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I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - it's so frustrating! One thing that helped me was sending a follow-up email to my doctor's office asking for confirmation that they sent the medical certificate, along with the date and method they used (fax, mail, etc.). Turns out my doctor's office had the wrong fax number on file for EDD! Once we got that corrected and they resent it, things moved much faster. Also, if you haven't already, try uploading a copy of the medical certificate directly to your UI Online account under the "Upload Documents" section. Even if your doctor already sent it, having it in multiple places seems to help expedite the process. The waiting is the worst part, especially when you're already dealing with medical issues. Keep pushing - you've got this! 💪
This is such great advice! The doctor's office having the wrong fax number is exactly the kind of thing that would cause these delays. I'm definitely going to call my doctor's office tomorrow to double-check they have the right contact info for EDD. It's frustrating how these little details can hold everything up when you're already stressed about medical issues and finances. Thanks for sharing what worked for you - gives me hope that there's light at the end of this tunnel! 🙏
I went through something very similar earlier this year and I know how stressful it is! Here's what finally worked for me: I called my doctor's office first to confirm they actually sent the certificate and had the correct EDD fax number (turns out they were using an outdated one). Once that was sorted, I also uploaded my own copy through UI Online and sent a secure message explaining the timeline. The key thing is to keep certifying every two weeks no matter what - I made that mistake once and it caused even more delays. It took about 3 weeks total, but I eventually got all my back payments. Don't give up, the system is slow but it does work eventually! Also, if you can get a confirmation receipt from your doctor showing when/where they sent it, that really helps when you're talking to EDD reps.
This is really reassuring to hear from someone who went through the same thing! I'm definitely going to call my doctor's office first thing tomorrow to verify they have the right fax number - seems like that's been a common issue based on what everyone's saying here. I've been good about certifying every two weeks, so hopefully that won't cause additional problems. Three weeks feels like forever when you're waiting for payments, but knowing there's light at the end of the tunnel helps. Did you have to do anything special to get the back payments released once they finally updated your info, or did they come through automatically? Thanks for the encouragement! 🙏
my brother had 1 of these hearings and the whole thing only took like 20min. dont overthink it just explain ur side
You've gotten excellent advice here! I went through a similar REA appeal last year and won. One thing I'd add - if you have any email filters or spam settings that might have caught the notice, be ready to explain that too. The judge asked me specifically about my email setup. Also, stay calm if the EDD representative tries to argue that they sent proper notice - let them present their evidence first, then clearly state your case. The burden really is on them to prove they notified you properly. You sound well-prepared now - take a deep breath and trust that you've got this!
I've been following this thread and want to add something that might help others - if you're concerned about missing the card in your mail, you can actually sign up for Informed Delivery through USPS. It's free and sends you email previews of mail that's coming to your address each day. That way you'll know when to expect the plain white envelope from Tennessee! Also, for anyone worried about the timeline, I just want to echo what others have said - the "7-10 business days" is pretty accurate. Mine arrived on day 9. The key is counting BUSINESS days from when EDD actually processes your first payment, not from when you first applied or got approved. One last tip: once you do get the card and set up the app, take a screenshot of the customer service number and save it in your phone. Much easier than hunting for it if you ever need support!
The USPS Informed Delivery tip is brilliant! I had no idea that was even a thing. Just signed up and it's already showing me what's coming today. This would have saved me so much anxiety waiting for my card. And you're absolutely right about counting business days from when the payment is actually processed, not just approved - that's a key distinction that could confuse people about the timeline. Thanks for the practical advice!
I'm new to this community but this thread has been incredibly helpful as I'm going through the same process right now! Just wanted to add one more data point - I'm on day 11 waiting for my Money Network card and starting to get a bit worried, but reading everyone's experiences here is reassuring that it can take up to 2 weeks sometimes. One question I haven't seen addressed: does anyone know if the card shipping is affected by holidays? My approval came right before a federal holiday weekend, so I'm wondering if that adds extra processing time. Also, thank you @Muhammad Hobbs for the USPS Informed Delivery tip - just signed up and wish I'd known about this service earlier! And @Liam O'Donnell, your point about double-checking the mailing address is so important. I went back and verified mine after reading your comment. This community is amazing - it's so much more helpful than trying to navigate the official EDD website or phone system!
That's fantastic news that you got your refund! 🎉 I'm currently going through the same situation - just won my appeal last week for a $3,400 overpayment that I already paid back. Your timeline of 5 weeks gives me hope, even though it feels like forever when you're waiting for your own money back. Did you notice any status changes in your EDD online account before the money showed up, or did it just appear without warning?
Liam McConnell
I just went through this exact situation a few months ago! The key thing to remember is that even though both programs are under EDD, they operate completely independently. You'll need to apply for SDI at edd.ca.gov/disability using their SDI Online system - don't use your regular UI Online account. One important tip: when you apply for SDI, you can actually backdate your claim up to 49 days from when you first became unable to work due to your medical condition. So if your doctor says you need 6 weeks off starting from a specific date, make sure to use that date on your SDI application, not just the date you're filing. Also, make sure your doctor knows they need to complete the physician/practitioner certification (the medical portion of your claim) promptly. SDI can't process your claim without it, and some doctors don't realize how time-sensitive this is. You might want to give them a heads up that they'll be receiving the form electronically or by mail depending on how they prefer to handle it. The good news is that once your SDI claim period ends, you can go right back to certifying for UI if you still have weeks remaining on your claim. Just remember - never certify for both programs during the same week!
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Miguel Alvarez
•This is incredibly helpful! I had no idea you could backdate the SDI claim up to 49 days - that could make a huge difference for my situation since my symptoms actually started a couple weeks ago but I was trying to push through work. I'm definitely going to coordinate with my doctor right away about the certification form so there aren't any delays. It's such a relief to know I can transition back to UI afterward if I'm still job searching. Thank you for sharing your experience!
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Charlie Yang
I'm going through something similar right now and this thread has been so helpful! Just wanted to add that when I called the SDI number (1-800-480-3287) yesterday, I actually got through after about 45 minutes on hold. The rep confirmed that you definitely need to use the separate SDI Online system at edd.ca.gov/disability, not your regular UI account. She also mentioned that if you're transitioning from UI to SDI, you should stop certifying for UI immediately once your SDI claim starts - even if there's a gap between your last UI payment and first SDI payment. Better to have a brief gap than risk an overpayment situation that takes months to resolve. The whole system is definitely confusing but at least there are people here who've figured it out!
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Raul Neal
•That's amazing that you actually got through to someone on the SDI line! 45 minutes is definitely worth it for getting real confirmation about the process. Thanks for the tip about stopping UI certification immediately when SDI starts - I was worried about that gap period but you're absolutely right that it's better to be safe than deal with overpayment headaches later. This whole thread has been a lifesaver for understanding how to navigate between these programs. Good luck with your SDI claim!
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