EDD SDI certification vs unemployment - do I need to certify weekly for State Disability?

SDI and UI work completely differently! With State Disability Insurance, you don't need to certify every two weeks like with unemployment. Once your claim is approved and all paperwork is processed (including your doctor's certification), payments are generally issued automatically for the period your doctor certified you for. However, if your disability extends beyond what your doctor initially certified, you'll need to have them complete a supplemental certification. The EDD will usually mail you a form when it's getting close to the end of your initially approved period. It's actually much less maintenance than UI once approved!

its diferent systems bro. UI = certify every 2 wks, SDI = doctor certifys how long ur out and EDD pays u till that date. ur doctor has to fill out more papers if u need more time off

I went through both systems last year and let me tell you, SDI is WAY easier once approved. The hard part is just getting through the initial approval! I waited SEVEN WEEKS for my first payment because they kept claiming my paperwork was incomplete even though my doctor submitted everything correctly. If your claim gets stuck in processing for more than 2-3 weeks, do NOT just wait around hoping it resolves itself. I lost my apartment because I waited too long to follow up aggressively on my claim.

KEEP CALLING! That's the only way. I called 67 times in one day before I got through. The first rep couldn't help, so I had to call AGAIN the next day. Finally got someone who found my doctor's certification in their system and manually pushed my claim through. OH! And don't forget - if you're switching from UI to SDI, make sure you've stopped certifying for UI completely. If you accidentally certify for UI during weeks you're claiming SDI, it creates a huge mess in their system.

After dealing with both systems recently, I found Claimyr really helpful for getting through to EDD when my SDI claim got stuck in processing. I kept getting the "maximum callers" message for days, but Claimyr got me connected to an agent who fixed my claim issue in about 10 minutes. You can see how it works at claimyr.com or check their video demo at https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km - totally worth it when you're desperate to get your claim moving.

Not to get off topic but make sure your employer reported correct wages to EDD before you got hurt. My SDI payment was way lower than expected because my boss hadn't reported my last 2 paychecks yet when I filed for disability. Had to submit paystubs to get it fixed.

Everyone keeps mentioning that SDI is automatic once approved, but don't forget you WILL receive a continued claim certification (DE 2500) form around week 10 if your disability continues beyond that point! Missing that form will stop your payments. People always forget to mention this part!!

Can I just say how bizarre it is that EDD runs both systems but makes them work completely differently? I went through the same confusion last year. UI is all online with bi-weekly certifications, but SDI still relies heavily on paper forms and doctor certifications. The whole system is archaic and needlessly complicated! My doctor actually filled out my SDI paperwork wrong TWICE and it delayed my claim by over a month. Make sure your doctor knows what they're doing when they fill out the forms.

Just went through this exact transition last month! You're right to be confused - the systems are totally different. With SDI, once your claim is approved and your doctor's certification is processed, payments are automatic for the period they certified you for. No bi-weekly certifications like UI! The key thing is making sure your doctor fills out the forms correctly the first time. I'd recommend calling their office to confirm they submitted everything and ask if they're familiar with SDI paperwork. Some doctors mess up the dates or disability codes which can delay everything. Also, keep an eye on your mail for any requests for additional info. Unlike UI where everything happens online, SDI still uses a lot of paper correspondence. Good luck with your recovery!