I'm currently in week 19 of my disability claim after hip replacement surgery, and this thread has been absolutely essential for understanding what I need to prepare for! My orthopedic surgeon originally estimated 3 months recovery, but due to some healing complications and physical therapy setbacks, we're now looking at potentially 5-6 months total. Reading through Tom's comprehensive explanations about the DE 2525XX process and all the critical deadlines has been so enlightening - I had absolutely no idea about the 20-day submission window or the 61-day grace period. The official EDD materials really don't communicate these vital details clearly at all. I'm definitely going to follow Connor's advice about proactively requesting the DE 2525XX form rather than waiting for automatic mailing. Given all the stories about mail delays and lost documents, taking control of the process timeline seems absolutely crucial. The documentation strategies shared by Elijah, Faith, and everyone else have been eye-opening. I've started keeping detailed medical appointment records and photographing all forms before submission. Keisha's tip about scheduling doctor appointments in advance is also brilliant - I'm going to book my next follow-up now so I have that medical certification ready when needed. Gabrielle's point about physical therapy progress notes is something I hadn't considered but makes so much sense. My PT has been tracking my mobility improvements and weight-bearing progress, which would provide objective evidence of my current limitations. One thing I wanted to add for others with joint replacement surgeries - make sure your surgeon documents any specific weight restrictions or mobility limitations in detail. My doctor mentioned that detailed functional capacity evaluations can be really helpful for EDD to understand why certain types of work aren't possible yet. This community has been incredible for turning what seemed like an overwhelming bureaucratic process into something manageable. Thank you all for sharing your experiences and creating such a valuable resource!

I'm currently in week 42 of my disability claim after a complex ankle fracture with multiple surgeries, and this thread has been absolutely invaluable! My orthopedic surgeon initially estimated 4-5 months recovery, but due to complications with bone healing and hardware issues, we're now looking at 8-9 months total recovery time. Tom's detailed breakdown of the DE 2525XX process has been a lifesaver - I had no idea about the critical 20-day submission deadline or the 61-day grace period if you miss it. The EDD website really doesn't explain these timelines clearly at all, and this information could literally save someone's benefits. I'm absolutely going to follow Connor's strategy of proactively requesting the DE 2525XX form rather than waiting for it to arrive automatically. After reading about everyone's experiences with mail delays and "lost" paperwork, being proactive seems essential for protecting your claim. The documentation advice from Elijah, Faith, and others has been game-changing. I now photograph every single form before submission and keep detailed records of all interactions with EDD. Keisha's tip about pre-scheduling doctor appointments is brilliant too - I've already booked my next orthopedic appointment to ensure I have medical certification ready when needed. For others dealing with fracture complications - make sure your surgeon documents any hardware issues, bone healing delays, or weight-bearing restrictions in detail. These specific limitations really help EDD understand why desk work might not be possible if you can't sit for extended periods or navigate stairs safely. This community has transformed what felt like an impossible system to navigate into something manageable. Thank you all for sharing your real experiences and creating this incredible resource for those of us dealing with extended recoveries. The support here has been just as important as the practical advice!

Direct deposit is generally faster than waiting for the card to arrive in the mail for first-time claimants. The first payment to a new Money Network card can take 7-10 days to arrive by mail, whereas direct deposit typically processes within 24-48 hours after the payment is authorized. However, once you have the card, future payments to it are just as fast as direct deposit.

Just wanted to add that you should also keep documentation of everything - save the email or memo from your employer about the shutdown, take screenshots of your UI Online application, and keep records of any communication with EDD. If there are any issues later, having a paper trail will help resolve them much faster. Also, during your shutdown period, make sure you're genuinely available for work each day you certify - that means being able to accept temporary work if offered, even though you're expecting to return to your regular job. Good luck with your claim!

