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This thread is amazing - thank you all for sharing your experiences! I'm a single mom on temporary SDI ($2,000/month) after a C-section complication that's keeping me out of work longer than expected. With daycare costs and rent eating up most of my benefits, I've been living on rice and beans trying to make it work. I honestly didn't even know CalFresh was an option while on disability. The way Isaac broke down his whole process and the final approval gives me so much hope! I'm especially grateful for Katherine's explanation of the income limits and deductions - with my childcare expenses on top of housing costs, it sounds like I might actually qualify for a decent benefit amount. Going to apply this weekend using GetCalFresh.org. Even if it's just $50-100/month, that would make such a difference for fresh fruits and vegetables for my toddler. It's so reassuring to know there's help available during these tough recovery periods. Will definitely update once I hear back!
I'm so glad this thread has been helpful for you, Liam! Being a single parent on disability sounds incredibly challenging, and you're doing an amazing job managing everything during your recovery. The fact that you're prioritizing your toddler's nutrition shows what a dedicated parent you are. You're absolutely right that childcare expenses should work in your favor for CalFresh - those costs are considered when calculating your net income, just like housing costs. With both rent and daycare eating into your $2,000 SDI, you'll likely qualify for a substantial benefit amount. One additional tip since you mentioned having a young child - make sure to note that on your application! Households with children under certain ages sometimes get priority processing or additional considerations. And don't underestimate how much even $50-100 would help - that's a week's worth of groceries that you wouldn't have to stress about. Your situation is exactly what these programs were designed for. Wishing you a smooth recovery and hoping your application goes as smoothly as Isaac's did!
Just wanted to share my experience as someone who went through this process about 6 months ago. I was on SDI for 4 months after a knee replacement surgery, getting about $1,850/month. Like many of you, I was confused about whether I could get CalFresh and almost didn't apply because I thought any disability income would disqualify me. The application process through GetCalFresh.org was surprisingly straightforward - took maybe 20 minutes total. What really helped was having all my documents ready beforehand: SDI award letter, lease agreement, and receipts for my physical therapy copays. I ended up getting approved for $142/month, which was honestly a lifesaver during recovery. The phone interview was just basic verification of what I'd already submitted online. The caseworker was actually really understanding about my situation and explained how the deductions worked. For anyone still hesitating - Isaac's success story isn't unique! I know it can feel overwhelming when you're already dealing with recovery, but these benefits can really take some financial pressure off during a difficult time. The worst they can say is no, but you might be surprised by the outcome. Good luck to everyone who's applying!
Thanks for sharing your experience! It's really encouraging to hear another successful outcome. I'm in a similar situation - just started my SDI claim after a work injury and have been nervous about the whole CalFresh application process. Your point about having all the documents ready beforehand is super helpful - I'll make sure to gather everything before I start the application. It's amazing how much this thread has opened my eyes to what's actually possible. Like so many others here, I had completely assumed that any disability benefits would automatically disqualify me from food assistance. Reading all these real experiences from Isaac, you, and others has given me the confidence to actually apply instead of just struggling through on my own. The $142/month you received sounds like it would make such a difference when every dollar counts during recovery. Did you find the physical therapy copay receipts made a big impact on your eligibility calculation?
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Friendly reminder to everyone: DOCUMENT EVERYTHING. Every call, every letter, every online status change. It'll save your butt if there's ever a dispute.
That's really smart, I'll start doing that. Thanks!
Hey Dallas! I just went through this same situation a couple months ago. My doctor was super slow with the medical certification too - turned out they were waiting for some additional test results. I called their office every other day (nicely but persistently) and finally got them to submit it. Once they did, my claim moved pretty quickly - about 2 weeks after that. The key thing is that your claim basically sits in limbo until they get that medical cert, so definitely stay on your doctor about it. You can also ask them to fax it directly to EDD instead of mailing it - that speeds things up. Don't stress too much about the processing time once everything's submitted though, they're actually pretty good about backdating to when your disability actually started. Good luck! 🤞
This is super helpful, Isabella! I'm definitely going to start calling my doctor's office more frequently. The fax tip is brilliant - I never thought about asking them to fax instead of mail. That could save so much time! Really appreciate you sharing your experience, it gives me hope that things will move once I get that medical cert sorted out. 🙏
Isabella, this is exactly what I needed to hear! I've been so worried about the timing but knowing they backdate it makes me feel so much better. I'm definitely going to start being more persistent with my doctor's office and ask about faxing instead of mailing. Thanks for taking the time to share your experience - it really helps to hear from someone who's been through the same thing! 🙏
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I just wanted to add my experience for anyone else who might be going through this. I filed my SDI claim about 6 months ago and had a similar "pending" situation that lasted almost 4 weeks. What I learned is that EDD's processing times can vary significantly based on their current workload and the complexity of your case. In my situation, the delay was caused by my employer being slow to respond to EDD's request for wage information. Once I called and found out what was holding things up, I was able to follow up directly with my HR department to expedite their response. The claim was approved within 3 days after that. My advice would be: don't just wait passively - be proactive about calling, and if you can't get through on the regular lines, definitely consider using a service like Claimyr. Also, make sure to document everything and keep copies of all your submissions. The peace of mind is worth it, and having detailed records really helps when you do get through to speak with someone at EDD.
Thank you for sharing your experience, Benjamin! It's really helpful to hear about the employer response issue - that's something I hadn't considered could cause delays. I'm actually dealing with a pending claim right now (filed about 2 weeks ago) and this thread has been invaluable for understanding what might be going wrong and what steps I can take. Your point about documenting everything is spot on - I've started keeping a detailed log of all my interactions and submissions after reading through everyone's advice here. It's frustrating that we have to be so proactive to get the system to work properly, but at least this community gives us the knowledge to navigate it effectively. Really appreciate you adding another perspective to help future people who find themselves in similar situations!
