That's great news that your payment arrived on time! For future reference, you can also set up text or email alerts through your SDI Online account to get notified when payments are processed. This helped me a lot when I was on disability - I'd get a notification the day before the money hit my account. Also, since you mentioned you're dealing with a herniated disc at L4/L5, make sure to keep track of your physical therapy appointments and any changes in your condition. If your recovery isn't progressing as expected, your doctor might need to extend your disability period, which would require submitting additional medical documentation to EDD. It's always better to handle these things proactively rather than waiting until the last minute! Hope your back continues to heal and that the rest of your disability claim goes smoothly.

Just wanted to chime in as someone who's been through the EDD SDI process twice now - once for a shoulder injury and once for knee surgery. The bi-weekly payment schedule is pretty reliable once you get into the rhythm of it, but I learned a few things that might help others: 1. Always keep a backup of your medical certifications - I had one get "lost" in EDD's system and it caused a 3-week delay in payments while they sorted it out. 2. If you're doing physical therapy, make sure your PT provider is communicating with your certifying doctor about your progress (or lack thereof). Sometimes the PT notes can help support extending your disability period if you're not improving as expected. 3. Don't be afraid to ask your doctor for a slightly longer certification period if your condition is unpredictable. It's easier to return to work early than to scramble for extensions when you're still not ready. The whole process can be really stressful when you're already dealing with an injury, but this community has been super helpful for navigating all the confusing parts of EDD. Glad to see people supporting each other through it!

This is exactly why I always recommend keeping detailed records of everything! I learned the hard way that EDD will try to use any excuse to cut benefits short. For future reference, if you ever have to do another IME, make sure to bring a copy of your treating doctor's most recent assessment and ask the EDD examiner to review it during your appointment. Sometimes they don't have all the current medical information when they do their evaluation. Also, don't be afraid to speak up during the exam about your limitations - they're making decisions based on what they observe in that short visit. Glad you got through to someone and are getting it sorted out!

I'm dealing with something similar right now - my SDI benefits were cut off after an IME even though my doctor said I need another week off. Reading through all these responses is really helpful! It sounds like the key is getting your treating physician to submit detailed documentation explaining why the EDD examiner's assessment was wrong. I'm definitely going to ask my doctor about that DE 2551D form that was mentioned. It's so frustrating that we have to fight for benefits we're legitimately entitled to, but at least there are ways to appeal these decisions. Thanks for sharing your experience - it gives me hope that this can be resolved!

hey op, any updates? were you able to get through to anyone?

I went through something similar a few months back. Here's what finally worked for me: I sent a message through the "Contact EDD" feature in my online account AND mailed a physical letter to my local EDD office explaining the situation. Make sure to include your Social Security number, the date you submitted the questionnaire, and any confirmation numbers you received. Also, if you have a disability case worker assigned to you, try reaching out to them directly - they sometimes have more pull than the general customer service line. Don't give up! The squeaky wheel gets the grease with EDD. Your benefits should be backdated once they sort this mess out.

Hey Freya, I just went through this exact situation 3 months ago with my psychiatrist for my own PPD extension! The stress is real, but you CAN get this sorted out. A couple things that really helped me: 1) Have your therapist call that Medical Provider Support line (1-855-342-3645) FIRST thing tomorrow morning - they walked my doctor through the whole registration process over the phone and it was SO much faster than trying to figure it out online. 2) While she's getting registered, ask her to start drafting the clinical notes now so she's ready to submit immediately once her account is active. 3) Don't panic about the timeline - even if there's a small gap, the benefits will be backdated if approved. I had a 3-day gap and got every penny back. You've got this mama, PPD recovery takes time and EDD does recognize that. Hang in there! 💙

I'm so sorry you're going through this stress on top of dealing with PPD - the timing pressure is awful! I went through a similar situation last year and wanted to share what worked for me. My therapist was also new to EDD forms, so I created a little "cheat sheet" for her with all the key info: my claim number, the exact diagnosis code from my original claim (super important!), and my work restrictions. I also gave her a copy of my original DE 2501 form so she could see the format and language EDD expects. One thing that really helped was having my therapist call me right after she submitted the extension so we could both confirm it went through properly - there's a confirmation number she should get. Also, even though everyone says the Medical Provider Support line is better (and it is!), I'd still recommend trying the regular SDI line early morning around 8:02 AM as a backup - sometimes you can get through when call volumes are lower. You're doing great advocating for yourself and your mental health! The extension process is stressful but totally doable once your therapist gets registered. 💗

So happy to see your update! This gives me hope for others dealing with similar issues. It's crazy how the system can create these "certification gaps" but then a knowledgeable rep can fix it in minutes. Your experience really shows why it's worth trying multiple approaches - the direct SDI number, the specific phone prompts, services like Claimyr, or even contacting assembly members. The key seems to be persistence and finding the right person who actually understands the system. Thanks for sharing your success story - it'll definitely help others who find this thread later!

This is such an important thread for anyone dealing with EDD payment delays! I'm a newcomer here but have been lurking and learning so much from this community. What really stands out to me is how the "certification gap" issue seems to be a common problem that EDD reps can actually fix quickly once you reach them - it's just getting through that's the challenge. For future reference, it might be helpful to screenshot or save the direct SDI number (1-800-480-3287) and those specific phone prompts that Emma Johnson shared. Also, the fact that GamerGirl99's doctor's extension being "received" in the system was key to proving ongoing medical eligibility is really good to know. Thanks everyone for sharing such detailed experiences - this kind of real-world advice is invaluable when you're dealing with bureaucratic nightmares!