Another tip that helped me - if you're having trouble getting through on the main customer service line, try calling the disability insurance number and ask them to transfer you. Sometimes those lines have shorter wait times! Also, definitely keep calling back if you get disconnected - I know it's frustrating but persistence really pays off with EDD. And once you do get through, be super polite to the agent even if you've been waiting forever. They deal with frustrated people all day and a little kindness goes a long way in getting good help!

Hey Ethan! I actually just went through this same process a couple months back when I started my new position. One thing that really helped me was calling right at 8:00 AM sharp - literally had my phone ready to dial at 7:59 and hit call exactly at 8. Got through in about 15 minutes which felt like a miracle! Also, when you do get an agent on the line, they'll likely ask if you want to "deactivate" vs "close" your account - make sure you're clear about what you want. Deactivating keeps it dormant but you can reopen it easily if needed, while closing it completely removes everything. Since you mentioned you got a new job, closing is probably what you want, but just wanted to give you the heads up so you're not caught off guard by the question. Good luck with both the call and the new gig! 🍀

I'm dealing with this exact same issue right now! Got my CAN letter in the mail this morning and have been trying to register for hours with no success - keep getting that frustrating "information doesn't match our records" error. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful and reassuring. I had no idea about the 24-48 hour waiting period - EDD definitely should make this clearer on their website instead of just giving a generic error message. I'm going to follow all the advice here: wait until tomorrow evening, use my exact name format from my driver's license, enter my SSN without dashes, double-check I'm using the correct CAN (not some other reference number), try late at night when the system is less busy, and use a fresh incognito browser window. It's so frustrating that we have to learn all these workarounds through community forums instead of having clear instructions from EDD, but I'm grateful for everyone sharing their experiences and solutions!

I'm going through this exact same issue right now! Just received my CAN letter yesterday and have been trying to register all day with no luck - that "information doesn't match our records" error is so frustrating! Reading through this thread has been such a lifesaver though. I had no idea about the 24-48 hour waiting period that everyone mentions - EDD really should put that information right on their registration page instead of making us figure it out the hard way. I'm going to wait until tomorrow night and try again using all the tips from this thread: exact name format from my license, SSN without dashes, making sure I have the actual CAN number and not some other reference number, and trying during off-peak hours. It's amazing how this community shares all these workarounds that EDD should really be providing upfront. Thanks to everyone for posting their solutions - gives me hope that I'll be able to get registered soon!

I'm in almost the exact same situation - filed my appeal 20 days ago for a reporting issue and the waiting is absolutely brutal! Reading through everyone's experiences here has been both helpful and terrifying honestly. It sounds like most people are waiting 6-10+ weeks which is just devastating when you're already struggling financially. I had to have that dreaded conversation with my landlord yesterday about potentially being late on rent and thankfully they were understanding, but the stress is still overwhelming. I also just signed up for Instacart after seeing so many people mention gig work as a way to bridge the gap. It's not ideal but at least it's something coming in while we wait for this broken system to work. Madison, definitely look into those local assembly member offices and rent assistance programs people mentioned - I'm going to call mine today. It's so frustrating that we all have to scramble for backup plans when we should just be getting the unemployment benefits we paid into. But it's reassuring to see that most people with reporting errors like ours do eventually win their appeals. Hang in there - we're all in this together!

I'm going through the exact same situation right now - filed my appeal 25 days ago after being disqualified for a work separation issue and the anxiety is just overwhelming! Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly helpful but also shows how broken this system really is. It's insane that we're all having to wait 2+ months for benefits we rightfully earned while struggling to pay basic bills. I ended up having to ask family for help with rent this month which was humiliating, but I also started doing Uber Eats to at least have some income coming in. The uncertainty is the worst part - not knowing if it'll be 6 weeks or 12 weeks makes it impossible to plan anything. Madison, definitely look into those assembly member offices people mentioned and don't wait on the gig work if you can manage it. Even small amounts help with the stress. I keep telling myself that most people seem to win these reporting error appeals eventually, but the waiting process is just brutal. We shouldn't have to go through this when we already paid into the system. Hang in there - sounds like we're all supporting each other through this mess!