I'm new to this community and currently going through the SDI application process myself. This entire thread has been incredibly valuable - thank you Sofia for sharing your journey and everyone else for the detailed advice! I submitted my claim last week and was already starting to worry about the timeline, but reading through all these experiences has given me a much better understanding of what to expect and what to do if things get delayed. The tips about checking for date discrepancies, continuing to certify while pending, and having services like Claimyr as a backup option are exactly the kind of practical information you can't find on the official EDD website. It's amazing how this community comes together to help each other navigate such a complex and stressful system. I'll definitely keep everyone posted on my progress and hopefully can pay it forward by sharing my experience to help the next person who finds themselves in a similar situation!
Welcome to the community, Noland! It's great that you're being proactive by researching and preparing while your claim is still in the early stages. This thread really has become an amazing resource - I'm also relatively new here and have learned so much from everyone's shared experiences. The fact that Sofia got such quick resolution once she identified the issue gives me hope that most delays really are just simple problems that can be fixed with the right information. I'm bookmarking all these tips for my own reference too. Looking forward to hearing how your claim progresses, and thank you for already planning to pay it forward - that's exactly what makes this community so valuable for everyone navigating the EDD system!
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I just went through my first holiday payment delay with EDD SDI during Thanksgiving and wanted to share what happened. My payment period ended on November 21st (the Thursday that was Thanksgiving), and I was really worried about delays since it was my second payment ever on disability. What actually happened was interesting - the payment showed as "Paid" in my SDI Online portal on the 21st as scheduled, but because of the holiday banking closures, I didn't receive the direct deposit until the following Monday (November 25th). So it was only a 1-day delay from when I would normally see it in my account. Based on this experience, I think you'll likely be okay since your period ends on Christmas Eve (24th) rather than Christmas Day itself. The key is that EDD seems to process the payments on schedule even during holidays, but the banking delays are what cause the actual deposit to be late. I'd recommend checking your SDI Online account on the 24th to see if it shows "Paid" status - if it does, you'll know the payment is coming even if there's a banking delay. Good luck and happy holidays!
Thank you so much for sharing your Thanksgiving experience - this is exactly the kind of real-world information I was hoping to find! It's really helpful to know that EDD processed your payment on schedule even though it was a holiday, and that the delay was just on the banking side. That gives me a lot more confidence about my Christmas timing since my period ends on the 24th rather than the holiday itself. I'll definitely check my SDI Online portal on the 24th to see if it shows "Paid" status. It's such a relief to hear from someone who just went through this exact scenario. Really appreciate you taking the time to share what happened with your payment - it makes planning so much easier when you know what to expect!
I'm new to SDI and just started my claim this month, so this entire thread has been incredibly educational! I had no idea that holiday timing could affect payments in so many different ways. Reading everyone's experiences - from the Thanksgiving delays to the Christmas Eve scenarios - really helps set realistic expectations for what to expect during my time on disability. What strikes me most is how the actual EDD processing seems to happen on schedule, but it's the banking holidays that cause the delays in when you actually see the money. That's a really important distinction that I wouldn't have understood without reading all these real experiences. For anyone else who's new to this system like me, it seems like the key takeaways are: 1) Check your SDI Online portal on your certification end date to see payment status, 2) Set up direct deposit and banking alerts if possible, 3) Always plan for potential delays around holidays, and 4) The timing of when your period ends relative to the actual holiday makes a big difference. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences - this community is such a valuable resource for navigating the confusing world of EDD!
I'm also brand new to this community and SDI - just filed my claim last week! This thread has been absolutely invaluable for understanding what to expect. Like you, I had no clue about the banking vs EDD processing distinction. It's so helpful to see that even when EDD does their part on time, the banks can still cause delays during holidays. I'm bookmarking this thread to reference when my first payments start coming through. The practical advice here about checking the SDI portal and setting up alerts is exactly what newcomers like us need. Thanks for summarizing those key takeaways - I'm definitely going to follow all of those steps!
Yara Assad
Ugh, the EDD is the worst! I swear they make these "mistakes" on purpose to discourage people from claiming benefits. Stay strong and fight it!
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Olivia Clark
•Tin foil hat much? 🙄 It's more likely just incompetence than malice.
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Yara Assad
•Maybe, but after dealing with them for months, I wouldn't put anything past them 😤
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Anastasia Romanov
I went through something similar last year and it was absolutely terrifying at first! Here's what helped me: 1. **Get everything in writing** - Call EDD and ask them to mail you a detailed breakdown of exactly what they think you were overpaid and why. Don't just take their word over the phone. 2. **Check your work history** - Sometimes they miscalculate your base period wages or don't account for overlapping eligibility periods correctly. 3. **Look into hardship waivers** - If you do end up owing money, EDD has programs to waive repayment if it would cause financial hardship. Most people don't know about this! 4. **Keep detailed records** - Screenshot everything, save all emails, and keep a log of every phone call with dates and representative names. The good news is that a lot of these "overpayments" get overturned once you provide the right documentation. Don't let them intimidate you - you have rights in this process! Feel free to DM me if you need help navigating the appeal paperwork.
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Natasha Petrova
•This is incredibly helpful, thank you for sharing your experience! The hardship waiver option is something I had no idea existed - that could be a game changer if I do end up owing money. I'm definitely going to request that detailed breakdown in writing first thing tomorrow. Did you have to provide a lot of financial documentation for the hardship waiver process?
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