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Have you considered getting a lawyer? Some specialize in SDI appeals and might be able to help. Many offer free consultations.
I hadn't thought of that. Do you know if it's expensive to hire a lawyer for this kind of thing?
It can be, but some work on contingency. Meaning they only get paid if you win. Might be worth looking into if your appeal doesn't work out.
I went through something similar last year! The key is to act fast - definitely file that appeal within 30 days like others mentioned. When I had my denial, I wrote a detailed timeline showing exactly when I received the denial vs. when the form was due, and that helped my case. Also, if you can get your doctor's office to write a letter explaining any delays on their end, that can be really helpful. The appeals process took about 6 weeks for me, but I did eventually get approved. Don't lose hope - the initial denial doesn't mean it's over!
This is really encouraging to hear! Thank you for sharing your experience. I'm definitely going to follow your advice about documenting the timeline. It's so reassuring to know that someone else went through this and came out successful on the other end. 6 weeks feels like forever when you're waiting, but at least there's light at the end of the tunnel. Did you have to do anything special during the appeals process, or was it mostly just waiting after you submitted everything?
@Evan Kalinowski This gives me so much hope! I m'in almost the exact same situation right now. Quick question - when you wrote that detailed timeline, did you submit it as part of your initial appeal or did you have to send it separately? Also, did you include any other documentation besides the doctor s'letter? I want to make sure I m'covering all my bases when I file my appeal. Really appreciate you taking the time to share what worked for you!
I had a similar issue last year with my disability payments! In my case, it turned out the EDD had an address mismatch in their system that was causing deposits to get rejected by my bank, but neither side was communicating this properly. I had to call EDD directly and verify all my banking information was correct in their system. It took about a week to resolve, but once they updated everything, the missing deposit showed up along with the current one. Definitely check with EDD to make sure they have the right account details on file - sometimes the issue isn't with your bank at all!
That's such a good point about checking with EDD directly! I always assume it's the bank's fault, but you're right that the issue could be on the sender's side. Did you have to provide any specific documentation to get them to update your banking info, or was it just a matter of confirming the details over the phone?
This exact thing happened to me about 6 months ago! Turned out my bank had updated their ACH processing system and some deposits were getting stuck in a queue without any notification. The frustrating part was that the first customer service rep I talked to didn't know about the system issues, so they just told me there was no record. I had to call back three times before I got someone who actually looked deeper into it. My advice would be to call your bank again and specifically ask them to check for any ACH holds, pending transactions, or system delays - don't just accept "no record" as the final answer. Also, if it's an EDD payment, they sometimes batch process on different days than expected, especially around holidays. Hang in there, it'll likely show up in the next day or two! 🤞
One more important thing - make sure your doctor is very specific about your disability being due to pregnancy complications (high blood pressure and swelling) rather than just a normal pregnancy. Standard pregnancy disability usually only starts 4 weeks before your due date, but with complications properly documented, you can start earlier. Ask your doctor to be very clear about why you can't work now, otherwise EDD might deny your claim or only approve it starting at the standard 36-week mark.
Thank you for pointing this out! I'll make sure my doctor specifies the complications on the medical certification. She mentioned writing that I can't work due to pregnancy-induced hypertension requiring bed rest. Hopefully that will be clear enough for EDD to understand.
I went through this same transition last year! Just wanted to add a few things that helped me avoid issues: 1. Keep ALL your paperwork from both UI and SDI - I had to reference my UI claim dates when there was a question about my SDI timeline 2. Take screenshots of your last UI certification and the date you stop certifying - this saved me when EDD questioned whether I had properly ended my UI claim 3. Ask your doctor to put the START DATE of your disability on the medical form, not just sign it - mine initially just signed without specifying when my disability began and it caused a delay 4. If you have any saved sick/vacation time from your old job, that might affect your SDI calculation, so mention it when you file The pregnancy-induced hypertension should definitely qualify you for early disability before the standard 36-week mark. Wishing you a healthy rest of your pregnancy and hoping your claim goes smoothly! The EDD process is stressful enough without pregnancy complications on top of it.
