How to change name on SDI benefits? Trouble reaching correct EDD office
Hey everyone, I'm trying to change my name on my SDI benefits but I'm having trouble getting through to the right office. Has anyone gone through this process recently? Any tips on how to reach the correct department?
28 comments
Join the conversation
Tom Maxon
I found a way to solve SDI name change difficulties, watch this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LNTgk6TJ5U
0 coins
Ava Thompson
Ugh, name changes with EDD are such a pain! I went through this last year and it took forever. Make sure you have all your documents ready - marriage certificate, court order, whatever applies to your situation. Good luck!
0 coins
Miguel Ramos
•For real tho, the bureaucracy is insane. took me like 3 months to get everything sorted 🙄
0 coins
Zainab Ibrahim
•Same boat here. felt like i was going in circles forEVER
0 coins
StarSailor
I found a way to actually get someone on the phone! I used this site's (claimyr.com) calling tool that dials the phone menu, stays on hold, waits for a live agent to pick up, then sends the call to my phone. It does cost $20, but it works. Check out this video: https://youtu.be/Ize0EkN4HDI
0 coins
Connor O'Brien
•Sounds too good to be true. Is this legit?
0 coins
StarSailor
•Yep, 100% legit. I was skeptical at first too, but it saved me hours of frustration. Worth every penny imo
0 coins
Yara Sabbagh
•How long did you have to wait after using the service?
0 coins
StarSailor
•Not long at all! Maybe 30 minutes? Way better than spending all day trying to get through
0 coins
Keisha Johnson
Here's what you need to do: 1. Gather all necessary documents (marriage certificate, court order, etc.) 2. Fill out DE 1101 form (Change of Name or Address) 3. Call the SDI office directly at 1-800-480-3287 4. Be prepared to fax or mail your documents 5. Follow up regularly if you don't hear back Remember, patience is key. The process can take several weeks. Don't give up!
0 coins
Paolo Rizzo
•This is super helpful, thanks for laying it out so clearly!
0 coins
QuantumQuest
•Wish I had this info when I went through the process. Would've saved me so much time and headache 😩
0 coins
Amina Sy
anyone else feel like the EDD is stuck in the stone age? like, why cant we just do this stuff online smh
0 coins
Oliver Fischer
Pro tip: call right when they open. I got through on my first try doing that!
0 coins
Natasha Petrova
•What time do they open? Asking for a friend 👀
0 coins
Oliver Fischer
•8am Pacific Time, Monday through Friday. Set that alarm! ⏰
0 coins
Javier Morales
I've been trying to change my name for 6 months now. This system is BROKEN. 🤬
0 coins
Emma Davis
•6 months?! That's insane. Have you tried contacting your local representative? Sometimes they can help push things through.
0 coins
Javier Morales
•No, I haven't. Thats actually a good idea. thanks for the tip!
0 coins
Harmony Love
I just went through this process last month! The key is persistence and having everything organized. Here's what worked for me: Call the 1-800-480-3287 number first thing in the morning (like 8:01 AM), have your SSN and case number ready, and when you finally get someone, ask to speak to the "name change specialist" specifically. They'll email you the exact forms you need. Also, make sure to keep copies of EVERYTHING you send them - I had to resend documents twice because they "lost" them. The whole process took about 3 weeks once I got the right person. Don't give up, @Dmitry Kuznetsov - you'll get through this!
0 coins
Kayla Morgan
•This is exactly the kind of detailed advice I was hoping to find! Thank you so much for sharing your experience, @Harmony Love. The tip about asking for the "name change specialist" is golden - I never would have thought to do that. I'm definitely going to try calling at 8:01 AM tomorrow with everything ready. Really appreciate you taking the time to lay out the whole process step by step!
0 coins
Mei Wong
•@Harmony Love this is incredibly helpful! I ve'been struggling with this for weeks and getting nowhere. Quick question - when you say name "change specialist, is" that an actual department title or just something you asked for? Also, did they require notarized documents or were regular copies okay? Thanks for giving me hope that this is actually possible to resolve!
0 coins
Andre Rousseau
•@Harmony Love Thank you so much for this detailed breakdown! I ve'been banging my head against the wall trying to get through to someone who actually knows what they re'doing. The name "change specialist tip" is game-changing - I had no idea that was even an option. I m'definitely going to try the 8:01 AM strategy tomorrow. Quick question though - when you say they emailed you the forms, did you have to specifically request that delivery method, or do they automatically send them that way now? I ve'been waiting weeks for mail that never seems to arrive.
0 coins
Omar Zaki
•@Harmony Love This is such a lifesaver! I ve'been calling randomly throughout the day with no luck. The 8:01 AM timing makes so much sense - catch them right when they start taking calls. I m'curious though, when you mentioned keeping copies of everything because they lost "documents" twice - were you able to track when they received your submissions? Did they give you confirmation numbers or anything like that? I want to make sure I have a paper trail in case the same thing happens to me. Thanks again for sharing such detailed advice!
0 coins
Ezra Collins
I went through this nightmare last year and finally got it sorted! Here's what nobody tells you - you need to be super specific about which type of name change you're doing. If it's due to marriage, divorce, or legal name change, they each have slightly different requirements. Also, don't just call the main SDI line - I found better luck calling the disability insurance office directly at 1-877-238-4373. They seem to have more knowledgeable staff for name changes. One more tip: if you're getting the runaround, ask to escalate to a supervisor immediately. I wasted months being polite when I should have been more assertive. The squeaky wheel definitely gets the grease with EDD!
0 coins
Katherine Shultz
•@Ezra Collins This is exactly what I needed to hear! I ve'been spinning my wheels calling the main line over and over. The 1-877-238-4373 number is new to me - definitely going to try that tomorrow. You re'so right about being more assertive too. I ve'been way too polite and it s'gotten me nowhere. Quick question - when you say be "specific about which type of name change, did" you have to mention that upfront when you first got connected, or was that something that came up later in the conversation? I want to make sure I lead with the right information. Thanks for the reality check about being more demanding - sometimes you really do have to advocate harder for yourself with these agencies!
0 coins
Mason Stone
I'm dealing with the exact same issue right now! Been trying to change my name after getting married and it's been such a frustrating process. Reading through all these comments is actually giving me hope though - sounds like there are some real strategies that work. I'm definitely going to try the 8:01 AM call strategy and ask specifically for a "name change specialist." Has anyone had luck with the online portal at all, or is calling really the only way to get this done? Also wondering if there's a difference in processing time between faxing documents vs mailing them in. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this thread is already more helpful than the EDD website! 😅
0 coins
Ella Harper
•@Mason Stone Welcome to the club! 😭 From what I ve'read in this thread, calling seems to be way more effective than the online portal. I tried the online route first and got absolutely nowhere - it s'like they designed it to be confusing on purpose. Based on everyone s'advice here, I m'planning to call that 1-877-238-4373 number tomorrow at 8:01 AM sharp and ask for the name change specialist right away. As for faxing vs mailing, I d'definitely go with faxing if you can - at least then you have confirmation it was received and they can t'claim it got lost "in the mail. Good" luck with your name change after marriage! Hopefully we ll'both have success stories to share soon 🤞
0 coins