I went through this exact same situation a few months ago and can confirm what others are saying - you WILL get paid for those remaining days! My disability ended on a Wednesday and my final payment came about 8 days later for the partial week. The key thing is that EDD pays you through the day BEFORE your return-to-work date, so if you're returning April 12th, you should get paid through April 11th. The delay happens because they have to process the final certification and make sure everything matches up with your doctor's paperwork. Don't panic if it takes a week or two longer than expected - that's totally normal for the final payment. Just budget accordingly knowing it's coming but might be delayed a bit.

I'm in a similar situation right now - my disability period ends next week and I was worried about the same thing! Reading through everyone's responses here is so helpful. It sounds like the consensus is that we DO get paid for those final days, but there's often a delay of 1-2 weeks after our return-to-work date before that final payment shows up. I'm going to take the advice about double-checking that my doctor put the correct return-to-work date on the certification form. That seems like something that could easily cause problems if there's a mismatch. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - it's reassuring to know this is normal and the payment will come through eventually!

As someone who recently went through this exact transition, I want to emphasize how crucial timing is with these applications. I made the mistake of waiting until my SDI actually ended before filing for SSDI, thinking I had to wait for one to stop before starting the other. That gap cost me both financially and in terms of backpay calculations. One resource that hasn't been mentioned yet is contacting your local Legal Aid Society - many have disability law specialists who can review your SSDI application before you submit it to catch any potential issues that could cause delays. They also often have relationships with vocational rehabilitation counselors who can provide additional documentation about your work limitations. Also, if you're a member of any professional associations or trade organizations from your construction career, check if they offer emergency hardship assistance. Some trade groups have mutual aid funds specifically for members facing medical hardships, even if the injury wasn't work-related. The anxiety about the income gap is so real, but reading through everyone's experiences here shows there really are more safety nets than most of us realize. The key is casting a wide net with applications rather than putting all your hope in one program. You're doing everything right by starting early and exploring multiple options simultaneously!

This thread has been an absolute goldmine of information! As someone who's currently on week 42 of my SDI benefits for a herniated disc that required emergency surgery, I'm feeling much more prepared for what's ahead thanks to everyone's shared experiences. One thing I wanted to add that might help others - I just discovered that my local community health center has a benefits enrollment specialist who helps patients navigate disability transitions at no cost. She's helping me organize all my medical records for my SSDI application and even identified some local emergency assistance programs I hadn't heard of. Many federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) offer these services, so it's worth checking with your primary care provider or the clinic where you receive treatment. Also, for anyone dealing with spinal issues like Connor mentioned, make sure your doctor documents not just your pain levels but also specific functional limitations like how long you can sit, stand, walk, and lift. My orthopedic surgeon initially just wrote "chronic pain" in my records, but when I explained I needed detailed functional assessments for disability applications, he provided much more specific documentation about my physical restrictions. The community support in this thread is incredible - it's turned what could have been a panic-inducing situation into a manageable action plan with multiple backup options. Thank you to everyone for sharing your knowledge and experiences!

side question but does anyone know how long until i get my first payment once i can see my claim online? been waiting 2 weeks already

Just wanted to add my experience - I made the same mistake initially and kept trying to access my SDI claim through my UI account for about a week before figuring out they were separate systems. One thing that helped me was bookmarking both portals once I got them set up: UI Online and SDI Online have completely different URLs. Also, if you're planning to use direct deposit (which I highly recommend), you can set that up during the SDI Online registration process or add it later in your profile. Way faster than waiting for paper checks! The whole separate systems thing is definitely annoying but at least SDI Online is pretty user-friendly once you're in.

I'm going through this exact same situation right now - got my IME letter yesterday for a shoulder injury claim and immediately started panicking! Reading through everyone's experiences here has been so helpful. It sounds like this really is just standard procedure rather than them singling out my claim. I've been on SDI for about 9 weeks now, so the timing matches what others have mentioned about the 8-10 week review period. The advice about keeping a pain journal and writing down specific limitations is gold - I'm definitely going to start doing that this week before my appointment. My biggest worry was that they'd catch me on a good day and think I'm faking, but it sounds like being honest about the fluctuating nature of the condition is actually the right approach. Thanks to everyone who shared their stories, especially those who came back with updates after their exams. It really helps to know that most people get through this without issues when they have legitimate medical documentation. Still nervous, but way less stressed than I was this morning!

I went through an IME about 3 months ago for a nerve injury in my hand, and I totally understand the stress you're feeling! Like others have mentioned, it really is standard procedure - my claim was also right around the 9-10 week mark when they scheduled it. One thing that helped me prepare was actually calling the medical office directly (not EDD) a day or two before to confirm the appointment time and ask about parking. The office staff was really helpful and even gave me a heads up about what to bring. Also, if you're taking any muscle relaxers or pain medication, try to time it so you're not overly drowsy during the exam - I made that mistake and felt like I wasn't able to communicate my limitations clearly. The doctor I saw was actually really understanding about the variability of symptoms. I told him straight up that some days are much worse than others, and he said that's completely normal for back injuries. He even asked me to describe both my worst days and my better days, which helped give him a complete picture. Don't let the horror stories scare you too much - the vast majority of these exams go smoothly when you're honest and have proper documentation. Sounds like you're well-prepared and have everything in order. Good luck with your appointment and your gradual return to work!

I'm going through this exact same situation right now too! My status changed to 'qualification' about 3 days ago and I've been checking my account multiple times a day hoping to see a payment appear. The anxiety is so real when you're already dealing with health issues and then this financial uncertainty on top of it. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly reassuring - it's such a relief to know that 7-10 business day window after hitting 'qualification' is completely normal for first payments, even though the inconsistency makes it hard to predict exactly when it'll come through. I was definitely starting to worry something was wrong with my claim since I expected it to be faster. The obsessive account refreshing is becoming a real habit at this point! Thanks for posting this question - knowing so many others are in this same nerve-wracking waiting game makes it feel way less isolating. Hopefully we'll all see our payments hit soon!

I'm going through this exact same situation! My status changed to 'qualification' about 5 days ago and I've been obsessively checking my account every morning and night hoping to see a payment posted. The financial stress while already dealing with a disability is honestly overwhelming - I have rent due next week and was really counting on this processing faster. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been so helpful and reassuring though. It's such a relief to know that 7-10 business day window after hitting 'qualification' is pretty normal for first payments, even though the inconsistency is definitely nerve-wracking. I was starting to panic that something was wrong with my claim since I expected it to be quicker. The daily uncertainty while you're already not feeling well is just exhausting. I'm going to follow the advice about double-checking my certification status and payment method setup right now. Thanks for posting this question - knowing so many others are in this same anxious waiting game makes it feel way less isolating! Fingers crossed we all get our payments soon.