This is such helpful advice, thank you! I never would have thought about taking screenshots of my UI certifications - that's really smart. Quick question about the saved sick/vacation time - I do have about 2 weeks of unused PTO from my old job that they're supposed to pay out. Will that money affect my SDI benefit amount or just the timing of when payments start? I'm trying to figure out if I should wait to cash that check or if it doesn't matter.
The unused PTO shouldn't affect your SDI benefit amount since that's calculated based on your wages from your base period (usually the first 4 quarters of the last 5 completed quarters before your claim). However, if your employer pays it out as "wages" rather than a severance lump sum, there might be timing considerations. I'd recommend cashing it sooner rather than later - just make sure to report any income on your SDI claim forms if it overlaps with your benefit period. When I had this situation, EDD told me that PTO payouts from a previous employer typically don't cause issues as long as you're transparent about reporting them. Better to have the money in hand given all the uncertainty with benefit processing times!
Thank you, these are excellent suggestions. I'll email HR tomorrow to get written clarification of what my manager told me verbally. And I'll definitely ask my doctor to be very specific about my restrictions at my next appointment. The 19-day timeline is helpful to know - I'll make sure I have some emergency savings set aside to cover that gap.
This is such a tough situation, and I really feel for you! I went through something similar when my employer "restructured" while I was on medical leave for anxiety/depression. A few things that helped me navigate this: 1. Contact your union if you have one - they can often provide guidance on disability rights and job protection that HR won't tell you about. 2. Keep ALL medical documentation organized. When I transitioned from SDI to UI, they asked for proof that I was able to work but had no job to return to. 3. Start looking for new jobs NOW while you're still on disability. Even if your current employer has to take you back, having backup options reduces stress and gives you leverage. 4. Consider contacting a disability rights attorney for a free consultation. Many work on contingency, so you don't pay unless you win. Even if you don't sue, they can often write a letter to your employer that gets them to take your rights more seriously. The whole system is frustrating, but you have more options than you think. Don't let them push you around just because you've been on medical leave. You deserve to be treated fairly after everything you've been through with your back injury!
Thank you so much for sharing your experience and these practical tips! I hadn't thought about starting my job search while still on disability - that's really smart advice. I don't have a union, but I'm definitely going to look into getting a free consultation with a disability rights attorney. Even just having someone write a letter might make my employer take this more seriously. You're right that I have more options than I initially thought. It's encouraging to hear from someone who successfully navigated a similar situation. Did you end up staying with your original employer or finding something new?
Mei-Ling Chen
I'm dealing with the exact same E311 error right now! It's so frustrating because like you, all my info is correct and I even completed the ID.me verification. I've been lurking here trying to find solutions and it seems like this is a pretty common issue with EDD's system not syncing properly with ID.me. From what I've read in other threads, it might be worth trying to clear your browser cache and cookies completely before attempting again, or even trying from a different device entirely. Some people have said that helped them get past the identity mismatch error. Also, if you haven't already, try logging into your ID.me account directly to make sure your verification is actually showing as complete on their end. Sometimes there's a delay or glitch there too. Let me know if any of the suggestions from the other folks here work for you - I'm taking notes for when I tackle this nightmare again tomorrow! 🤞
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Logan Chiang
•I'm so glad I'm not the only one dealing with this! The E311 error has been driving me crazy too. I tried the browser cache clearing trick you mentioned and it actually seemed to help a little - at least I got past the initial login screen before hitting the identity mismatch again. One thing I noticed is that when I log into ID.me directly, my verification shows as "complete" but there's a weird delay in the timestamp that makes me wonder if EDD's system is checking an older version of my verification status. Have you noticed anything like that on your end? I'm definitely going to try some of the other suggestions here too, especially the in-person office visit if nothing else works. Thanks for sharing your experience - it helps to know we're all in this together! Keep me posted on how it goes for you! 💪
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Amina Diallo
I had this exact same E311 error a few months ago! What worked for me was actually contacting ID.me support directly first, not EDD. Turns out there was some kind of sync issue between their systems. ID.me support was able to "refresh" my verification on their end and push it through to EDD again. After that, I waited about 24 hours and then the EDD system finally recognized my verified status. Worth a shot before you spend hours on hold with EDD! Their chat support is usually pretty responsive too.
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