Just wanted to check back - were you able to get through to EDD? Did they confirm your benefits are still valid?

So glad you got confirmation from EDD! That must be such a huge weight off your shoulders. I've been following your situation and was really worried for you. It's awful what your employer did, but at least your disability benefits are secure. Focus on your surgery and recovery now - the employment law stuff can wait until you're feeling better. Wishing you a smooth surgery and quick healing! 💪

This whole thread is so helpful! I'm in a similar boat - just got the same request from EDD and was totally overwhelmed. Reading through everyone's experiences and tips has made me feel way less alone in this mess. Special shoutout to @KaiEsmeralda for that incredibly detailed guide - you're amazing! One thing I'm curious about: has anyone had success with submitting everything at once versus breaking it up into smaller batches? I'm worried about file size limits but also don't want to flood them with separate emails. Also, for those who've been through this - how long did it typically take for them to review everything once submitted? Thanks again everyone for sharing your experiences. This community is a lifesaver! 🙏

I just went through this exact process last month! Here's what worked for me: Upload everything through your EDD online account portal if possible - it's way more reliable than email. I organized my paystubs chronologically (oldest to newest) and created one master PDF with clear page breaks between months. For your photo ID, scan both front and back on the same page so they can see it's all one document. Make sure the scan is high quality - they rejected my first attempt because the text was too blurry. Pro tip: Create a simple cover letter listing exactly what you're submitting (12 months paystubs from X date to Y date, photo ID, etc.) with your claim number at the top. This helps them process it faster. The whole review took about 3 weeks for me. Don't panic if you don't hear back right away - they're swamped but they will get to it. Keep copies of everything and screenshot your submission confirmations! You got this! The process sucks but once it's done, it's done. 💪

This might sound weird, but have you checked your bank account? Sometimes the EDD website shows the wrong amount but the correct payment goes through. Happened to me once and I freaked out for nothing lol

I went through something similar a few months ago and it turned out to be a quarterly earnings review that triggered an automatic adjustment. EDD sometimes recalculates your benefit amount based on updated wage data from employers, but they're terrible at communicating this. Check if you received any work income in the last quarter that might have been reported late by an employer - even small amounts can trigger a recalculation. Also look for any notices in your UI Online inbox, sometimes they bury important info there. If you can't find anything obvious, definitely follow @Mateo Rodriguez's advice above - his step-by-step approach is solid. Just be patient, it can take weeks to get answers but usually there IS a reason, even if they don't tell you upfront. Keep us posted on what you find out! This stuff affects all of us.

wait guys do you have to live in california to do this? my disability claim is with california but i moved to oregon last month. still cant get my final payments :

Quick update! My payments started processing today, exactly as the SDI rep promised after my legislative office connected us. If anyone else tries the legislative route, just be super polite but persistent with their office. They deal with hundreds of constituent issues and being organized with your information makes everything move faster.

One thing that helped me in a similar situation was getting a letter from my workers' comp doctor specifically stating that I was still under their active care when the pregnancy complications began. This helped establish the timeline and showed there was no gap in my medical treatment/disability status. Also, if you have any email communications with your employer about your return-to-work status or job accommodation requests before the pregnancy complications started, include those too. It shows your clear intent to return to the workforce. The EDD reviewers often don't understand the complexity of overlapping medical conditions - you really have to spell it out for them step by step. Don't assume they'll connect the dots themselves!

I went through almost the exact same situation last year! I was on workers' comp for a back injury, got pregnant during that time, then developed severe hyperemesis gravidarum at 18 weeks that made it impossible to return to my job as a warehouse supervisor. EDD initially denied my SDI claim with the same "left labor force" reasoning. What really helped my successful appeal was getting a detailed timeline letter from my workers' comp case manager showing that I was still actively engaged in return-to-work planning when the pregnancy complications started. I also had my OB write a letter explaining that my pregnancy condition was completely separate from my work injury but equally disabling. The appeal took about 6 weeks to process, but I eventually got approved and received all my back pay. Don't give up - you have a strong case! The key is showing that continuous thread of medical disability without any voluntary departure from employment. Your construction site coordinator role requiring physical activity actually strengthens your case since it's clear the pregnancy complications genuinely prevent you from performing your job duties.