately with your current address and you'll be fine. Focus more on making sure your medical certification is completed correctly by your doctor - that's far more likely to cause delays than an address discrepancy.

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Thais Soares

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Perfect, thank you! I have an appointment with my doctor next week so I'll make sure the medical certification is filled out properly. Really appreciate everyone's help here - feeling much less anxious about the whole process now.

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Just wanted to add - when you're at your doctor's appointment, make sure they know your expected due date and when you want to start your leave. Sometimes doctors will put the wrong start date on the medical certification if they're not clear on your plans. I had to get mine resubmitted because my doctor put the due date instead of when I actually wanted to start my disability leave!

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@Giovanni Martello that s'such a good point! I ll'definitely be specific about wanting to start December 26th versus my actual due date in late January. My doctor s'office is usually pretty good about these forms but I d'rather be extra clear than have to deal with resubmitting paperwork. Thanks for the heads up!

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Chloe Davis

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Just want to echo what everyone's saying - address differences won't be an issue at all! I had the same worry when I was pregnant last year. My DL still had my old apartment address but I had moved in with my partner. The EDD system is pretty straightforward - they just need your current mailing address on the form so they know where to send your debit card and any paperwork. The most important thing is making sure your employer has your correct address too since they'll be coordinating with EDD on your claim. Congrats on your first baby and don't stress about the paperwork side of things - it's way more manageable than it seems!

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Thank you @Chloe Davis! It's so reassuring to hear from so many people who've been through similar situations. I was definitely overthinking the address thing - sounds like as long as I use my current address on the actual application forms, everything should be fine. Really appreciate everyone taking the time to share their experiences here. Makes me feel so much more prepared for when I start the process next month!

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Steven Adams

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I went through this exact same situation when I was pregnant with my daughter! My physical license still had my old address from before I got married and moved, but I had updated everything online with DMV. I was so worried it would mess up my SDI claim, but it turned out to be a complete non-issue. The EDD rep I spoke with said they see this all the time - people move frequently and physical licenses take weeks to arrive. What matters is that you use your correct current address on the DE2501 form and make sure that's where you want to receive mail. I'd also suggest double-checking that your employer has your updated address in their payroll system since they'll be submitting paperwork on your behalf too. The whole process was much smoother than I expected once I stopped worrying about the address mismatch. Good luck with your claim and congratulations on your first baby!

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Diego Flores

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@Steven Adams Thank you so much for sharing your experience! It s'such a relief to hear from someone who went through the exact same thing. I was definitely spiraling a bit thinking about all the ways this could go wrong, but everyone here has been so helpful in explaining that it s'really not a big deal. I ll'make sure to double-check with my HR department that they have my current address on file too - that s'a great point I hadn t'thought of. Really appreciate you taking the time to reassure a stressed first-time mom!

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Natalie Chen

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I'm a benefits coordinator for a mid-sized company and deal with SDI/PFL applications regularly. Your address discrepancy is absolutely not going to be an issue! The EDD system is designed to handle this exact situation - they know people move and that physical licenses take time to update. Here's what actually matters for your claim: 1) Use your current mailing address on all EDD forms, 2) Make sure your employer's HR has your updated address, and 3) Ensure your doctor uses your current address on the medical certification. The system links everything through your SSN and employment records, not your physical ID address. I've processed hundreds of these claims and have never seen an address mismatch between DMV records and current residence cause any delays. Focus your energy on getting that medical certification completed accurately - that's where most delays actually happen! Wishing you a smooth maternity leave process.

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@Natalie Chen This is incredibly helpful coming from someone who handles these claims professionally! Thank you so much for breaking down exactly what matters for the application process. It s'such a relief to hear from an expert that address mismatches are common and not problematic at all. I feel so much more confident now about filing my claim. I ll'definitely focus on making sure the medical certification is done properly - that seems to be the consistent advice from everyone here. Really appreciate you sharing your professional insight!

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I'm actually going through this right now! Just filed my SDI claim last week and I was in the exact same boat - my physical license still shows my old apartment but I updated my address with DMV online when I moved 6 weeks ago. I was so paranoid about it that I called EDD to double-check, and the rep basically laughed and said "honey, we don't even look at your physical license - we just need to know where to mail your stuff." She said as long as the address on my DE2501 form is where I actually live and receive mail, I'm golden. My claim was approved within 3 days with zero issues! The only thing that slowed me down was waiting for my doctor's office to fax back the medical certification - they kept "forgetting" to send it. Don't stress about the address thing at all, focus on staying on top of your medical paperwork!

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@Logan Greenberg That's so reassuring to hear from someone who literally just went through this! I love that the EDD rep basically told you not to worry about it - that gives me so much confidence. It sounds like the medical certification really is the key part to focus on. I have my doctor's appointment next week and I'll definitely make sure to follow up that they actually submit the paperwork promptly. Thanks for sharing your recent experience - it's exactly what I needed to hear as someone who's about to start this process!

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PaulineW

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Adding my experience as someone who just went through this process - I had the same exact worry! My DL still showed my college address but I'd been living with my boyfriend for over a year. When I filed my SDI claim in September, I used my current address on all the forms and had zero issues. The claim processed normally and I got my EDD debit card within a week at my correct address. The key thing is making sure your current address is consistent across all your paperwork - the DE2501, your employer's records, and what you tell your doctor. I actually brought a utility bill to my doctor's appointment just to make sure they had the right address for the medical certification. Don't overthink it - the system is more flexible than you'd expect!

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